It’s Funny (or We’ve Come A Long Way)
You know, it’s funny. When you feel righteous indignation and overpowering sadness at the same time, they push against each other so that all you really feel is your whole body cringe.
I say that because of this story on NPR. It’s a StoryCorps recording by Mary Ellen Noone. You can read it at the site, but I recommend listening to it. I do have to warn you though, while it’s not graphic, it’s extremely cringe-inducing and you will feel horrified.
When I hear things like that, I understand even more why the Obama campaign is significant and why people are inclined to vote for him, even if they don’t agree with his message. I can also understand how somebody could think Affirmative Action is a good idea. While I disagree completely with both examples, because they hearken back to those pre-Civil Rights sentiments, I can at least empathize with them.
I know this nation may not be perfect and discrimination may still exist. But we’ve come a long way.
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March 21, 2008 7:05 am
By Kara, March 21, 2008 @ 9:56 am
Wow, that is a terrible story-terrible that it happened, not that she told it. There’s some very strong pathos wrapped up in stories like these. Even though the events happened so long ago, the emotional reaction today is as strong as ever-perhaps stronger because of how far we’ve come since those times. While I think it’s important to remember our history, I also think it’s important not to let what has happened get confused with what is happening. I am sure there are still racists in America, but no one could get away with the kind of physical tourture that this story depicts-not without getting some well deserved jail time. It would be nice if programs like Affirmative Action could actually repair the damage that was done to African Americans, but it doesn’t. Voting for persons or policies based on that emotional response is dangerous. It may benifit some individuals, but it cannot benifit the nation as a whole. All that anyone (of any race) can do is accept that this is our country’s history and endevor not to repeat it.