The Word 'Racist' Has Become As Offensive As The 'N' Word.

We hear a lot about racism these days. I find the word “racist” as offensive as I find the "N" word. It doesn’t make any difference who uses those words because they are offensive. Charles Rangel, the Congressional Representative from New York, is inclined to invoke "racist" into many of his remarks regarding President Bush. He makes a practice of calling the president a "racist." Who would publish one of my articles if I titled it, “Charles Rangel the Ni**er Democrat from New York?” Not many I assure you. Yet Congressman Rangel can use "racist" as an epithet to his hearts content and the media reports his remarks unchallenged.

The term "racist" has become a defense mechanism for many blacks. Blacks use it as freely as Southerners in the past used the “N” word. For the most part most whites have gotten over the use of the ”N” word. Now it’s heard only in hushed tones as though if spoken louder than a whisper it would be a violation of some law. I never liked words that tend to define people in a negative manor. It seems too often we’re accustom to hyphenating our thoughts with four letter derogatory comments. Why? I don’t have a clue. As a young man I was so offended by such words I made it a practice never to use them. Not surprisingly, I managed to express myself in a much more understandably way. Also, not surprisingly, no one seemed to notice I wasn’t invoking four letter words to emphasize my points. My point is the terms "racist" and "racism" have become so prevalent in conversations no one seems to notice. I notice and I’m offended. Truth be known -- I’m not alone.

Too many African Americans blame racism for their ills. The fact is they’ve met the oppressor and it’s them. Opportunity abounds in this country for those willing to match their skills with available jobs. Millions of jobs exist they’re now being filled by OTA’s [Other than American] workers. If you think these OTA’s are working for minimum wage, you’re badly mistaken. They have the jobs because they’re willing workers. The immigrant population has always outperformed our indigenous population until they become indigenous. Don’t ask me why.

Perhaps it’s parenting or perhaps its because a liberal government is willing to reward the unproductive. The two largest groups of unemployed in this country are unwed mothers, white and black and black males. Lack of education is certainly a consideration for unemployment. Drug addiction plays a part. Drug addition isn’t limited to the ghetto; therefore it’s not an excuse. The biggest cause is because a liberal government supports their lack of incentive by paying them off. Pride of accomplishment, what the hell are you talking about?

Poverty and crime among the black population stems from a verity of causes. Whites are reluctant to address the issue for fear of being called “racist.” Politicians won’t address the issue because the impoverished are the Democratic voting base and Republicans see little advantage spending political capital on such a small segment of voters. That leaves the poor between a rock and a hard place with few places to turn for help.

Now comes my oxymoron justifying bad behavior. The least responsible people for poverty are those blacks living in the ghettos of America. For more than two centuries, they’ve been told they are inferior. For the past quarter-century ghetto blacks have been pacified with a pittance of what it takes to be in the middle class of society. The excess of government regulations has corrupted every government program designed to elevate minorities out of poverty. I would be surprised if 10% of the funding ever reached the intended cause. As long as the likes of Charley Rangel can attract the cameras, screaming “racism” things aren’t likely to change. As long as there’re presumed leaders of the black community who promote racism and their brand of snake oil, poverty will prevail.

There’s an answer, it involves uncorrupted leadership, education and the insistence on responsibility. When minorities are told they are somebody and encouraged to prove it by their efforts, welcome change will come. Living hard work, there’re no free rides in a free society.