An Open Letter to All...

I'm both frustrated and sad today. Two-thousand and nine is an incredible time to be alive in the course of human history, a time when the phrase "anything is possible" has never been more meaningful or more true. I can remember back 20 years ago when I still had no idea what to do with my life, before I ever conceived of being an author, and when I saw no feasible means of turning my love of art into a career due to the restrictions of my disability. Now I am not only working on my 7th book, but I am a graphic designer and artist who gets to do what I love while using those skills to help others achieve their own dreams. What could be better than that?

Just in my brief 44 years, I've seen things like cellphones and computers completely change and empower the individual, bringing us ever closer to a truly global community where the boundaries of location no longer prevents us from bonding with people around the world. We're developing into a society where race, creed, color, national origin, or sexual orientation no longer prevents us from recognizing the sheer beauty of the human being underneath. This momentous evolution was never more evident than when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in a country where just 50 years before he would have had to sit in the backs of buses, enter public places through the back door, and drink out of separate fountains and use separate toilets, all because the color of his skin somehow branded him as a disease-less leper, a less-than-human being. It was a proud day for our country, and our world, and it seemed as if the last, greatest hurdle had finally been negotiated, and now we would race toward a day when ideals like racism were outdated cliche's that it would be impossible for future generations to even comprehend.

And then reality came crashing down upon our heads like a house of cards.

We've had Presidents who have lied, cheated on their wives, involved us in wars that never should have been and cost thousands of innocent soldiers to sacrifice their lives for causes that may not have been as just as we were led to believe, had a President who used the Oval Office as his private bordello, and another who sat back and watched with the rest of the world as an entire city suffered under the throes of a horrific natural disaster, and yet waited days before acting. And yet never have I seen as much disrespect and anger leveled at a President as the one currently holding the reigns.

When Barack Obama proposes universal health care for all, something that everyone supposedly agrees we need, he is vilified and people come out of the woodwork screaming as if he had suggested taking people's health care away.When he attempts to hit the ground running to tackle one of the biggest messes any President has ever inherited in our history, he's told he's moving too fast, and yet now, 8 months later, people are leveling the charge at him "What have you done?" He decides to speak to the nation's youth, and people fear he will use them as puppets to further his liberal "socialist" agenda, and then once he does speak, he's accused of being too "conservative." Exactly when did "Stay in school" become conservative rhetoric rather than a welcome life lesson every parent on the planet should be drilling into their children's heads from the moment they are born? And let's not even discuss Rev. Steven Anderson, the Arizona pastor who claims to be a man of God, and yet proudly declares that President Obama is the "kind of person God hates", and that he therefore prays for Obama's death.

And now we have Senator Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who stood up and shouted "Liar!" in the midst of the President's speech to Congress and the nation last night. I have never heard of this happening to President Bush, who many, including myself, were not fans of, nor would I have ever felt the need to disgrace myself, my position, or so disgustingly disrespect the Office of President over what is nothing more than a difference of philosophy and opinion. At what point did the idea of providing health care to those who can't afford it become such an anger-inspiring, communistic act? Have we grown into a country of arrogant elitists whose new battle cry is "Screw the poor!"? If everyone supposedly agrees that we need health care reform, then why are we so passionately fighting against one another, rather than channeling that passion into finding a common ground solution?

And even more upsetting is the question of why this President inspires such vileness, such anger, such hatred and resistance, such outright, unrestrained disrespect that no other President has ever seen before? Is it because he's from Chicago? Is it because he's an articulate, educated northerner instead of a down home good old boy politician from the South? Is it because he's a younger man in touch with today's world rather than an aging, white haired gentleman with values and ideals still mired in the 1950s and '60s? The man has proven himself to be someone at least willing to listen to other opinions, and who is empathetic to all, unlike the actions of our last President repeatedly illustrated. And yet it's THIS President for whom there is no middle ground, who one either loves or hates with the kind of passion and almost glee that boggles the mind and saddens the soul. What is it that is written on this man's face that causes people to look at him as less than the President, as someone deserving less civility and respect than all the Presidents who have sat in the chair before him?

Maybe it's the way he cuts his hair?

Maybe it's the kind of clothes he wears?

Perhaps it's his smooth stride?

Or his powerful words and articulate voice?

