Inform Yourself and Vote 2012

The 2012 presidential election resembles a school yard fight.  The candidates are catty, sharp tonged and not afraid to get dirt under their nails.  They smile and make nice in each other’s faces but spread rumors behind each other’s back ready to sling mud the first chance they get.  The winner will, without a doubt, be the last person left standing.

The attack ads are more negative than ever, and most of them are either untrue or stretch the truth so much that it takes creativity to understand the validity.  From the right we hear claims that we are worse than we were four years ago, and President Obama is the Santa that didn’t deliver.  Actually, the economy is growing in the right direction, just slowly.  And as for Santa, I am reminded of the parent who promised their kid the present of their dreams for Christmas, but throughout the year situations arose that made their goal unattainable and they were forced to make due with what they had.  The kid didn’t get his dream toy, but he received the love and thoughtfulness of his parent in another gift.  Sure, he was disappointed, but is the parent at fault?

From CNN iReport"New York photographer Darrel Dawkins wants to send a message about the Trayvon Martin story, as do many iReporters who shared self-portraits in support of the movement. 'We shouldn't stay silent. We should basically talk about those who are out there discriminating and those who are racist'."

We’ve all heard the story of the innocent looking elderly lady who clutches her pocketbook in fear as a young black male walks past her, or the people that move to the opposite side of the street to avoid “danger that may arise” from being in the presence of the previous described person.  These young individuals get followed around in stores and even get kicked out of locations because they look as if they will steal or cause trouble.  I admit even my senses heighten and I turn on my defense mode when I am approached by a strange black male.  Society has told us to automatically perceive them as a potential threat.  “They have track records,” we think. Appalling! Some may holler.  But to those it happens to, it’s just normal everyday living.

For 17-year-old Trayvon Martin this battle of prejudging escalated from a temporary feeling of discomfort to a bloody altercation that demanded he pay the price of his life.