A friend of mine overheard an older black man at the gym say that it didn't make sense for black people to vote for Obama because if he's elected president, he's just gonna get assasinated anyway so why put the country through that.

Who knew Uncle Ruckus worked out?

If you think that's depressing, check out Slate's article "The Race Card"
http://www.slate.com/id/2182458/entry/0/

Kmoney, while I don't believe that's a good enough reason not to vote for him, the chance that there'll be an assassination attempt is definitely higher for him than the other candidates.
Most people in my family believe that JFK was assassinated, possibly by the government, because he was Catholic. The number of very vocal bigots may be down since the 60s but they certainly are as militant as they've ever been. They sure as hell are not ready for a black, a woman or a Mormon

I never could reconcile the fear some have with what others fought so hard for regarding civil rights.

Atalanta, I think it's because they lived through that the civil rights movement that they feel this way. To those who weren't born yet or who weren't old enough to get it, MLK is a hero, a martyr really. To them, he's still that but his death is far more "real" in the sense that they actually felt grief when it happened and mourned his death. I can say that his death is a tragedy but they feel it.

The idea that it's scared old black folk looking for their white savior is silly though they'll have to pick someone. The top 3 candidates have large groups of people who hate them. Edwards has the richest, most powerful corporations against him and the second he picks up some states in the primaries, he better get some protection.

There are a million theories as to why JFK was killed, but his catholocism has never been a serious contender. As far as Obama goes, he'll never be president, so we can all stop worrying about him.

A lot of people believe Obama will get assassinated. I've heard it from many people - including white folks. What do they have to be afraid of? I don't think it's fear in every one's case. Maybe it's just their reality. When white folks start thinking he'll get killed, we may want to take that threat a little bit more seriously.

Well if President Obama is assassinated he would be in the company of greats, such as MLK, JFK, Lincoln, etc.
"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself"

Obama winning the Presidency would be a watershed moment in race relations, and move America towards that now stalled "new age" of enlightenment.
It would be THE fulfillment of the dream.
(MLK/American dream)

Considering peak oil is going to pretty much end civilization as we know it - Barack heralding in any "age" would come about 50 years too late. No human can do that now. At least none that I have seen in my lifetime. You're talking Ghandi, MLK, etc. type figures and no one is on that level. To be like them I believe, first, you can't be an elected official. You have to be free from all political constraints.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the age of enlightenment no longer exists. We are at the end of our rule on the planet….like the Romans before the fall of their empire.

You could be right, except that civilizations has always had what's considered a hand-over from one empire to the other, just as we are at the beginning of the new Chinese empire.
America with the right leader (one who believes in a "new age")willing to have a complete break with the past and support a new unitary world order, would still be dominant.
Presently the Chinese are extending their influence throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas, in preparation for the new empire.

True. We are definitely at the dawn of the new Chinese Empire, but that's only going to speed up peak oil….so it won't last long.

People call me crazy, but I tell them they better start studying Mad Max movies and get used to the idea of the Thunderdome. LOL now, but that's real talk.

WARNING: reading below tedium can cause death by boredom.
As a matter of point, there are people, members of certain groups who are believers in a "One World" system, this entails a "Unitary World government".
That's why the E.E.C now the EU was welcomed by so many.
And the Non-Aligned movement was so heralded, because they held so much promise towards this Unitary Government.
Unfortunately they have failed to live up to this hope, the chief reason for this failure is the USA, it has blocked every attempt to unite, and to give the U.N the extra-ordinary powers needed.

I do agree with you that there are some bleak days/decades ahead for the world.

Sorry, I needed to add one more point.
The above is the reason why some of us chose to support Obama, as he is the only person talking about a "new beginning" which is code for a new world order.
Before you say it let me say, this has nothing to do with the Anti-Christ.

Truth - that last sentence made me literally LOL. Yea, you know my cinematic mind immediately went to The Omen. Seriously though - I've read about a unitary world government and, while I can't say that I know a lot about it, my first question is it man's nature to WANT to be equal? I don't think it is. As long as there are people or countries who want power, how can something like a unitary gov work? Won't we be fighting wars (literally and figuratively) with those who disagree or want more power all the time? How can countries and cultures so different be equal? Yes, it sounds great, but it is reality?

I'm rambling, but I hope you understand where I am going.