Hate and Hope

If it was not apparent at the moment of his inauguration it is becoming very clear now that Americas electing of the western worlds first minority head of state was too much change for some. A sign of where the US is in terms of demographics, basic race size and strength. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority, surpassing African Americans. Increasingly children are not just black and white or hispanic but a melting pot of all different nationalities and even religions.

This change in our nations population is real and apparently a threat to a segment of our population. They seem to feel helpless in the face of what they see as too much government. A country over run with immigrants that don't even have the decency to learn "our" language. This is not the America that is told in the history books. This is not Ronald Reagan's "shining city on a hill". This is a mongrel society that threatens them and all they know be true about this great land. Sounds a little over the top but from the stories I have done around the country, (mainly in the south and midwest), this pervasive feeling of losing control of their lives and country is truly real with some . If you want to see how out of control this country is just look who they elected president

To some Obama's election was not historic but apocalyptic. Some on the fringe and not so fringe right are saying he's the anti-Christ. Look at the rise in militia activity and this "call to arms". A rally was called in Virginia that encouraged rally goers to bring their firearms. People and members of Congress still questioning the citizenship of the president. Such an edge and anger to our politics.

I think of something that Obama said during the campaign. It is something that I can remember many social justice leaders like MLK or Malcom even Ghandi often said, basically, that power will not give it up easily. That change is a struggle a fight. This uprising of what some call populism, is not about health care, gays in the military or carbon taxes on polluters, its about change. Change in our country or politics and mostly our president. Now we have to hope that hate does not kill hope.





For those on the right that have no legitimate ideas nor identity have chosen to fan the flames of paranoia and misinformation.