Thursday, August 6, 2009
Race, Size, and Obama's Surgeon General Nominee
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This article from racewire.org says a lot, and I recommend it for every reader of this blog. Dr. Regina Benjamin is more than qualified for the job of surgeon general, yet there are people who will find any angle they can to discredit her (or any Obama nominee, naturally).
While I have several bones to pick with Obama about the lack of real change he seems to be bringing with respect to many important issues, it is heartening and refreshing to see Sonia Sotomayor being confirmed today, and the nomination of Ms. Benjamin. There certainly does need to be more representation for people of color in the US halls of power, and the jury is still out (no pun intended), on how quickly our representatives will actually represent constituents of color as well. As an aside, how many senators of color are there presently in the USA, and in its history?
IMO, if the push for universal health care in the US fails, the blame falls not on Obama, but on all those playing for powerful vested interests in keeping the status quo, even if it means the perpetuation of classism, racism, and size-ism. The current state of health care in the US is undeniably detrimental to our economy. Fixing our health care system is one critical element of getting the economy back up and running.
lyrics:
And until the color of a man's* skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, there's a war.
- War, by Bob Marley
*#inc gender, size, perceived class, sexual orientation, etc
pax hominibus,
agape to all,
joel
This article from racewire.org says a lot, and I recommend it for every reader of this blog. Dr. Regina Benjamin is more than qualified for the job of surgeon general, yet there are people who will find any angle they can to discredit her (or any Obama nominee, naturally).
While I have several bones to pick with Obama about the lack of real change he seems to be bringing with respect to many important issues, it is heartening and refreshing to see Sonia Sotomayor being confirmed today, and the nomination of Ms. Benjamin. There certainly does need to be more representation for people of color in the US halls of power, and the jury is still out (no pun intended), on how quickly our representatives will actually represent constituents of color as well. As an aside, how many senators of color are there presently in the USA, and in its history?
IMO, if the push for universal health care in the US fails, the blame falls not on Obama, but on all those playing for powerful vested interests in keeping the status quo, even if it means the perpetuation of classism, racism, and size-ism. The current state of health care in the US is undeniably detrimental to our economy. Fixing our health care system is one critical element of getting the economy back up and running.
lyrics:
And until the color of a man's* skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, there's a war.
- War, by Bob Marley
*#inc gender, size, perceived class, sexual orientation, etc
pax hominibus,
agape to all,
joel
Labels: BBWs, economics, oppression, politics, racism, universal health care
