October 31, 2008
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I have a dream….
I want to post what Martin Luther King Jr said (and the youtube video of it) then I want to post my thoughts
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.”
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: “For Whites Only.” We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest — quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; “and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”²
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim’s pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Why am I posting this? A few reasons.
One reason is because He had a dream. Many people feel Obama running for president is part of the fulfillment of this dream. Many African-American people are voting for Obama because he is “not white”. THIS IS NOT WHAT Martin Luther King Jr WANTED!!! What he dreamed was that “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by
the content of their character.” People who vote for a person because of the color of their skin have not gotten where Martin Luther King Jr wished us to be. It is still looking at the color of skin. If people vote based of the color of skin weither it be for or against Obama (weither the person is white or african-american) then we have not grown at all. We have not moved forward at all.
He said “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal.”
If a person is voting against Obama because he is “not white” then we are not there yet.
If a person is voting FOR Obama because he iS “not white” then we are not there yet.
ONE IS AS BAD AS THE OTHER!!! ONE IS AS RACIST AS THE OTHER!!!
It goes either way weither you are white, or African American if you are voting for a person (or against a person) based on the color of their skin THEN YOU ARE A RASIST!!!
I have a dream.
I have a dream that one day Martin Luther King Jr’s dream will be realized. That we will all beable to live together and be one people. To not judge one another based on the color of skin. To not vote based on the color of skin. To live together and not care about the color of skin. I will be praying for his dream to come true.
So when you go to vote on Tuesday weither you vote for McCain, Obama, Baldwin, Barr or someone else, Please vote for them because you agree with their platform and character and not the color of their skin.
Thank you and may God bless American.
Comments (52)
Great Post! Thanks!
Kristin while I am not an Obama supporter I am surrounded by those who are. You are wrong in your assement of why they are voting for him. They are proud to see and African-American run for president, but many, like my grandmother, continued to support Hillary Clinton in the primaries for a long time until they understood what Obama stood for. They are now firmly behind Obama because they do feel that they have gotten a raw deal over the last eight years. Black people are typically in at lower socio-economic level than whites. Most non-Christians, black and white, who are in the lower income brackets in this nation are now in support of Obama.
Whether true or not they feel that he has their best interest at heart while McCain and the GOP’s policies favor the rich. So this is about much more than color and I really think you get it wrong when you say that African-Americans are voting soley based on skin color.
African-Americans by large proportions have voted democratic historically. The GOP has never been able to count on the African-American vote. In past elections something like 95% of the African-American vote went to the democratic candidate, who has ALWAYS been white!!! So saying this is all about color in this election is quite frankly an ignorant statement. If Hillary Clinton or some other white person had won the democratic nomination the number of African-Americans voting for the democratic candidate would not have changed. The level of excitment may not have been high but you would not see African-Americans coming out in large numbers for the GOP candidate.
Finally I am offended when I see whites make statements like yours. This country was built largely on the free labor of African-Americans for 200 years, 1680ish to 1864. Despite this African-Americans have voted for white candidates for president since they have been given the right to vote. Why should they not come out in large numbers to support the first viable African-American candidate in the history of our great nation.
You get it wrong, ma’am very wrong!!!
@MrsTaunya1967 - I didn’t say African Americans are voting soling on the color of skin. I said anyone who is is raist. THere are many white people in this area voting for Mccain because they in their words “Don’t want to vote for a black man”. They are racist. I have also seen some African Americans say they are voting for Obama because he is “NOT white” they too are racist.
Either one is rasist.
If they are voting for Obama for other reasons then they don’t apply for what I said.
I said people should vote on platform. You said the people you know are voting on platform. I congradulate them for that. THat was Martin Luther King Jr’s dreeam.
I have no problem with them. THey arent “beeing called out” in this post.
God bless
@Kristenmomof3 - Kristen one of your first sentences says many African-Americans are voting for Obama because he is not white. How are you coming to this conclusion? I could understand your point if the GOP hisorically got a significant percentage of the African-American vote and this election they are not. But there is not another group in our society more solidly with the Democratic Party historically than African-Americans. I know because I have fought against it with my friends and relatives who for years have considered me a sell-out for voting Republican. All I am saying is that based on that you can not make the statement that many African-Americans are voting for the democratic candidate because he is black. They always overwhelmingly support the democratic candiate and this person has in the past always been white!!!
