Tolerance and Differences

"How are we going to get rid of racism? Stop talking about it!"
~Morgan Freeman~

Recently, I was called a bigot because I stood in defense of Paula Deen and dared to ask the question why something she did 25 years ago was not okay but something President Obama did 25 years ago was okay.  I was quite taken aback and a little more than surprised.  I have since removed that person from my life.  No big loss, in my opinion.

During the presidential election of 2008, I was very clear to those in my close circle of friends and my family that I did NOT support Barack Obama for president.  I was told that I didn't support him because he was black.  Again, taken aback and a little more than surprised.  My comeback was that there were so many other and more important reasons to not support him that race wasn't even on the list.

I find these comments to me to be hurtful, first and foremost, but they also tell me that those who make them really don't know me.  But that's not the point of this blog.

When President Obama did drugs 25 years ago, it's generally accepted that it was a result of the times.  During the 70's and 80's it was pretty commonplace for the younger generation (including 20-somethings and 30-somethings) to experiment with drugs.  Aren't most people today given a pass for any drugs they may have done then?

The racial slurs Paula Deen made 25 years ago were also a result of the times.  The Civil Rights movement was still on an uphill climb.  How many other people have done the same thing with little or no consequence?  If the corporations who fired her think they made an example of her with their supposed 'zero tolerance' for bigotry, they failed miserably.  All they did was send a message that if someone said something years ago, keep it to yourself.

The above quote by Morgan Freeman was taken from an interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes.  I think he's on to something.  We're constantly bombarded by the media about our differences.  Why are our differences pointed out but our commonalities are overlooked?  Isn't it true that when something is never mentioned, it's eventually forgotten? You can watch the excerpt here:  Morgan Freeman on Racism.

We are all human beings and should be treated equally.  I, for one, am tired of having the media lead us around by the nose and emphasizing our differences.  I'm with Morgan on this one.