A Cowardly Nation!

The Obama presidency does not mean that Americans have gotten rid of unpleasant racial feelings that are deep rooted in both whites’ and blacks’ souls, despite the rapture that prevailed in the U.S. on Obama’s inauguration day. The proof of that is what happened during the last few days.

First, Attorney General Eric Holder, the first black to hold this high-ranking position, described the U.S. as “a cowardly nation” because it refuses to candidly discuss its racial history. He encouraged his staff to study black history and the history of black Americans and to start a frank conversation about racism. Moreover, he burdened them with the acknowledgement of all of the social restrictions that are imposed on them and the exposure of the isolationism between different races, which has not changed in the last fifty years in his opinion.

In order to confront the outrageous language of the Attorney General, many lengthy pages have been published on the internet by white authors to convey their severe reactions and by black authors who are showing their increasing bitterness. The U.S. looked like a country that is divided between the Spanish, blacks, Asians and whites. This is the image of the existent and increased racism and the cultural desert during Obama’s reign, which gives the impression that a civil war can break out at any time.

The second confirmation of racism was the provocative caricature published in the New York Post. It showed Obama as a chimpanzee that is being fired upon by police who stand by his corpse. One of the two policemen says: “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.” This caricature made the situation worse than ever. In fact, the apology and the defense of the drawing was not enough. The blacks did not interpret it as a mockery of the economic stimulus, but as a mockery of the black Obama. Thus, many people joined demonstrations and called for citizens to completely boycott the newspaper. In addition, many racial articles, which mention mutual hatred, have poured out from both sides.

Afterwards, a black Democratic member accused the Republicans of giving blacks a slap across the face when they refused Obama’s economical project because it primarily helps the blacks as they suffer from unemployment and expulsion from homes.

In the middle of these fraught feelings, Michelle Obama invited students from a poor school composed of predominately black students to lunch and provided a space in the White House to teach them black history, to motivate them to struggle for realizing the dream that she and her husband have realized. In fact, this humanitarian gesture came at an inappropriate time.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that there is a real racial crisis in American society. Americans should be prudent and open-minded when dealing with this crisis. Otherwise, the situation will be aggravated at a time when the U.S. cannot afford further catastrophes.