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Chas, what it boils down to is, race and/or sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with a delegate's ability. <BR>
I think you may have captured it with your statement, <EM>"It certainly communicates an intentional diversity that would surprise many non-Idahoans who know only our redneck reputation."</EM><BR>
It may very well be a politcal ploy, using race and sexual orientation as a way to say, "We are diverse, see?"<BR>
But should that "intentional diversity" lead someone to think Idaho is more diverse than what it is, wouldn't it be a lie?<BR><BR>> Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:37:35 -0700<BR>> From: chasuk@gmail.com<BR>> To: fotopro63@hotmail.com<BR>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Idaho's 23 Democratic Delegates<BR>> CC: janesta@gmail.com; vision2020@moscow.com; debismith@moscow.com<BR>> <BR>> I'm glad that you have made it to WinCo and Wal-Mart. And Nampa,<BR>> Caldwell, and Nogales, too! I understand that there are regions of<BR>> Idaho that aren't "lilly white anymore." However, being white in<BR>> Idaho is still the default expectation, regardless of what your "arse"<BR>> is telling you. In 2005, 0.84% of the Idaho population was black, and<BR>> being PC doesn't change that.<BR>> <BR>> Yes, I know that there is an increasingly large minority of Hispanics.<BR>> Still, they make up less than one out of every ten people, and in<BR>> many, many areas they are nonexistent.<BR>> <BR>> On a list of 23 delegates, nine are non-Caucasian. That is<BR>> surprising, even if only statistically. It certainly communicates an<BR>> intentional diversity that would surprise many non-Idahoans who know<BR>> only our redneck reputation. I approve of the message that the<BR>> National Democratic Convention is sending to those outside of the<BR>> state, and to the still too-plentiful bigots and racists who pollute<BR>> our state.<BR>> <BR>> The above paragraph encapsulates entirely my use of the word<BR>> "surprising." If you want to the read something else into it, then<BR>> please climb back onto your high horse. If you want to pretend that<BR>> it still isn't surprising in light of my elucidation, again feel free.<BR>> However, I am not racist, bigoted, provincial, or untraveled.<BR>> <BR>> > They only reason Obama and Clinton are singled out is because of the fact<BR>> > they are THE FIRST. The first black man and the first woman to have a chance<BR>> > at the presidency. We don't make much note of women or minorities in other<BR>> > elected positions anymore, I doubt we will of the presidency in the future,<BR>> > either.<BR>> <BR>> The only reason? No. The main reason? Arguably. Listen to people<BR>> in West Virgina and Pennsylvania who tell interviewers that they won't<BR>> vote for a black man because "Americans aren't ready for a black<BR>> president, yet." This perfectly expresses both your point and mine.<BR>> <BR>> > I know you hate sports, but it is a microcosm of Americana. The first blacks<BR>> > to play pro ball outside of the "Negro League" made headlines, so did Jewish<BR>> > and Japanese players. Now its old hat, the same will happen in politics, if<BR>> > allowed to.<BR>> <BR>> Agreed.<BR>> <BR>> > Still, why is one's sexual orientation of importance as a delegate is beyond<BR>> > me.<BR>> <BR>> For the same reasons that I gave above regarding race. Because it is<BR>> reputation healing, and because of what it communicates to to<BR>> too-plentiful homophobes who pollute our state.<BR>> <BR>> Chas<BR><BR><br /><hr />Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. <a href='https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_AddNow_Now' target='_new'>Add them now!</a></body>
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