@MrsTaunya1967 - THere are many, at least in this area. Also watching TV and seeing ACORN yell over and over VOTE FOR OBAMA Vote AGAINST WHITE OPPRESSION.
THat is rasim. It is out there. I am not just calling out African Americans. I am calling out whites, Hispanics anyone voting on race.
No matter your skin color it is racism if you are voting based on skin color.
You are taking this as an attack on you and your family. It is not. YOu stated that they are voting based on platform.
This is no way directed on them.
The racism on both sides has been very public this election
I don’t care about the color of skin or the sex of the person running for the president. Those things to me, don’t make a difference of how the person will or will not handle being president.
@MrsTaunya1967 - One thing ma’am… how does it make sense to vote for someone in this election because it’s felt that the last eight years have been a raw deal? The person who was in the office the last eight years isn’t running in this election. So, honestly, why is it that people are voting for Obama against G.W.? That is basically what you are saying.
“If you wanted to run against Bush, you should have done it four years ago.”
I would be offended but as I’ve read some of your commentary before, its to be expected. What do you care anyway, I thought you didnt vote. Am I mistaken? Maybe I am but I dont think so.
See, Black people arent ignorant. We READ and we THINK and we are INTELLIGENT. I dont need you or anyone else trying to analyse why I vote the way I vote. I wont tell you who I vote for because its none of your business. But the sheer fact that you would automatically ASSUME that we only vote because of someones skin color is like me assuming that all White people wear a white sheet over their heads and burn crosses.
How insulting.
@James3_1 - You bring up another topic that I am not prepared to discuss. This post was on race and I stated that African-Americans always vote for the democratic candidate regardless of skin color.
As to voting democratic because you are upset with the last eight years that is another matter. Since I am a conservative George Bush supporter I do not understand that. You are right Geore Bush is not John McCain I for one happen to like George Bush better than McCain and would take a third Bush term over McCain anyday.
I guess you did not read my post where I stated I am a conservative but just assumed based on skin color that I support the democratic candidate.
@Kristenmomof3 - Well Kristen maybe you should come away from the TV and pick up a book, preferably about history. That would probably give you a better understanding of race relations in this great nation of ours.
As far as oppression goes our bible speaks out more against oppression than it does murder (abortion) and it was oppression that enslaved African-Americans for 200 years and it is oppression that has stopped American from having a viable black candidate until 2008.
If you are a Christian and you are not concerned about the sin of oppression even when your group is not being oppressed something is wrong.
He’s black?
@MrsTaunya1967 - Actually Ma’am, you brought it up since I was only commenting on something YOU said. Also, I never accused you of being anything, conservative or democrat. All the descriptive terms I used were either general, or only specific when I was quoting someone else who was speaking to a specific person. In other words, I have to presume it was you who did not read my post.
Have a great day.
Kristen, you are certainly taking some heat for this post. But I got exactly what you were trying to say and that was that IF someone is voting for him OR against him based on his skin color, then that is racist. You are exactly right. Great post.
@MrsFranklin - the “sheer” fact that YOU would only assume she was talking about ALL black people is pathetic, and it disproves your claim of intelligence, and the ability to read. She didn’t say all black people do this. She only talked of those who did. There is an interesting saying though
“Throw a rock into a pack of dogs… the one who yelps is the one who got hit.”
Have a good day.
Sorry, too uninterested to comment futher.
@MrsTaunya1967 - The black people USED to vote always democrat party because they weren’t well educated (back in our unenlightened ages). But NOW that they are very well educated, they sometimes vote democrat and sometimes vote republican.. I would hope it was because of the beliefs of the candidate and not what party platform he’s sitting on!!!
