The Racial Divide vs The Gender Divide

[MirrorAshes]

For anyone paying the slightest bit of attention, or who has been here since the 2004 election, its hard not to notice the level of vitriol and intensity on display here these days. Was it just easier for us all to jump behind a white male candidate? Now that we have 2 historic candidacies, it seems that a gorge has been created within the party (and greatly exaggerated on sites like this one). Why? Why must we pick sides so absolutely, so definitively? I'll give myself away-- I am a fervent Obama supporter, but I will happily vote for Hillary Clinton in the fall. I have MAJOR issues with the way she has conducted her campaign, but at the end of the day, you're playing to win and this is the biggest contest of them all. So come November, I will vote to support my party no matter the candidate and put away my reservations and look toward making the progress all of us truly want to make.

I know most Hillary supporters would do the same for Barack, but some have made it clear that they will not. On the other side of the coin, I know people who have been so put off by Hillary that they say they cannot vote for her.

We are losing sight of our party. Who is to blame is not an issue that can be easily resolved when both sides have such solid ground to stand on. This is a legendary race. A historic race. I simply hope it will not in the end be a disastrous race.

Ferraro, Wright, whatever the next outrage to come down the pipeline: we must not get so caught up in it that we continue to lose sight of the best interests of the party.

I know many posts such as this have been made. I know I am not the first or the last to call for civility. But please allow me to present a little perspective.

I am 27 years old, a relative elder in this newfound and highly coveted "youth vote". I worked my ass off for Wes Clark in the 2004 primaries, and then for John Kerry in the general. I was deeply saddened to see the youth vote disparaged as it was. But, Obama has mobilized them like Howard Dean before him, and they are essential for the future of the democratic party. Many my age are extremely enthusiastic about Obama, and see a coalition of older democrats unifying against them to elect another candidate. Conversely, Hillary supporters see these new kids on the block, as well as the now overwhelming black vote coming together against their choice. There is immense passion on both sides. 2 speeding locomotives headed straight for Denver, the outcome unclear. But when the smoke has cleared, we need to be absolutely sure that the coalition built by BOTH candidates can come together and STAY together.

We cannot let this get any more out of control. We cannot let this get any more divisive. We, the democratic party, need to stop playing "gotcha" and be the reasoned electorate we claim to be.

I know this website is not a good barometer for the rest of the country, but the fanning of flames here on DU has turned into a full-on inferno. Though I have never been a regular poster, I have always read and enjoyed the insight to be found here. But we are losing sight of ourselves. Losing sight of our goals. Losing sight of our PARTY.

This is DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND. Not HU or OU, but DU.

I hope and pray we are seeing the worst of this play out in front of our eyes right now. It needs to get better or we are digging our own graves in the fall. I know the phrase "concern troll" gets thrown around a lot, but we should all have reason for deep concern. We should all be looking at how we can overcome our differences instead of deepening the divide.

I would hope that come fall, women will embrace Obama, or that blacks will embrace Hillary. Whichever way it goes, it needs to happen, and the seeds for that outcome need to be planted and nurtured NOW.

I beg of you all: let us lead by example. Let us be the first to greet our opposing democratic candidate with the benefit of the doubt, with understanding, and with faith that no matter what flaws they or the people around them may have, they are our best hope, our only hope for a better world come November.

Obama has now famously said "we are the ones we have been waiting for." Well, Hillary supporters, that includes you too. It should, anyway.

[grantcart]

1. thank you for your post

[MirrorAshes]

2. thank YOU for reading

its hard to get a word in edgewise amongst all the chaos tonight.

[grantcart]

6. I call it an infestation and between you and me it wil be hard to get anyone to see it

tonight - my suggestion is to kick it tomorrow morning.

I had the same situation with this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5033244

[chieftain]

7. That is a great post and the metaphor of the helicopters is

chillingly effective. Nicely done.

[MirrorAshes]

8. Wow, that was a great post. I wish I'd seen it a couple nights ago.

I guess thats the trouble with this place-- so much to read, so much to miss. It is good to know my sentiments are valued by at least a few. Sometimes it seems like you need the phrase "bot" or "cult" in your thread title to get any legs.

[grantcart]

9. thanks help it and give it a kick maybe it will get a second life

[chieftain]

3. Great post. It seems that pleas for civility no matter how

well reasoned and eloquently stated do not attract the numbers that flame bait does. I am not certain what that says about us as a community or this particular election. I think part of this sorry state of affairs is attributable to the fact that pre-2008 political vocabulary and practices were premised on white, straight male candidates. This year, tensions and sensitivities that lurked beneath the surface have been exposed and rhetoric which in past years was acceptable has caused pain and aggravation. This is probably a phase that we had to go through to reach a level of race and gender maturity which had heretofore eluded us. Like you, I hope and pray that we all ratchet down the snark and vitriol, continue to point out the strengths of our candidates and the weaknesses of our Democratic opponent in measured tones and then unite to take the country back from the criminal regime that the Supreme Court imposed on us. We all know that McCain will be W's third term. History will not absolve our complicity in the destruction of our democratic values if we allow the RW to rule for another 4 years.

[MirrorAshes]

4. well said

"This is probably a phase that we had to go through to reach a level of race and gender maturity which had heretofore eluded us. Like you, I hope and pray that we all ratchet down the snark and vitriol, continue to point out the strengths of our candidates and the weaknesses of our Democratic opponent in measured tones and then unite to take the country back from the criminal regime that the Supreme Court imposed on us."

This is particularly insightful. Well put indeed.

[chieftain]

5. Thanks

[chieftain]

10. K&R

[MirrorAshes]

11. one more chance nt.

:shrug: