by David Safier
I tend to scoff at people who talk about good coming out of evil. ("Doesn't it gladden your heart to know that some Germans put their lives at risk to hide Jews in their homes during World War II?" No, it doesn't, when I balance it against the vast majority who condoned the rounding up of Jews.)
But I'm hoping — because hope is big during these post-November 4 days — that something good will come out of the horrific rise in racist incidents since Obama's election.
Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting, "Assassinate Obama." Black figures hanging from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.
Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.[snip]
There have been "hundreds" of incidents since the election, many more than usual, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate crimes.
When we hear about incidents like these, they're usually isolated actions directed at someone we've never heard of. They tend to seem random,which makes them feel less important. But we all know Barack Obama by now,and his approval rating is at an amazing 65-70%. So racism directed against him by children and college students and adults may have a larger impact on our collective psyche than the garden variety hate crimes we hear about and forget.
Maybe some people who have said, "Get over it, racism is dead," will be taken aback, horrified that this level of racial hatred can be directed against a man who clearly has done nothing to deserve it — other than having the gall to think he has the right to run for president and win. Maybe they will be outraged that this level of hatred can spew forth at this moment in history when we have proven we can look at a person's qualifications, not his race, when choosing someone to fill the highest office in the land.
Maybe some people who usually shrug their shoulders will say, "This cannot be tolerated."
That would be a step forward.
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