First and foremost I am assuming we are all christians and on that assumption we need to becareful not to forget that . What I am about to say I say with love. True enough like Kristen said we ought not vote based on color. Some vote their pocket book and some vote their heart. I personally vote my heart because my treasures are laid up in heaven and my God will supply my every need. My heart and God’s word tells me that abortion is wrong, my heart and God’s word tells me that same sex marriage is wrong. the list goes on and on. We are in the end times and the signs are everywhere if you haven’t noticed. I will say that if you look closely and listen closely and use that discerning spirit God gives you it won’t be hard to figure out that our nation will be headed in a national disaster if Obama becomes president. People no it’s not because he is black because truthfully he isn’t he is half black and white. It’s because of the unknow, his stance on the war, and yes I will say it his religion. He is a muslim.Oboma has ridiculed God’s word, he believes in creation and evolution, he won’t put his hand on the bible he won’t put his hand on his chest when pledging allegience to the flag, I don’t need to go any further there many other things that are contrary to what this nation stands for. I truly believe one needs to get on their faces and call out to Jesus for guidance for whom they should vote and you can’t tell me Christ is racist. He knows the heart of every man so neither candidate can hide, God knows. SO if I have offended anyone I apologize a head of time because that is not my intentions. Kristen, be encouraged God knows your heart and what you are trying to say. Mrs. Tanya please search your heart to see if you might have misunderstood Ms. Kristen so you can be restored. I know once I post this message I will probably be attacked from every direction but I will stand on what I believe to be truth.
God bless
I like what joyelleno1 said, i think that you have not done anything wrong on your post Kristian i also believe that we should be in much prayer for are nation and vote according to how God would want us to Thanks for a great post
I don’t understand why you are taking so much heat on this. First of all, this is your blog, and you have the right under the 2nd amendment to say what you want. Secondly, you clearly defined what is racism – voting or not voting for someone because of the color of their skin. And you further stated that if people aren’t doing that, that not racism, but geniunely looking at the platform and for what that particular candidate stands for.
I’m sorry, but I have heard too many people say they are voting for Obama because he’s black, that we need to have a black President in office to right all the wrongs done by the white supremacists. Basically, that’s what Jeremiah Wright believes – Obama’s pastor for 20 years – that’s racism, pure and simple.
I agree with you, this is not what MLK intended. In his speech, he said that he wished for a world where former slave owners would sit down and share a meal with former slaves and their children. I’m sorry – but from my perspective, there are many more “former slave owners” willing to sit down at that meal than there are “former slaves and their children”. I think slavery is wrong – no doubt – but the fact is that slavery was also common in Africa before the 1800′s in this country.
I agree with joyellen – the principles that Obama holds dear, his religion (which is not Christianity, btw), his ideas are dangerous for this country, and an affront to God. God does not look at skin color, and neither do alot of Americans who are being accused of racism. His policies are bad news, no matter what the color of his skin is. Black, white, yellow – makes no differences.
Good post, kristen.
I’m sorry that people are obviously choosing to be offended. This was a great post and I heartily agree with you. You were saying that any one of any color voting solely based on color is racism. Amen! The most important thing in any election, in my opinion is people being educated on the candidate they are supporting. Meaning that they shouldn’t vote for them b/c they like their personality or how they speak or any other reason. They should know the issues and vote for the person who most closely aligns with their beliefs on all the issues. And what you brought up is something that is sad in our country today and just one more reason that you should NOT vote that way. It should be based, as you said, on their platforms and not their skin or any other thing. Great job! Again, sorry you are getting flack for it. You made yourself quite clear.
@MrsTaunya1967 - Ma’m, I’m not trying to be disrespectful to you in any way. But I did want to point out what she actually said in her post. If you still feel the same way, I will honestly say I’m not really sure why, but you are entitled to your opinion. Here are direct quotes from her post.
“If people vote based of the color
of skin weither it be for or against Obama (weither the person is white
or african-american) then we have not grown at all. We have not moved
forward at all.”
“If a PERSON is voting against Obama because he is “not white” then we are not there yet.
If a PERSON is voting FOR Obama because he iS “not white” then we are not there yet.
ONE IS AS BAD AS THE OTHER!!! ONE IS AS RACIST AS THE OTHER!!!
It
goes either way weither you are white, or African American if you are
voting for a person (or against a person) based on the color of their
skin THEN YOU ARE A RASIST!!!”
(Emphasis on “person” mine)
And also, since you brought the platform issue up, which you and the people you know are obviously voting for and as she said in her post and in her responses to you that she respects, I will point out what she said:
“So when you go to vote on Tuesday
weither you vote for McCain, Obama, Baldwin, Barr or someone else,
Please vote for them because you agree with their platform and
character and not the color of their skin.”
