Race and racism

I’ve been thinking about race and racism for some time now.   A couple of recent events has gotten me thinking about it even more.

I recently returned from the East Coast where I experienced racism and the feeling of being a minority.

While visiting Baltimore, my wife and I got lost and ended up in a poor, black neighborhood where we were the only white people around.   It was an uneasy feeling and we got out as soon as we could.

But it got me thinking about race and how we consciously or unconsciously view people through the prism of race.

To experience the poverty of a big city where I was in the minority – – even for a short period of time was an experience I can’t forget.

The other reasons for my thoughts on race and racism has to do with our president.

While I didn’t vote or him, I was proud of our country when they elected him the first black president.   However, I wasn’t so proud when they also re-elected him.

While I think he is a poor leader I’m also convinced that some of the current dislike for the president has to do with the color of his skin and not the content of his politics.

Barrack Obama lacks the leadership skills necessary to lead.  He often confuses rhetoric for action.  While he can be friendly and charming, and there’s no doubt he’s intelligent, he just hasn’t shown leadership on many major issues.

That’s why I can’t support this president.    I hope its not because of the color of his skin.

I would never consider myself a racist but my recent experience in Baltimore has me second-guessing myself.  I hope that doesn’t affect my ability to distinguish between competence and color.