Have we moved forward or is racism not only accepted in some aspects of our lives, but encouraged. I was taught growing up that it was wrong to vote for someone solely on the color of their skin, their race, their gender, but on who they were, what they stood for, represented, their views, words, actions, their character.
Martin Luther King said in his 1963 speech “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by their character. I have a dream today.”
And yet today, it is encouraged and spoken that we should vote for someone based on the color of their skin, gender, not on their character.
For years I collected comic strips out of newspapers. One strip I particularly liked was Shoe by Jeff MacNelly. Shoe was a bird-like character who reminded you of one of the DC politicians. This particular comic strip he was a reporter. And he walks up to a fellow on a tractor and asks “who do you like for President?” The farmer responds “Gary Hart.”
Shoe responds, “Really? You think he has dealt with the character issue adequately?”
The farmer responds “oh sure, no question.” And then the farmer responds “he is a character alright.”.
But this is not the character that myself or Martin Luther King are referring to.
I saw a facebook meme, where one of the females on the View was complaining about Republicans not practicing identity politics. Which does in fact judge others by the color of their skin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and other factors. But it is accepted as good, on factors such as these, but not character or integrity or any other moral attribute.
So someone “judging” others on their character, integrity, or moral values is wrong.
Often reminded by others not to judge others, (least ye be judged) yes, they love to throw in scripture whenever possible and the few they have been taught to use. But their “judging” is acceptable, since it, since they . . . , well, not sure why they think it’s acceptable. Many other biblical scriptures come to my mind here, but let’s get back to Martin Luther King’s dream of not being judged by the color of one’s skin, and the multiple elections across the nation, even in South Carolina and in Irmo where people, parties, organizations, inform voters to vote according to skin color, race, gender, still today after 60 years.
Does this mean some do not agree with Martin Luther King and his dream? Does this mean this election is more important, we will go back to the dream, after this election?
Does this mean they didn’t believe the dream or don’t believe it’s relevant today because it’s history?
Our nation, our people, our communities, are divided today, not because we are racist, hateful towards other, but because those who want to be in control are using identity politics (race, gender, social class, ideologies, theologies) to point fingers and lay blame at “those” groups in order to divide us for their agenda.
It is time we wake up to the lies, deceptions from those trying to control you, use you for your one vote at this “most important election ever,” and then back to business as usual.
No more “renting” your vote for just one day.
Let’s get back to voting for who is best, not based on anything other than who they are, what they stand for, represent, their views, words, actions, their character.
Hardy King
Irmo