I felt she made it very clear that she was talking about any race voting or not voting based on race alone is racism. I would think we would all agree on that. She was not pointing fingers at African-Americans in any way. And sad to say, there are people on both sides voting b/c of race or other issues that are not right. Platforms is the key and as far as I can tell, you both agree on that.
Thanks for your time.
@guestbrief - You are mistaken for every election since they have had the opportunity to vote black people have voted 90% for the democratic party. You are sitting in front of a computer google it do the research and you will find out that what I am saying is true. Black people have never voted in any sizable numbers for the Republican candidate.
Many are voting for Obama because he is not white, and the color of his skin has afforded him a greater degree of latitude with the media (which borders on insanity) than he would have received had he been “white”. The former is undeniable when you look at what Howard Stern did, which is beyond sad. There are people on xanga who have blogged about Obama and how they are supporting him because he is NOT white. To say that his race is not an issue is a lie, and were he not the black man endorsed by Oprah (plus if the GOP had offered a real choice) it is doubtful that the junior senator with LESS experience than Palin who actually can’t speak would have a real shot at anything. Clearly there are problems with the GOP; they nominated McCain. While Todd Palin was getting a DUI Obama was snorting coke, but lets not get negative about THE ONE, and do not ask him anything that might embarrass him; just ask Todd the Plumber. He was just some guy who had Obama show up on his driveway and dared to ask him a question. This election is the worst of us, and shows that as reason has left emotion has taken hold and polarized this nation on a level not seen in a very long time. Obama’s policies and fundamental beliefs are not what we need, and will ultimately be destructive to us as a nation. To oppose Obama is NOT to support slavery or oppression or anything else and the assumption is made to manipulate people into doing what they know they should not do. I’ve yet to find a single reason personally to vote for Obama. It has worked, and so long as we continue to see these issues effectively used to stop the dialogue that should be taking place, we are no better off than we were in 1866, or when King made his speech. In fact, we might be in a worst place, for in those times we were striving to move forward, but now we are seeking to replace the racism of the past with a new racism that seeks to keep us divided and destroy the dream of MLK and many Americans.
Black people did not have the right to vote when Lincoln was elected, maybe you might want to brush up on your history a tad.
@MrsTaunya1967 -
Mr. Lincoln and the next 70 years aside, right? There was a time when they would only vote Republican, and it was the Republicans who came to power to bring freedom and justice to the black people. They are not now racist because they do not wish to see socialism or the overwhelming and crippling burden of the welfare state placed upon all the people of this nation. To say that somehow that is racist is beyond foolish and shows again that we cannot move beyond this to have real dialogue and to look honestly at the issues we face TODAY. If you believe that is racist, or anything written here thus far is racist, then your concept of racism is so gravely skewed as to be rendered meaningless.
@MrsTaunya1967 - You really don’t wish to dialogue, do you? Your not even willing to give the most basic level of respect or actually look at the facts such as the fact that a/ blacks voted overwhelmingly Republican after Lincoln for the next 70 years and b/ entire state assemblies and most Congressmen from the south after the Civil War were black. I’m pretty up on my history,and it doesn’t look like you have much to teach, thanks anyway. You perfectly display my point that dialogue is dead in this nation, and name calling and emotion are being used to manipulate people from actually looking at the issues and doing what is RIGHT, but let’s not let morals or truth stand in our way.
@Candlefish - One more response to you and then I am done with our dialogue. I have a Bachelor’s Degree with a cognate in history and know of which I speak. Black people were given the right to vote in 1870 but it was not until a law was passed in 1944 that they were freely allowed to vote in the south. Up until then things like poll taxes and voter intimidation were used to keep blacks from voting. Not to mention the white only primaries that took place regularly until this time. After 1944 is when black people were freely allowed to vote and Jim Crow laws were abolished.
I am happy to engage in a conversation with you but first you must educate yourself so that we are at least discussing facts. As to most congressman from the south being black that is just false. Please do your homework so you can at least learn a little more about American history.
