Election spurs hatred

By Staff Reports

While millions of Americans have viewed the election of Barack Obama as a sign of racial progress, the election also has brought to the surface the racist fringe of the nation.

Since Nov. 4, police from California to Maine have documented a variety of racial hate crimes including vandalism, threats and at least one physical attack. While any election can spur anger, this one has prompted hundreds of incidents involving racial slurs and degrading comments about the president-elect.

Incidents include the mock lynching of black figures in Desert Island, Maine; burned crosses in Hardwick, N.J.; graffiti using the "N" word at North Carolina State University; Racist graffiti in Kilgore, Texas; school children chanting "assassinate Obama" in Rexburg, Idaho.

Among the most repugnant incidents was a sign inside the Oak Hill General Store in Standish, Maine. It read: "Osama Obama Shotgun Pool." Customers could sign up to bet $1 on a date when Obama would be killed. At the bottom of the marker board was written, "Let's hope someone wins."

These incidents clearly are not limited to one region of the nation. Bigotry can be found anywhere.

Obama was elected largely on a promise of change, a message of hope embraced by a majority of voters. Ironically, that same theme of change may have sparked the irrational fears of some.

The campaign of Sen. John McCain at times seemed to egg on the more extremist of his supporters. References to Obama's "palling around with terrorists" sent the not-so-subtle message that Obama, himself, was a terrorist.

The viral messages that found currency on the Internet also tended to paint Obama as a sinister agent of some kind. Messages still are circulating that he is the antichrist, that he was not born in the United States, that he secretly practices Islam. Ignorance also is a big factor in inflaming racial hatred.

Obama probably was not surprised by any of this. He no doubt was aware that he would confront this element if he won. Certainly, he conferred with his wife about how it might affect their family.

But just as surely as he was girded for this reaction, he also must have believed deeply that his campaign and his election could effectively counteract the hatred in myriad different ways. He would have had to believe that in order to take on a challenge so daunting.

Thankfully, a majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, seem to share his hope for racial progress. Whether they voted for Obama or not, Americans from across the nation, from all walks of life, of all races share the hope that our better natures will prevail and that we will move forward as a nation.

Racism may never vanish. But it can be diminished and held in check.

We fervently hope the hatred will subside and that the new president and his family will be safe. With luck, love and hard work, we someday will overcome the stain of racism that has been part of our history for too long.