A haymaker against humanity
This is Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas' 2nd District. She wants a "Great White Hope" to counter Obama's black ways, apparently (Photo: commons.wikimedia.org)
Ever heard the expression “Great White Hope” before? The phrase entered popular culture when boxing promoters in the early 20th century where desperately searching for a white fighter who could defeat African-American heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. Yet it has so many other applications.
If you squint hard enough, it could mean nothing more than holding out for a great hero to ride in and save the day. However, appropriating the image of heroism and purity and permanently attaching them to the color white is bound to set people on edge. When it comes to politics in America, it’s painfully obvious that such an image is closely tied to the racism that runs rampant in this country. Such racism’s origins are partly religious in nature, but secular circles are no less guilty when all things are considered.
Cultural poverty
I see it as no mere coincidence that a Caucasian Republican politician who is admittedly “upset” over the Democratic control of Congress and the health care reform package President Obama (who is not Caucasian, incidentally) would call for a “great white hope” to counter that dragon on the doorstep. The politician is Rep. Lynn Jenkins of Kansas, and racism is alive and well. It is a kind of cultural poverty that a fax payday loan could never revitalize. Such a paucity of spiritual funds requires boatloads of paradigm smashing and empathy training.
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Does she think it’s OK because Glenn Beck paved the way?
Yes; Glenn Beck has made the statement that Obama hates white people. Beck labeled him a racist and has stood behind his statements. He’s lost a bevy of high-level sponsors because of it, too. I wonder if that makes him cry at night like a little sad-faced clown?
The Christian Science Monitor points out that such political foot-in-mouth disease runs rampant through this country. Virginia Senator George Allen called a man from Indian a “macaca,” which could mean either a monkey or a city in South Africa. Guess which one people chose to go with? Joe Biden said this of Obama in 2007 when he was an opponent in the presidential race: “I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.” A dream only a believer in the great white could come up with, eh Amtrak Joe?
Now comes Lynn Jenkins
Clearly she is another Republican who is unhappy about her party’s lack of power lately. She wants someone to step up and go toe-to-toe with Obama… a “great white hope.” She draws that racial line as many unthinking racist clones have done before. If I were a Caucasian conservative (I only meet half the requirements), I’d be disgusted by Jenkins’ reference. Even if she didn’t intend to sound racist, she should know a bit more about incendiary rhetoric, particularly since she’s an elected official who holds a high office. If I were one of her constituents in Kansas’ 2nd District, I’d wonder if I’d made the right choice in electing her. Such language is political anathema. If she didn’t understand that, then Lynn Jenkins isn’t educated enough to be a political official.
Throw it in reverse, Lynn
Now she’s backpedaling. Apparently she doesn’t have the star power of a Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh, so she has to play by the rules of intelligent discourse. Damage control has begun, but Ms. Jenkins is not doing it herself. Oh no, that would be much too dangerous for a graduate of the Sarah Palin School of Interviewing. Jenkins’ spokeswoman did the apologizing for her. Not a moment worthy of praise. There’ll be no fax payday loan waiting for you!
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(Just to show you stupidity isn’t color blind)
Rep. Lynn Jenkins is claiming she is not racist and it was not her intention to make such an odious comment. However, she is a highly seated politician who really should have known better. She should already know about her party and the livid reputation they carry. She's obviously aware that the president is black, so why else would she choose such poor choice of words? As an elected official who holds a high office, I would think she would avoid touching areas where intentions can easily be misinterpreted.
This is exactly why we are continually having this problem in our nation. Instead of basing their focus on more crucial matters, these political leaders use their energy to feed this hate wildfire that continues to plague the remaining good. This type of attitude and belief is constantly preached and encouraged through words of revulsion and acts of unkindness, surrounded by thick walls of fortifications that were built by the very hands of our leaders. Anything good and constructive is repeatedly blocked and pushed aside. Our hopes, dreams and fine intentions are taken by these so-called leaders of ours, which are then modified and distributed to their followers with missing pages. This explains why so many people have become so oblivious to the extraordinary possibilities that could irrefutably move us forward.