@MrsTaunya1967 - I have done my homework, and I suspect your claims are false, but regardless, you clearly are not interested in the facts and I’m not interested in revisionist history (check photos from the time of legislators and congressmen from the former CSA) which is at best a side bar in this dialogue which is about the facts concerning Obama’s support. I am and have been a lifelong passionate student of history, and although that was not my major, it continues to be one of my great passions. There is no doubt that the black politicians of the Reconstruction era faced hardships as did black voters (and all southerners at the time for that matter; not a happy time), but again, this is a side issue, and has nothing to do with Obama beyond his debt to those heros who went before him, and the same spirit of racism which is compelling many to support him. Feel free to e-mail me if you wish to discuss this more, but you are unwilling or incapable of dialoging without insulting or displaying a false arrogance which belittles this forum, our faith, and the topic at hand. I’m sorry you felt the need, but again, it only proves the point.
I agree with Hecalmsthestorm, great post. I am sorry that some people read it and were offended by it, I did not find it offensive at all. I love the “I Have A Dream” speech, very powerful after all these years. Grace to you!
@Candlefish - I said I was done responding but I will not allow you to personally attack my character just because we disagree. If you are the Christian you claim to be you know Christ is not honored by that. Futhermore your attempt to convince me that Obama is not worth voting for is a waste of time. If you have read my earlier comments you would know that NEVER would I ever vote for a man such as Obama. I am an ultra-conservative Christian homeschool mother who would never consider voting for a pro-choice candidate. In fact I am not voting for John McCain because in my mind he is not a conservative either. Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party is the man I voted for.
We probably have more in common that not however I will not allow the reason that African-Americans are voting for Obama to be characterized as racist. There is just much more to the story than that. I also will not allow you or anyone else to claim I am being arrogant just because I happen to be educated and have my facts straight. If you are offended by a particular word or phrase I have used please let me know exactly what that is and I will be happy to apologize. Now we both need to move on to our day and serving God in our respective roles. The energy we have expended is best reserved for praying for this great nation of ours.
In Him,
Mrs. Henderson
Mrs.Tanya with all do respect I hate to say it, but you are not being reasonable youare trying way to hard to find something between the lines that isn’t there in Kristen’s blog. It is what it is. Please stop taking what she said out of context to make it about the black people of america it’s about anyone who is voting because of race then it becomes a racist thing. I would have to say that the christians have been discriminated against quite a bit the last several year and unfortuneatly I don’t see that ending until Our Savior comes to get His children. To me that’s more important issue at hand is that we all do our part for the kingdom, standing for what is right not looking back, but pressing forward toward the high mark. Stop taking your eyes off of Jesus and looking at the circumstances . There is nothing to big for GOd even little ole’ Barak. We have power because of the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ so we need to walk like a person who has been covered in that blood. We need to stop giving up becasue we don’t think we can make a diffrence. We need to fight against the things that defile this country and our conscious. There is no color in christianity! SO if we are about the Father’s business we won’t have time to be offended or to offend. So if you haven’t voted I urge you to get on your face and bombard the throne room of GOd asking for wisdom concerning this election and trust that God will speak to your heart. Trust me GOd isn’t racist. There are many who may vote their pocket book and many who vote their conscience. I personally vote my conscience because I know my Father in Heaven will supply my every need. I know that my heart and God’s word tells me that abortion is wrong, my heart and God’s word tells me that same sex marriage is wrong.There are many other issues that I do not agree with but I just wanted to give you an example of some of the reasons why i decided to vote republican. I am sure when I post this blog I will be attacked but please know I mean no malice or hate for anyone. So if I have offended you please forgive me.
