The Elections of '08 call for us to stand taller, and not allow our views to descend to the level of gutter politics.
(SALEM, Ore.) - It may as well be Halloween (Oct. 31st) in place of the US Election Day this presidential year (Nov. 4th).
Those four days of separation on the calendar are not much of a barrier for the intermingling election theme: submission to fear. Three competitive types of bias have already made their mark on Elections 2008, and yet we have five months to Decision Day.
Three US Senators have assumed the spotlight this year: Hillary Clinton of NY, John McCain of Arizona, and Barack Obama of Illinois. Each has an Achilles Heel in dire need of healing. But what are the voters hearing?
Take a peek at the bias and the candidates targeted:Clinton: Sexism as the only female candidate.McCain: Ageism as the eldest among aspirants.Obama: Racism as the only Afro-American running.
Nobody is claiming that any of the above is directly making prejudice as part of their platform. Nonetheless, sometimes one's more vehement supporters go astray and indulge in the bitterness of big-time bigotry.
Both General Grant and General Eisenhower ran and won the presidency. Neither has the personality of McCain, who was a POW during the Vietnam War.
Senator Dole of North Carolina and Representative Schroder of Colorado both sought the Presidency, but neither quite equated their plight to that of Senator Clinton.
Reverend Jesse Jackson tried for the top prize several times.
Reverend Al Sharpton also ran but faltered. Who among us is prepared to say that Senator Obama behaves similarly?
If we indulge in simple thinking, we become simpletons. Educated voters deserve better than catering to rank prejudice, be it based on age or race or gender. Some invoke stereotypes to mask their own insecurities.
The Elections of '08 call for us to stand taller, and not allow our views to descend to the level of gutter politics.
Bigtime Bigotry Haunts Our '08 Presidential Election
Salem-News.com