Politics

I generally avoid politics on this blog but I have been listening to rhetoric on both sides of an issue and I would like to weigh in probably not where you expect. There has been much talk over the congressman Wilson 'you lie' statement during the presidents last speech. Let me begin by saying that I didn't watch the whole speech but I was watching when this statement occurred. I would also like to add the presidential speeches drive me crazy and I don't care who is in office because every 30 seconds they are applauding and the speech takes forever. This is probably why I prefer debates because each candidate stands up makes his statement uninterrupted. Let the president give his speech and then talk about it. Anyway why this is issue is bothering me is two fold I guess.

First, I saw the statement it was not a racial response it was a response to what the president said regarding healthcare to illegal immigrants. So was it disrespectful to comment that loudly during the speech yes. Was it attack on the presidents character probably but calling someone a liar is not limited to a single race. I heard no racial slurs. Was it true we will have to see what the final bill if it looks like and that will answer the question.

Second if we are going to make a race an issue which I don't think is true than the supposedly discriminated against group I believe is wrong. The press said this comment was addressed at the president because he is African American. Would not it be just as appropriate if not more accurate that the congressman is racist against Latinos because in the American mindset all illegal immigrants are Latinos. Thus he is racist against Latinos instead of African Americans. By the way I think race issue with this statement is far fetched on either side but I would say the argument for the Latinos is stronger than that African American. Bottom line this was not a racial response but a policy/ideal difference response. Not appropriate but not racial.

Finally before you think I have no clue about racial issues let me tell a personal story. A couple of weeks ago my boys and I were playing at a local park and were the only one there. About half way through another boy with his mom and dad arrived. Andrew is fearless and loves to play with other kids attempted to play with this boy. He was not interested in playing and wanted Andrew to leave him alone. After a little I took the boys home. Part of me wanted to play the race card. The little boy didn't want to play with Andrew because looked different. But the more likely reason is this boy appeared to be an only child and was used to playing by himself and just didn't want to play. (By the way Andrew and I talked about the fact that not everyone wants to play and that this is okay). My point is this, is the child racist maybe but probably not. The more logical answer came after I took a moment to look at the situation.

My point is this should congressman play nice and share, yes. The fact that he didn't doesn't make him racist. Look at the whole thing before either side call names and understand that not everyone wants to play nice even when they should.