I did not personally attack you at all, you’re the one who attacked my knowledge in a most arrogant manner, which has been the case for you today. I don’t pretend to know you, but when people start pulling out degrees it is usually because they have nothing really to say or they do not wish to address the facts. Some of the most uneducated people I know have degrees, and you clearly assumed and implied I am uneducated. You then offered to school me. Hardly the comments someone would offer another whom they considered their equal or respected on any level. The Lincoln statement was over the top, as clearly blacks did not vote in 1860, but they supported Republicans then and after. Did my children’s hats cause you to stereotype me? Bigotry against Christians and “hillbillys” is more than acceptable in todays climate, but I would hope that you wouldn’t do that. I suspect that you did fall into your own prejudices here.. It is beneath your calling as a daughter of the King and as my sister in the LORD. I was not trying to convince you to vote for anyone, and if you are as educated and godly as you say, why do you attempt to create in my posts what simply was not there? Very bad form there sister! Consider what I wrote and what I am actually saying and don’t presume to know me. The fact is that there are people who are voting for Obama BECAUSE he is black. Be offended by that, not that someone pointed it out or that others agree with the one who pointed it out. Racism is just as wrong from Nation of Islam as it is from the KKK, and voting for anyone because of their skin color or last name is WRONG regardless of who does it. We are all Americans, whatever our past, and our failure to come together as Americans will be the death of our Constitutional Republic. I fail to see where you find that offensive, or where you feel the need to defend what cannot be defended. No one said that ALL supporters of Obama are voting for him because of his race, but that there were people who are and that it is wrong. Have you heard the Howard Stern clip? Most here are Christians and many of us homeschool. I am conservative and yes, I have issues with McCain. All of this is not really the issue here, which is that people are supporting (there was no qualifier here as to the degree) Obama because of his skin color. You perceive this as an attack on the African American community, and you have acted out accordingly, thus proving my previous points. We MUST move past this if we hope to secure a future for all of our children and truly come together as one nation. Best to you!
Thanks for stopping by. Great post!
@joyellen01 - I certainly will not attack you for what you said. I agree with your completely!
Great Post!
You hit the nail on the head. If you vote based on skin tone, you are a racist. If you vote on the issues, you are not. If the only reason you are voting for Obama is because he is black or if the only reason you are voting for McCain is because he is white, then you are a racist. You said it well. If anyone was offended by the post, he or she should look to her own motivation.
This is a great post.
To some of the other commentors: Not ALL people who are voting for Obama are doing it because he is black. But there ARE those people that are voting for him for that reason. I have met them face to face.
@Hecalmsthestorm - I am glad to know we are in agreement. I can seethat there is still some unresolved hostility in the air. This is just what the enemy wants is for us to attack one another and let that ugly pride rise up in u. Face it we are allas filty rags before the Lord and none are righteous no not one. So for that reason alone we should get over ourselves and stop trying to figure out who is better who is whiter or who is blacker and none is better than the other. Noone knows the heart of man so we can’t say who is voting for what and why. The only thing that matters is that you and only you are voting what your heart tellls you to vote and if you can live with that vote. Unfortuneatly this topic can go on for days and never get resolved and then you have wasted those few days when you could have been about your Father’s business. I don’t mean to come across insensitive to your views or feelings, but there are bigger fish to fry. SO as a sister in Christ I ask that those who have been offended or if your the offender choose to forgive and be restored having mercy for one another. We can’t allow the enemy to have victory in our lives.
@Candlefish - Sorry if bringing up my education hit a nerve with you. I only did that because you kept stating I was wrong on my history and I am not. I wanted to let you know that this is an area I studied formally for years. Historically blacks have voted for the Democrat in large numbers not the Republican. The Obama votes are by and large not a race issue but an issue, issue!!!
As to stereotyping over your childrens hats never!!! They look pretty cute and I have lived my entire life (i’m forty-one) in rural America so I am officially a hick as well!!!! My mother walks around in a hat just like that and cowboy boots and my children and for the most part spend our days barefoot except if we have to go out.
God Bless
@joyellen01 - Thank you for your comments but if you check the original post it is stated that blacks are voting for Obama because of skin color. I stated that by and large that is not correct blacks have always voted in large numbers for the Democrats and do not normally support Republicans.
Thank you also for your info on how you vote but as I stated in an earlier post I am an ultra-conservative Christian who has already cast her vote for the only pro-life candidate in the race, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party. As for your comments on my conduct read my posts I have not stepped out of line in any way. I have merely disagreed with Kristen’s post and the very idea that blacks are supporting Obama because of the color of his skin.
May God Bless you!
thanks for posting.
I agree 100%. Those who are voting solely, even predominantly, because of either candidates skin color are, however well intentioned, thereby so biased. Alas, neither McCain or Obama are ideal presidential choices. Indeed, no one is perfect. That said, to vote based on any one “hot button” issue is potentially myopic as well. It’s interesting to note that God is no respecter of persons, and that he only initially granted the Israelites a king at their stubborn request. Whomever one is leaning towards, we should all pray for both, never forgetting to lean on the Lord. ”Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;” [Psalms 33:12a KJV ] Amen.
