Why I Think What I Think About Race

Given the recent potential for my commentary to be read by more than four people I felt the need to go through my posts and try to read them from the perspective of someone who has never met me or conversed with me and has no idea about my beliefs beyond the words accumulated in this blog. I reached one stark conclusion: It is likely that my comments regarding race will be considered inflammatory by those inclined to be offended by such frank and unfiltered language. I have made no attempt to censor myself and have always written what I think at the time, and in reading the body of my efforts here there is definitely a trend toward viewing the problems afflicting this country through the lens cut by those who created the problems, and this lens, despite the promise of a post-racial era affected by the election of Barack Obama, is increasingly tinted.

Let me start by saying that to the best of my ability as a white man I try to understand the concerns of non-whites and women in this country, but I will not be apologetic for being who I am. This is the core of my belief system - no one can control their race or the social circumstances of their birth and upbringing, and I will not judge anyone on that basis, but I will also not tolerate being judged for being white and male. The perceived disparities that result from race and sex in this country are not my fault, and in my life I have not caused any person or group to be in any way disenfranchised.

Do I generalize about race? Yes, but only in the context of circumstances created by those who presume to target people along racial lines for the purpose of gaining or increasing power over the targeted group. Please understand - I want everyone to succeed in life and be happy. I want this for myself and my family and friends, but I also desperately want it for others I don't even know, with the exception of anyone who's ideals would then infringe on other's ability to meet their own personal goals and succeed and be happy. So when I say things like, Obama has lower expectations for "black folks" kids, it's because the statement is observationally true. The quotes exist because those are Barack Obama's own words, and I use them no less often than he does. You might read that and think there's no evidence he thinks that way, but its clear in the context of his speeches that is exactly what he thinks, not out of any malice or pity but because he sees the circumstances of those "folks" as something that is an absolute for the purposes of defining his ideology.

"You're unfairly generalizing," you say. Maybe, but so does Obama. He's a world-class generalizer; just read his words and count how many times he refers to people by class or race or sex, or says "some people," or "many people." He's one of the great generalizers of all time. I generalize to show the absurdity of his generalizations. So then you say, "He's black, so he can talk frankly about black people, but you're white so the same rules don't apply." I don't even feel the need to defend myself against that argument, as it shows the true lack of depth of the racial discussion in this country. When you allow one group to define the rules of an argument you lose the ability to assert your point effectively. Typically it is the self-proclaimed leaders of these groups who make the rules so only they can be right about whatever it is they want to say, and any dissension from that narrow line of thought is then vilified. This is how the current tenor of racial discussion in this country reverberates. As a white man I am only permitted to agree with the premise of any racial issue or I am automatically a racist. You can see how this undermines any useful discussion revolving race in America.

Critical for Democrats and so-called "progressives" is to maintain the facade that they care about the needs of these minority groups, while Republicans and conservatives do not. The truth is that while Democrats may be genuinely empathic of the human condition, they are completely incapable of doing anything to help. This is proven out by nearly fifty years of liberal programs aimed at helping minorities, but the results are that more minorities fail to graduate high school, have children out of wedlock, get into trouble with the law and fail to meaningfully contribute to society or make a stable, prosperous life for themselves and their children. The reason for this failure is twofold: First, subsidies and handouts have diminished the need for many people to achieve a better standard of living for themselves. If you can get by with almost no effort, why would you work hard and take on personal risk for just the possibility of achieving success in life? Humans are creatures of habit, and like lightning our tendency is toward the path of least resistance. Naturally many people become dependent on these programs because they know no other way to live. Starting your own business, with all the perceived legal and bureaucratic obstacles, must seem impossible, and so these communities survive but almost never prosper.

The second reason is more insidious, and no politician would admit to it, but Democrats need for racial minorities to continue to be dependent on them and their government programs. The logic in that is undeniable, and voting trends prove it out.

What upsets me so greatly is that minorities, specifically blacks, rarely seem to see the truth behind the curtain. 97% of those that voted chose the same old self-destructive liberal policies that have failed them for three generations. But I understand that mindset - when you are continually told that everyone else is against you, and you cannot succeed on your own merits, and you need to listen to your local community organizers because nobody else cares about you - that kind of thought is pervasive but it tends to stick because, again, it's the path of least resistance. Challenging the status quo is difficult, and if you really don't believe it will get you where you want to go you won't even try. That's why the conservative belief of self-reliance is so important. It's why Jackie Robinson campaigned for Republicans - he saw the power in that message in the face of the alternative.

My message is not politically-correct, and it's not polite, but I absolutely believe that a commitment to hard work can rescue anyone from any set of circumstances. They just need to believe in themselves and not government or anyone who offers them a handout in lieu of the hard truth about success in life. It takes hard work and nothing short of that will do. You can't just want something and then wait for it to be handed to you. Go work for it! Earn it! Overcome the obstacles in your way! Believe in yourself, and don't let anyone tell you you can't do it without their help! I was raised poor and watched my parents make better lives for themselves and for me and my siblings through hard work and personal sacrifice. I've seen first hand what it takes, and I have absolute faith everyone can do the same if they just believe in themselves and in the prospects for a better future.

Am I naive? For the sake of our country I hope not. But I will continue to call it the way I see it until everyone understands what brand of sugar water those Democrat carpetbaggers are peddling. If I am frank it is because I care, and not because I want your vote or care if you agree with me or ever read my blog again. I believe the only way we will ever break down barriers between groups is if people stop listening to those who say we can't and start doing for ourselves, regardless of where we start from.