#2 from xanga. I wrote this one a while ago before it was just Clinton and Obama in the race for the Democratic Nomination. After Super Tuesday, we realized just how much what I wrote about was actually happening. So many women who did the exit polls were saying how they just "had to vote for Hillary because she's a woman..." Sad. here it is:
I want to tread very lightly here as I type out the following thoughts... This is just a theory, and I don't want anyone to be too offended. But here's what I'm thinking:
I haven't really decided on which Presidential hopeful is the best choice for '08, but I'm a little concerned at this point. My general thought lately has been that, if we're being honest, the first non-white, non-male president does not necessarily have to have been the best of the candidates. The fact that such a person is non-white and non-male already gives him or her a head start. My fear is that we will be too eager to break the ol' white male only presidential mold to pick the most capable candidate.
I'm not sure if I'm being clear. Let me preface by saying that I believe the day this country has a female or non-white President will be a great day! It will be a beautiful display of the amount of progress we have made as a country, and will also most likely bring the amount of work we have left to do to the surface. It truly will be no small thing when we have this person as our leader.
But I'm afraid the desire to hasten that day will be strong enough to influence any one of us to choose an inferior candidate because of race or sex. That would really be a mistake.
Now I'm not saying anything against the two candidates who fit the above profiles running in the current election. It may be that one of them is really the best person for this country. But if that is not the case, I'm worried one of those people would be elected hastily in order to break the mold and prove to the world we're not as racist and sexist as they all think.
But wouldn't it be equally as racist or as sexist to vote FOR a candidate simply because of the color of his or her skin or the sex she so happens to be? If racism can be partially defined as judging the quality of a person by the color of his or her skin, then shouldn't that go both ways, whether they are judged to be less qualified or more qualified simply by that standard?
Am I making sense or am I just sounding like a white male?
3.07.2008
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1 comment:
i honestly wonder/think if part of the problem really is that because our country for so long has inherently been so adverse to leadership from anyone non-male, non-white in a true leadership position, that to varying levels we've lost out on leadership from other rather talented men and women who could have done a better job than say, our pal Nixon or Bush.
The reality is that at some point the change has to happen - and my guess is that its going to happen here soon enough - which is pretty crazy to think about! Both good and bad - dang it America, I have such a love/hate/hate/hate relationship with you some times!
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