I think you have hit on a very important point and its one that also has application to the immigration problem.

Regardless of the color of one’s skin-this is still an English country-descended from British social traditions. The immigrants who came here in the begining of the century, I believe understood that very well and by the 3rd generation in general were well adapted to our Anglo-Saxon customs.

Somewhere along the way that went off the tracks. And its true with African Americans too. I hate that term by the way, Blacks in America have nothing in common with those in Africa. Black Americans and White Amercians too need to assimilate into that common American culture-or there is not starting point from which to build a concensus. Having English be the official language might be a good way to start.

When the president-elect demands responsibility from the beneficiaries of “spreading the wealth”, to the same level his VP demands “patriotism” from the bill payers………

it’s not just a chimera, (or unicorn if you would prefer).

..far be it from me to inter-dict.

I ain’t a soul searcher in need of more statistics to know why it happened..Part cult of personality, novelty, promised freebies, a pacified Iraq/short-term memory of 9-11 and about 99% fear of the economic situation brought on by a credit meltdown mainly due to their own excess…

The demographics? If you acknowledge my seed corn point, my point that this wasn’t a mandate- numbers wise…I’ll cede to yours. With the caveat that I recognize the numbers but don’t agree with the interpretive analysis.

The American people are more center right than you would ever know. Nobody in here has much mentioned it since Tuesday, but did what happened in California w/Prop8 register?

Marianne,

You have observed this drama longer than I and I respect your opinion. You are probably right. I’ve said it at least twice in here- the 40 acres and a mule debt? It’s paid in full with this election. I only ask for more personal responsibility and accountability from American blacks as a bloc. I say clean up your house- no more excuses. From a simple point of economics we can’t afford to carry you any further up the road.You need to stand up on your own legs. I’m tired of the B.S.

b2

Never implied you were a yokel badbob, in fact I have always suspected that behind your rough and tough façade lurks a world class mind. Raw statistics and poll numbers, such as I presented in my com #72 are nothing more than a bit of popcorn, food for thought if you wish…

Your disdain is noted. I suspect that you are searching for ways to stretch your thinking, and find my offerings inadequate. Pat Ruffini of Next Right fame is no mean slouch of a thinker, and attracts a lively discussion group. His post today, The Straight-Ticket Youth Vote will be of interest. The discussion is lively and well worth a perusal.

Who the heck among our diverse citizens ever gets that anyway? No specialized group in our vast and varied country ever gets that on an automatic basis. Women don’t. The military [God bless them every one] don’t. Other ethnic groups don’t. Ministers and priests don’t. The Jews don’t. It’s a tough world out there.

The blacks in this country, during the bad old days of rampant racial prejudice learned that the media in this country was a powerful force. And when talking to the media they learned how to highlight their inequities of treatment, as all minority groups since the dawn of time have learned to do. And it worked in a way that filtered all through society’s strongholds — academia, the political power world, the churches, all of the major power centers. And it changed the way the country and its representatives treated them.

Do you honestly expect that this group, the blacks, will voluntarily give up these paths to the centers of power? They will continue to want, and expect such special treatment as preferential enrollment in educational institutions, admission to desirable venues because of their color and the undeniable fact that 146 years ago Americans treated them badly — very badly. So did other countries in the world of that time, but that’s their problem. American black people are a problem of this country’s making.

My point is that the blacks of this country won’t feel that our election of a black man to the Presidency means we have done enough to create that elusive balance of respect and friendship. And I think we would be naive to expect that. Nothing we do during your lifetime or mine will be “enough.”

So, cowboy up, my friends. This will be a long tough road ahead. And don’t expect miracles of understanding. It ain’t gonna happen.

But I love our country very much for being willing to keep trying.

Marianne