A Country's long struggle.

I read a MSNBC article today, entitled "racial views steer some away from Obama". This article deeply distresses me. It Is about a poll taken where 1/3 of white democrats polled held negative views toward blacks and 40% of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view about blacks. Also, statistical models show that Obama would be about 6 points higher in the polls where it not for these racial prejudices. This is very disheartening to someone who has always challenged any sign of racial intolerance. Our country, as we all know, has had a very long history of slavery and oppression of the blacks. We have come a long way, to even see a African American running for president of the United States represents major progress. However, even before this poll came out, I knew that racism and prejudice do very much still exist. There is a generational clash, in that many older citizens still have embedded in them the intolerant view of their day. Whereas, the younger generation tends to be more tolerant for they have grown up in a racially integrated society. Ignorance is another major factor in the continued prejudices. Misunderstandings and differences between cultures often breed dis contempt. It comes back to the theory of "us" versus "them". Where if someone is different in their views, physical appearance, or culture they are often categorized as "them". What people need to understand, however, is that our similarities far outweigh our differences. We are all human beings who feel pain and sorrow, as well as, happiness. We all struggle with the same issues both politically and personally. In all races there are some who know and worry about loved ones stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In all races there are some who worry about feeding their kids and living off pay check to pay check. In all races there are many who are frightened to death that one of their kids will get sick for they have no health insurance. In times of disaster and horror, the compassion that all humans beings posses is shown in the blacks and the whites who continue to step up in times of national disasters. For example, on 9/11 people drew together through the compassion they had for their fellow brother and sisters, both black and white. We are all Americans who are woven together through the fear, pain, compassion, kindness and all the attributes that make us human beings. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". These famous words by Martin Luther King Jr. are at this point in time going to be tested on a national stage. Are we as a nation going to judge and vote for Obama for the content his character? Or are we going to let the color of his skin be the deciding factor?

Here is the article-http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26803840/page/2/