The first years of Obama’s presidency may be remembered for many things but one of the inescapable results has been a renaissance of racism.
We have become far too familiar with the racism spewing from those on the right including the Teabaggers, all of the racist references, accusations, images and statements.
Now, it has become further institutionalized (unfortunately, instead of those on the Racist Right becoming institutionalized) by the state of Arizona which the extremists have hijacked.
This racist legislation comes as the piece de resistance in a recent string of…well, extremist…and socially destructive policies and laws rammed through by the Republican Party in AZ including, as appears in a TPM article:
• June 29, 2009: From the annals of desperate measures, the state considers a plan to sell the House and Senate buildings to raise some quick cash. Under the proposed plan, the House and Senate would lease the buildings over a number of years before buying them back again. Though not actually a piece of legislation, the state’s plan was so bizarre that it prompted The Daily Show team to run a segment on it.
• September 30, 2009: The state passes a law allowing those with concealed weapons permits to bring their guns into bars and restaurants. The law stipulates that any establishment with a sign prohibiting guns is off-limits for those packing heat, though it also provides plenty of loopholes to keep toters from having to disarm too frequently.
• February 9, 2010: State Rep. Frank Antenori (R) introduces legislation, co-sponsored by twelve other House members, to cut off welfare funding to any recipients who spend money on cigarettes, alcohol, cable TV packages, a car, or anything else he deems of “the niceties of life.” Antenori said of his proposed legislation: “If you’re basically hungry and can’t afford to feed yourself, then I don’t think you should be able to afford to buy cigarettes.”
• March, 2010: Arizona votes to repeal KidsCare, a health insurance program for poor children. Not only did the repeal cut health care for about 38,000 kids, but it also may have violated a provision in the recently passed health care reform bill that requires states to maintain its previous standards of eligibility. The move thus jeopardes the billions of dollars the state receives in Medicaid funding from the federal government.
• April 7, 2010: Arizona’s Attorney General, Democrat Terry Goddard, refused to join the lawsuit to repeal health care reform that was brought by a number of other state AGs, so Gov. Jan Brewer is on the lookout for other ways. The conservative-backed Goldwater Institute helpfully offered to bring the suit, and Brewer is reportedly considering the offer.
• April 15, 2010: The Arizona House approves a bill to strengthen abortion requirements, following its passage in the Senate. If signed into law by the governor, the bill would require abortion providers to report on the individual abortions they perform. Though the names of the women would remain confidential, the bill would also require statistics on how many times courts bypassed parental consent laws, among other things.
• April 20, 2010: A bill that would require presidential candidates to prove their citizenship before appearing on Arizona’s ballot wins initial approval from the Arizona state House. The bill still needs final approval from the House and state Senate before it gets sent to Gov. Brewer, but if it passes it would require President Obama to present his birth certificate if he hopes to get on the Arizona ballot in 2012.
Under this wack Repub government, AZ sounds like an Orwellian police state run as an Idiocracy, like a Nazi occupied Casablanca (“Show me your papers…and your Letters of Transit!”) where the Nazis are played by angry cavemen.
The silver lining in this is that these would seem to be the last throes of the need for white supremacy in America. Maybe it’s not a coincidence that AZ hosts a large amount of retired people, it is the older white people who percentage-wise are most fearful and prejudiced towards minorities. They remember the comfort of white supremacy, of black people averting their eyes and sitting at the back of the bus.
The concept of AZ, let alone America, not having a white majority that is superior is upsetting to them. But that is the clear course of the future.
This may have been a blessing in disguise. Most of the country, even some Republicans, have banded together to confront such racism. Talks of boycotts, legal action and even renewed immigration reform legislation in Congress has resulted from this outrage.
The ironic outcome could be to both taint the RW and Baggers as the racists they are while possibly establishing immigration reform that will treat human beings who have been good members of society humanely while restricting hateful white people from using the law to oppress those who aren’t white.
