Joe _ Dana Townsend (ourhouse@iswt.com) from ca164.iswt.com at 10/29/97 11:07PM
comment
    I find it interesting that the same people who said that their black skin was something to be proud of; something that made them special, are the same people who said that the southern pride reflected in the confederate flag was an exercise in racism. How is it that wearing an "X" showing support of Malcolm X, who was a blatant, violent racist is considered "pride" when displaying a confederate flag is considered ignorance? Our ancestors were Irish. Many were brought to this country as indentured servants. But, I don't want to do away with our stars 'n stripes because of it. Lest we forget: all the slaves that were brought to this country, were brought here under THE AMERICAN FLAG, not the confederate flag. As for women and other minorities not being elected to office: in this country people are elected by voter majority. As women and minorities have been empowered, larger numbers of them are running and being elected to office. Memphis has a black mayor. Atlanta has a black mayor. New Jersey has a female governor. These are just a few examples of the progress this country has made. But I can't help but wonder: if we are so determined to make race and gender non-issues in our society, why do they keep coming up? Why is a white male somehow LESS qualified for his position simply because of his gender or race? When Louis Farrakan held his million man march, it was touted as a positive thing for black men. When the Promise Keepers attempted to do the same thing for ALL men, they were immediately labeled as power hungry, racist, sexist, dangerous to women, etc. . When anybody is called a racist long enough, they will eventually become just that. Their defenses will rise, and their willingness to listen will shut down. Unfortunately, I think that's happened to both black and white, male and female in this country. Nobody listens anymore. They just react.