Letters to the Editor sent to CHICAGO SUN-TIMES - Racism in the heartland! by Louis DeRosa

Dear Editor:
It's worse than I thought. I like to believe that the single greatest thing about America is it's diversity. Lets look at this country from it's inception. Not one single immigrant can state that he or she has a claim to this nation from the perspective of them being a true American save for the Native Americans that were hear long before any immigrants set foot. We must also never forget that we killed, no, "exterminated", many native Americans to take this land from them, not one of most finest hours or achievements. So what we have left here is a country that has been created by foreigners. We are a melting pot nation. Every time I hear an argument, usually from a Republican candidate or a tea party member, about how they represent true Americans and the forefathers mind set, I cannot help but be confused about just what they mean. 
Our forefathers were the men that called for the annihilation of a whole race of people, are these the men they want to deify and emulate? Is it the forefathers that wrote the acceptance of slavery into their Constitution that they want to return to? I was recently at a gathering of middle aged men which took place in the very center of America outside of a Chicago suburb. The men were from all walks of life, white collar, blue collar, skilled technicians, like myself, all new acquaintances, except for one friend I've known since my teenage years. All of us in our 40's or 50's. When our chat turned to politics between periods of the hockey game we came to watch, I was amazed at the racial bigotry that was being exhibited. I was shocked to hear the "N" word no less than 30 times. Jews were mocked and condemned joked about as well, even my Italian heritage was not left as an unturned stone...Wow! "Is this just an aberration", I thought to myself, or is the same type of racism that was exhibited in the 60's still alive and well. I was cringing for 3 hours and nearly picked up my chips and headed out the door, but where to, I thought? If this type of behavior is being demonstrated 1 block from my door where should I run to. I'm in a "heartland of America" suburb! My next move was to respond half heartedly so as not to get my face kicked in that, "people are all pretty much the same", "what, "are you a liberal?" I was asked, in a mocking tone. "No", I said, I'm a democrat, "what's the difference?, was the response, "I'm not a far left liberal, I said, just a democrat trying to make his way through life in what I thought was a democratic society that had finally decided that it does not matter which country of origin we are from as long as we are all working together to make the world a better place for all of us to live in". I now am left wondering just how deep this true racism is, in our country? These guys were all Republicans, is this really why they hate Obama so much, totally based on his skin color? I have to conclude that it is. Not one rational reason for their dislike of the Democrats was voiced. It was all skin color based, they even attacked this mans wife! What the heck has she done to them?, for crying out loud, she seems to me to be a very nice lady. I walked out of my pals home wondering why there is so much hatred in this world? What is it about people, who don't look just like you do, that bothers people? I came to the conclusion it's truly just ignorance based. I was asked to go watch the game yesterday and told my good friend from high school that I had to take care of my grandmother, it was a lie. Now their bigotry has caused me to lie. Nothing good ever comes from this crap. Why should I need to lie. If asked again I will tell my pal, I do not like people who are racist! It's simpler, and more importantly it's the truth. You see it's the important truth we must all confront in ourselves. I cam away from that day with one true fact, " Racism is alive and well in 2009 American culture and will be here in 2010! Electing this half African American president did not prove it is a dying emotion, only that it is now back on tip of every bigots tongue...
Read Letters to the Editor sent to CHICAGO SUN-TIMES - Racism in the heartland! by Louis DeRosa
