Hope

I woke up this morning upset, mad, and disheartened. Well, I didn't wake up that way, but I soon went from barely awake to barely able to contain myself. All it took was turning on my computer and reading the ignorant, vulgar comment that was left on my previous Mavericks post. Don't bother looking, it's not there now. I deleted it as quickly as I was finished reading it.

Hillybilly Willy (the name he used, not mine) referred to Barack "Hussein" Obama and how someone with a name like that probably had something to do with 9/11. It went further than that, but I won't dignify its ignorance by restating it here, or anywhere. I'm all for political discourse. An open-minded conversation on ideas, philosophy, and beliefs can be healthy and educational. I've had plenty of these spirited discussions in the past, and will likely in the future when it comes to my beliefs. This had nothing to do with facts or civil debate. This was outright vile, disgusting racism. Hillybilly Willy, I invite you to never read my blog again.

I was shaken. I know racism exists, but it still hurts me. Playing golf last week, I was paired up with someone I had never met before. He seemed like a nice enough guy. Some people may even refer to him as an average Joe. The pace of play slowed down as we eventually caught up to groups ahead of us playing. The two groups happened to be of Asian descent. As we waited Joe would linger back a few yards, keeping to himself. This went on for a few holes when I went back to engage him in conversation. If we're going to have to wait, we can at least enjoy it right? When I got back there he sort of chuckled, shook his head in frustration, and said, "I feel like I'm playing in a rice paddy." I went back to my golf cart and don't think I said anything to him the rest of the day.

How can a country that has come so far still have people who think like this? How can a person hate an entire group of people because of the color of their skin, their religion or lack of one, or their sexual orientation? It just doesn't make any sense. It is so irrational. It makes me sad that people can harbor such dark, deep seeded hate within their hearts and minds. It makes me sad that people have died, and continue to die, because of this hatred. It makes me sad that the struggles and sacrifices of those oppressed sometimes seem to have all been in vain.

But then I look to the television. There's Barack Obama giving a speech in Virginia. A black man, running for the Presidency of the United States, giving a speech in a state that was part of the Confederacy during the Civil War. I wonder aloud sometimes how big a lead in the polls he might have if he was a white man with the same message. I wonder how many people believe in his call for change, but can't get past the color of his skin. I wonder and tremble at the thought that the only reason he may lose the election is because of those people. It makes me sick to think about it. But I have hope. Obama has a slight lead in the polls and more importantly has the support of many of America's youth. They are a new generation of Americans that don't see the color of skin or sexual orientation. They don't see the barriers that separate us; they see the things that bring us together. They don't see differences, they see diversity. They are the hope for the future, no matter how this election ends up. If they can translate their support into votes, history will be made on November.

This Saturday morning reminded me the power of hope will always be stronger than the power of hate.