File this away under "Stuff That Will Never Happen:" It's November 5th, and angry mobs across the country are wreaking havoc because this historic election didn't go their way. They're filling the streets, pulling innocent bystanders out of their cars, beating pedestrians, smashing store-front windows and looting…
As crazy as it sounds, there are people — mostly on the far right but some on the left, too — who have subtly suggested that blacks who have so much riding on this election will riot if Barack Obama loses. This is a preposterous and incredibly offensive notion. During this election the black community has shown a tremendous amount of civic engagement and positivity. I am filled with pride, not only because a black man is a major party candidate for president, but also because of the way this man has inspired so many formerly-complacent citizens to get involved or, at the very least, vote. To suggest that a loss, as crushing and demoralizing as it could be, will automatically take this positivity and hope and turn it into violence is an insult to the highest degree.
But here's the hard truth: As we get closer to the end of this long, bumpy political road, the possibility of post-election rioting has become less and less preposterous to me. However, it's not black people that scare me. The Republican candidate is down in the polls, his favorability ratings are poor, and he and his running mate have lost three debates in a row. This begs the question: Will white folks riot if John McCain loses?
Open a newspaper or turn on the news. Who's showing the real capacity for election-induced violence these days? It's not the blacks at Obama rallies, that's for sure. It's John McCain's white supporters, albeit a small percentage of them. They threaten Obama's life. They yell "terrorist," "treason," and "off with his head" when his name is mentioned. They lash out at the media — because Palin and McCain say journalists are mean liberals — and they shout racial slurs at innocent cameramen. Pundits and columnists and reporters and politicians from across the political spectrum have expressed alarm at how quickly things have spiraled out of control at these rallies and are concerned that John McCain and Sarah Palin have done absolutely nothing to put this behavior in check. Despite the criticism that's coming at them from all angles, the floundering duo continues to paint Obama as a terrorist sympathizer, a scary "other," and a dangerous unknown, riling up the most ignorant and hateful people in their large pool of supporters.
Whatever opinion you may have of Barack Obama, can you imagine him knowingly and willfully inciting violent, foaming-at-the-mouth rage against his opponent? Can you imagine him condoning that behavior with his silence if it ended up happening against his will? I cannot. I cannot imagine Barack Obama not doing everything in his power to quell any potential uprising among even a small subset of his millions of supporters, especially not after all of this time and all of this bipartisan criticism. If nothing else shows the distinction between these two candidates, this is it.
My strong belief is that there won't be any mass riots on November 5th, no matter the outcome. But if all of the violent talk going on at the Republican rallies turns into violent actions, John McCain and Sarah Palin will share the blame. Everyone knows it but them.
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amen.
Wow. Very well said.
I was never afraid of Black folks rioting.
Agreed 120%
Especially after we started seeing all the Palin mobs…
Let me get this straight. Here you have John McCain who has been censured by the NYTimes, CNN and everybody else for running a hate-inducing campaign with violent, hateful, nasty people yelling KILL HIM at the mention of Barack Obama's name and folk yelling racial slurs at African-American cameramen standing there doing their job while McCain stands idly by…
but it's the Black people who are going to riot.
I'm white and if Obama loses, I'LL be about ready to riot.
Isn't that why the army is training for 'crowd control?' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYxTzDFofZQ
But I think it goes both ways. I've seen how 'angry' people are at the thought of President Obama.
"My strong belief is that no one will riot on November 5th, no matter the outcome."
Dear God I hope you are correct because honestly I'm a bit uneasy around the McPain supporters I've had the displeasure to be around lately.
I kinda have to ditto Jason's comment…I don't know if I'd actually riot, but I know it'll be the first time I've REALLY felt like it.
I also think at this point that if Obama loses, it'll be because the election was rigged - it won't be for any other reason. And that would be enough to make me want to hit the streets.
I have to agree with Jason and Demolitionwoman. I don't know if I would actually riot, but, I would give it much consideration.
I believe that what it boils down to is party loyalty or flat out prejudice. I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt to party loyalty. I would like to believe that America is color blind, but, we all know that is not the case.
