The
NAACP recently held their national convention in Houston. It’s obvious that
African-Americans take pride in President Obama for being the first black
President. One would think that because
of the approaching election, the President would speak at the convention to encourage
people to vote Democratic at the next election, but that wasn’t the case; Obama
was a no-show, but some politicians did come to speak at the convention. They
certainly weren’t as revered as Obama, but Joe Biden and Mitt Romney were
welcomed in very different ways.
Most African-Americans affiliate
themselves with the Democratic Party, and there is a high concentration of them
living in the South, and when people think of the South, they think kind
people, good food, and Southern Hospitality, but that isn’t quite what Mitt
Romney received….
When the Republican Presidential candidate
took the stage, he must have felt uncomfortable; he was about to be speaking in
front of a mostly Democratic crowd against Obama, but that was okay, he was
going to be speaking in front a crowd of respectful adults, right?
That
was dead wrong. When Mitt Romney took the stage and began discussing issues
such as Obamacare, he received a heaping dose of Southern Hostility; he was
booed and heckled. On the other hand Vice President Biden received a warm
welcome. Right now you might be thinking “This is crazy? Why would the members
of one of the most respected organizations in the country be acting like this?”
Good question. Why would an adult act like this at a serious event?
Many people denounced the behavior
of NAACP members, but many failed to think deeply about this situation. How is
Mitt Romney being booed much different from the time when a Congressman yelled
out “You lie” during one of President Obama’s addresses? What happened to
freedom of speech and the right to protest? They still exist. So why are these
members being criticized? Many people, regardless of political affiliation,
express their dislike for the ideas of an opposing party in several different
ways.
Is this a double standard? At such a
crucial point in American history, people feel as if it is important to express
their beliefs. Whether these beliefs are expressed in an uncivil or a civil
manner, everyone has the right to emphasize their moral beliefs. Before you go
out and criticize a group for something as harmless as making a little noise,
think about all the people that take extreme measures like making threats and committing
acts of violence.
Commentary: Southern Hospitality
ReplyDeleteIn the editorial Southern Hospitality, the author Ogechi E. discusses the apparent attack on the first amendment due to the reactions at the NAACP national convention. Ogechi brings up many valid points such as the idea that we are wrongly persecuting people for expressing their opinion. If the audience at the national convention did not showcase how they feel towards Romney's ideas, then the Republican candidate (or anyone else for that matter) would not know how the American people feel. The attack on the vocal opinion of people is a direct attack on not only the first amendment, but on the voice of the people.
We must express our opinions if we are to be heard and we can't do that through quiet observance. Yes, by all means give someone a chance but if that chance is wasted then you have the right to vocalize your opinion. Romney also should have known the audience he was talking to better, so he could appeal to them and not get booed of stage, although it may have been a lost cause to begin with due to the large backing of Obama in the NAACP. Romney should be able to hold up to criticism like any other politician should. If he has the nerve to run for president, he should have tough enough skin to withstand a booing crowd. So let them boo, because he can take it. Like Ogechi said, it's not like they are threatening to kill him, just trying to kill the ideas of the campaign.