Apartheid is not American, it will not be tolerated.
You know what sucks in Arizona?
Is that most of us, and we’re all not retirees, but we are from somewhere else.
My husband is close to being a native, besides the real natives, but he was born in Minnesota and moved here when he was 3 months old when his parents moved here.
I moved here in 1984, and my loyalty still belongs to the Tigers and definitely the Red Wings, and when they got a football team here, and the Lions were playing, we actually went down and saw that game, and I rooted for the Lions, and that’s the problem.
Most people here are from other places and we still have our loyalties from that area, and so it is – this is the place we live, but it’s not our home.
This thing going on now, it is huge, because those of us with sane minds, and the churches, we know what it is – “show me your papers” – and honest to God this will not stand.
I’ve read that Al Sharpton is bringing his Freedom March to Arizona on Wednesday, and I am so very sorry that I am going to miss that.
I love the Reverend Sharpton – he’s controversial, yes, but we love him from our time in Europe and that’s another story.
This law will not stand because it’s against God and man.
And for the extreme right wing – listen up – we are on the side of Jesus Christ and He is a LIBERAL.
I’ve tried to limit calling people out as racists since Obama started his campaign, as the danger of overuse of the race card poses problems. As in crying wolf.
I have a history which allows me a bit more perspective than many people. In the early 70s, I, as a young blond (many thought attractive, but who am I to brag?) married a young black man. At first, we lived in Louisville. There, I heard amazing things, from whites who barely knew me to the car dealer where I purchased a vehicle. We moved to Massachussets, where I learned the state was not as liberal as I’d been led to believe. Living in NYC, though, was pretty easy compared to the other areas.
Yesterday, I was having a discussion with a co-worker about Obama (I’m the only one in my office/plant that is liberal). One of our subcontractors spoke up and said “Oh, I see. You are an Obama lover.”
Initial reaction was to defend my positions. Later, I got angry, when I realized what the man said sounded exactly like I had been called in the early 70s. Only take ‘Obama’ out and put a derogatory racial word in. I’d bet the man doesn’t think of himself as racist.
Later, the whole thing just made me sad. Sad – that people in 2010 are still so rooted in bigotry.
There is little doubt that Arizona’s new law is rooted in the same deep bigotry. My stepson is in school in Phoenix, and is just sick of it.
I doubt that all people opposed to illegal immigration are racist, but that element absolutely exists.
Suzanne, thanks for that great post and for sharing your insight–it is VERY sad. I have learned how deep the racism in our country is since President Obama was elected, and –being born and living my life in LA– I am still shocked.
I am sure there is plenty of racism here too, but it really is not the norm as far as I can tell.
I also believe that there are many people who are angry about undocumented aliens here who do not base their feeling on racism. I remember several years ago, our best friends– staunch Liberals and extremely socially progressive– were very upset about the number of Mexican kids in their children’s school. They were upset by the bilingual ed being taught, by the increased class size and by other issues the presence of illegal immigrants posed. I do not think racism had anything to do with their anger. I suspect that the issue of jobs is another area where people react in seemingly racist ways, but they are not necessarily racist. They would probably feel the same way if their community had a sudden influx of Russians, for example.
Hi Cher..
I lived in Los Angeles for many years, and was there when prop 187 was on the ballot. I agree with you that for many people, the issue had nothing to do with the immigrants’ ethnic origins. I, too, was opposed to our tax dollars going to fund education for illegal immigrants. One of my Latina friends was outraged at all the women who would arrive in the States just in time to deliver their babies.
On the other side, though, many Latinos seemed to feel that it was totally a racial issue. Since such a large part of the immigrant population was from south of the border, I can understand that some would feel that way.
Back here in Indiana though, immigration issues really do have more of a racial component. Some of the comments I’ve heard about it are unmistakably racist. As Arizona is largely conservative, I’d imagine that element exists there also. At least to some degree.
