Some people seem to be having difficulty understanding what the racial
dynamics are surrounding the Obama presidency and the Tea Party
opposition. As I was thinking about what I had read in the
past week (including some very insightful stuff on this issue), I had a
revelation. For a huge number of people the Obama presidency is just the
Obama presidency, that is, the next in a long line of US presidents and
one having to deal with the challenges of our time. The phenomenon that
is so different is not the administration, but rather the opposition
and the manner in which they are conducting themselves. The hyperbole,
overheated rhetoric, and threats of violence we are seeing now as well
as the rise of domestic terrorist organizations that have accompanied
this "opposition" are to be expected given the behavior we've witnessed.
The reasons for this are at the heart of great debates, which most of
us (people of color) find amusing because the reasons are so blatantly
obvious. Still, some find it difficult to see. Here is a visual aid.
Who
would have thought that Mel Brooks was a prophet? The easy way to
understand that segment of the opposition that are foaming at the mouth
(here on TBD too) at the Obama presidency is to watch the 1974
satirical Western comedy film, Blazing Saddles. The similarities to
President Obama's first term, so far, are amazing. Take it from the
moment Sheriff Bart (Barack Obama) appears on his palomino horse. John
Boehner is Hedley Lamarr, Rush Limbaugh is Governor Le Petomane, David
Alexrod is the Waco Kid, heck, even the Tea Party are cast in the film.
It's quite enlightening.
Try it for yourself.
Have a good
laugh, then remember we are dealing with very real forces here and some
seriously stupid and unhinged people.
Tags: America, Party, Tea, analogy, humor, politics, racism, threats, violence