7 April 2008
I think that Hillary (“Bubba in a Pants Suit”) Clinton and Barack (“John Edwards with a Tan”) Obama are both amoral statists, and I won’t be voting for either of them. Nevertheless, it was a comfort this spring to realize that, at long last, most of the rest of America had finally caught up with me. Neither Hillary’s vagina nor Barack’s complexion are considered to be automatic disqualifications for the Presidency.
Okay, not ALL of America. There are still a few bigots who cannot bring themselves to vote for a “person of color” or a “person of gender.” They are a declining demographic. On the other hand, there are probably more (lots more!) who will be voting FOR them BECAUSE of their sex or race.
Do I deny that I am a sexist or a racist? Certainly not. I (like most everybody else) am a practicing sexist. My personal canoodling criteria automatically disqualify half the population. So do yours, I bet! But I don’t apply my sexism to the job scene. Architects, surgeons, and janitors should be evaluated strictly on the basis of job performance. Any demographic considerations overriding competence are wicked and cruel.
As for racism? Well, I have no stake in racial distinctions, so I generally don’t care. Sometimes such superficialities ARE significant, and I am certainly able to discern them. If Kimo asks me, “Who dat Haole?” I know he’s not talking about the Tongan or the Filipino in the crowd.
Now, if I were a casting director or a photo editor, I might have professional responsibilities to make racist decisions. Assembling a cast for A Raisin in the Sun, I’m apt to give short shrift to a lot of talented (but too pale) actors. If the “United Colors of Benetton” wants a picture of beautiful children, then I’m going to make sure that they’re chromatically balanced. If I were a hematologist I would take care to note those of my patients whom might have a greater proclivity for sickle-cell anemia. And if I were an obstetrician or a gynecologist, then I had BETTER be a sexist (female chauvinist variety) or I’m out of a job!
But I’m still not voting for Mrs Clinton or Mr Obama.
Nor Dennis (“The Red Menace”) Kucinich, but I wouldn’t mind his being President Paul’s Ambassador to the United Nations
(as long as we retain membership.)
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