Topic: Justice
Are You a Coward?

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Our Attorney General, Eric Holder, believes you are, "Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards."

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by Gary Wood
(conservative libertarian)
Friday, February 20, 2009

Our Attorney General of these United States, Eric Holder, gave a speech at the Department of Justice African American History Month Program yesterday stating, "[t]hough this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards." A nation of cowards when it comes to all things racial? Are you a coward?

Mr. Holder goes on to talk about his view of America after work. "On Saturdays and Sundays America in the year 2009 does not, in some ways, differ significantly from the country that existed some fifty years ago. This is truly sad." What is truly sad is a fact our Attorney General has such poor interaction with people, or such sheltered interaction, that he may actually believe this shortsighted view of our country today. Standing before his audience he declares as long as he is running the Justice Department it will be his responsibility to usher in a new birth of freedom promised by Lincoln. How can a person give birth to any form of freedom with such a narrow understanding or belief in his fellow man?

Throughout the speech he generalizes people and claims we as a whole nation, based on some mystic 'American instinct' want to retreat to "our race protected cocoons..." Early in the speech he talks of the history of blacks in the United States and how we need to study this and embrace it. We have Mr. Holder and it is with great pride most of us interact as fellow citizens today rather than the way you paint us to interact. By referencing history one would think Mr. Holder was a student of history. Students of history learn from it, grow because of it, and unite through it.

Instead Mr. Holder more often than not tears at our spirit today by claiming that we are not conversant in history and our history shows we are still racially divided and intolerant of one another. This narrow and sweeping rhetoric indicates Eric Holder is either extremely racial or extremely ignorant of life today. He says we need honest, frank discussions even if it risks upsetting others. Here is a frank fact for Mr. Holder. Race would cease to be a dividing issue if racial comments such as these were not made by men such as him. The likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have long prospered by keeping racial hatred and intolerance alive no matter how much we as a united citizenry embrace one another.

Racism would be nothing more than a footnote in our history to teach our future generations the ugliness of racism while helping them respect all who they interact with. Mr. Holder, have you ever seen a playground full of children from many races interact? They play together, they have fun, there is shared laughter, and there is no sign of your 'American instinct' of division until someone like you comes along and slanders their joy with your narrow bias.

Throughout the speech he talks about black history, black America, black inhabitants, black equality, black experience, black community, black citizens and how "black is critical." We still have Black Entertainment Television, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Negro College Fund, the National Black Child Development Institute, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and more organizations dedicated to the celebration of black. Yet this somehow is brave rather than cowardly? You want bravery Mr. Holder? Tear down the dividing walls of black only organizations, racially biased organizations that are held up as something other than what they are; vehicles to keep racism and bigotry alive while making their organization leaders rich and famous.

We are not cowards Mr. Holder, we are proud of our heritage - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Proud because we've learned many lessons and one is we are better when we are united. Your speech simply serves to rip open a wound that has long sense tried to heal. You cannot live with the idea racism will heal if you will quiet your form of oration, a guise of wanting to unite, a reality of your anger and refusal to let us heal and move forward together. What of your complete lack of discussion about the history of Asians, Latins, Indians, Europeans, or anyone outside of your black world? You are the coward. To think of the powerful position we, the people you claim make up a nation of cowards, have entrusted you with is truly scary. It will be a bright day for all races when you resign your position for justice is blind and you sir are not, you are a racist and see only black.

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There is no better time than now to support DownsizeDC's "Read the Bills Act"

Remember our history, not our modern traditions that are moving us toward representative democracy. Here is some recommended reading to help begin the stirring of our memory. Study these with friends and family as if you were studying the scriptures of your religion or the stats of your favorite sports team.

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson's Account of the Declaration

Independence a Solemn Day by Richard Henry Lee

U.S. Constitution and Amendments

Federalist Papers

Anti-Federalist Papers

1828 Webster's Dictionary (learn the language of the founders)

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The most important thing we can all restore is conversation regarding politics.

2008 by Gary Wood

Columnist, radio show host, and co-founder of Hear My Thunder.

March of Liberty Radio Show Sunday's at 7pm EST

©2009 Gary Wood, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Friday, February 20, 2009
Last modified: Friday, February 20, 2009

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