"Racism" Has Been Made Irrelevant

Townhall.com ^ | September 27, 2009 | Austin Hill

[Kaslin]

"...Austin Hill...you just a racist; you just can’t handle the black man bein’ in charge..."

Those remarks were left for me in a voicemail message about six weeks ago. The call was placed to my Blackberry one weekday morning while I was on-air hosting talk radio in Phoenix, Arizona.

I don’t know who the woman was that made the call (the "caller i.d." was blocked), and I didn’t recognize the voice. But somebody who had access to my personal mobile number left that message for me at a very strategic time – a time when I was obviously not going to answer (because I was hosting a talk show!).

The call also seemed to correlate in a timely fashion with remarks I was making on the radio about some of President Obama’s policy proposals.

At about the moment that I was questioning the economics of Obamacare – President Obama has not explained how our government can possibly supply a greater quantity of a higher quality healthcare service to more consumers for less money than is currently spent on healthcare, and he can’t explain that because it is economically not possible – someone hurled the old familiar accusation at me. I dared to question, and even criticize the policies of our President – yes, America's "First Black President" – so, therefore, I was declared to be a "racist."

I’m well acquainted with the "racist" accusation. During the 2007 – 2008 presidential campaigns, I was doing daily talk radio in Washington, D.C., a metropolitan region with a large Black population. When then-Senator Obama would emerge as a topic of conversation (which he did most every day), at least a couple of the callers to my show were obliged to declare me a "racist" for disagreeing with the Senator.

I suspected at the time that there was a coordinated effort among some (not all) Obama supporters to infiltrate talk radio with the "racist" accusations, because I heard it on other talk shows. I observed this happening with local talk show hosts throughout the country, while national hosts Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Mike Gallagher all got an ear-full of the "r-word" as well.

In light of this routine pattern of Obama contrarians being automatically declared "racists," it may be a shock for some to learn that one of my most popular and most-read national editorial columns was a piece I wrote praising Barack Obama, a piece that was published here at Townhall.com

In January of 2008, in the midst of Bill Clinton leveling some very nasty, racially-tinged accusations against his wife's primary Democratic opponent, then-Senator Barack Obama shot-back at Bill and Hillary, declaring on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America" that "...I feel like I’m running against both Clintons .."

Days later, I penned a column entitled "Dear Mr. Obama, you’re right." I made the point that yes, Obama was running against "both Clintons," and while "both Clintons" dove into the gutter with their racial rhetoric, I complimented Obama for mostly staying above the fray. And based on the comments posted on the web site beneath that column, it was very well received.

In the column I noted that I can disagree with Mr. Obama's ideas, while still appreciating his conduct. That's what I was doing then. And in a similar vein, today I can respect the office of the Presidency, and the person Barack Obama, while vehemently disapproving of President Obama's ideas and policies.

I'm not the only "conservative" American who can respectfully disagree in this way. I recall that after President Obama's first televised speech to a joint session of Congress earlier this winter (President Obama didn't do a "State of the Union" speech, per se, but the speech essentially fulfilled that same purpose), it was none other than the always intelligent and thoughtful Hugh Hewitt who, while being a strong critic of this President, nonetheless noted what an amazing sign of American progress it was to observe a man with black skin executing the duties of the Executive Office.

Of course, the idea that one can be respectful and disagreeable all at the same time is incomprehensible to those given to simplistic, "all good/all bad," "black-and-white" type thinking. And this simplistic thinking reached a new high point last week when former President Jimmy Carter jumped on to the "if you disagree you’re a racist" bandwagon.

So before the next person leaves a voicemail or emails me, reminding me that I'm a racist, let me make something very clear. If you're inclined to join the simple-minded crowd; if you’re inclined to agree with President Jimmy Carter; if you actually believe that mere political disagreement is tantamount to "racism" – please consider the profound disservice you're doing to our country.

You, and others like you, have now successfully so over-used and misused the word "racism" such that you've made the term irrelevant. Today, when the word "racism" is uttered, it sounds like nothing more than defensive political "spin."

