By P.S. White
One day the history books will look back on July 16, 2019 as a pivotal day in United States history. That is the day that the Democrats called for a vote in the House of Representatives on a bill condemning the racist statements made by President Donald Trump. The Democrats voted unanimously in favor of the bill as did one Independent. The Republicans, however, followed the direction of party leadership with 187 members voting against the bill and only four breaking ranks and taking a stand against racism.
While this obviously shows a very clear split along party lines, it also demonstrates that the GOP has sacrificed its values for partisan loyalty and has also failed to take a stand to support some very basic principles and measures of human decency. How hard is to take a stand against racism? How hard is it to place the fundamentals of a free and civilized people over party loyalty? How hard is to say no to the hatred and bigotry directed to a singled-out group of people? And what is the ultimate damage of what they have done?
The Democrats did the right thing in voting against racism, as did the other five who stood with them, but that should never have presented a challenge. They did what is expected of them as representatives of a free and diverse democratic country that treats all people as equals under the law. Standing against racism and bigotry of any kind, especially when expressed by the leaders of our nation, is the duty of our elected representatives and is the duty of every person living in this country. This should not be hard. This is Humanity 101.
But the Republicans chose to follow the party line instead and voted for racism. Of course they will quibble with semantics and try to claim that the president’s words were misunderstood or taken in the wrong context and that they are not really supporting racism. But that minimizes a very damaging and dangerous expression of hatred. And if you apply the Reasonable Person test in this situation, their attempts to twist and misdirect the facts quickly fall apart.
It should not be hard to stand against racism. It should never be hard to stand against racism. And it certainly should not be a party issue. Whether Democrat or Republican, the people—and especially the leaders—of a free, equal, and democratic country should have the basic understanding that racism is wrong, and they should stand against any and all forms directed toward the people of this nation and beyond. Failing to do so violates the most basic principles of a civilized society, values that even children are held to.
The slurs made by Donald Trump toward people of color in his most recent statements, as well as previous comments made by him, do not align with the values and beliefs of the American people in general. And the members Congress have a duty to represent the people at a time such as this, not their party. And that duty is to represent all the people of their states, not just one race, one party, or one ideology.
The six Republicans from the state of Alabama, with 26% of its population black, have failed the people they represent. The seven Republicans from the state of Indiana, with nearly 20% of its population Black, Hispanic, Latino, or another race, have failed the people they represent. The fourteen Republicans from the state of Florida, with a population over 22% Hispanic / Latino and over 40% non-white, have failed the people they represent. The seventeen Republicans from Texas (over 50% Hispanic, Latino, or non-white) who voted for racism (with Will Hurd the only dissenter) have failed the people of the highly diverse state they represent. All of the Republicans who took a stand against this bill failed the people they represent and the country to which they swear allegiance.
Standing against racism, or any sort or hatred or bigotry directed at select groups of people, should never be a matter of party politics. This is basic human decency and there should be no questions nor bickering over the technicalities of the racial epithets. The Republicans have failed on this matter, those in the House of Representatives and the party as a whole.
So the people of the United States must take on the burden of responsibility when their leaders have lost their way. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a state by state issue. This is not an issue that impacts only a small portion of this nation. This is not the time to wear the banner of Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, white or non-white.
This is the time to stand up and do what is expected of a free and equal people living together in a civilized, democratic society. This is our Call to Action. We stand against racism, we stand against bigotry, we stand against the fear and hate they bread, and we stand against the tyranny to which this leads.
We must stand together now, not as members of a party or an ideology or even as just a singled-out race, but as a people united against racism and the leaders that espouse or tacitly support it. We stand together as Americans, we stand together as people of the human race, and we will not see our brothers and sisters degraded, demeaned or persecuted, no matter their race, religion, beliefs, or preferences.
The Republicans have failed in this matter, but we as a people must not. We must make a stand and we must send a message to leadership that has gone too far astray that they no longer represent the people. And will use our authority as sovereigns and protectors of this nation and employ our God-given rights to set our country back on the right path and to remove those leaders who have turned against a free, equal, and non-oppressive society and against basic human values and decency.
