Urban Thought Collective

OBAMA: THE NEIL ARMSTRONG OF THE OVAL OFFICE

I was six years old on July 20, 1969 when the Apollo 11 astronauts became the first human beings to walk on the Moon. To this day I feel honored to have been able to witness that historic and very exciting event. Now, as our nation stands on the brink of an equally monumental moment – the probable election of the first black President of the United States – I find myself reflecting on the spirit of that first

When Neil Armstrong planted the first terrestrial footprint on the lunar surface, he declared it to be “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” That theme of universal brotherhood was reinforced by the inscription on a plaque the astronauts left on the moon: “We came in peace for all mankind.”

Barack Obama’s message of peace, hope and unity has inspired people of every race, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic group across the U.S. and around the world. Unlike Republican candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin, who seem to think that only white folks from small towns are “real Americans,” Barack Obama knows that this great nation to belongs to all of us and that diversity – of races, cultures, beliefs and ideas — is key to our greatness.

Obama’s election will be a “giant leap for mankind” because it will mean that a majority of Americans want to make a dramatic turn away the racial prejudice which has defined our nation and fostered oppression and division since the time of the 13 colonies. Of course, racism won’t vanish after election day, but an Obama victory will signal an unprecedented shift in the right direction.

Barack Obama is a man of the people. All of the people. That is why he is the right man for this moment in history. He comes in peace for all humankind.

BLAME McCAIN

John McCain has no connection to the evil-hearted neo-Nazis who were just busted by the ATF for plotting to murder Barack Obama and about a hundred other black people. But McCain does have a connection to the racial hatred that’s been directed at Obama throughout this campaign and which has intensified in recent weeks.

John McCain has no problem talking tough about Middle East terrorists, Washington liberals or Vladimir Putin. But he has been a milquetoast with supporters at his rallies who’ve repeatedly called Sen. Obama a “terrorist” and shouted “kill him.” Sure, McCain took the microphone out of that lady’s hand when she said Obama scares her because “he’s an Arab.” But he’s never really denounced the irrational, racist attitude that underpins the beliefs of people like her.

McCain didn’t blast the New Yorker magazine cover that caricatured Barack and Michelle Obama as jihadists. Nor did he speak out against the racist artwork and slogans on the “Obama waffle mix” boxes that were sold at a conservative family values conference.

I’ve also noticed that the Republican nominee is always real stingy about giving personal props to his Democratic opponent. On countless occasions we’ve heard Obama laud McCain for his patriotism and decades of service to our nation as a U.S. Senator, a Navy officer and as a POW in Vietnam. But McCain has never praised Obama as a patriotic American who has dedicated his life to serving our nation as a grassroots organizer, Illinois State Senator and U.S. Senator. The best McCain can come up with is to say that Obama is a “decent family man” who is “impressive in many ways.” Once again, this gives silent justification to the right wing extremists who doubt Obama’s loyalty to the United States.

On top of all of McCain’s subtle race-bating we’ve had to endure the blatant attacks by his running mate, Sarah Palin who’s been making a direct appeal to white racism by telling the people in small, predominately white towns that they are the “real Americans.” She first implied this in her acceptance speech at the Republican convention and it has been a theme with her ever since.

So, while John McCain is not responsible for the racists who’ve been plotting to murder Barack Obama (Good Morning America reports that there have been a record 500 death threats, more than with any previous Presidential candidate) the Republican candidate is responsible for cultivating the climate in which those plots have flourished.

CHRISTIAN CONTRADICTIONS

Christians who support Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative to ban gay marriage are doing so because the Bible classifies homosexuality as a sin. But a lot the Bible’s basic, moral laws are not codified into our civic laws.

The Ten Commandments make it clear that believers are not to do any work of any kind on the Sabbath. But state and federal laws do not prohibit people from going to work on Sunday (or Saturday, if you’re Jewish or Seventh Day Adventist). Jesus invalidated the teachings of Moses and outlawed divorce in three of the four Gospels: once in Luke (chapter 16, verse18) once in Mark (chapter 10, verses 1-12) and twice in Matthew (chapter 5, verse 3 and chapter 19, verses 6-10). But divorce is legal in America.

Today, most Christians and most churches consider divorce and working on the Sabbath to be permissible, even though the Bible prohibits them outright. This underscores the fact that many religious people (myself included) pick and choose our morality – actually modifying sacred principals to fit our lives rather than modifying our lives to conform to sacred principals.

So, we really shouldn’t be discussing morals and scripture with regard to Prop. 8. The real issue here is the state constitution which Prop. 8 would change to take equal rights away to a specific group of Californians. In other words, Prop. 8 would build discrimination into state law.

It will also set a frightening precedent. If a majority of California voters can outlaw gay marriage (which is currently legal) then what is to stop some future majority from outlawing inter-racial marriage or inter-religious marriage? This is not far-fetched at all. The same arguments about “tradition” and “morality” being voiced by Prop. 8 advocates were used to justify Jim Crow, anti-Jewish restrictions and the denial of rights to women.

Thanks for listening. I’m Cameron Turner and that’s my two cents.

THINK! IT AIN’T ILLEGAL…YET!

Cameron Turner is a Los Angeles-area native whose editorials, entertainment news features and audio documentaries have appeared on national radio networks, online and in print for over 20 years.