A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION
by MeLody Ryes

Here is something you will not find on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, USA Today, The Washington Post, The Herald or the New York Times (and so on and so on) addressing the concerns of real American voters who really want change, peace, truth and equality. I am realistic in knowing and, understanding that racism will never end, but a message can be sent saying "NO MORE BIGOTRY, NO MORE HATE!"

I do not know at what point I began feeling this way and I am not trying to upset any one individual or any group of people but it is what it is ... with regard to Barack Obama and whether you are a true Obama supporter, an undecided, a Clinton supporter, an Independent, a Republican (who truly would support Obama or Clinton) or a mis-informed American,this is what you need to hear,

"You cannot hate the "black guy" when he stumbles or does something you disagree with, and then love the "white guy" when he does, or says something amazing (this guy being Barack Obama)!

You either are, in between, or not, but whatever your choice is "have all the facts first" and "make your own individual decision based on the facts." Do not base it on second-hand rhetoric or racial views conveyed by any one person, group of people, an extremist or a racist by nature, or someone clearly misinformed.

First, you cannot assume that ALL people of color agree with Reverend Wright nor can you assume that ALL people of color disagree with Reverend Wright. ALL people of color are not members of that particular congregation and have no idea what Reverend Wright talked about for the past 20 years, but neither do you. And most or all churches whose congregations are made up of people of color, ARE talking about the WORD OF GOD on Sunday morning.

Second, most or some people of color are offended by the double-standards of this country and the media. Some, or most of, white Americans should get all the facts before passing judgment and ALL Americans SHOULD be upset with the media.

I guess the media does not realize that people of color watch the same TV shows as most white America? We bleed red blood like the next man and we, too, survive on the economy, jobs and green money. We read the local and national newspapers and keep ourselves informed. We do in fact converse and debate current and previous issues that affect ALL people not just "people of color."

Does the media not realize that some, or most, people of color are offended by the way the media is demoralizing the black clergymen and the black church? The idea that black pastors are savages screaming from the pool-pit is ridiculous. We are tired and offended by the Reverend Wright story. We are tired of some Americans, speaking in a tone that "YOUR" country is offended, solely, and "YOUR" country's patriotism is being mocked, solely.

Are people of any ethnicity not a part of this country? People, who were born and raised in the United States? People whose family and friends died on September 11, 2001? People who have died in Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the current campaign Iraqi Freedom? Americans who died in Hurricane Katrina? I do not have to recite history for most people to understand because we ALL know.

How do you think people of color really feel? How do you think people of color feel when we hear people saying I liked Obama but after this Rev. Wright thing I don't know ... How did he listen for twenty years ... I think it was terrible what that pastor said. ... If Obama get's the nomination I am going to vote for McCain.

McCain, are you kidding me? People of color have voted for white Americans, for offices across this Nation for decades, only hoping to seek the best candidate that would serve their needs (those were the choices--Yes), but now, somehow because of a minister's views, Obama is bad for business. Americans, the voters would choose Bill Clinton - I mean Hillary Clinton, or choose George Bush - I mean John McCain, over or instead of, the CHANGE WE SEEK NOW in Barack Obama.

This is why George Bush has been in office for eight years, running this country into the ground because of blind ignorance during a Presidential race. Instead of the voters coming together to choose what is best for "US" the people, for us the "United States," for us the voters, a "Unified Sentiment" US the people ... Hello People!

This is a sticky subject, no doubt, but it is what it is ... who best is able to call Barack Obama's grandmother a typical white person other than him? She is a typical white woman, from Kansas. Why are some white Americans offended, because he is the black guy (who happens to be half white) running for President, or because he is the white guy (who happens to be black) running for President? Obama and only Obama has the insight to know and say what his family is, it should not be an ISSUE for some white Americans.

Obama's grandmother is not a typical black person. He was a bi-racial child raised by a white American family, during a different period in time, which I am sure is an experience you cannot relate to or understand, unless you are a bi-racial child born under those circumstances.