And to believe as Carter and company do is to render actual "racism" to be irrelevant in the minds of many. And that’s a sad turn of events, in a nation where actual racism still exists.

[randita]

The people who cry racism every time Obama’s policies are critiqued are making way more enemies than they are friends. Whenever racism becomes front and center, as in the Professor Gates incident, Obama’s approval ratings plummet.

[uncitizen]

btt

[bcsco]

Bump for later.

[albie]

“And that’s a sad turn of events, in a nation where actual racism still exists”.

...I don’t see why this had to be tossed in. Racism does exist, always has and always will exist. Mostly against whites. Why not have a discussion about that?

[Hegemony Cricket]

Good article, and it explains a lot about what what racism means. I’m still a little confused though. If I agree with obama when he says that kanye is a jack@$$, am I a racist or not a racist?

[ez]

Racism is a naturally-occurring fear reflex that exists within all humans. The more rational are able to overcome it...the more simple-minded are not.

[ETL]

Malik Zulu Shabazz, chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (NBPP):
"We believe in a Black first philosophy and a Black Liberation Theology."
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1858.shtml
________________________________________________________

From Jeff Head's website...
One notable quote from [James] Cone describing his Black Liberation Theology is as follows:

"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love." - "Divine Racism: The Unacknowledged Threshold Issue for Black Theology", in African-American Religious Thought: An Anthology, by William R Jones, ed Cornel West and Eddie Glaube (Westminster John Knox Press).
http://www.jeffhead.com/blacklibtheology.htm

African American Religious Thought: An Anthology (Paperback)
by Cornel West (Editor), Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/African-American-Religious-Thought-Anthology/dp/0664224598
_______________________________________________________

HANNITY: But Reverend Jeremiah Wright is not backing down and has not for years and in his strong stance on the teaching of black liberation theology is nothing new. He had the same things to say last spring when he appeared on "Hannity & Colmes:"

WRIGHT: If you're not going to talk about theology in context, if you're not going to talk about liberation theology that came out of the '60s, systematized black liberation theology that started with Jim Cone in 1968 and the writings of Cone and the writings of Dwight Hopkins and the writings of womynist theologians and Asian theologians and Hispanic theologians, then you can't talk about the black value system.

HANNITY: But I'm a — reverend

WRIGHT: Do you know liberation theology, sir?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354158,00.html
________________________________________________________

For all you'll ever need or want to know about Wright's
RACIST, COMMUNIST "Black Liberation Theology",
see my FR Home page:
http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/

Hint...

"Their founding document [the Weather Underground's] called for the establishment of a "white fighting force" to be allied with the "Black Liberation Movement" and other "anti-colonial" movements[1] to achieve "the destruction of US imperialism and the achievement of a classless world: world communism."..."-Berger, Dan (2006). Outlaws of America: The Weather Underground and the Politics of Solidarity. AK Press, 95.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherman_Underground#cite_ref-Berger_0-0

Outlaws of America: The Weather Underground and the Politics of Solidarity (Paperback) by Dan Berger
http://www.amazon.com/Outlaws-America-Underground-Politics-Solidarity/dp/1904859410
________________________________________________________

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright and Dr. William Ayers
are greeted by Rebekah Levin with the Committee
for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine.
(Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune / May 17, 2009)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ayers_wrightmay18,0,6689521.story

[ez]

That line bothered me too. Believing there can be a world without racism is like believing in Utopia. Racism is a instinctual reflex that must be overcome by education and life experience.

[Ev Reeman]

The way the left throws around charges of racism on a daily basis has so weakened any legitimate charges of racism to the point of laughability.

I hope all you minorities out there are happy now.

Obummer is not the great united, he is the great divider, the great polarizer, the great racist himself and we can all thank Reverend Wright for helping him become just that.

[Ev Reeman]

The way the left throws around charges of racism on a daily basis has so weakened any legitimate charges of racism to the point of laughability.

