Moment of Zen #11 (for June 30, 2009)

Is race supervalued?

I thought about
writing something
about the Bradley
Effect in relation to Obama in the 2008 elections.
The Bradley Effect is what turns out
not-white-candidates in a political election to
actually pass office, even though they already won the pre-elections.
Voters proclaim officially to vote for the black candidate to pretend they are no racists. But when the chips are down, they do make their “X” for the white candidate.
Those elections are in fact – sadly to say but true – always a decision for or against a black person. That is the same with gender. Or ethnicity / religion / disability / age / illness / sexuality (see Article 3, German constitution). Sure, not to be named the same but in the people’s views tragically quite similar.
The “Bradley Effect” is named by former LA-Mayor Tom Bradley, a black man who lost the 1982 governor’s race despite contrary prognoses. Or called the “Wilder Effect” after VA-Governor Doug Wilder, who had a good perspective but hardly won with bravery.

But I came to the conclusion that I do not want to do so.
Because it is not right to mention it at all.
People are not different because of being man or woman, young or old, black or white, Christian or Muslim, inside or outside of a wheelchair, gay or hetero. This is what is already marked in our constitution. But why isn’t that remarked in our heads as well?
Sure, there is maybe some cultural and educational difference, but this does not turn these minorities out to be “abnormal” or “kind of strange(rs)”.
Of course if there is such an opinion occurring in the people’s minds, this must be talked over. To erase those limited views.
Juggling with clichés does not help you here.
But it is the fact that those opinions shouldn’t even exist which is the solution.

Me, personally – I do not have this view in my daily life. It is owing to my upbringing that I do not look at people thinking “well, are they black, or maybe just a bit colored or Muslim or homosexual” because I assume talking to a person out of sorts. I do not have that view on life. On our fellows. Thanks, family / teachers / friends!
So, why do a lot of people do so?
Is it education? Environment?
Must be something really going wrong here!



References:
http://www.bundestag.de/parlament/funktion/gesetze/Grundgesetz/gg_01.html