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SoutherDem

(2,307 posts)
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:15 PM Jul 2012

What happened to the dream?

I have never found pride in my being a white southerner but I have never been ashamed to be one either;
I have always hoped to be able to show the rest of the world we are not all bigots;
I supported Al Sharpton when he ran for president then I supported Barack Obama and did so proudly, not because they are black but I supported what they believed in, what they said.
I have supported President Obama, and I am proud that he is my president.

I find hope when I see pictures of those who go to his rallies. They are young and old, white and black, they are gay and straight, they are from many different cultures and are a cross section of America. It brings tears to my eyes when I see children drawn to this president. These children are our future and it give me hope when I see pictures like the one I saw here on DU of a small child leaning over to kiss President Obama. These people, especially the children don't care he is black. They are proud he is THEIR president. I am proud he is MY president.

However I am becoming to be ashamed to be a white southerner. When I hear all the code words for racism it grieves me to think in 2012 race is still a matter of concern for some. When I see people hate President Obama for no real reason other than he is a black man, when I see people support a candidate who would do things which would impoverish them just so they will no longer have a black man as president, it make me ashamed to be associated with that sort of person, even if it is just because of out sharing a skin tone and we live in the same part of the country.

I once had a hope that within my life we could stand together and simply call ourselves American, for me that was the dream of Martin Luther King Jr., that hope is starting to fade.

What has happened to the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.?

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What happened to the dream? (Original Post) SoutherDem Jul 2012 OP
If it makes you feel any better jpbollma Jul 2012 #1
Not all frothing-at-the-mouth racists live in the South. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2012 #2
I really don't think (and never have felt) that we should judge by what States people live in! It teddy51 Jul 2012 #3
I live near one of the most racially divided cities in the U.S. patrice Jul 2012 #4
It is still there OverseaVisitor Jul 2012 #5

jpbollma

(552 posts)
1. If it makes you feel any better
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:18 PM
Jul 2012

I live in Michigan and I have run into tons of racists. These people are in their 20's. Racism is going nowhere. I hope my upcoming move to Detroit gets me away from the rednecks I am currently surrounded by.

 

teddy51

(3,491 posts)
3. I really don't think (and never have felt) that we should judge by what States people live in! It
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:26 PM
Jul 2012

may be true that many Southern States do tend to lean one way or another, but I don't think that all citizens of these States should be branded Politically!

patrice

(47,992 posts)
4. I live near one of the most racially divided cities in the U.S.
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:28 PM
Jul 2012

My home state is hopelessly dominated and run by deep red churches.

I came out of the Peace movement into the Occupy and whatever is next. That work gives me hope. That is where the Dream is.

 

OverseaVisitor

(296 posts)
5. It is still there
Wed Jul 18, 2012, 10:46 PM
Jul 2012

I believe most human being by nature caring and compassionate.
I believe the minority of hater, are just an illusion of majority created by the air wave and mass media
How else can they rob the people?
How else can they divert the people attention without all the division

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