I believe that blacks, like myself, will feel that the system has failed us and that it really doesn't work. The ante on the idea that we have to be at least twice as good as whites will be upped to 10 times.
I am white and some of the McCain/Palin followers scare the shit out of me. I am more concerned about them than anyone.
Honestly, if Obama wins, I'm not leaving my house November 5th. Even though North Carolina could go to Obama, there are alot of McCain supporters in my neighborhood. I don't want to put myself in danger just because I want to go run errands the day after a black man becomes president.
Palin and McCain are showing they have no scruples. They will not even tell their mobs not to act like that
yeah, McPalin supporters seriously disturb me and scare me. look, I'm for freedom of speech (and belief), but damn, people, this is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA… not the USSR or Nazi Germany.
I agree with Michelle, I live in SW Missouri (where there was a billboard put up with Obama wearing a turban calling him 'Hussein'). I took the day off on Nov. 5 and I am just going to ride it out in my apartment.
The night he won the nomination a man yelled racial slurs at my boyfriend and I as we were walking pass the Robert E. Lee park.
Geez! Why do I still live here?!?
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. That's true of the right and the left. But we're not seeing it from the left at this time. And we haven't seen it directed at one man. There are crazy people who will take these calls as a call to do something to the "terrorist." It's not like we haven't seen this with the anti abortion people before. McCain has no honor if he doesn't stop this.
This is total bullsh*t!!! Its 2008 people get REAL! If any candidate wins the people outcome will be business as usual!!! It's America not Zimbabwe!!
Speaking of rioting bands of whitepeople, what happened to the militias that were on tv everyday following Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing? Remember the random groups of [minus-70 IQ having] whitefolk stockpiling weapons and camouflage jumpsuits who bought up half of Montana to get ready for the "race wars"? What ever happened to them? They just kind of disappeared when we talk about "terrorism." Did they all turn in their submachine guns on Turn In Your Submachine Gun for a $10 Walmart Gift Card Day? We kind of need to know what they're doing.
Jason, I'm with you! I am also white and would be angry and disgusted if they cheat and steal this election. The country-hell, the WORLD is ready for change in the U.S. Bush has caused us to be hated. If McCain were to get into the White House I believe all reasonable people would feel so much despair that there is a very good chance Black/White/Asian/Hispanic-everyone would band together and protest or riot! America needs to stand up to the old white men who have been running this country into the ground for years.
I'm safe because I live in the hood. The only white people around here are the police and the hipsters who've bought up most of the nicer looking brownstones. Still though I did see one of those said hipsters wearing a "Drill baby drill" t-shirt. Dunno if he was trying to be ironic or if he was for serious.
one of my professors brought up an interesting point.
say obama wins and some rascist (encouraged by mccain's more radical supporters) takes it upon himself to assasinate obama because he can't possibly live in a world where the president is black/arab/etc.
regardless of race wouldn't you riot?
they can riot but,the difference will be is that this time all the bodies will not be black
@Esteban:
"I'm safe because I live in the hood."
^first time this has ever been said
McCain/Palin can blame themselves. Our country is full of crazy people who are not institutionalized.to stand by and say/do nothing is equally unnerving and condones the behavior. There will be some form of protests and/or violence regardless of the winner. We're not far removed from the countries that have political/religious/ethnic unrest, we just do a better job of hiding our true feelings.
@ ljkelly
Dammnn!
My boyfriend is a country white boy and hes rocking an Obama shirt my mom gave him. Hes looking for folks to say something. Where do you live again? Ill just send him up there
I think its sad they are looking at Obama supporters to riot when its McCain people getting scrappy. I think Im going to vote first thing in the morning and hide out the rest of the day.
How about a few more hate-whitey comments? Seriously, did I just stumble into a fu%$#&ng black panther rally? Why can't you blacks just say it…..you hate whites. And to those of you spineless, self-hating white losers: do us all a favor and down an entire bottle of tylenol, then get in the bathtub and cut your wrists. You're pathetic.