Kristen, this is a wonderful post!! And there are so many out there who ARE only voting for Obama because he’s black. We’ve seen the videos… seen the footage. It’s true. Not for everyone, but for SO many.
Wow. I’m exhausted reading all of this. . .
@MrsTaunya1967 -
I give up, as you obviously are not interested in responding to what I actually write, or in the facts but rather in creating your own twisted version of it. Maybe you need to run for office. Your whole exchange makes me very sad.
@Candlefish - Go enjoy your family this beautiful Saturday. Prepare to worship the Lord tommorow and let us both forget this unfortunate exchange. It has made me very sad as well but I choose to end it and just pray for you.
In Him,
Mrs. Henderson
@MrsTaunya1967 - I think Kristin is talking to all of us about not voting for the candidate on the basis of their skin color. If she is accusing (and I think she is NOT), it is not obvious to me. I weighed heavily the policies of all candidates, and saw good in every one of them, but voted for the one who I believe is best prepared and would do the least damage to America. I hope you will too.
@MrsFranklin - I appreciate what you are saying, but I do hope you also are not voting based on perceived injustice of the past 8 years, or on the basis of the race of the candidate. I believe in the Republican platform, not how it is often carried out, because it seems the most just of the two major party platforms.
@James3_1 - Can anyone say “Ouch!”? I am not sure you are getting attacked because you hit that dog. I think the two ladies may feel you (and perhaps me) do not understand what it means to be black in America. I will plead guilty. But I have tried to understand, and to accuse this generation of whites of the crimes of their great-grandfathers, and fears of the next two generations is just as much racism as whites hating blacks. We all need to get over this matter of offense and choose leaders on the basis of their character. (I hope you don’t take this as an attack on you, because it is not meant to be, though in later comments you got a little bit pointed in criticizing)
@Candlefish - I hear what you are saying. I also think we have found this year that we are not as a nation ready, to look past race as a criterion for our vote. We are just as biased as in former generations. BUT are we reading here that some of the black responders are blind to the obvious bias of their comments? People have voted for black candidates for Senator, Congressman, and other roles. They just have not yet gotten a black man into the White House. They might succeed this year.
@joyellen01 - Well said, and I agree.
@MrsTaunya1967 - but it was Lincoln, a Republican leader, who gave the black people the chance to go free, and decide for themselves how to live, how to believe, how to vote whenever the vote was granted. It took 90 years before the vote was granted, but it took that long for white people to fully believe that black people were fully equal. Yes, that is a sad commentary on the racism of the United States of America.
There is a very good editorial from a very different angle on this to be found at sfgate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/27/EDQI13NPIT.DTL&hw=Op+Ed+Obama&sn=014&sc=371
Title is, So why isn’t Obama white?
There is a simple fact that Obama is not only Black but White as well. Or have we not noticed? Unless we still follow the Jim Crow law of 1 drop of black blood makes you black, then Obama is white AND black. Personally I do not care WHY someone votes, just as long as they do. To say someone would vote for someone based on skin color, and call them racist, is to make a very broad point. Some people might simply because there is a comfort level. “he is like me” kind or “he is not like me” is something we do every single time we make decisions.
I am voting the way I vote, because I do so base on what I hope is good honest informed decisions. I am also however, someone who had a great advantage of a good education, access to the internet, and love to read. A great number of people, do not have that advantage, and their votes are just as valued as mine. So what ever motivates them, to vote, I say, great.
As for Martin Luther King Jr. We still have a long ways to go, but then, we have not exactly been standing still either. “So let us praise what we have done, and acknowledge in solemn contemplation, the steps we still must and know we CAN do.”
Nancy Louise
Well I don’t care I am voting for Obama because of who he is and his positions. I don’t think it’s racist for a black person to want to see the first black president elected. Martin Luther King jr. would be incredibly proud to see our nation has progressed to the point that women and black men are running for president.
Also why don’t you point out all the women who wanted to vote for Clinton just because she was a female, or people voting for McCain just because he has Palin.
I think you don’t give people enough credit because from what I’ve seen even minorities that I have been around a couple have said they are voting for McCain, I think people have gotten it together and are making semi-educated decisions, and even if they aren’t ….oh well they have the right to vote however they want…that’s a democracy.
