Racism in America: Who's to blame?

This is an email that I wrote to a friend of mine. My friend is a woman, a liberal and black. She's a very good woman. A Christian. A very good mother and extremely intelligent. But in regards to politics, we disagree almost completely. We have similar values but our approaches to solving them are different as are our experiences that have led us to our beliefs. This email is a result of one that she had sent to me where a "white" person was upset about racism in America. Im not racist at all but I am not blind to the fact that we "minorities" (blacks, hispanics, women, etc. etc.) are the cause and reason for alot of the stereotypes in America. Does racism exist? Yes. But alot of us arent helping the cause by walking around with our pants below our ass, saying "niggah" to our friends and causing crimes and being on drugs constantly. Enough of an introduction. As always, this is not politically correct. So if your feelings get hurt easily, you shouldnt read this and you should go check into reality as soon as possible.


With complete honesty, as everything else that I've ever said to you, I have to admit that I'm one of those that says that blacks AND hispanics need to stop "pulling out the race card" whenever we want. The unfortunate thing is that we don't pull it all of the time. ONLY when it benefits us.


Yes, there is still racism in our country. I can not deny that. But we "minorities", as a whole need to stop giving those that are racist more "ammo" for their arguments by no longer playing the stereotype that we have built for ourselves. I (personally) can't stand New YoRicans. I feel that they give US real Puerto Ricans a bad name. New YoRicans constantly play up the stereotype of being little thugs and "gangstas". REAL Puerto Ricans are actually one of the most courteous, respectful and hard working communities you will ever meet. Were very patriotic and proud of not only our Puerto Rican heritage but also our American compatriots. Unfortunately, most Americans don't know "real" Puerto Ricans. They only know those from New York. Those that wear the PR flag as a tshirt and parade in New York once a year but don't speak a lick of Spanish except for maybe "Abuelita". So those New YoRicans set a stereotype that gives the rest of us (the REAL Puerto Ricans) a bad name. It's no wonder why the majority of Puerto Ricans hate those that pose as us but know nothing about us.


The same goes for Cubans here in Miami. Cubans in Miami are some of the most stuck up people I've ever met in my life. Cubans from the island are some of the nicest people I've ever met. The "Cubans" here look down their nose at every other Hispanic group. Yet they do a hell of alot less for what they have. As soon as Cubans touch US soil they get all kinds of benefits. Homes, jobs, federal money. What about the Haitians, Dominicans and Mexicans? If were going to have equality, let's have it for all. Not just some. It's no wonder Cubans on the island and pretty much every Hispanic group can't stand the "Cubans" on the US.


And lastly, blacks in America. Personally, I refuse to refer to black people as African Americans. Blacks have about as much African in them as I do Polish. (My great grandfather was Polish). But I don't consider myself Polish Puerto Rican. I consider myself Puerto Rican-Dominican because I was born in Puerto Rico, so was my mom and my dad was born in the Dominican Republic. But alot of blacks (not all) play the same stereotypes that the responsible ones are trying to get away from. Baggy, Saggy pants that hang below the butt and expose boxer shorts. Walking down the street in jeans and a tank top. And uttering the word "niggah" constantly (which baffles me). It's no wonder blacks in other countries can't stand the ones here in the US.


Alot of the racism that exists in our country is because of the ignorance of a few. But alot of the bias in our country is because of the fault of our own. If we want it to stop, we need to stop pointing fingers at the "white" people and instead point out those in our own cultures. Blacks should correct blacks. Puerto Ricans should correct Puerto Ricans. So on and so forth.


Personally, I think that nowadays "whites" are the ones getting treated unequal. Someone that is completely qualified for a job (who is white) gets passed over and a job is given to a black, Hispanic or woman because of the color of their skin, their race or gender. I think that is BS. THAT, to me is wrong. If I was an employer, Id rather have the one that is most qualified and I will have the backbone to stand up to the Jesse Jackson's and the Al Sharpton's when they put on some parade for their own publicity.


By the way... I don't think it's "white" people making a big deal out of race anymore. I see it as it being the media and indeed ourselves. During the elections, at any given time, you would see polls showing 92% of blacks voting for Obama or 84% of women voting for Hillary. That to me shows the obvious. That people don't vote for who they think is the best qualified. Instead they vote for who THEY want to see in office. I hated to get into conversations with liberals and ask them why they voted for Obama. They always said the same thing.


We need "change"!!


But when I would ask them to define "change", they would stumble and drool over themselves because they couldn't answer a simple question.


My generation (the Nintendo generation) is the worst about that. They don't vote for who is the most qualified or who has SHOWN and PROVEN to work in the interest of the people. They vote for the guy that is "cool" and attractive. McCain's speeches (I'll admit) were terribly boring. But his record showed to be an honest one. He is the ONLY Senator to have NEVER requested for any earmarks for his state. Yet his constituents love him. What does that show? As far as Obama goes... I've got a binder full of his record and who he has worked with. I've got hundreds of reasons why I strongly believe that he is the worst our country could have chosen. But I would be here all night typing.


Hopefully, blacks, hispanics, women, EVERYBODY will stop crying "poor me, poor me". Hopefully everybody will stop making such a big deal over race, gender and religion. Hopefully everybody will look past sexy speeches, rolled up sleeves, loosened ties and architectured speeches and performances. Because if we don't, America's future will be a very sad one. I'm already worried about the America that my son will grow up in. If my generation is so simple, narrow minded and irresponsible in their daily actions, then God protect my son and his peers. Because my simple, narrow minded and irresponsible generation is the one raising them.

