Politics
Out of context: Reply #181
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- ninjasavant0
A few minutes ago I signed up for a blog account on barackobama.com with the intent of writing the blog below, I'd like to get your thoughts on it. Not so much the Obama bit, more the demographic bit. Sorry for the length.
As a graphic designer I love the identity work that has gone into Obama's campaign. Everything from logos to posters has been exquisitely designed and I would be proud to be a part of a movement with such beautiful imagery alone. But the fortunate truth is that Barack Obama has come forward as a candidate of substance and resolve that has electrified the electorate and has delivered a message of hope that has appeal to a broad range of demographics. But its those same demographics that sparked some thoughts for me so I've decided to put them down here to hear what other like minded individuals think. I'm not even sure this will come out coherently but I figure I should try.
Earlier today, while I was clicking around barackobama.com, I came across the People page and started browsing the logos associated with each of the groups listed (great logos by the way, I love each and every one of them). By the time I got to the bottom of the list it occurred to me that I have no place on the people page. I'm not young or old, black or asian, a woman, gay, religious, disabled, an environmentalist or a republican, part of a union or a student, Jewish, native American, rural, a veteran, Latino or otherwise. I'm an almost 30, middle class, white guy with a steady job in technology who likes cartoons and in most situations I fall into the "other" majority.
When politicians and speech makers list off the roll call of special interest groups and supporters I'm generally content to be part of the "everybody else" sentiment. I grew up the outsider most of the time as the poor, inner-city kid in a largely middle class suburban religious school and have worked to climb out of that poverty and do what I can to give back. I support micro-finance, donate as much as I can afford, and generally try to live a life that does something to improve myself and mankind. And as far as I can tell, I'm not alone in this demographic. There seems to be a good number of well intentioned middle class white guys who don't think its fair that women don't make as much as men, that do judge others by the content of their character, and try their best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
The tricky part is that when there is public discussion and debate about the afflictions and difficulties of all of the different groups that make up this country it seems like the blame is indirectly, and quite possibly unintentionally, directed to the group that doesn't seem to have these problems in the public discourse: my group. This might even be entirely self assigned guilt: it's only in extreme cases that someone comes right out and says that its middle class white men causing all the suffering for others and I tend not to give much credence to extremism of any sort. I'm sure we all as groups of individuals have a hand in some form of prejudice that affects the broader social strata.
However, when I examine a policy like affirmative action I see the playing field being levelled for various groups that are not mine. This leads me to believe that in individual cases amounting to a federally mandated whole that a certain documentable advantage is given to groups that are not middle class white men. Frankly I think the whole situation making these federal mandates is deplorable. The fact that discrimination based on anything but fitness for the job exists is insane. The problem is that it does exist, and equal pay is still a goal and not a reality so I can appreciate the program for its intention but that still makes me think twice whenever I'm chosen for a job or have an application accepted. I have to wonder if I'm enjoying a privelege at someone else's expense. Or if I have been denied an application is it because I have room to improve or was I qualified but did I not fit a federal mandate.
So why am I writing this? Why even bring it up? Frankly its a tough situation to discuss without sounding elitist or racist. But I think I feel somewhat free to bring this up in this forum because we are all at some level like minded individuals. Part of the pride I feel for being part of this movement is that for the most part Mr. Obama and us his supporters seem to be a group of level headed people that are fed up with the current situation and can take a sober look at issues that may seem uncomfortable or unpopular and give them their intellectual due. Mr. Obama did just that with his historic speech on race and to me I feel this topic is part of that discussion. I say discussion because I don't have the answer to the problem, I wish I did. I'm writing this for two reasons:
1. To continue the dialog. I'm only one person and one point of view. I can only write honestly about the way I perceive the world around me and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Do you think its even something worthy of debate? Should middle class white men feel any sort of fault or blame for the plight of other groups? Are those feelings justified? Should the portion of us who feel a sense of responsibility to treat humans equally endure silently for the education of the ignorant and the betterment of society? Is there a better way to approach this situation? There's a littany of questions that come to mind, most of which I probably haven't even thought about. Basically I enjoy a lively debate, its a chance to learn.
2. The second reason is that I feel these sentiments might represent a certain portion of swing and moderate Republican voters. Those voters who don't agree with the policies of discrimination but don't necessarily feel directly responsible for it. I think if we can reach out to this class of voter we really can move beyond the devisiveness that has candidates pandering for fringe groups on wedge issues. I support Mr. Obama because if any candidate I've seen in my lifetime can and does show the ability to get beyond the politics of pandering, its him.
So that's my two cents, my two rambling, well meant two cents. Thanks for reading.