Pat Buchanan, or as white folks affectionately call him Uncle Pat, is a bigot. I don’t know why this has become the “New American” surprise to progressive Americans. I can understand why younger Americans (teens – early 20’s) are shocked and appalled but not the old heads (mid 30’s – late 60’s). Buchanan has been around for a minute. He is an “old school” bigot - not like these “new jack” bigots. Old school bigots are a slave shackle removed from plantation owners. These new jack bigots use radio and TV shows to build a following. Some of them probably don’t even believe what they are saying. Old School bigots believe everything that comes out of their mouths.
Progressives want Buchanan off the air ASAP but I disagree with them. I know Buchanan can make crass and ignorant statements. I also know that MSNBC is paying him good money to make those statements. But we need Patrick J. Buchanan on TV and radio. Black folks have been living in a comatose state. We have been lulled into a false sense of security by a plethora of negative devices. We have music that degrades black women and TV shows that marginalize our race. Then we have black folks that make a little change and forget they are black. We (yes us black folks) have become too comfortable i.e. fat and happy.
The biggest problem is that some of the black folks before us have failed us. They benefited from the civil rights movement and were able to go to work at America’s biggest corporations. Instead of passing down what they learned from corporate America, they made their money and went about their business. They also benefited from the civil rights movement and went into politics. Instead of passing down what they learned from Politics, they made their money and went about their business. So the generation (their children) after them spent their lives chasing paper. Instead of creating businesses, their children went to work for someone. Instead of forming Special Interest groups and Political Action Committees, their children sat around waiting on other groups to push their agenda. So you ask me “why do we need Buchanan?” Because he reminds us that we still have a fight on our hands. He lets us know that we can’t let our guard down. I know his words hurt but it’s supposed to. This is our wake up call. And I hope to God we are listening.
4 comments:
I am in complete agreement. Do not silence these racist voices. Let them have their say. Ideally, we could then engage in effective, meaningful dialouge with them. But I know their tolerance for succinct, rationale arguments are very low, so the best we can really hope for is for people to then see them for what they really are.
Max - For people to wake up and finally see them for who they are is all that we can truly ask for.
Being the BBB that I am. (Black Baby Boomer) I like to keep the good old boys in sight. That way we know what they are up to.
You are right about Pat's inability to shock people in my generation. He sounds like George, Strom and all the other racist that I grew up watching on telelvision.
I also feel that he is that grain of sand that Black folks need to feel rubbing against the lack of mentality.
Taking him off the air will accomplish what? Nothing. Removing him from MSNBC would get him more media coverage than he already has. That would also free him up to just go hawg wild with his rants.
msladydeborah - You are correct. When they are right in the open you can keep an eye on them. I knew that this wouldn't be new to baby boomers. They are some of the last ones to actually see racism in its pure form.
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