Today I was helping a patron that was wearing an anti-Obama pin. I have no issue with people voicing their opinion through visual medias. But this pin was different from other ones I've seen. This one was a picture of Obama with the face slashed through. Something about the image really triggered me and made me feel some type of way. And that feeling was instantly fear. After helping the patron, I had to go back and recollect myself and figure out why I was scared of this pin and in turn of the person I was helping. This is what I got.
The visual image of a slash sign over a living human being is extremely to hit list for me. It's almost a visual representation of "We are going to kill this person" type of feeling. I mean, when you see a visual image of a person that is going to be killed, their face is usually slashed through. So that is one point. Another point is that when I think anti-Obama I immediately think about the candidates running against him. Before this current presidential race, I don't think I've ever seen the opposing sides as being Anti of each other. I usually see them as two people with difference of opinion and views on how a country should be ran. NO PROBLEM. I will be the first to admit that at times some Republicans will say something that I agree with. Not all the time, but sometimes. But this is the first time that I see the Republicans of this race as being Anti to the opposition, which is Obama. And because of this I have deemed these candidates to be untrustworthy, unsafe, and downright dictators. Sorry, but they are fucking scary and I fear for how many years back we will go if anyone of them are elected. I have never felt this way about a presidential race. Usually my feelings are, "Well we lost. Can't stand that son-of-a-bitch" and I move on because I'm quite sure that the person that I didn't vote for who won will not be doing a damn thing to benefit me. But this is the first time that I have feared for my human being self if another person other than Obama were to win. I don't think Obama has it right, but I don't think he is on a witch hunt either.
Now this isn't a "I'm for Obama" blog. It really isn't. It really is how I feel about people that are strictly anti anything. "But what about anti-hate and anti-discrimination Zuri?" you may say. Well I'm not against hate and discrimination to a certain extent. I feel like those emotions and actions are valid to a certain extent. They are a part of the human condition But when these actions and feelings begin to imped on someone else and takes away another person's human right, that's the issue I have. So going back to this word anti. If a person is anti anything to me I feel like they are ready to cause trouble. It's almost like they have made up in their mind to be against a certain person, thing or idea so much they they are not even willing to hear reason or a different viewpoint. Anti also means to me that they are willing to stop at nothing to win over their opposing opponent.
So when I saw this anti-Obama pin, I got scared for the reasons that I have said above. But I became scared in a way that I was afraid for my personal safety. It was like I had to be conscious not to say or do anything to piss this guy off because if I did anything to set him off he may try to hurt me. There is another point in history where this rang true (HOLOCAUST) but I'm not going to call them Nazi's. But when you wear a pin with the president's face slashed out, wouldn't that ring an alarm in your head? I mean, did you see a slashed out face of the Bush's or Clinton? Maybe I'm just catching on to some of the political sludge that is out there, but I don't remember seeing those, because I'm pretty sure I would have felt the same way.
But then I began to think, this is a goddamn scare tactic. Of course it is. I mean, if you were walking around, and you saw a pin of your face slashed out, wouldn't you burn cement in the other direction? HELL YEAH! But this is initial instinct when fear is introduced to a person. But after itemizing what the fear is and where it was coming from, I realized, THIS IS SOME OL BULLSHIT! I'm not about be scared of a damn pin! And I'm not about to be scared of you either sir. So the next time I see another pin with the president's face slashed out, I'm going to look them directly in the eye, plant my feet and say, "How can I help You?"
The visual image of a slash sign over a living human being is extremely to hit list for me. It's almost a visual representation of "We are going to kill this person" type of feeling. I mean, when you see a visual image of a person that is going to be killed, their face is usually slashed through. So that is one point. Another point is that when I think anti-Obama I immediately think about the candidates running against him. Before this current presidential race, I don't think I've ever seen the opposing sides as being Anti of each other. I usually see them as two people with difference of opinion and views on how a country should be ran. NO PROBLEM. I will be the first to admit that at times some Republicans will say something that I agree with. Not all the time, but sometimes. But this is the first time that I see the Republicans of this race as being Anti to the opposition, which is Obama. And because of this I have deemed these candidates to be untrustworthy, unsafe, and downright dictators. Sorry, but they are fucking scary and I fear for how many years back we will go if anyone of them are elected. I have never felt this way about a presidential race. Usually my feelings are, "Well we lost. Can't stand that son-of-a-bitch" and I move on because I'm quite sure that the person that I didn't vote for who won will not be doing a damn thing to benefit me. But this is the first time that I have feared for my human being self if another person other than Obama were to win. I don't think Obama has it right, but I don't think he is on a witch hunt either.
Now this isn't a "I'm for Obama" blog. It really isn't. It really is how I feel about people that are strictly anti anything. "But what about anti-hate and anti-discrimination Zuri?" you may say. Well I'm not against hate and discrimination to a certain extent. I feel like those emotions and actions are valid to a certain extent. They are a part of the human condition But when these actions and feelings begin to imped on someone else and takes away another person's human right, that's the issue I have. So going back to this word anti. If a person is anti anything to me I feel like they are ready to cause trouble. It's almost like they have made up in their mind to be against a certain person, thing or idea so much they they are not even willing to hear reason or a different viewpoint. Anti also means to me that they are willing to stop at nothing to win over their opposing opponent.
So when I saw this anti-Obama pin, I got scared for the reasons that I have said above. But I became scared in a way that I was afraid for my personal safety. It was like I had to be conscious not to say or do anything to piss this guy off because if I did anything to set him off he may try to hurt me. There is another point in history where this rang true (HOLOCAUST) but I'm not going to call them Nazi's. But when you wear a pin with the president's face slashed out, wouldn't that ring an alarm in your head? I mean, did you see a slashed out face of the Bush's or Clinton? Maybe I'm just catching on to some of the political sludge that is out there, but I don't remember seeing those, because I'm pretty sure I would have felt the same way.
But then I began to think, this is a goddamn scare tactic. Of course it is. I mean, if you were walking around, and you saw a pin of your face slashed out, wouldn't you burn cement in the other direction? HELL YEAH! But this is initial instinct when fear is introduced to a person. But after itemizing what the fear is and where it was coming from, I realized, THIS IS SOME OL BULLSHIT! I'm not about be scared of a damn pin! And I'm not about to be scared of you either sir. So the next time I see another pin with the president's face slashed out, I'm going to look them directly in the eye, plant my feet and say, "How can I help You?"
I feel you. That fear has grown in me as well. The time has come for out generation to seriously consider what we are willing to die for so that we be able to live. Its a catch 22. Yes its just a pin, and yes he's probably just some douche. But to me, this is the time we are in. I feel you. Glad you decided to plant your feet. :)
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