I hope all you minorities out there are happy now.

Obummer is not the great united, he is the great divider, the great polarizer, the great racist himself and we can all thank Reverend Wright for helping him become just that.

[Oratam]

what an amazing sign of American progress it was to observe a man with black skin executing the duties of the Executive Office.

Funny. I don't see a black man. I see a man with a severely flawed understanding of America committed to surrendering the United States to her enemies.

[Kaslin]

the faster it plummets the more I like it

[Kaslin]

Thanks for the bump

[ETL]

I don’t understand why our side wastes so much time defending the BS “racist” charge (against us) when there are so many REAL racists on the black communist left. We should just confront them with that. ie, “Black Liberation Theology”, etc. See my earlier post on BLT and/or FR Home page.

[Sherman Logan]

Unjustified cries of racism against opponents of black politicians actually works against black politicians being elected. Why would a white person vote for a black man or woman in future knowing they wouldn’t be able to disagree without being tarred as racist? Better vote for the white guy or gal you can disagree with freely.

Similarly, I suspect a good many employers are leery of hiring blacks, as firing a white guy who doesn’t work out is a whole lot less likely to result in litigation.

[livius]

I see a foreigner with a suntan who hates us.

[RoseofTexas]

He needs to investigate who the hell give out his cell number. Sounds like an INSIDE job! In these days, DON’T TRUST ANYONE!!

[uncitizen]

It’s a good article.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Obama’s rules for race relations:

Rule #1: Black people can say anything they want. If you don’t like it, you’re a racist.
Rule #2: Black people can do anything they want. If you don’t like it, you’re a racist.
Rule #3: You’re a racist.

[o_zarkman44]

The word “racist” is just another left wing label on conservatives.
Otherwise we are just Bible thumpers, fundamentalists, right wingers, homophobes, capitalist opportunists. And the list of division goes on. When in fact, we are all STILL Americans and want only what is best for Americans, within our means.

I think the accusation of racist is hate speech because it is so polarizing.

[mazda77]

Is it just me or is the architecture that of what one would see insde a mosque?

[ETL]

Must be just you. Black Liberation Theology is revolutionary communism, plain and simple.

[Oratam]

I see a foreigner with a suntan who hates us.

You, I, and Berlusconi agree.

[ETL]

Sorry. I didn’t realize you referring to the ‘church’ where Wright, Ayers and that other communist met.

[mazda77]

No worries. It just struck me in that picture in post #8 when I looked past the three dumbigoes.

[Toespi]

“...Austin Hill...you just a racist; you just can’t handle the black man bein’ in charge...”

Actually, I think black men can’t handle being in charge. Which, frankly, has been proven in just about every major American city who has had black mayors. Now when they have the opportunity to lead all they can talk about is racism and being in charge of the white man. The color of their skin is ruling this nation and it is ridiculous.

[ETL]

Is it just me or is the architecture that of what one would see inside a mosque?

Doesn't really matter what the place looks likes. What goes on inside is the promotion of Black Liberation Theology. Even Farrakhan's "Nation of Islam" is a Black Liberation communist front.

The Real Story Behind Rev. Wright's Controversial Black Liberation Theology Doctrine
Monday , May 5, 2008
FoxNews/Hannity's America
[special Friday night edition--original airdate May 2, 2008]

(some key excerpts)

["(Jose) Diaz-Balart is the son of Rafael Diaz-Balart y Guitierrez (a former Cuban politician). He has three bothers, Rafael Diaz-Balart (a banker), Mario Diaz-Balart (a US Congressman) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (also a US Congressman). His aunt, Mirta Diaz-Balart, was Fidel Castro's first wife."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Diaz-Balart]

JOSE DIAZ-BALART, TELEMUNDO NETWORK: "Liberation theology in Nicaragua in the mid-1980's was a pro-Sandinista, pro-Marxist, anti-U.S., anti-Catholic Church movement. That's it. No ifs, ands, or buts. His church apparently supported, in the mid-'80s in Nicaragua, groups that supported the Sandinista dictatorships and that were opposed to the Contras whose reason for being was calling for elections. That's all I know. I was there.

