In response to Joe Wenner’s column, “President Carter, please do America a big favor — sit down and shut up,” there are a few things I need to address. First of all, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., saying that President Obama was a liar is not what is racist. Rather, it is the fact that Wilson yelled out in the middle of a joint session of Congress. No one has ever disrespected a president like that before. No one yelled at George W. Bush and no one yelled at Richard Nixon. Do you really think Wilson would have done it if someone like John McCain or even John Edwards were president? No.
Yes, it is unfortunate that in this time when Obama is trying to discuss health care reform he is struck with so many questions about Wilson’s comment and therefore health care reform has been put somewhat on the backburner, but to tell President Carter to sit down and shut up is just as unproductive. Carter wants to address Wilson and let him know that his comments were racist. White people should call out other white people more often. By saying that addressing the racial component of this incident does not matter, you are telling millions of people of color in this country that racist comments can be shouted even in the most sacred of institutions and that when people try to discuss it, they should shut up. Way to tell people of color that ignorance and racism will be tolerated.
Since when are conversations about race not productive when done properly? The reason why Carter’s comments are seen as unproductive is because commentators on the right were quick to criticize him instead of engaging in a meaningful conversation about racism. White people SHOULD engage other white people like Wilson in these powerful discussions about white privilege and racism that shows racist whites that their mindsets are not acceptable.
In addition, I don’t think I have to tell you that I didn’t need this comment to show me that Wilson was racist considering he was an aide to Strom Thurmond (who adamantly supported racial segregation). Therefore, given the history of Joe Wilson and the history of the state he represents, I’d be willing to guess that Wilson’s contact with people of color is limited and it’s probably just really pissing him off that a black man is more powerful than him.
So white people like Carter who have a voice that people will listen to on a mass scale, should keep standing up and talking because until white people take ownership of their role in racism and white privilege neither one of those institutions will cease to exist. These discussions are possibly the most productive thing that could come out of this if people would embrace them and take part in them in a respectful and meaningful way.
Oh, and p.s., President Obama wasn’t lying.
Lyndsea Arikian Junior, CAS/SIS
