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July 30, 2009 “Post racial America ,” eh? After the election of Barack Obama, pundits and journalists across the country were making this claim, along with “It’s a new day in America .” Mel Brooks never wrote anything as funny. While it appears that overt racism has abated, recent events cause me to think otherwise. For starters, the arrest of scholar Henry Louis Gates comes to mind. The arrest of this man is proof positive that no black men is beyond being racially profiled, mistreated and wrongfully arrested. Colin Powell—as well known as he is—says he, too, has been profiled. Powell told the following story on CNN’s Larry King Live: “…I, as a national security adviser to the president of the United States, I went down to meet somebody at Reagan National Airport and nobody recognized—nobody thought I could possibly be the national security adviser to the president. I was just a black guy at Reagan National Airport …And it was only when I went up to the counter and said, ‘Is my guest here who's waiting for me?’ did somebody say, 'Oh, you're General Powell.' It was inconceivable to him that a black guy could be the national security adviser.'' (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/07/colin_powell_racial_profiling_1.html) **** Justin Barrett is the Boston cop/National Guardsman who referred to Gates actions as like those of a “Jungle monkey.” In fact, he used the phrase four times in a missive sent to his fellow guardsmen and the Boston Globe newspaper. Barrett also boasted had he been the officer confronting Gates, and was being verbally assaulted “like a banana-eating jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC (pepper spray) deserving of his belligerent non-compliance." Barrett was later suspended subject to termination, and in my view, rightfully so. I concur with the words of Boston Police Chief Edward Davis: “We have a relationship to maintain with the community. Police officers certainly have First Amendment rights, but they can't cross the line. I believe this crosses the line." Barrett later said that he regretted using the words and that he has “…so many friends of every type of culture and race you can name. I am not a racist." I bet none of these friends are black, and like most racists, he’s only regrets getting caught, and he’s a coward, to boot. What person in their right mind thinks that such a man is capable of upholding the law equitably? To serve and Protect…yeah, but the interests of whom? **** Glenn Beck’s early morning histrionics and his inane claims that Barack Obama is not only a foreigner, but that he “has a deep-seated hatred of white people or the white culture.” This is ludicrous in light of Obama’s mother being white and his being raised by white grandparents. Second, most of Obama’s staffers are white. Beck then performed a little verbal soft-shoe and said, “"I'm not saying he doesn't like white people. I'm saying he has a problem…This guy is, I believe, a racist." Fox News later issued the following statement: “Glenn Beck expressed a personal opinion which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel, and as with all commentators in the cable news arena, he is given the freedom to express his opinions." (http://wcco.com/watercooler/glenn.beck.obama) Yet despite the vitriol and invective, Beck remains in Fox’s employee and pulls down a hefty salary. At the same time, Beck’s own show could use a ratings boost. **** A report issued by the Department of Homeland Security with an assist from the FBI asserts that right-wing extremism is on the rise. This increase may be due to the poor state of the economy, but much of it is attributed to the fact that the nation has elected irt6s first black President. The rhetoric spewed from these groups and their websites is aimed at President Obama and blacks in general. More proof that its business as usual in America . NOTE: For the record, the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis defines right-wing extremism as, "…Those groups, movements and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups) and those that are mainly anti-government, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration." The report is titled, "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment." ------------ About the author: Timothy N. Stelly is a poet, essayist, novelist and screenwriter from northern California. His novel, HUMAN TRIAL, is the first part of a sci-fi trilogy and is available from Amazon.com, allthingsthatmatterpress.com and in e-book format at mobipocket.com. website: http://stellbreadO@tripod.com Email: stellbread@yahoo.com 
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