Vilified! - Red Meat for Conservatives from a Guy who’s Got a Lot of Beefs

Date: 7/29/09

Return of the Invisible Man

Over the past few years I’ve come to grips with the fact that as a white guy, I’m pretty much the epitome of everything that’s wrong with America. At least that’s what I’ve been told.

Although I did not vote for Barack Obama because of his ideology, as I pointed out in my recent book it was my hope that the election of the country’s first black president would go a long way toward healing the racial chasm in our country.

I fear I was wrong. How can I hope our first African-American president would have the ability to mend anything when he weighs in during a national press conference on a confrontation between a black man and a white cop and clearly sides with the black man without even knowing the facts?

Then he announces he’ll smooth the whole thing over with a “Beer Summit” at the White House because we all know that beer solves everything. I guess the message here is when you want to distract the typical, stupid white guy like me – just announce there’s beer and it’s cold. Personally, I’m insulted by this attempted misdirection.

Mr. President: it was dumb to get in the middle of what was a local issue. But, in a perverse way we are a bit fortunate that you did because it is only through these slip-ups do the American people get to see who you really are.

I hope Obama continues to render these kinds of faux paus because it is the only hope I have my fellow citizens will see him for what he is: a partisan ideologue with radical visions that are rewriting the blueprint our founding fathers risked their lives to lay down.

As for me: I can no longer speak honestly on race anymore because whatever I say will be discounted since I am white. if I don’t agree that a particular incident was racist, or involved racial profiling, or is the fault of the white guy – then I, too, will be labeled a racist.

But, if I just shut up and not weigh in; if I keep my lips closed and not exercise my right to opinion; if I stay mum and not make any waves then I will glossed over by the shouters and haters who are convinced that any incident involving black and white must be racial.

Those concerned with racial equality no longer want a debate or discussion on how far we’ve come or where we are. What they want is a concession. A concession from everyone that the white man continues to be the root of all problems in America and for that he must be punished and vilified without justification.

As for me, I have grown tired of trying to have an intellectual discussion with anyone about race in America because despite whom I am and how I’ve conducted my life, it can all be wiped out in a moment by anyone who decides to point a finger and accuse me of being a racist.

I’d like to thank President Obama for providing me with this “teachable moment”. I am no longer just some white guy. I have become The Invisible Man who prefers to keep my opinions to myself because to express them out loud will only expose me for what I am: reasonable.

And at the moment, reason is not in vogue in America.

- Corey Deitz