If you hadn't guessed from the title of this post, this is NOT the article you need to comment on for Monday. This article talks about Levitttown, PA ( built by the same family of builders/developers who made Levittown, NY, the "model suburb" I brought up in class) and its attitudes during the 2008 campaign and election. You do not need to comment on this article. However, since it relates to the article we discussed Friday, I thought some of you might be interested, and if you'd like to comment, I'll accept it for 5 points of extra credit.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/weekinreview/09sokolove.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
The post you must comment on for Monday is the one before this one, labeled "Third Post."
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24 comments:
As someone who is in an interracial relationship and president of a multi-cultural sorority, I take this issue very seriously. People reject the unfamiliar. This is exactly what the residents of Levittown were doing initially. And fortunately, as Barack became more familiar to them, they became more open-minded. Someone's intelligence is not affected by their race at all. obama has a brilliant plan for our struggling economy, and an evacuation for our troops. He is obviously somewhat smarter than McCain, because he was elected, and McCain was not.
I'm happy that these swing voters decided to go with Obama. I found all of their reasoning interesting, and I agreed with most of it. Then again, I am a Democrat. So, I feel that I am somewhat biased when reading this article. I would really like to hear from an independent if their are any of you out there.
Kelley Frost made the last post! Forgot to sign!
After reading this article I found myself somewhat irritated with people in general. I don’t understand why “patience” with Obama is necessary. Ok, his skin is a different color than all the last presidents, but how else is he different? Why else would we need to be “patient” with him? That statement is absurd and obviously stated by a very closed-minded individual. I realize that people say they were raised to feel a certain way regarding African Americans, but we live in a different world now. What’s wrong with realizing this and altering your original views that were forced upon u by your parents anyways?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that the people of Levittown were able to look past their original views and accept Obama as a person, but I don’t think it should have ever been an issue to begin with. It’s just awful to think that people still put such an emphasis on race. I wouldn’t go to the extreme to say that “Obama is smarter than McCain.” I would just say that his views and plans to fix our country were more liked by a majority of the public. I sound a bit irate right now, but it’s just ridiculous to think that people can’t get over the past. It’s in the past for a reason, and a new beginning should have been started where people’s opinions aren’t based primarily on race.
Erin Moskos
I thought it was very interesting how Levittown got passed there original views and voted for Obama. I'm with Erin that peopple put far to much of a emphasis on race, gender, etc.. I believe it is rediculous that some people can't get over the issues that our country had with African Americans and other groups. I think there are several issues that make it hard for our country to get over it. As a country need to say that everything that happened is water under the bridge, but instead we have groups like title 9 and and NAACP that keep the tensions alive and make people equal by in turn making them unequal. They give people of certain groups more rights for being differnt.
By groups causing tension between people of different race and gender makes it a surprise when city's change there mind and vote for Obama. I am way over the issues our country had with race and gender and I belive that it is time that certain groups to let these issues rest. If these tensions that groups make go away I believe we will become a country of one and CHANGE will finally happen.
I think it's pretty garbage to vote for or against someone based on the color of their skin. And I think that it swung both ways during this presidential election. Barack Obama got just as many votes because he was black if not more. Sad, sad, sad. Why does everyone say that this is such an historic election? To me, I'm suprised an African-American hasn't been up to run for the presidential nomination before this.
I think that the current economic situations helped out Obama more than anything, and it really helped to swing the voters in Levittown and similar areas that rely on mills and factories for the bulk of their jobs. Without getting too political, I think Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election solely because he had a tad bit of charisma in front of the camera whereas McCain had none. That swung most voters who were sitting on the fence, like most Levittown voters. Personally, I think our current national situations should be blamed on both parties, they all knew what was going on and they didn't do shit about it until it all hit the fan. Color shouldn't matter. Just my .02 cents.
I can’t believe that we live a world where someone is going to be judged off of two things they have absolutely no control over, name and race. You are born into a race, and given a name. I have no control over being born into a Caucasian family given the name Jill Feimster. However, my ideas, beliefs, and actions are things that I have control over. Those are the aspects that can be discussed, criticized, or uplifted.
I feel that this election was based largely, if not totally on those types of aspects instead of the two candidate’s policies and procedures. Personally, I believe that this presidency is going to be mainly focusing on the current economic conditions and getting us out of this recession. However, although this election was based a lot off of those uncontrolled features of a person, it makes me happy that many people went against the norm this presidential election and voted for whom they thought deserved it most.
Jill Feimster
Unfortunatley, I know that some people do or do not vote for someone because of their race. I know there are people out there who are still stuck in the old times when skin color was a defining characteristic. I do think many people, other than Levittown citizens, struggled with the same conflict about whether to vote outside of their race. But, like kelley michelle said, they did grow more open-minded as they became more informed about Barack Obama. I don't think race should be a deciding factor in a presidential election or in any situation for that matter.
