You should never try to excuse away ignorance

Here we are in 2012 and on the verge of going to the ballot box in just under three months with the opportunity to return a black man back to the White House, or elect a new President of the United States. For some, it will be the first time having the opportunity to elect someone that looks like them to serve as their commander-in-chief. For others; it will be another opportunity to live out the dream of doing something that they never thought would be a possibility.

However, earlier this week, there was a bit of a hiccup when someone was speaking at a rally and referred too many in the crowd as “y’all”. What was so interesting about the quip is that the speaker did not say “us” or “we” to indicate some sort of inclusiveness; he said “y’all”. And need I remind anyone that reads any Detroit newspaper, the last time the word “y’all” was uttered around these parts; it came out of the mouth of a mother trying to rally the troops in support of her son. That son was an incumbent mayor who was on the ropes based on a first term in office that was mired in controversy. I am not here to suggest that the word y’all is indicative of referencing a particular group of people, but when spoken by Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick back in 2005, we all knew what she was talking about.

There was no outcry then because sadly, it came out of the mouth of someone that looked most like the crowd that was being addressed. You know, like the sad and pathetic excuse that far too many black folk use when trying to justify the ‘N’ word coming out the mouth of a black person when directed at another black person. Many say that it is okay because it is a term of endearment; much like it was excused away the context in which momma Kilpatrick spoke about “y’alls boy.

After the word was shouted to the crowd this past Tuesday, I sat back and waited on outcries from the African-American community and the many civil rights organizations across this country. In addition to the word, a few other words were combined with the statement that should have infuriated a so-called tolerate society in 2012. Sadly, I’m still waiting on some sense of pride from the African-American community exalting that we are in no way returning to chains regardless of who occupies the White House.

The statement made by Vice-president Biden was about as insensitive of a comment that a white man can make in this day and time. No one amongst the Democratic Party elite has called him on the carpet to tell him how stupid he was in saying something no ignorant. Though I do applaud former Governor of Virginia, Doug Wilder for chastising Biden, he was a black man on an island by himself criticizing the VP. Not a single civil rights leader has called him out and asked him what exactly he meant by the comment. Without a doubt, the crowd that he was speaking to was no more of a staunch liberal and Democrat than himself, but he chose to say, “y’all” as opposed to we, or us.

I shudder and cringe to think of what the outcry from blacks would have been had the same comment been made by the presumptive Vice-presidential nominee for the Republican Party. But I am just as taken aback by the lack of outrage from blacks being shown toward Joe Biden for making such a stupid remark. I need not remind anyone that Biden has made a previous comment that shows his ignorance toward people of color. Then you have the black president coming out in support of the fool that made the comment by defending him.

I am often asked why I am not a supporter of the President’s re-election bid. My response is simple; I find him to be a weak leader and his reaction/response to his Vice-president’s latest gaffe helps to make my case. Be it rest assured; had any other white man made the same irresponsible statement as Biden, the President would have had a conniption and acted as if the statement was the worst thing ever said. For President Obama to simply say that consumers would be worse off if Republicans succeeded in doing away with new restraints on financial institutions as a defense to Biden’s remark is blasphemous. To even go as far as to say that Biden’s intention was only to point out the aforementioned is not only foolhardy on the part of President Obama, but he shows himself to be a very naïve human being.

To try and excuse away what was said by his sidekick and being the so-called leader of the free world assures me that he does not have a clue about what it takes to be a true leader. Then to politicize the situation is even more disconcerting and validates my opinion that he is a weak leader. He speaks as if he truly endorses what was said and even knows the intent and mindset of Joe Biden, which makes him come across as just as big of a moron as his second-in-command.

I hate that Biden made the comment and do not wish that anyone else had been so stupid to speak before they spoke in such a callous way. However, to see so many blacks and civil rights icons remain so silent on the issue is a very scary notion. I often say to those that look like me that neither political party in America has their best interests at heart. One party plays us for the fools that they think we are, while the other sees us as fools for being so closed-minded and following blindly.

This latest incident by the vice-president seems to confirm my view of politics in America and the lack of outrage over the statement, while at the same time, excusing it away is oh so disappointing. I am just glad that a Republican was not stupid enough to say what Biden said, because I do not think that I can stand more faux outrage from people that show they are phony and real hypocrites in the end.