Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Liberals exploit race to obtain power
By Brad Leake
The Daily Gamecock (U. South Carolina)
01/22/2008

(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. — As I stood on the Statehouse grounds yesterday and listened to the speakers celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a whole range of thoughts passed through my mind.

First and foremost was my excitement at the continued push to eliminate the very real issues of racism and prejudice against blacks in South Carolina and throughout the country.

I am disgusted as I see some white individuals unwilling to set aside their pride long enough to admit all the horrors of racism and to try to rectify the situation.

When I turned my head from the speaker I saw the statue of outspoken white supremacist Ben "Pitchfork" Tillman proudly standing on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. The defending of this statue is a perfect example of the continued refusal, on the part of some white individuals, to fully acknowledge and distance themselves from the brutal racism of the past two centuries.

I was also disheartened at the crowd's excitement towards the three presidential candidates sitting on the stage: Senator Obama, Senator Edwards and Senator Clinton.

Dr. King's dream — that we would all be judged not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character — is not being fulfilled in these liberal politicians who obtain and hold power through racial exploitation and class envy.

Democrats continue to support policies that keep poor Americans dependent on government programs such as welfare. The census shows that one-third of black children currently live in poverty and that a major contributing factor is welfare dependence. It is this reliance that not only keeps the government big, but also keeps Democrats in power.

For 40 years Democrats have been singing the praises of more government involvement in the lives of poor Americans through social welfare programs and handouts. Accountability and expectations have decreased while poverty and economic inequality have increased. Their agenda involves cheap rhetoric about "racist" Republicans and empty promises of a better life under the leadership of Democrats.

Democrats want to continue giving poor Americans a fish each day so they will be dependent on the government and continue voting them into power. Republicans want to teach those same individuals how to fish so they can make better lives for themselves — a better life than government handouts could ever provide.

As we all continue to fight the final manifestations of racism across our state, let us also band together to spread a message of optimistic individualism that does not require big government dependence to achieve greatness.

[ Back to Student Voices ]