I saw the churches in Nicaragua that he spoke of, and the churches were churches that talked about the need for violent revolution and I remember clearly one of the major churches in Managua where the Jesus Christ on the altar was not Jesus Christ, he was a Sandinista soldier, and the priests talked about the corruption of the West, talked about the need for revolution everywhere, and talked about 'the evil empire' which was the United States of America."

REV. BOB SCHENCK, NATIONAL CLERGY COUNCIL: "it's based in Marxism. At the core of his [Wright's] theology is really an anti-Christian understanding of God, and as part of a long history of individuals who actually advocate using violence in overthrowing those they perceive to be oppressing them, even acts of murder have been defended by followers of liberation theology. That's very, very dangerous."

SCHENCK: "I was actually the only person escorted to Dr. Wright. He asked to see me, and I simply welcomed him to Washington, and then I said Dr. Wright, I want to bring you a warning: your embrace of Marxist liberation theology. It is contrary to the Gospel, and you need, sir, to abandon it. And at that he dropped the handshake and made it clear that he was not in the mood to dialogue on that point."

Source: The Real Story Behind Rev. Wright's Controversial Black Liberation Theology Doctrine:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,354158,00.html

[SkipW]

Austin Hill is a better man than I am. I can respect the office of the presidency, but I can NOT respect Barack Obama. If that is a simplistic viewthen so be it.

When I read that I thought about a word. Nuanced. Leftist academics and faux-intellectuals use that word a lot. They often use it contemptuously to disparage conservatives, claiming that if you don’t agree with them you are incapable intellectually of understanding their ideas.

I have no respect for Barack Obama. He is doing his level best to destroy America, and I detest him for that. I can’t find a single redeeming quality in him or in what he does. I can’t stand the sight of the man.

[TalBlack]

“...the more simple-minded are not.”

There is also the matter of evil. IQ may have nothing to do with it. I any case charges of racisim at this time in this country are wildly out of line with reality.

[hosepipe]

Austin!.. clue; Barry is not black at all.. he is half-black..

Barry half-White croons Fascist-Marxism in falsetto tones.. to Negroids..
Suggest you being a little more observant..

[ETL]

Obama's Church: Gospel of Hate
Kathy Shaidle, FrontPageMag.com
Monday, April 07, 2008

In March of 2007, FOX News host Sean Hannity had engaged Obama’s pastor in a heated interview about his Church’s teachings. For many viewers, the ensuing shouting match was their first exposure to "Black Liberation Theology"...

Like the pro-communist Liberation Theology that swept Central America in the 1980s and was repeatedly condemned by Pope John Paul II, Black Liberation Theology combines warmed-over 1960s vintage Marxism with carefully distorted biblical passages. However, in contrast to traditional Marxism, it emphasizes race rather than class. The Christian notion of "salvation" in the afterlife is superseded by "liberation" on earth, courtesy of the establishment of a socialist utopia.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=30CD9E14-B0C9-4F8C-A0A6-A896F0F44F02
_______________________________________________________

Catholics for Marx [Liberation Theology]
By Fr. Robert Sirico
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, June 03, 2004

In the days when the Superpowers were locked in a Cold War, Latin America seethed with revolution, and millions lived behind an iron curtain, a group of theologians concocted a novel idea within the history of Christianity. They proposed to combine the teachings of Jesus with the teachings of Marx as a way of justifying violent revolution to overthrow the economics of capitalism.

The Gospels were re-rendered not as doctrine impacting on the human soul but rather as windows into the historical dialectic of class struggle. These "liberation theologians" saw every biblical criticism of the rich as a mandate to expropriate the expropriating owners of capital, and every expression of compassion for the poor as a call for an uprising by the proletarian class of peasants and workers.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=460782B7-35CC-4C9E-A2C5-93832067C7CD

[USS Alaska]

“And that’s a sad turn of events, in a nation where actual racism still exists”.