I believe that deciding factors in a presidential election should be the intelligence of the candidate and their plan for us as United States citizens. I am happy to know that, as the election turned out, not too many people feared Barack Obama because of his race. I believe many Americans are growing together when it comes to tolerance and open-mindedness as the years pass. But, this is not to say that we are giving up our individual beliefs. Our beliefs will always be ours...whether everyone else follows suit or not. It is possible to coexist in this country no matter what you believe and still prosper as a whole.
Now this was an interesting read. First of all, voting should be considered a responsibility not a right, and in such people should do all necessary research into the matter. Either voting for or against a candidate simply because of ones ethnicity is as bad as ignorant can get. That being said, the article only gives us one side of this, I would be interested to read an article on African American voters who wanted to vote for Obama due to his race but switched to McCain.
Now then, to get off topic. The article quoted someone saying “They had to ask themselves if they wanted a really smart young black guy, or a stodgy old white guy from the same crowd who put us in this hole,” why cant people realize that this "hole" is a simple part of a cycle. We have had a some sort of banking crisis nearly every twenty years in Americas history. In 1980, worried Americans voted for lower taxes and smaller government as the solution to the nation's economic problems. Would the opposite prescription also have led to a 25-year economic boom? Goldman Sachs ran a an economic simulation of the effect of a total repeal of the Bush tax cuts, the computer predicted a 3 percentage-point drop in GDP.
Levittown, like our nation, has come a long way from its beginning. I'm glad to see the progress of our society by downplaying race as a factor. The people of Levittown voted for Obama based on his qualifications and platform rather than whatever skin color he had. However there are others who let race be the determining issue and that is quite sad. The majority of people of Levittown and our nation has spoken and succeeded in opposing prejudices of past generations.
Levittown is a symbol for the progression of our nation in its ability to overcome barriers of the past. This change is a start but we have a long way to go from here. The financial institutions, domestic corporations, and housing markets make the backbone of our society, and they are all struggling. Change is the only possibility of reviving our weak economy, and we have taken a step towards this goal.
Kenneth Tran
I absolutely loved this article! Even though people had to see how to benefit "self" in order to put aside race, they put aside race.
I am an Afican-American student who comes from a low to middle income family, and I did not vote for Barack Obama because of his skin color but listened to his beliefs and his story and voted accordingly. I strongly agree with Erin because even though this was a historic election because of race, I still fail to understand how Barack is any different from any of those men who came before him? How will his mistakes and triumphs be any different than those who made mistakes and accomplishments before him?
I feel like the moment the ignorance in this nation and other nations is extinct will be the moment that people will realize that everything is bigger than US! I am a Christian and always remember that before all of the race and gender factors, we are HUMAN. I am proud of the people in Levitown for putting aside the irrelevance of petty things and understanding the relevance of important things. I understand that everyone has their own opinion, but lets respect one another. Let us put aside our differences and band together to support what has already been done in order to make things great because when our leader fails, it affects us all.
J. Ryan Duncan
I think that it is good to hold to certain things from your cultures past but not at the expense of the furthering of your culture. Many people still cling to old beliefs that their parents and grandparents held to.
It is nice to see situations that show how people are overcoming their old, advancement preventing beliefs. Hopefully there will be more of these situations in the future and maybe even one day we notice that these discriminations are eliminated. Although I don't think they will be completely eliminated anytime soon if ever.
Travis Woosley
Why can’t more people be like the citizen’s of Levittown? Whether you voted for Obama or McCain there is just no excuse for being racist. I have heard more racial slurs over the course of the past year, than I think I have heard in my whole life. It really goes to show that even though we might think that we have overcome the war on racism, the fight still continues.
I did not base my vote upon the color of skin or the name of a candidate. It’s good to see that the people of Levittown did not either. America has come a long way, but has an even longer road ahead.
Ann White
A grew up in a small town where people thought the county line is where outerspace started. We had one African American student, so most people never had to experience the race issue. I had the privilege unlike most to go beyond that line and experience the real world. When I was in tenth grade I played on an all
African American team where I was was the minority. At first it did kind of worry me, but with my parents support I took a different outlook and embraced this change which mad a major impact in my life. I got to play with some of the best athletes in the nation and they became life long friends. I can remember attending a camp with some of these girls and I was being threatened by another out of state player. When I told them what was going on they came to my rescue and needless to say this person never bothered me again. They did not see the color as an issue, but saw me as a friend.
With Obama's election I can tie in my friendship and honestly say race was not an issue in the way I voted. Sometimes I feel as though people who may have voted race, have small minds that have not been opened to change. Hopefully this election will bring us a step closer to realization that we are all created equal, and no one person is better than the other based on the color of ones skin.
LAUREN WILLIAMS I forgot to sign!
Race I feel should not have had an effect on a citizen’s vote. If it did I feel this nation is in more trouble than I think it is in now. People of different races are working there ways up to being as wealthy and as well known as the majority. This nation is founded by a group of immigrants. So who is to say that he cannot be the president due to his color? The belief in this country was to get ahead based on merit not race or religion.
