Identity politics
Steve Beren, a candidate for Congress in 2006, sent me this on identity politics.
" A 2/2/07 New York Times article highlights the degree to which identity politics - judging and categorizing people by their physical characteristics and ethnic background - is interfering with the use of objective political criteria as a means of judging candidates.
The article makes the point that some American blacks hesitate to support Obama because he is of mixed white (Kansas-born mother) and African (father born in Kenya) ancestry as opposed to being a Black American descendant of slaves.
I don't support Barack Obama, but that's because I don't agree with his views, and because I don't agree with the philosophy of his party. In all fairness, Obama's candidacy should be judged on his political views and governmental philosophy, not on the color of his skin, or the color of his parents' skin, or on the geographical birthplace of his parents.
The article quotes columnist Stanley Crouch as saying "When black Americans refer to Obama as 'one of us,' I do not know what they are talking about."
And it quotes author and essayist Deborah J. Dickerson as declaring "Obama isn't black" and adding, "I've got nothing but love for the brother, but we don't have anything in common. His father was African. His mother was a white woman. He grew up with white grandparents. Now, I'm willing to adopt him. He married black. He acts black. But there's a lot of distance between black Africans and African-Americans. "
There are about 20 or more announced or prospective candidates for the presidency, and I suppose there will be a few more before it is all over.They should be judged by the content of their character, their political views, their governmental philosophy, and their qualifications as a leader.
There are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for liberals to support Obama, and there are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for conservatives to oppose Obama."
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Beren. When we quit allowing skin color to tell us who is and is not fit for public service, we will be a much better country. Some in the Democratic Party need to finally figure that out.
" A 2/2/07 New York Times article highlights the degree to which identity politics - judging and categorizing people by their physical characteristics and ethnic background - is interfering with the use of objective political criteria as a means of judging candidates.
The article makes the point that some American blacks hesitate to support Obama because he is of mixed white (Kansas-born mother) and African (father born in Kenya) ancestry as opposed to being a Black American descendant of slaves.
I don't support Barack Obama, but that's because I don't agree with his views, and because I don't agree with the philosophy of his party. In all fairness, Obama's candidacy should be judged on his political views and governmental philosophy, not on the color of his skin, or the color of his parents' skin, or on the geographical birthplace of his parents.
The article quotes columnist Stanley Crouch as saying "When black Americans refer to Obama as 'one of us,' I do not know what they are talking about."
And it quotes author and essayist Deborah J. Dickerson as declaring "Obama isn't black" and adding, "I've got nothing but love for the brother, but we don't have anything in common. His father was African. His mother was a white woman. He grew up with white grandparents. Now, I'm willing to adopt him. He married black. He acts black. But there's a lot of distance between black Africans and African-Americans. "
There are about 20 or more announced or prospective candidates for the presidency, and I suppose there will be a few more before it is all over.They should be judged by the content of their character, their political views, their governmental philosophy, and their qualifications as a leader.
There are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for liberals to support Obama, and there are enough legitimate POLITICAL reasons for conservatives to oppose Obama."
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Beren. When we quit allowing skin color to tell us who is and is not fit for public service, we will be a much better country. Some in the Democratic Party need to finally figure that out.
posted by The Lady Logician at
5:42 PM
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