I am doing a series of articles that are called Viewpoints. In each article the panel members will be asked questions. I think interview articles are a great way to learn what others believe. This was the first of the Viewpoints articles. I hope you like it.
America could have her first black president in the very near future. From the way people talk you’d think this is mankind’s greatest achievement or its biggest mistake. What is your take on the matter? That was the topic of the first interview with the Viewpoints panel members.
Each panel member is expressing their personal views and thoughts on the topic. Individual opinions and viewpoints are what make for lively discussion and interesting debate. Whether you agree with them or not, you have to admit it was enlightening!
Do you think American’s are ready for a black president?
Cindy: No, because even people who love Barack keep asking that question. If we have to ask, then I think the answer is obvious. Too many people are voting for Barack because he’s black or voting for McCain because he’s white and we need to be voting on substance.
Michy: I don’t know. To me, race or ethnicity, even gender, doesn’t matter. What does matter is experience, performance, integrity. I realize, however, there are people who base things solely on appearance, race, gender, or other things that I believe are merely superficial. As such, if the percentage of Americans who do that is significant enough, then no, America probably isn’t ready for any ethnic diversity at the White House.
Derek: No way. I think tons are, but America in general is not. I believe (honestly) assassination is in his future should he be elected.
Lindsay: Sadly, no I do not believe Americans are ready for a black president. I do believe that much of the US is ready, but if the entire country isn’t on-board, then the election could be disastrous.
Jennifer: Of course, I think the people of this country have become comfortable enough with the possibilities.
Lynn: In general, I believe that Americans are ready for a president who is other than a Caucasian male. I think especially after the last nearly eight years, there is a craving for change.
From an idealistic point of view, it matters more what a person’s internal/psychological traits are (ethics, morals, intelligence, strengths, weaknesses, abilities for assimilation and adaptation, alpha/leadership tendencies). Race and gender, in this case, should be secondary.
From a jaded perspective, it’s all a cult of personality. We, as a society, worship tall, lithe, handsome/beautiful, witty underdogs of every color and both genders without regard for other qualifications.
Is there one certain thing you believe will change if Barack Obama is elected?
Cindy: I hope it will be the accomplishment of my first answer. Once someone breaks the racial barrier, maybe racism in this country will actually heal. I think that with Joe Biden as VP, we may actually get straight talk out of the White House and I like that idea.
Michy: No. I’m about as apolitical as it comes, at least as far as politicians go (there are a few ‘issues’ I take a stance on). I don’t believe the President has the power, regardless of who is elected, to make a huge difference at this point.
Derek: Nope. No matter what talking head you get in there, it isn’t the president’s decision in most cases anyhow. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Lindsay: I believe that the troops will be strategically removed from Iraq and the war will cease.
Jennifer: I don’t really know. I don’t really care much for politics. I know that sounds weird coming from a military wife, but I haven’t paid attention to the elections much at all, therefore I have no idea what Barack Obama is putting on the table. I do know that it is for certain that history would be made in the election of the first Black president.
Lynn: The only certain change will be that the US will have its first black president.
Do you believe more African Americans will vote in the upcoming election than in previous elections?
Cindy: Honestly? Not really. I suspect that voting trends will remain pretty static this year based on the fiascos of the last two elections. If Barack wins and proves that the contests are not rigged from the start, and if change really happens, voter turnout will increase as people see that they can make a difference.
Michy: I hope more Americans pay attention to the issues and vote, regardless of ethnicity or race.
Derek: Probably. Just the same as if the lead singer to Skid Row ran, you’d find a LOT more long-hairs at the polls.
Lindsay: Absolutely.
Jennifer: Yes, just as more women would vote if Hillary had gone further.
Lynn: I hope so. I also hope more of every race and both genders go to the polls and become involved in the electoral process.
But the question was do I believe it will happen, and the answer is "no." I think most people are entrenched in their apathy, believing that there is nothing that an individual can do to change the system. I think, despite the advanced communication tools, people tend to be even more isolated from one another, that they have forgotten the art of cooperative effort to create change in their lives.
In what way do you think having a black president will help America?
Cindy: I think there is a worldwide perception that America is more racist than it is and I think electing a more diverse president will help combat that. I think having a black president will allow us to point out the hypocrisy of other countries who accuse us of being racist and bigoted while closing their own borders to all non-natives and treating minority groups shabbily.