My mother's mother, my grandmother, was a typical black person who cleaned white folks' houses from the time she was in her early teens and long into her adult life. She - my grandmother - was denied a proper education and knew nothing else. What do you think that means for me, and how do you think my now 82 year old grandmother (still living) feels in 2008? You cannot imagine how many people of color share this experience? My grandmother is of a different generation, one that neither I, nor you, can speak about. And quite frankly, if I were of those past generations I probably would not be speaking to you right now!

If the media would stop throwing Obama the black guy, who by the way happens to be white, into the ring, like everything he does is late breaking news, then "all of us" can get past the stereotypes and the ridiculousness the media is portraying and stay focused on the issues and winning in November.

Some white Americans right now are exhibiting the racism people of color see, understand, relate to and associate with white America. When the media puts an incorrect definition on racism that offends only white folks, and it is somehow played out as gospel, people of color are puzzled by your words and your actions, as if you are the only ones that exist. People of color continue to see the double-standards from the media and some of white America in this Presidential race. The idea that some supporters would throw Obama under the bus when he is in fact "a part of you."

When was the last time you went to a black church on a regular basis? When did the media conduct the research to find out what Reverend Wright really preached about over the last 20 years? Where are the facts?

The story that Barack Obama's passport file was breached three times by three different people over the course of 65 days is OUTRAGEOUS, and for the media to make it a topic of relief for the Obama campaign is WRONG! This is the premise behind what Wright shouted about, the stereotypical underlying motives by the government - "the cover-ups." It does not matter if it is true or not.

However, to take a page from the media play book I will follow it up with this: "It's Perception" - "It's Guilt by Association!" Trying to associate Obama the man to Rev. Wright's words is ignorance. Trying to associate Obama's passport file being breached with Bill Clinton's file being accessed is stupid, because his file was not electronic and his file was not accessed three times over the course of 65 days and he was not the black candidate.

Why won't the media talk about Hagee and McCain, because he did not denounce or reject his solicited endorsement and he is a suggested anti-semite to the ninth power, remember, it's perception. I guess it's because McCain is not the black guy. Why won't the media talk about Falwell or Parsley? Because they are not black clergymen. Why won't they talk about the 11,000 pages of garbage from the Clinton Library that Hillary calls her experience years and the amount of information redacted? And the fact that Hillary Clinton has lied to the voters repeatedly? The media dare not speak of Monica Lewinski, like that is completely off limits, yeah, right.

The media seems to be impartial to only some white viewers and some white blue collar voters. Do you really think people that look different from yourselves want to keep talking about race? No, but if you continue in an incorrect way, then people of ethnicity feel the right to respond and act. Some Americans are so quick to point fingers without any merit. I can't believe how some Americans get on their soap-boxes about how "YOU and YOUR" country are offended by something or someone! How some Americans stand on principle and their individual soap-boxes of self-righteousness and call it truth, or fact, and just.

The media should stop talking about Wright, it's disgusting. Talk about the ignorance of James Carville, because Richardson endorsed Obama. Talk about why this primary is still going on, when in fact if Hillary were leading in the number of states won, and leading in the popular vote, and leading in the pledged delegate count "The Media" would have already run Barack Obama back to Illinois - The End.

The Media needs to stop talking about Obama's family, it's disgraceful. I remember when Bobby Brady-haircut wearing "Tucker" apologized on his show for saying something negative about Chelsea as a surrogate, and he felt like if she was on the campaign trail she was fair game. However, he apologized for whatever he said. Tucker then recited that Hillary said "Chelsea was off limits" -- are you kidding me? I cringe to even acknowledge Pat Buchanan and the nonsense he speaks, MSNBC needs to put him "back on the shelf and cover him with dust." Did he fight in the battle of Manassas or was he a Civil War Veteran? I am just trying to figure out where he gets his ways of thinking from, his knowledge. (I will leave him to my father).

Anyway, it would appear that some media outlets hope RACISM will "break" this incredible candidate's campaign and reduce the Democratic party to nothing, and, with Hillary Clinton's help, they may succeed. I would not be surprised to see Hillary on McCain's ticket in November if she does not get the Democratic nomination (she has the fight in her to do so) and Bill thinks his wife and McCain are a match. Don't let that finger wagging fool you!

