Racial lines blur in today’s political climate

If you walked past the Bernhard Center or the flagpoles on Western Michigan University’s campus this afternoon you may have seen posters of President Barack Obama sporting an interesting new look; a Hitler’s mustache.

For some, particularly a few black students, the posters were alarming and troubling, judging by the looks on the faces of those passing by.

As a political science major, what was most interesting were the volunteers and workers passing out the literature that accompanied the posters. I spoke to one worker who held at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

His comparisons of recent initiatives by the Obama Administration to those of Hitler’s Third Reich more than 70 years ago were not only interesting, but also very provocative.

Perhaps what was more interesting was this worker, along with others, was black. I would say the ratio was an honest 50 percent white workers to 50 percent black or ethnically diverse team of about just over 10 people.

Normally it would be assumed that such posters would have been put up by the likes of the College Republicans, Americans for Prosperity and other similar registered student organizations on campus.

It is commonplace for pro-life movements and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender alliance and support groups to take the cake when it comes to being provocative and shocking in their initiatives.

Instead, this was a grassroots initiative by a political action committee headed by an economist and political activist named Lyndon LaRouche. What’s unique is LaRouche has ties to the Democratic Party and U.S. Labor Party, having run several times in Presidential elections.

His politics are also said to be modeled in the traditions of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This is a large contrast to what is normally expected today in American politics. It is not common to see Democrats and blacks openly criticizing President Barack Obama. It’s enough to make people ask what is going on?

Given the civil rights history in America and the racial tension that still exists between whites, blacks and other racially ethnic citizens today, it is no surprise that black political activists handing out literature that reads “Act Now to Stop Obama’s Nazi Health Plan!” would upset and create tension between people.

Especially those of their own race. It’s almost the equivalent shock value of a black political activist protesting MLK Day.

But perhaps an event, like the one seen on campus today, signifies the beginning of a new time in American society and politics where voter demographic lines, such as race, are beginning to blur and cease to restrict open criticism; a key function to government watchdog initiatives.

There are people who disagree with the President’s initiatives and they may be provocative and shocking to get their point across.

People are now politically identifying with issues that deal with the fiscal and medical well being of American citizens, regardless of their personal demographics like race, age, gender, etc. What happened on campus today is a prime example of just that.

Be prepared; what might shock you most is not what political activists are saying, but who and what kind of person is saying it based on your expectations and perceptions. Perhaps something really is changing.

Jon Stonehouse, the Western Herald managing editor, a senior double majoring in political science and journalism.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=8062

Posted by heraldstaff on Sep 14 2009. Filed under Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

http://HeraldStaff