But, I think you are absolutely accurate about jobs issues. If a bunch of blue-eyed, blond Swedes came to this area and got all the jobs, people here would hate them too! Only, I don’t know what they would call ‘them’!
Hi Suzanne, it’s been a couple days since you posted your moving comment, but I only just found it because of a busy Friday/Saturday.
First I have to thank you for sharing what must have been a real roller coaster of experiences and emotions over the years. You were in much the same position as Barack Obama’s mom was in — at about the same time. You were one of the brave ground-breakers.
It’s has always amazed and saddened me that people attach the word “-lover” to another word or name and then spit it out as an insult. I mean, what, really, is so awful about loving? What does it say about a person when the thought of one person loving another is completely intolerable? What is the difference between being in that “head” and living in Hell?
These are pathetic people, but that is stating the obvious, I’m sure. All of us could do lots worse things than loving. And, sadly, they do.
Suzanne,
Rewind a couple of years. Look at the videos, listen to the audio of the primaries and campaign. Believe me, there’s plenty out there.
I’m not sure where you were during the 50’s & 60’s, but I was around then. Funny how many of the things today mirror what was going on at the time. There’s a faction in this country, even here in the heart of Ohio, that will forever be racist, hateful, and bigoted. Prime example: John Boehner.
Ask yourself this: Do you think the recent legislation in AZ would’ve even been introduced if McPalin had won the election in 2008? Where were these people during the eight years ShrubCo wiped his boots all over our Constitution, serving HIS agenda and not ours — the majority? I’ll tell you where they were, flying under the radar, as silent as Red October. Why? Because it was their agenda being met, a fact that is no longer the case.
I saw AdLib mention Manifest Destiny.
Here’s some history some of you may not know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Territory_%28Confederate_States_of_America%29
Only, if anyone saw Keith with the Pima County Sheriff (that’s Tucson’s county) the capital has moved up to around Mesa wherabouts.
Yes, as we’ve seen from all these Republicans coming out against it, even Juan Williams and Linda Chavez was on FUX tearing into a proponent.
On the other site was one who said no non-Arizonans could comment.
Talk about one right over the plate! And, that no other states have a right to complain (see: Mississippi). In any case, I assured everyone they surely can pile onto Arizona.
Another simply dared on of us to say why this wasn’t Constitutional. After laying it all out on numerous violations of the Bill of Rights, they never reappeared!
But, interestingly, it is not the Bill of Rights no Miranda, etc. But, the powers over foreign policy delegated to the federal government in the Constitution.
I had said this was probably dead-in-the-water (or desert).
*smug smile of satisfaction*
Did you ever watch the newish TV series, “How the States Got Their Shapes”? It’s pretty good.
Here’s Arizona (scroll to page 21):
http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061431388
Yup, I actually knew that. 😉
It was all about the railroad. And, Mexico needed a connection to the Baja peninsula and Tijuana.
I’ll check it later. West Virginia got ‘leftovers’ as far as I can tell. Some features of the state make absolutely no sense whatsoever.
I saw a book on that in the Library of Congress bookstore and almost got it. That stuff fascinates me.
In any case, AdLib’s photo also looked like it was I-40 or I-8 coming into Ehrenburg or Yuma. Looked familiar. Put as many solar panels as you want there, I say!
How ignorant do you want to get?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/arizona-tea-boycott-new-y_n_556249.html
That is the stupidest thing I’ve seen since Palin was on Maddow a minute ago. I like Arizona Tea!
Wait a minute. Now I live in Arizona and I admit there are some very ignorant people here. And most of the ignorant people are the ones who wanted cheap land and cheap houses. And how were those cheap houses built? Why, with cheap, illegal, immigrant, Mexican labor. But when the real estate market came crashing down, the most ignorant of the ignorant looked around and said, “where did all the cheap, illegal, immigrant, Mexican labor come from?” Duuuuuuuuuuhhh! Mexico.
