Thoughts on the Election: Jay Williams on fear

The remarkable dance pundits and politicians have performed around the electric third-rail of American politics has been breathtaking. For the allegedly civil, race and religion are only talked about with at the brush of the hand, under a breath, or at the edge of a whirling skirt of inneundo - never directly, for who could admit such a thing!

There is an amazing dynamic at play with racial discussions in american politics and in america at large. Though many people would privately understand that they harbor racist or discriminatory beliefs, this is evidently some condition that most cannot speak publicly about. It is a belief for which one feels they cannot fly a flag, even though it may be unshakable.

Why is that? What makes the racist so scared to speak? Why do they keep it to anonymously sent e-mails and whispers among the obviously like-minded?

The context of existence for so many americans is so homogenous that there is often little real threat that an actual member of the group targeted with whatever discriminatory belief will be around when it is enunciated. And of course, when there is, the hand placed in front of the whispering mouth will be cupped even more tightly than before.

here, my friend Jay Williams - artist and rapper - talks about the role of fear and the unknown on issues of ill-founded hate in this year's presidential campaign.

Other submissions in this series:
-Chris Gibson on whether the election matters
-Dan Evarts' "A Bad Night in Sha'ab"
-Reid Bellon on the symbolism of Obama
-The Nahsville Minx doesn't buy the hype.
-Mom explains her political philosophy
-Teddy Kahn on Dog Sh-t and Competitive Obama-Mania
-S. Thompson on "The Business Party"
-Grandmom's thoughts on how politics play in her world




----
When did "politics as usual" become "hate so casual"?

Senator John McCain, had supporters at his rallies label Barack Obama
as a "terrorist", "socialist" and went so far as to accuse him of
being a "Muslim". Muslim! To insinuate that being a Muslim is somehow
a threat and dangerous is not only insulting, its offensive to every
progressive-minded individual and should not be tolerated. Muslims,
for the most part are peaceful people no different from "us". Its
unfortunate to know as Americans who pride ourselves on diversity and
acceptance, still have to learn what it means to truly accept people
for their differences. Im ashamed that fellow Americans would believe
somehow having a difference in religious practices and culture-
signifies anti-American sentiment. How foolish and ignorant are we?
Have we lost our ability to interpret when fear is being forced upon
us? This fear has spread like a malicious game of "telephone" in the
school yard. Unfairly labeling someone as a "terrorist" and then to
pervert it into tarnishing the Islamic faith is unacceptable.

This fear has spread across all party lines. As one caller into my
favorite progressive talk radio show screamed - "Obama is a Hindu!"
According to her, Hindu tradition leads its followers to destroy and
detest everything American! Again, most Hindu's are peaceful people
without ill intent to anyone, let alone America. Yet, this
mis-information is spread without most news medias and even the
candidates batting an eye. In fact, rather than look directly at this
"Campaign of Fear" and address it, certain candidates would rather
wink at it and wave at their supports knowing the seeds of mistrust
they are planting. Enhanced by post- 9/11 fears, "McCain's army" (I
mean this only for those participating in this campaign of fear. I
have no intention of generalizing an entire group of people as some
people would do so carelessly) has encouraged xenophobia toward anyone
of Arab decent and somehow to include Indians of Hindu faith.

I thought to myself, why not use this platform of running for
President, and political influence to build something bigger than what
seems to be a prolonged ego trip? Why Isn't someone using their
political influence to end this toxic speech at rallies and hate
between other Americans? Why isn't someone really trying to
essentially remove the hyphen from fellow Americans? You know,
Arab-American, African-American, Asian-American. The way to remove
that hyphen is to bring us together and not divide us with the fear
and mistrust. Then I remember looking at each party's convention,
respectively. The RNC was a mostly homogenous group with older and
White participants, the DNC was diverse with all ages, all colors all
there to support a candidate who is trying to bring us together and
not use fear to divide us. A candidate who can run a campaign without
disrespecting groups of people as well as one of the world's most
followed religions. A candidate who can respect all people and include
them in changing a nation into something better.

So, I will be casting my vote for a candidate who's campaign has
echoed far beyond this year's election. Obama has electrified a
movement in America that has young and old alike ready to take action.
He has Black and White, Christian and Muslim ready to build a better
and more perfect union. A better and more perfect America.