It baffles my mind to see the extent at which these people go to prove that racism still exists, in spite of the laughable recent Supreme Court decision that said racism was dead.
In Norfolk Nebraska, the patriotism was strong as residents celebrated the 4th of July festivities. Onlookers lined the parade route as different floats went by. Then there were loud laughter and applause as a specific float made its way along route.
Perched on a flatbed truck was an outhouse with a dark figurine of president Obama dressed in overalls and propped up by a metal walker. And nailed to the sides of the wooden latrine were two signs, in all cap letters that read, “OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.”
“We don’t feel it’s right to tell someone what they can and can’t express,” said parade committee member Rick Konopasek. “This was political satire. If we start saying no to certain floats we might as well not have a parade at all.”
Konopasek cited the fact that the float received loud applause from the onlookers as the reason why it wasn’t racist or offensive, saying “its obvious the majority of the community liked it. So should we deny the 95 percent of those that liked it their rights, just for the 5% of people who are upset?”
Rick also said that the community is predominantly conservative. And he admitted that it would have gone against free speech and the 4th of July independence celebration, to deny the float’s entry into the parade. With that said, sexually explicit floats will not get the same freedom of expression rights Rick awarded the Obama hating float. According to the parade organizers, sexually based floats were denied participation in the parade.
It is abhorrent and absolutely disgraceful that in 2014 racial prejudice and intolerance still exist and is so outwardly expressed.
There is no consideration given to the marred history of this country. A history based in slavery, lynchings, and some of the most vile acts committed against any group of people. And it is even worse that this intolerance is the ideology adopted by the Republican party.
