Sad day at Baylor

As a Baylor University faculty member, I was deeply saddened by the recent incidents on our campus, revealing how much work we have yet to do to get beyond the history of racial injustice and division that has repeatedly tarnished America’s quest “to live out the true meaning of its creed,” as Martin Luther King so memorably put it.

At Baylor, of course, we bear an additional obligation to this quest arising from the Christian beliefs to which we are committed as a university community. In the wake of last week’s election, however, I am hopeful that the civil war — as one thoughtful pundit recently put it — has now finally come to an end.

Beginning with Richard Nixon’s “Southern strategy” in 1968, the Republican Party has repeatedly sought to play on the residual racism and resentments of white Americans, particularly in the states of the old Confederacy. The politics of racial division, fear and resentment pursued, at times, by the McCain-Palin campaign were only the latest chapter in this sad history.

The result of this election emboldens my hope that the day has finally arrived when the political playbook of Lee Atwater and his disciples can at last be deposited on the ash heap of history, so that both Republicans and Democrats can get on with the task of fully living up to the lofty idea that all men are created equal.

These words (among others) make clear that expressions of racial prejudice couldn’t be more un-American. The Civil War is truly over. It’s time for us all to join the Union.

Dwight D. Allman

Waco

EDITOR’S NOTE: The writer is associate professor of political science at Baylor University.

Racism alive, well

I never thought that I would be as disappointed in my fellow Americans as I am today, especially the folks in Waco. I saw something this morning that made my heart sink, and I don’t think it was a bit funny. I saw an e-mail today that was horrifying. There on the screen was a big face of Barack Obama with the caption: “EYES YO NEW PRESIDENT.”

Not only was I offended, I was downright mad. It indicated that people are more ignorant than I thought, that they believe President-elect Obama is an uneducated black man, which is far from the truth.

What happened Nov. 4 was a historical moment for African-Americans. They have every right to say they’re proud to call a black man their president. What gets me is that some of white America can be so disrespectful as to make it seem he doesn’t deserve to be president simply because he is black.

It’s one thing to argue he isn’t qualified because he doesn’t have experience or doesn’t share the views of some voters. But to say he is uneducated and uncouth because of the color of his skin? I am disheartened that racism is alive and well today and more prevalent than we think.

Karin Bell

Waco

Favor with the Lord

Some folks in these parts like to expound in local public venues on what wonderful Christians they are. They suggest if other folks were to vote like they do, perhaps they could win the favor of the Lord as well.

Any time a platform based on hope and promise defeats a platform based on hate and fear, it should be celebrated by Christians around the world.

God blessed America after eight years in the wasteland.

Melvin R. Volkert

Hillsboro