One day the history books will look back on July 16, 2019 as a pivotal day in United States history. That is the day that the Democrats called for a vote in the House of Representatives on a bill condemning the racist statements made by President Donald Trump. The Democrats voted unanimously in favor of the bill as did one Independent. The Republicans, however, followed the direction of party leadership with 187 members voting against the bill and only four breaking ranks and taking a stand against racism.
While this obviously shows a very clear split along party lines, it also demonstrates that the GOP has sacrificed its values for partisan loyalty and has also failed to take a stand to support some very basic principles and measures of human decency. How hard is to take a stand against racism? How hard is it to place the fundamentals of a free and civilized people over party loyalty? How hard is to say no to the hatred and bigotry directed to a singled-out group of people? And what is the ultimate damage of what they have done?
The Democrats did the right thing in voting against racism, as did the other five who stood with them, but that should never have presented a challenge. They did what is expected of them as representatives of a free and diverse democratic country that treats all people as equals under the law. Standing against racism and bigotry of any kind, especially when expressed by the leaders of our nation, is the duty of our elected representatives and is the duty of every person living in this country. This should not be hard. This is Humanity 101.
But the Republicans chose to follow the party line instead and voted for racism. Of course they will quibble with semantics and try to claim that the president’s words were misunderstood or taken in the wrong context and that they are not really supporting racism. But that minimizes a very damaging and dangerous expression of hatred. And if you apply the Reasonable Person test in this situation, their attempts to twist and misdirect the facts quickly fall apart.
It should not be hard to stand against racism. It should never be hard to stand against racism. And it certainly should not be a party issue. Whether Democrat or Republican, the people—and especially the leaders—of a free, equal, and democratic country should have the basic understanding that racism is wrong, and they should stand against any and all forms directed toward the people of this nation and beyond. Failing to do so violates the most basic principles of a civilized society, values that even children are held to.
The slurs made by Donald Trump toward people of color in his most recent statements, as well as previous comments made by him, do not align with the values and beliefs of the American people in general. And the members Congress have a duty to represent the people at a time such as this, not their party. And that duty is to represent all the people of their states, not just one race, one party, or one ideology.
The six Republicans from the state of Alabama, with 26% of its population black, have failed the people they represent. The seven Republicans from the state of Indiana, with nearly 20% of its population Black, Hispanic, Latino, or another race, have failed the people they represent. The fourteen Republicans from the state of Florida, with a population over 22% Hispanic / Latino and over 40% non-white, have failed the people they represent. The seventeen Republicans from Texas (over 50% Hispanic, Latino, or non-white) who voted for racism (with Will Hurd the only dissenter) have failed the people of the highly diverse state they represent. All of the Republicans who took a stand against this bill failed the people they represent and the country to which they swear allegiance.
Standing against racism, or any sort or hatred or bigotry directed at select groups of people, should never be a matter of party politics. This is basic human decency and there should be no questions nor bickering over the technicalities of the racial epithets. The Republicans have failed on this matter, those in the House of Representatives and the party as a whole.
So the people of the United States must take on the burden of responsibility when their leaders have lost their way. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a state by state issue. This is not an issue that impacts only a small portion of this nation. This is not the time to wear the banner of Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, white or non-white.
This is the time to stand up and do what is expected of a free and equal people living together in a civilized, democratic society. This is our Call to Action. We stand against racism, we stand against bigotry, we stand against the fear and hate they bread, and we stand against the tyranny to which this leads.
We must stand together now, not as members of a party or an ideology or even as just a singled-out race, but as a people united against racism and the leaders that espouse or tacitly support it. We stand together as Americans, we stand together as people of the human race, and we will not see our brothers and sisters degraded, demeaned or persecuted, no matter their race, religion, beliefs, or preferences.
The Republicans have failed in this matter, but we as a people must not. We must make a stand and we must send a message to leadership that has gone too far astray that they no longer represent the people. And will use our authority as sovereigns and protectors of this nation and employ our God-given rights to set our country back on the right path and to remove those leaders who have turned against a free, equal, and non-oppressive society and against basic human values and decency.
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