...I don’t see why this had to be tossed in. Racism does exist, always has and always will exist. Mostly against whites. Why not have a discussion about that?

Enough about Senator "sheets" Byrd.

He may be dead already, but the demonRATS have chemically preserved his corpse and are using small implanted robotics to make him appear to move.

[USS Alaska]

If I agree with obama when he says that kanye is a jack@$$, am I a racist or not a racist?

Easy.

If you're white YOU ARE A RACIST.

If you are non-white, you can never be a racist.

See how easy that is?

[Howie]

[ez]

I don’t find it evil, I find it ignorant. Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds aggression.

[tiki]

If you are black then you’re not a racist but if you aren’t then you are a racist. Only blacks can call blacks names and not be racist. Only blacks can point out any obvious flaw in a black person and not be racist. Actually, if you are white you definitely are a racist.

[rockrr]

Usually when I encounter the “R” charge on the open forums where I spar with lefties, my response has been to say, “If you’re dim enough to believe that then you’re too dim to even speak with”.

A couple of days ago I tried a different tack - I turned his racism charge against him. I pointed out that there wasn’t an element of race in the conversation until HE introduced it and that he only did so in order to disenfranchise my opinion. Therefore HE was acting in a racist manner.

It stopped him in his tracks, but he recovered with other talking points - all of which I simply turned 180 degrees and smacked him back with. He got flustered and abandoned the debate.

I’m definitely going to be using this tactic in the future and wish that our “leaders” would too!

[Ev Reeman]

Since Obama is half white, does he hate himself and thinks he himself is racist? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Ev Reeman]

Liberals can’t stand the light of truth. They are like vermin cockroaches that scurry in the light of truth and facts.

[JimRed]

I complimented Obama for mostly staying above the fray.

Too much credit given. Why should he get involved when he has plenty of minions to do it for him?

[ETL]

Cop: Gates Told Him "I'll See Your Momma On The Porch"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/07/24/cop_gates_told_him_ill_see_your_momma_on_the_porch.html

[redpoll]

An accusation of racism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

[Vaduz]

you just a racist; you just can’t handle the black man bein’ **(in charge)**...” LOL in charge of what washing Pelosi, Reid and Soros feet.

[pabianice]

http://navlog.org/killed_kenny.html

[Mamzelle]

I’m to the point that I’m starting to enjoy the sound of the word—it means that the left has worn out a dangerous weapon and rendered it useless.

[Mamzelle]

You know what would really get under the thin skin of these racers? If we somehow managed to popularize “The First Bi-Racial President of the US” instead of the first black president.

[Republic of Texas]

I want black people to continue to cry “racist” UNTIL IT HAS NO MEANING ANYMORE. That won't be long either. When their magic bullet no longer works and they are forced to rely on smarts and competence, it's going to be a dark day, oh yeah, I said DARK, for the racist liberal blacks in America. That will be a good day for the US.

[wardaddy]

Racism used to be simply about folks who espoused white supremacist doctrines...plain and simple.

Racism has now become a tool to shout down anyone who criticizes minorities over any generalization of their group behavior no matter how accurate or how frequently qualified over and over granting the rare exception to the negative group trait or behavior.

This is racism today. A tool of the left and the weak to suppress realities they either cannot or are unwilling to accept.

And it is still played out everywhere, don't be fooled....even on this forum.

[TalBlack]

I” don’t find it evil, I find it ignorant. Ignorance breeds fear and fear breeds aggression.”

It’s this “elevated” reasoning that has helped us get, as a society, where we are today, ie; culturally not knowing right from wrong. I’ve been hearing it since the late 60’s. Evil exists today in the same measure that it alweays has since Adam. This idea of ‘ignorance not evil’ was being mocked by punks way back in the 50’s. Apparently even punks resent being reduced to no more than zeroes and ones in a mathamatical formula.