Iraq: Should we be there?

There probably hasnt been a single day since March 2003, that any of us hasnt been able to turn on the TV and on some channel, be able to find someone protesting the war in Iraq. Certain names or words come to mind whenever I think of that.

Cindy Sheehan, 4000 servicemembers killed, WMD's, etc. etc.

Im sure most of you would think of the same and probably more. As Ive mentioned in previous blogs, there probably isnt a single person in this nation that doesnt know somebody or know OF somebody that currently serves or has served in the military. Chances are that that person served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.

Iraq has become a very controversial subject when it comes to matters of politics. Most people, when they talk about it are completely convinced that we either should or should not be there, Depending on what your values are, what you've experienced in your life and how you see the world. Im probably one of the biggest advocates FOR free speech. I have been constantly reminded that my tongue will get me into trouble someday. I can tell you it already has. My tongue has been my greatest weakness. But it has also been my greatest strength.

I have no problem with voicing my opinion. I believe that "if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything". The fact that I voice my opinion, specifically when I think something is f*cked up, kept me from being promoted to Staff Sergeant for a year while I was in the Army. But it DIDNT keep me from being one of the youngest Staff Sergeants in the 101st Airborne Division. I definitely moved up in rank very quickly during the time I was in the Army. I was a Sergeant at the age of 19 and a Staff Sergeant shortly after my 22nd birthday. (Remember I got held back for a year) When I was told by my platoon sergeant that he had decided not to send me to the "E-6 Board" because I needed to learn how to control what I said, it completely caught me off guard even though I should have expected it. Throughout the whole time I was in the Army, Ive had different levels of leadership tell me that my mouth was gonna come back and bite me in the ass. Sure enough it did. I didnt resent my platoon sergeant. Instead, my already high view of him only raised even more. Him and I were very good friends before he became my platoon sergeant and at work, we still maintained the professionalism needed to accomplish the mission. So when he told me that I would not be going before the board for promotion, I didnt take it personally. I decided that it was time for me to reflect on why I had this road block in front of me. Although Ive definitely learned to pick and choose my battles now, I still have that drive in me to stand up when things are going in the wrong direction. This time is no different. And THAT is why Im writing this blog.

I completely understand the pain that a parent,sibling, spouse or grandparent must feel when their loved one is lost in battle. It is a demoralizing feeling that the first human instinct is to find someone to blame. The problem with the war in Iraq is that for some people, the person (or persons) to blame may at times be unclear. Alot of people blame President Bush. Their defending argument is that we went in there for oil. That because the Bush family has a history in the petroleum business, it is a definite fact that they went in there to seek out the many oil reserves that Iraq contains. Although this argument sounds almost convincing, I believe that it is simply not true. President Bush may not have been as eloquent or as well spoken as President Obama, but he certainly is no fool. I had the honor to meet President Bush two years ago and I can tell you personally that he is intelligent as he is humorous. Another reason why Im convinced that the war in Iraq was not motivated by interests in oil is because with the constant exposure that the media provides, any possible hint of such a thing would have been exposed like the whole Monica Lewinsky thing. And that was because the media LIKED President Clinton. Imagine how they would been with President Bush, someone who they clearly could not stand.

Another "reason" that people usually come up with for our involvement in Iraq is WMD's. Well...That one I'll leave alone. I wholeheartedly believe that in time, people will see that Bush wasnt completely full of shit. Understand that a hell of a lot more happens over there than what the media will show and a hell of alot more happens over there that civilians back home wouldnt be able to understand or accept.

The point of this blog posting is to explain a different side to the war in Iraq. Currently, one of the biggest (if not THE biggest) debates going on in politics is the possibility of a nationalized healthcare program made available to everyone in the United States. President Obama (whom I have not hidden the fact that Im not his biggest fan) is running around from townhall meeting to townhall meeting, touting how we have a "moral obligation" to provide for those less fortunate than we are. I COMPLETELY AGREE!!! But not at the expense of those that cannot afford it. Americans are generally a giving society. Although you wouldnt see this characteristic too often if you were to go to New York City. (Ironically one of the most liberal cities in the US and one of the biggest supporting communities for a nationalized healthcare program...Go Figure!!)

My point with the whole "moral obligation" thing is....If President Obama is so concerned about caring for those less fortunate than ourselves, then where was this compassion, better yet, where IS this compassion in regards to the Iraqi people? If anything, the Iraqis are FAR less fortunate than any American currently living within our borders. So if he is so concerned about the welfare of those less fortunate than ourselves, then why isnt he choosing to continue the fight in Iraq to bring Democracy there? Why isnt he choosing to stay there until "Mission Complete"? To stabilize the country. To finish bringing water to small towns that have never had running water. To establish security in a country that has been at war longer than most of us have been alive.

I will end this blog regarding our dilemma of whether or not we should stay in Iraq or not, with a few questions....

If the French wouldnt have intervened in the war between the American Colonies and the British, wouldnt we still be under British rule? Dont we have the same "moral obligation" to provide for those less fortunate than ourselves in another country as we do for the people of our own country? Or does the term moral only apply to situations that benefit us politically?

If the North had chosen not to intervene in the cessation of the South from the American Union, wouldnt blacks still be considered slaves?

I believe that the decision for the United States to intervene in Iraq to get rid of Saddam Hussein, was a correct decision. I spent two years over there and would spend another two if my presence there ensured that the Iraqi people could look forward to the same peace and security that we Americans so easily take for granted.