Remember federal prosecutor, David Iglesias, who was fired by the Bush regime
Sad but very true rundown Adlib. Though I hate to call it a “Renaissance” when it’s more like a return to the “dark ages”. You have a toxic combination of fearful retired white people, young “scary” latino immigrants, misguided wild west gunslingers and a bad economy that is igniting all this xenophobia.
AdLib, this IS their last gasp!
FWIW – those of you in AZ, I mentioned the Ex. Dir. of the Arizona Council of Churches, Jan Flaaten. He has come out in STRONG opposition to this disgusting law, and is mobilizing clergy and lay people in protest. Jan is a wonderful guy, and the Council is based in Phoenix if you want to talk to him.
The law affects those of us in the progressive faith movement who care about human life because the foundational principles of that care – driving people to doctors appointments, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick – are now FREAKING CRIMINALIZED. So much for $#%*& “Christian values”.
Only Bible verse I ever memorized is “Jesus wept.” Gets more and more handy the longer I live.
Who was there first? Natives? Spanish?
or was it white anglo american retired people in tract housing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdZKCh6RsU&feature=related
Heh! “Civil Rights? We don’t need no Civil Rights!”
Perspective is one of the last things you’ll get from these types. As far as they’re concerned, it was white man’s land just waiting for him to take it away from them heathens.
Manifest Destiny.
These jerks just want what they want, unrealistic as it is to go back to the 1950’s or 1850’s and white domination.
Yup. Forward to the past. That’s Arizona.
What will they do if a band of hispanics show up at the AZ capitol armed to the teeth chanting-
I Want My Country Back !
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LOL 🙂
Main article: Stinking badges
The film is the origin of a famous line, often misquoted as “We don’t need no stinking badges!” (homaged in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles, also a Warner Bros. film). The correct dialogue is:
Gold Hat (Alfonso Bedoya): “We are Federales… you know, the mounted police.”
Dobbs (Bogart): “If you’re the police, where are your badges?”
Gold Hat (Bedoya): “Badges? We ain’t got no badges. We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ badges!”
In 2005, the quotation was chosen as #36 on the American Film Institute list, AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treasure_of_the_Sierra_Madre_(film)
My favorite scene:
LOL!!!!! Yeah – tract housing is sooooo much the base of archeology in AZ! AdLib – I think the proper saying is “Civil Rights? We don’t need no STINKING Civil Rights.” Just to stay in sync…
I cannot believe that a state with 90% in-migration, all johnny-come-lately sun bunnies, has the effrontery to decide people who were there FIRST have NO rights, but they have ALL rights including packing heat at Starbucks.
I have friends who migrated there, one of whom is a documented immigrant – from IRELAND. Bet they don’t pick HIM up. Fortunately, they are people in opposition to this dastardly law. They understand America. Too bad most Americans don’t seem to.
Ha CL So much of the tract housing is made to resemble the spanish style.
Rip em off and turn em away!
ID Badgessss! We dun’t need no stinkin’ ID badgessss!!!!!!
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You bring up an excellent point, BT. I have started to pay attention to what the RW is doing on the local level, and it is a very smart move. As poor as voter turnout is for national elections, it is even worse for local ones, and that gives them a huge advantage since they are often off the radar. We need to pay attention to local politics more– I know I do!
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Arggh! Wait, they are always clambering for local control.
That is what we hear in CA all the time.
So true! As Patsy’s documenting, they have really focused on school boards, city councils, etc. Locally, they can steamroll unaware citizens.
The budget crises in states does seem to make people turn on their neighbors, as we’ve seen in AZ. It’s about white people trying to horde what they can away from minorities and this plays into the control game of the RW.
There is a bit of Nazism in the concept of preying on the economic insecurities of the public to rally them against those who are less politically powerful, scapegoating them as the ones to blame for all of the public’s woes…as a cynical way to consolidate power.