Blacks should not support Obama simply because he is black.
Everything I heard today is true. But because of racism I suffered in my youth I can not turn against Obama." According to conservative writer Lloyd Marcus the preceding sentiment was uttered by his father a black man after the elder Marcus attended the first Black Conservative Press Conference and heard some damning truths about Barack Obama and the Democrats.
The elder Marcus exhibits a common phenomenon. We see it in Christians who are hurt by a clergy member and who then reject Christianity women who are hurt by a man and then embrace anti-male feminism and reject marriage and in many many other situations. And its often seemingly impossible to change such peoples minds and for good reason: you dont have to change their minds. You have to change their hearts. And emotional blocks dont yield to intellectual bulldozers.
Clearly the simple but generally resisted solution is forgiveness. Anger is like darkness: the more there is the less you can see. When were pathologically angry at someone we see him through colored glasses and ascribe negative motives to everything he does. Why thats just what he would do!" or No no no that was no accident; it was done on purpose to hurt me!" we think. This of course is to view that person (or it could be a group) with prejudice although we will invariably not realize it.
Once we forgive however that darkness lifts and we see the person in the light for what he is. Then we usually realize that he doesnt actually have a pitchfork tails and horns that hes just a flawed human being like the rest of us. And sometimes even we realize he has a bit of a halo we previously never perceivedand that ours is conspicuously missing. But this piece isnt mainly about forgiveness but something else that can perhaps have an emotional impact.
Whenever I hear of a person rejecting something good because of bad witnesses associated with itbiting off his nose to spite his face as my father used to saya certain response always occurs to me:
Why would you let those people control your life?"
In other words if we reject something good that can benefit us because someone associated with it once hurt us arent we in a sense allowing them to still exercise control over our lives? Arent we allowing these people who once victimized us toagain in a sensevictimize us in perpetuity?
Moreover consider all the implications of letting the ghosts of the past influence our present. If were rejecting Christianity because of them we not only deny ourselves the faith but also deny it to the children we may have in the future. Likewise if we let those who once hurt us control our voting decisions we not only hurt ourselves with bad government but also the children to whom we will bequeath it.
This is much like being a rebellious teenager who feeling hes been hurt by his father smokes or neglects academics because it is contrary to his fathers will. But what is the most significant thing that he really is opposing?
Goodness.
Truth.
And just as he rejects what is good governed by past hurts so does the voter who lets the lever be pulled by the ghosts of the past. Ironically but sadly he is responding to those who acted contrary to Truth by acting contrary to Truth himself.
As far as the black community goes we see this phenomenon not just in voting. Its also apparent when a black youth who studies hard or speaks properly is accused of acting white" (and jealousy plays a role here too). The result? Countless black youngsters have lived brutal and often short lives because theyd rather be ridin dirty than acting white and nerdy. Of course though right is never white (or black)its just right.
Having said this the I wont let you control me" perspective isnt the highest reason to do whats right. It smacks of ego and pales in comparison to the ethereal beauty of forgiveness. But perhaps in some cases it can be part of a new beginning.