bigotry | notthebestoftimes...

Talk of the news stations last night and all the Sunday morning new shows this morning was unsurprisingly the “Not Guilty” verdict from the Zimmerman trial. Like any trial with this much attention, the final verdict elicits a variety of responses that cover every gamut of the situation – whether legal, social, racial, etc. To be honest, while I believe the situation to be a travesty – when a young life is lost it can’t be anything but that. However, my biggest surprise was that it appeared the jury actually maintained a purely legal perspective and decision, not that Zimmerman was found Not Guilty. Given the law in Florida and the points of consideration that should have been the focus, the outcome was not a surprise. Sorry, the trial and it’s outcome isn’t really about the problem that a black child can’t get a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea without being concerned about being shot – despite the number of predominantly black panelists that made that the point of order this morning. That argument isn’t going to bring anybody in this country closer to being open-minded and accepting. Yes, a travesty and tragedy that speaks volumes of how we treat each other but it will not be fixed in the courtroom other than from a legal perspective.

That being said, there are obviously many more issues and factors in play here. I was astonished with the number of panelists on news shows this morning that raise the specter that racism exists in this country. Really? I didn’t even think that was the elephant in the room. I must have missed the announcement that we as a country have overcome bigotry. I say bigotry because this problem challenging us is bigger than racism as the problem is bigger than the color of one’s skin. In any case I would submit the first step, if we are to make any progress on the issues of how blacks are viewed and treated (a reality), we need to move from one case like this. Turning the results and reactions to a specific trial into the rallying call or headline of actions is a risky and often “one step forward and two steps back” approach. I remind everyone of the OJ Simpson trial and the reactions that followed.

It would seem to me it is more important to look at some of the broader questions and challenges here.

Haven’t heard much about gun control in this case – seems to me to be another poster child for why we shouldn’t just let any one walk around with a firearm. Sure make the case that if Zimmerman hadn’t left his car, Martin would be alive. Imagine if Zimmerman didn’t have a gun – he probably wouldn’t have even been out there on his neighborhood watch as this wasn’t a man who appeared to have a lot of extra testosterone – except when buoyed by a weapon. Sounds familiar to many of our gun loving citizens.

More importantly, I’m going to position a view that will piss off many as it will be received as a statement that somehow attributes responsibility for the death of this young man and the bigotry as a whole back to the black community (or any minority community for that matter) which it does not because my point is really about us as a country and a society and the responsibility we owe to the society we live in. And my position stands for any segment of our population, no matter the minority we speak to. If you as a minority want to be treated differently and not be pre-judged, profiled, whatever, then practice what you preach. Don’t expect that behavior in others if you can’t live it yourself. In this case I will pick on the black community for one particular reason – the view of the majority of blacks towards the LGBT community is one of almost total intolerance. I won’t start throwing the data out there but if we look at gay marriage, equal rights under the law, just a view of gays in general, the black community has a rather dismal history of anything approaching acceptance. On the scale of bigotry, in this area it doesn’t look too good. Yes, I know all about the religious basis of it all and I’m sure you can rationalize a great deal of it but at the end of it all, it is still bullshit. I’m met many a racist who has easily found a rationalization for their view.

But until the minority segments of our society can show equal openness and acceptance to the LGBT community that matches what they want, expect and demand for themselves, my words to you are pretty much get ready for more of the same – it is unfair, it is unacceptable and it is horrific but if you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Ye Reap what Ye Sow. Karma’s a bitch.

Yep, we’ve got quite a journey ahead.

Credit: veggieboard.com

In light of all the issues we have staring us in the face in this country at the moment, one would think that the current Paula Deen scandal would not be all that important. On one hand, are any of us surprised that a 66-year-old woman from the South holds a level of bigotry as she has admitted? I know it isn’t all the people in the South and that there are many educated and open-minded people that reside in the region as well we in the Northeast have our share of bigots and racists who believe it’s still the 1950’s when it comes to white superiority. One the other hand, the views and opinions held by this silver-haired asshole quite clearly represent much of the divide we see in the country today – one based on intolerance and narrow-mindedness. Whether it is Blacks, Latinos, gays, atheists, whoever, when we as a society don’t immediately denounce and show consequences of actions such as this, we are all essentially enablers of it. I think her fate with the Food Network and what would appear to be quickly disappearing sponsors and endorsements is well deserved as any tolerance of that opinion and attitude of others is unacceptable and, more over, reprehensible in today’s world of hate and intolerance. While attitudes are slowly changing and our younger generation are obviously more tolerant, in the meantime, it’s hammer time for those who are that stupid and shallow. I have already sent my support to Food Network to ensure they don’t just hear from the haters out there – it is critical we all make our voices heard.

I would also suggest that if you don’t really care that Deen dumped on Blacks, you might want to read a bit more about some of her other comments – she is apparently a non-discriminatory bigot. While she admitted she occasionally used the N-word — but not in a “mean” way, she apparently also felt that racist and bigoted jokes weren’t harmful – apparently during the court deposition when asked if she told racist jokes, she reportedly answered, “It’s just what they are — they’re jokes … most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks … I can’t determine what offends another person.” We undoubtedly have a brain trust here who, if she can’t figure out what is offensive to others in this day and age, needs to be placed well out of the public eye. Being stupid doesn’t get you a free pass nor does it work as an excuse.

On a related note, my wife pointed out one of the pictures attached to a Paula Deen story on MSN – not sure I need to provide much explanation but I ask you – is there anything obvious about the people in the photo whom have taken to the street (so to speak) to protest the treatment of this southern diva? It would look like flocking to a restaurant is a protest that pretty much falls in their sweet spot. They were likely also not bothered by Deen’s little diabetes scandal, although I would suggest that a good many of them are well acquainted with diabetes.