Leave The Sheets On The Bed

Overuse of the terms racist and racism threaten to diminish the impact of both and are being used to tarnish the character and reputation of people we simply disagree with.

A very good man posted a very bad image on social media this morning.  The image, intended to be humorous, depicted presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as a racist.  It showed Trump wearing a ball cap with the letters KKK above the brim.

Donald Trump may be a lot of things but he is not a racist.  Trump has created countless minority jobs all over the planet. Trump is not a racist nor is likely Democrat Hillary Clinton, though the roots of the Ku Klux Klan can be traced back to the Democrat Party and staunch Hillary supporter, the late Senator Robert Byrd was a card carrying member of the KKK.

Racism still exists in this country and it's ugly. There are black racists, there are white racists and there are Mexican racists.  There are fat racists and skinny racists.  There are tall racists and there are short racists.  Racism is an equal opportunity disorder that is steeped in ignorance and fear.

When we overuse the terms racism and racist we diminish the impact of both and blur the lines that separate true racism from a simple difference of opinion. There are racists who are only to happy to exploit all of this for profit and political power.  Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are two examples of such people. Racists for hire. They make money by spreading racial disharmony.

As we wade deeper into the political season we must resist the urge to infuse allegations of racism in place of honest debate over issues for which we have disagreements. We must not give voice to the race baiters who would turn civil discourse into name calling and finger pointing.

There is work to do but we've come too far to go back now. Remember the voices from the streets of Birmingham in 1963 during the walk from the 16th Street Baptiste Church to City Hall, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around, turn me around, turn me around."

Can we just leave the sheets on the bed, please?