Misuse of term dishonors real victims

Many are the people of color who have paid the price of racism.   There is no excuse for the treatment they have received simply because of the pigment of their skin – none.

But today, the term racism has been misused and abused to the point where there is a real risk of a complete devaluing of the term.  This would be a huge disservice to those who have or are experiencing the impact of true racism.

Rep. Hank Johnson, D- GA today attempted to link Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You lie” outburst during Pres. Obama’s address to the Joint Session of Congress to an underlying racist attitude; a completely absurd a notion.  Is Rep. Johnson suggesting that the simply disagreeing with the assertions being made by a person of color is a racist act in and of itself?  If that’s the case, then I am guilty of racism during many sporting events when I have disagreed with an African-American referee who made a bad call, or a non-caucasian news commentator I disagree with.  How ridiculous.

For Rep. Johnson to make such a claim dishonors the memory of those who have in fact suffered grievously under true racism; slavery, torture; lynching; Jim Crow laws; employment disadvantages, and more.

If Rep. Wilson had shouted a racial slur, or called for a lynching, or taken some action based on the color of the President’s skin then he absolutely would be guilty of such a charge as Johnson’s.  In that case he should be expelled from congress!  But that is not what happened – and Rep. Johnson, like the rest of us who watched the event live on TV, knows it.

It seems clear that Rep. Johnson’s remarks have a purpose – and that is to use emotion associated with true racism to stoke the fires and cause division.

Come on Rep. Johnson, don’t bring dishonor to the real victims of racism and in doing so bring dishonor to yourself and the House of Representatives as well.  We can have political discourse without such antics.