Racism, bigotry, prejudice and such

Racism and all forms of bigotry have been with us since the dawn of man. Usually, it is exposed because one party perceives or finds it convenient to be aggrieved. Other times it is shown as demeaning of one party based on the belief the referenced group is inferior.

We’re it only not true. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if in our minds and actions there were no distinction between Christian and Jew, Sunni and Shiite, black and white, Native American and other Americans, and on and on and on. But there are those prejudices and they are uttered at one time or another by virtually every human being, often without specific malice, but with the urge to emphasize a point as if using a four letter word.

What is far more important is our actions. In that regard we have a long way to go, probably to an unachievable goal of perfection. While we have made progress, mostly and sadly because of laws, not a change in human nature, we need to keep trying to do better.

Americans with political correctness as their driving force are gnashing their teeth over Paula Deen and the Supreme Court saying federal review of state voting laws is no longer justified based on the specifics in a law. Get over it. Focus on the facts and actual actions of people and institutions and not on what you think they mean or might do.

I’ve used the N word in my life and I have heard African-Americans use it as well and I’ve been called Whitey and a few other names. Heck, I still use mailman and fireman. I even discovered last year I was waging a war against women because I was opposed the free birth control.

Guess what, I’m human and I suspect you are too.

We are so consumed with correctness, we miss the real issues and by doing so the solutions to problems. Rather than obsessing over the possibility a minority may need ID to vote, let’s figure out why the same groups have exceptionally high single parent births, high dropout rates from school and resulting stressed and dysfunctional families. Let’s figure out how we raise voter participation and draw fair rather than politically motivated congressional districts. We worry about voter rights, when people don’t vote. We worry about voting when Americans can’t even name the three branches of government or their Senator (or in the case of Jay walking, think the Eiffel Tower is in NYC).

Frankly, I don’t give a damn what Paul Deen says as long as she adds another pound of butter to her grits and cooks her fried chicken in fatback. You just gotta love that Redneck … oops!

I’m more worried about the fact 20-40% of restaurant workers don’t wash their hands after using the toilet than I am a celebrity chef’s indiscriminate use of a forbidden word.