Or maybe people need to stop looking at the color of his skin and start seeing both the content of his character, or more importantly, stop pretending that any superficial garbage that they use to justify their hatred of the man in any way supersedes the fact that he, like 43 men of varied qualities and character before him, is the President of the United States. He is not, nor ever has been someone's "boy", and it's about time people stopped looking down on him and start looking up, because for better or worse, he is the leader of this country, and it's about damn time people started acknowledging that fact.

He is Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, YOUR President, and nothing, not even the color of his skin, diminishes that. Time for this country to man up and show they have the guts to do what was once a distant and unlikely dream...to show due respect for a Black man. If he screws it up, he screws it up. But it won't be because his skin is darker than any President before him. It'll be because like every President before him, and every person reading this, as well as the man writing this, he's a less-than-perfect human being.

And if that's a crime worthy of casting stones, then we should all stand before a mirror and start casting stones at ourselves instead.

- GBB

Comments

[Melissa Marsh]

Hi Gregg - I can definitely understand your frustration. Yet as someone who identifies more with the conservatives than the liberals, I can tell you right now that my worry over President Obama has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the color of his skin. I think you will find a great majority of people on the conservative side of the spectrum that will agree with me.

I agree that he is being shown disrespect - but I think you are perhaps viewing it from a different lens as opposed to the lens you viewed the disrespect shown President Bush. When I saw bumper stickers that said, "Buck Fush", I couldn't believe it. I disagreed with it. I disagree with the vitriol spoken about Obama. And again, it is usually the extremes of either side - a very, very shrill minority - who vocalize their discontent and give a bad name to the rest of us. I think the major reason for this discontent, again, has NOTHING to do with his skin. Instead, I believe it is more for his policies. I, for one, have read some in-depth investigative stories on Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers that, quite frankly, scared the living daylights out of me. Van Johnson is another one. Communism has been tried and tried and tried and it has ALWAYS failed. Now I am not going to jump on the bandwagon and say that Obama is a socialist, but some of his policies definitely make me pause. And as a staunch anti-abortionist, his very liberal view of abortion deeply disturbs me.

As far as the president's speech to the kids goes...it was NEVER about the speech, at least, not for me. I'm quite glad that the president, in the midst of everything else going on in this country, took the time to tell kids about staying in school, working hard, etc. Good for him. What I take issue with is what was in the lesson plans sent to the teachers. Children were asked to write letters to themselves about how they "can help the president." Or to answer the questions, "How does the president inspire you?" That should be concerning for anyone. Why? Because the president is our employee - we the people are the ones who elected him. We should not elevate him above the rest of us in this country, should not put him on a pedestal. Our politicians have started to look at themselves as untouchable, as above us. This isn't right. They are not gods. They are elected REPRESENTATIVES of the people. They have forgotten that - BOTH SIDES.

As far as healthcare, I 100% believe that it needs to be reformed. Just because I disagree with the current method proposed in Congress does NOT mean I am against healthcare reform. Neither does it mean that I am against giving healthcare to poor people. That kind of thinking really upsets me because it is an assumption that is completely and totally untrue for me, yet because I happen to disagree with THE PLAN, I am automatically made to be a racist or a bigot or a unsympathetic and cruel jerk. I am none of the above.

I have seen several different plans from very intelligent people that are much, much better than anything I have seen from Washington. Yet there is this rush to get this legislation passed now, now, YESTERDAY. Why? Yes, it is an urgent matter - but after that stimulus package, people are VERY wary about why this legisislation has to be passed so quickly. As they should be - it's OUR money!

So no, it is not the clothes that he wears, the color of his skin, the way he walks, or anything else. It is his core beliefs that disturb me. I try to look at both sides of the spectrum and get my news from a variety of sources. I try to ignore the shrillness from both sides and look at the facts. And to tell you the truth, the facts scare me. I don't think Obama is the anti-Christ or anything as foolish as that, but I DO believe that he some very radical ideas that directly conflict with our Constitution.

Sorry this is so long. I appreciate this letter and I'm so glad that you posted it. It gives us a chance to form a dialogue and a cordial, "let's share ideas" dialogue is badly needed in this country today.

[Valerie Merkes]

I suggest you make it easy for us readers to find out who you are, wehre you came from, and things that make us want to continue to read your articles. I liked the Obama letter.