This is what I want to know from Hillary Clinton, why did you make this statement: "We don't have a choice when it comes to family but we do have a choice when it comes to choosing a pastor." Was this a way to re-inject racial discrimination in order to win the nomination? Hillary should take her own criticism and CHOOSE TO TELL THE TRUTH and CHOOSE NOT TO TELL BLATANT LIES TO THE VOTERS, ABOUT HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, and speaking of EXPERIENCE, Hillary Clinton also stated "that she was the first person Bill Clinton always talked to about everything during their years in the White House." However, we do know one thing he did not go to her with FIRST, Monica Lewinski (I did have relations with that woman).

I truly believe that if the Clintons are for the American people then they should stick to the ISSUES and act like they are representing the PEOPLE and stop worrying about Barack Obama. How can anyone make a clear decision on a candidate if Hillary Clinton is completely off message and ALWAYS in attack mode? Is this a primary Presidential race or is this a RACE about who can suggest the most hateful, racial and discriminative slurs about some of America's Immigrants in order to win votes?

The media's analysis is remarkable! The way they can look into the mind of Barack Obama and speak for him and twist his words into assumption. The media did not put the Clintons' kitchen sink tactics under the microscope - the media seems to enjoy it. From the charge of plagiarist, the picture of Obama leaking to the media, his wife's patriotism under question, him being an alleged muslim, talking about his father, his patriotism and now the Reverend (my goodness I am tired just thinking about it). The media simply called it the Clintons' ability to fight.

I know if people made a choice to boycott the media's owners, sponsors and affiliates, then they would stop talking about RACISM in a way that discredits only the candidate of ethnicity; and ultimately continue boycotting UNTIL THEY CHOOSE TO PORTRAY RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY IN FULL SCOPE, WITH ALL DYNAMICS AND, EQUALLY ACROSS THE BOARD with all candidates and all social classes! When Obama gave his speech on divisiveness, he aimed it at Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, ALL ETHNICITIES. He was not selective!

Can someone tell me what black people have done to Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and other ethnicities to make them dislike, detest or hate black people? Or stand divided with people of color?

We should be talking about rising gas prices, taxes, rising food prices, unemployment and job loss, The Economy overall. We should be talking about homeowners keeping their homes and homeowners losing their homes and entering into foreclosure and, people who may never become a homeowner because of the current situation. We should be concerned about health care, education, famine, and GLOBAL WARMING. We should be focused on THE WAR and the military members fighting in the war, the VETERANS and the CASUALTIES OF WAR!

Do you really understand Black-Water?

Do we want to win in November?

Are we doing all that we can for our children?

I know I won't get a response to this POST because I am just a Democratic voter who happens to be a woman of color, and the responses I might receive will probably be filled with hate.

If you have not had the experience of knowing, working with, socializing with or, going to school or church with, people of color or ethnicity, then you will not understand people of color or ethnicity and, you might not want to understand or deal with people of color or ethnicity and, associate yourselves with people of color or of ethnicity. This is one part of a collective truth.

Nonetheless, don't act like in turn people of color are supposed to accept, understand or want to deal with you either. I believe if you give respect, you definitely get respect. I know there is still extreme ignorance in this country, but like Cheney said, "SO? If you worry about the polls or what people think you will never get anything done!" I believe you get what you give, and if you live in hate, you in turn, suffer under hate.

"SPEAK when spoken to and you might find the truth that has always gone unspoken. QUESTION the remark and the concern will be answered. And if you do not ANALYZE the facts your outlook will remain unclear."

The truth is not hidden behind what has manifested, the truth is clearly in the motive that projects the public's true sentiment, do not be detoured!"

All people of ALL colors should resist the temptation to allow what happened in the past to determine who and what they are today. It is the year 2008 -- act like it! Don't you realize the children are listening and watching?

We only get one chance to get it right if we are free from certainty, and if we are blessed, a second chance will surface by faith and we can choose again.

MeLody Ryes
Dallas, Texas

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

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