Blog agains racism week

[la_marquise]

I found this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/28/birther-movement-obama-citizenship
this morning.
I'm not American, but:
Your president influences the world
Your new president is already changing how other countries view the USA
Your new president offers a new view of the US as a potential ally rather than an international bully
When you elected your new president, countries world-wide celebrated. Kenyans saw the possibility of an America which saw them as people.

I know that the Americans on my f'list do not, will not endorse the racist, abusive tactics of the individuals and organisations who are behind this attack. I know you don't endorse the racist agenda that seeks to deny rights and dignity to p.o.c.

This action, these agitators, are deplorable.

Comments

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Somebody once gave me a very pithy explanation of the core difference between Democrats and Republicans in the modern USA:

Democrats look forward to the day when nobody can believe that once upon a time a significant part of the electorate wanted to vote Republican.

Republicans look forward to the day when nobody can believe that once upon a time a significant part of the electorate were allowed to vote Democrat.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

If that is the worst they can say about the man, then he's doing bloody well, actually.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Indeed so. I find this kind of thing --- usually backed up with cries of 'right to free speech' --- hard to fathom. Because it's racist and abusive, full stop.

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

This newest controversy is a pretty good example of why I never want to go back to live in the United States. Oh, that and proposition 9.

It doesn't matter. Some disgruntled bunch of loonies over there will always find some bit of ordure to cling onto in order to try and discredit a president they dislike.

As if I needed anything more to depress me this morning.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

They've been categorically debunked, and still they keep coming. Conspiracy theorists. They're not trainable.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

that's so true. (Ours tend to focus on Princess Di to this day.)

[realthog.livejournal.com]

The Guardian piece either is a bit out of date or exaggerates the influence of the birther fruitbats for purposes of journalistic effect. The same media and public that swallowed whole the Republican whoppers about Al Gore and John Kerry have for some reason declined to credit this latest bullshit. For a more accurate depiction of the current state of play, look here: http://mediamatters.org/columns/200907270015.

You have to remember that this is a country where large percentages believe in Creationism and that NASA faked the moon landings, and where a majority reject evolution. It's no wonder so many fall for conspiracy theories and will believe whatever drivel rightist hatemongering broadcasters like Limbaugh and O'Reilly feed into their ears. But for some reason the birther hypothesis, perhaps because it's so very easily debunkable, has failed to take much of a hold.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It's a slow news day over here, as far as I can tell. But all the same...
Sometimes I really don't understand the US. Which worries me: I need to learn more.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

There was an official vote yesterday in Congress (and I am not sure if I am proud or appalled by this) where they voted, unanimously, that Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and is a citizen of the United States.

ETA: Source on the bill that passed yesterday.

This has been debunked, repeatedly, and the insane fringe element that continues to push it, quite frankly, horrifies me.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

That it was unanimous is wonderful. But as you say, that it had to be held at all..
We have similar political myths here, that keep on reappearing. (Usually around immigration, poverty, or Princess Di.) Sometimes I do not understand other people at all.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

*nods* Same here. And I wish that more people would recognize their biases. I believe that too many don't see the racism inherent in this.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Well said.

These nut jobs are furious that Obama got elected and that he's continuing to have high ratings despte the wreckage of this country that Bush and his gangsters left it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Yes, that was the impression I got. We all have these people, too, but it's such a shame that they get to be listened to, anywhere.

[a-d-medievalist.livejournal.com]

I got this from someone else on my flist: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZTRjMTFhMzQxYmEzNjA2YWIwOTU4YWVjNzRmODE2NTI=#more

As she said, it's not often I agree with The National Review, but it's nice to see that they are publicly denouncing this nonsense.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Good for them.

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

Those people are just stark raving lunatics. Even in the sixties it would have been practically impossible to smuggle a baby into the country. And if that had been done, why would he have had to renounce his US citizenship at the age of ten in Indonesia? Their stories and arguments are all so contradictory as to be totally laughable.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It reeks of the last despairing bastion of prejudice. I have only once met a USian who believed this kind of thing. Everyone else is lovely. (And sane.)