Michy: I don’t know that his race will really matters once he’s in office. I think that’s one of those things that’s only mattering during the election process, simply because it seems people on either side will use whatever they have at their disposal to discredit the other side. Perhaps that’s naive of me to think it doesn’t matter, but I just don’t see how his race matters in helping or hurting America. Shouldn’t it be about the type of leader he will be?
Derek: Well, it will add a major item to its history pages, and it will leave the "oppression" part of America further in its past, but other than that, hmmmm…
Lindsay: I honestly don’t think the fact that Obama is black matters. I think the fact that he hopes to institute necessary change in America is what will truly help us. The color of his skin does not have any weight on how he will help the US.
Jennifer: I can’t say for sure that it would really help, nor hurt America in anyway.
Lynn: I think having a president of a race other than Caucasian or a gender other than male will inspire some people to dream bigger dreams, strive toward greater goals, and to overcome perceived limitations. Other than that, I do not believe that the race or gender of a president will help (or hurt) America.
Do you think some people will vote for Barack Obama just because they don’t like McCain?
Cindy: Yes, I will. I am concerned about some of Barack’s inexperience, but am confident in his good will and his intelligence. Bottom line, I trust him to explore the options and learn from his mistakes. I don’t see that in McCain.
Michy: Yes. I think the inverse will be true too. Seems each election we get closer to more people voting against a candidate instead of for one.
Derek: Oh of course, that’s how it works! If my choices are "get hit" or "get hit harder", I’ll just get hit, thanks.
Lindsay: I don’t think anyone would vote for Obama simply for the reason that they don’t like McCain. In my experience, true Republicans would still rather vote for their least favorite Republican than a Democrat. If anything, I would think these people would simply not vote at all.
Jennifer: Absolutely. A lot of people don’t care and just want Bush out of office. If they don’t like McCain then they will vote for Obama.
Lynn: Absolutely. In any election, you will have people who will vote against candidates as readily as you have people who vote for them. I know I voted against "W" in both of the last two elections solely based on what I perceived to be his dismal failures at governing the State of Texas. Voting for Gore and Kerry seemed preferable.
One more question and we’ll call the interview complete.
Do you think the race of the president should even matter?
Cindy: No, but it does. When my hubby was in Australia, everyone there who was not Asian or Caucasian was considered black–Hispanic, Arabic, and African–it didn’t matter if you were not white or Asian. The city where he stayed was exceedingly racist and yet they had the nerve to look down on Americans as racist. We get judged as a whole based on perceptions and diversity in the White House will help that perception.
Michy: Nope. Neither should gender. It’s all about, like I said earlier, leadership, integrity, experience, and ability to do the job.
Derek: This is sort of a loaded question. Although it "shouldn’t", per se, it sure as heck does. There are a lot of harsh realities to electing a Black or woman president, some good and some bad. In the long run, I’ll let the statistics gurus sort out who "should" be president!
Lindsay: I don’t believe it *should* matter, but unfortunately, to many people, it does. I don’t mean this in a racist sense, necessarily, either. I don’t think that African Americans should vote for Obama just because he is African American, nor do I believe that anyone else should or shouldn’t vote for him because of his race. The reason for people’s votes should be based on whether or not they believe Obama is the right person for the job.
Jennifer: No, I really don’t. However, I think that it is hard for a lot of people that have become so oriented to the way things have been with only having white presidents. I also think that when it comes to Obama, that many people have issues with him not because he is black but because his name is Obama, and Hussein is part of his name as well. Coming from the perspective of a military wife I understand this. I have seen military people, soldiers as well as family show something of a prejudice against the Arabic race. I don’t blame these people for how they feel. I am actually not going to vote. I don’t think that Obama or McCain is the right person to lead our country.
Lynn: No. I do not believe that race or gender should even be a factor. I think that the factors mentioned above, in my "idealistic" answer to question 1, as well as education, wisdom, socio-economic awareness, and the ability to choose loyal, intelligent staff well should all be considerations.
Which panelist do you agree with? Did a certain viewpoint make you stop and think? I hope you enjoyed the interview and seeing what the panelist think about the upcoming election. There will be another Viewpoints article soon.
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