Hi Sister Kristen,
Wow you are taking some heat that I still can’t figure out why. I read your post over and over again and I have no clue as to what the hoopla is all about. I got your point and if you don’t mind I forwarded your point to many of my family since it was very true. You wrote something that was on your mind and you have every right to express that. I see nothing “insulting” in your post.
Truth be told that there are black people who are so twisted in the excitment that they would vote for Obama for the fact that he is black. I think that Obama has gotten a nice free ticket with the media because of that one thing… and that is his skin color. And there are plenty of white folks who will NOT vote for Obama because of that same reason. Let me make one point clear that I was very supportive of Obama running and felt that he was a wonderful speaker. As the election progressed I could see that he was just that… a wonderful speaker and that’s it. He had no leg to stand on, no experience, and no real understanding of the constitution and what the gentlemen who founded this country wanted.
What Sister Kristen is pointing out in her post is that we should vote for a candidate because of his/her qualifications and ability to handle the responsibilities that come with that position. You might be living in a balloon of denial but that’s reality today. There are people who vote this way whether it be subconsciously or not they do these things and unfortunately it is how it is.
So before you go and call her post insulting go out of your house and see what the world is about. Just maybe you are spending to much time reading about history instead of stepping into the reality that is… today!
God Bless!
Christine
I just wanted to say thank you for this. I completely agree that Dr. King would be disappointed in the people who vote solely based on skin color.
I’m sorry to see that your comment section has been over-run with arguments!
Have a good week!
Mrs.Taunya, I understand exactly what the writer is saying. I am one of the hybrid children created from the enslavement of the Africans and the mistreatment of the Indians who where already in America when it was allegedly discovered by Christopher Columbus. I am up to date on my history, and I know that it WAS the republican party that freed the slaves. I also know that in the beginning when blacks were allowed the right to vote they did NOT vote democratic. The vote of the blacks did not change until somewhere around the time of John F. Kennedy’s era. However, many seem to forget this fact. I myself have listen to the candidates, an do agree with alot of what I have heard from Obama. Yet, I am still not comfortable with voting this election. I do not desire to see McCain become president, because I do not believe that he is the man for the job to better America. On the other hand, I do not feel comfortable casting my vote for Obama either. We are two days away from the election and there is information that is coming across as hearsies to me that I cannot get a clear reading of truth or fiction on. One is the allegation that Obama supports abortion. Two is that he supports gay marriage. Three is that he is a muslim, and now I read here about him alledgedly snorting cocaine. The future of this country is very important to me, and my question is “When you have two candidates that you do NOT feel are the right one for the job, how can you honestly cast your vote for either in good conscious?” Yes. I know that people died so that I could have the right to vote, and I am twice endebted to that price which was paid for my right to vote, because I am also a woman. I did not vote for any of the candidates that were on the ballot in the primary because by the time the election made it to my city, my candidate of choice had dropped out of the race. I wrote in my candidate of choice who once again was NOT on the ballot. I have prayed and I keep hearing God say, “Have no part in it.” Therefore, it is more likely than not that I will not cast a vote this election which will cause me great grief if someone ask me who I voted for. I will not lie because I do love God, and His word tells us that a liar will not tarry in His sight. As children of the most high God, the thing that we all must do is pray. We must have faith in God, humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, seek God’s face, and pray. Then will He hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land.
Yes. I too agree with the writer, although she did not say it I will, “There ARE alot of black people who ARE stating that they are voting for Obama because of the color of his skin which as I have told them IS wrong.” There are also alot of blacks and whites who are NOT voting for Obama because he is black. Racist some may be, but there are also those who are refusing to vote for Obama because they are aware that racism is alive and well in the USA. I have heard some from different races make the statement that they are not going to help get that man killed. So you see, some of them are NOT racist. They simply care about and value human life. They do have legitimate concerns considering the fact that one assasination plot has already been foiled, and there have been people shot and killed just because they were wearing an Obama t-shirt. Yet, I thank God that they were not here when Jesus was crucified. If they had been, the world might have been destroyed and ALL of us doomed for Hell’s pit of fire.
I pray that this has shed some light on all of your concerns and helped with any confusion concerning what Kristen is saying in the blog. Be blessed. Love like Christ. Forgive like Jeus, and pray like Emmanuel.