His name might be weird to some people, and many people think he is Muslim because of it. I thought this nation was founded on religious freedom, thus any person of any religion should be able to run this great nation. Plus, Obama is a Christian so really he no different than every past president. I am tired of the accusations about him when he has done nothing wrong.
Bhavin Patel
My blog is supposed to be two paragraphs.
Bhavin Patel
I am in a sociology special topics class this semester called whiteness. You would think its about white race and white society but it's not. It is about how even black people can be considered white because white isn't just a race anymore, it is a society status. I would consider someone like Obama to be white, he has power, he has power and influence. Many people consider black as the gang members on the New York City streets but there have been some extremely powerful and successful black people, for example, Martin Luther King Jr.
Now I am no where near a political person, I don't understand very much of it and I think everybody just lies but I heard Obama's speech after he won and if I hadn't had been watching it on tv, the thought of race would have never crossed my mind and it's sad to think that's all some people know.
This article is funny to me, because even after the election is over, we are still having the same debates. If Colin Powell or Conda Liza Rice (sp? sorry...) were to have run for President, there would be less controversy and less accusations slung around as to the credibility of their candidacy. And while we are on credibility...isn't the purpose of voting in a booth to be secretive? Since when do we vote and tell?
I am a Republican and yet, I do not care about the race of the man (or woman for that matter) who will run this country or the experience that they have (how little or how much) I care about the goals and intentions they have as a leader and the character, integrity and honor that they will lead with. I care about their oratory skills in a national arena and the people they surround themselves at home.
Yes, it's a big change for America and yes we are facing difficult times. But there is always a first time for something and there is always change to be had. I am tired of hearing about change and inexperience and fear of the unknown or bad campaign strategies. The fact of the matter is, we have a new president who overwhelmingly won on Nov.4 and we have an old president who was faced with situations and difficulties completely unforseen to us all. It is time to get over our complaining and it is time to start respecting our leaders. Everyone messes up and everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of their position.
As for my vote, it will remain private, as for my respect it will remain constant and as for his name, there are far worse things our presidents have had to overcome.
After reading through everyone's post it is a trend that the problem with race lies not within out generation but within older generations.I believe in voting for someone because of who they are and what they stand for, not what color they are. I think it is a huge accomplishment that we are going to have an African American President. It shows how far we have come as a country.
As for the article I thought it was one of the best reads yet as well. It was interesting to see how the people of Levittown swayed their votes to Obama in such a substatial way. I think the change just might be what we need to get people to be more open minded to get over the recession we are currently facing.
Amanda Rosen
I love election time. I was able to vote for the President for the first time this year. Four years ago I missed election day by turning 18 ten days later. I have grown up all over the United States, living in both red and blue states and battle ground states. On election night, I watched CNN and the one subject I found the most interesting was that in the exit polls, McCain's age was a larger influence on people's vote than Obama's race.
In this country, we are lucky. I myself don't affiliate with a party because I want to affiliate with the person. I think voting shouldn't be about age, race, gender, religion, or even who your parents vote for but instead who you agree with. Like Amanda said, I don't think this is an issue with the people of our generation but I do beleieve that it is an issue in the United States. I hope that Obama will be able to set a precident that, not being a cookie cutter version of all those before him isn't a bad thing and will run this country with just as much enthusiasm, love, and knowledge as we as it's people deserve. The people of Levittown are slowly becoming more open-minded to this idea and I hope so will the rest of the US.
Evan Harsh
Skin pigment affects intelligence. An idea that is absurd as it sounds, yet some american citizens still believe that a higher amount of melanin hinders one's ability to run a country. A ridiculous circumstance, but an unfortunate reality.
It angers me that race is even an issue with the election. After Obama won, I have heard several comments from McCain supporters about how a black man will cause the demise of this country--total ignorance on their behalf.
The people of Levittown do give us some reassurance however that this country can possibly overcome such a trivial issue. Maybe this "historical election" will help dissolve racial stereotypes, open the eyes of hard-headed americans, and allow us to become the educated americans we think we are.
Republican or Democrat, people need to wake up and smell the coffee: the USA has a black president-elect. I can foresee any maladies that come upon the US, preventable or not, being blamed on Obama's race. Skin color does not have a direct effect on the ability to govern a country! He is just another president and our opinion of him needs to be based on his policies and procedures
I don't see why the people of Levittown had to be patient on Obama. I feel that once they looked passed his skin that they could hear him and what change he is trying to accomplish in America's econmomy.
I feel that it is a very historical time for America and not just for African Americans but for all Americans. As are economy is going through all of this hardship and George Bush just letting it get worst. Obama promises change. I know George Bush also promised changes and look what he did, but I believe that Obama's promises of change are sincere and are going to happen.
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