Maybe One More Coat of Paint?

Honestly, I thought nothing of it when I heard the allegations being shot at Governor, Rick Perry.  After all he is a middle aged, white male, protestant from one of the last states to abolish slavery.  I just assumed he had “racial tendencies” without digging through his past.  But let’s “give the devil his due”  for a minute here. This is still the South and I don’t know of any white person who was not subjected to the “N” word while growing up.  My grandmother heard the word used like salt or pepper with no apologies.  It’s how many Southern white children were taught to discern the good folks from the bad. Consequently, many understand that one racist generation does not necessarily make the next generation guilty.

Then while rushing in one morning to catch The View, I heard Whoopi blurt out the word “N*****HEAD,” stating something about it being painted on a rock at a camp the Perry family had purchased.  What took me by surprise was hearing the word “Head” at the end.   A chill went through me like a ghost.  I remember watching the movie Rosewood not too long ago and envisioning the scenes where the K.K.K. horse backed through the towns looking for innocent, helpless people to lynch.  It was the same feeling; the same chill.  Whoopi went on to say that the sign was painted over some time ago.  Many “right-leaning “reporters have suggested though that this was a political smear job.  Perry was being unfairly accused of racism because of a trivial oversight, that the word was painted there prior to the purchase.  

They might be right; I could believe that it was a political smear job.  I could believe that Democrats were turning over every rock to find anything they could on Perry.  I can easily envision Democrats fist pumping and patting each other on the backs when they discovered the existence of such a disgrace.  And that’s exactly what I see this as, a disgrace.  I think that if the N word had been a picture of a Swastika instead of this particular racial slur, Perry would have immediately blown that rock to “Smithereens”, not just painted over it a few years ago.  I am also certain that if Perry had grown up as a black male in Texas, with the Rebel flags and the N word flying over his head, he most definitely would have found a way to remove any hint of such a slur on his property.

Whether or not you consider Rick Perry to be a racist will depend upon the window you sat at in this world.  Did you grow up white or black?  If you grew up white, then you probably feel that the press is making too much out of a simple word.  However, if you grew up black then you know it’s more than “just” a word.

Not Ashamed...

In a recent article titled “We’re On a Mission from God,” written by Eileen Smith, editor of In the Pink, Smith attempts to make a mockery of Anita Perry’s, Texas Governor Rick Perry’s wife, speech given at North Greenville University in South Carolina reflecting on “the rough month that her husband had endured on the campaign trail,” and how her husband was “being brutalized because of his faith.” Smith concludes her article with an insight of her own, stating such things as, “this evangelical sh** is becoming tiresome,” and “Hey, Rick. God called. He wants you to stop speaking for Him.”

I have to admit I was a tad “irked” after reading Smith’s commentary. The thought of someone mocking someone’s adoration towards whatever “higher power” they acknowledge is smiting the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
 

I admit that although I am a native Texan, I am not the biggest Rick Perry fan, however, I am a fan, follower and believer in Jesus Christ and as a follower, as well, one who believes everyone has the right to praise, acknowledge, worship and promote whatever “higher power” they serve it gets under my skin when someone “pokes fun” at someone else regarding their religious beliefs.

Smith makes it clear that she is no fan of Governor Perry or what he claims to believe in, although she never commented on her own beliefs, she is clear that she is tired of hearing about “Perry’s God.”
 

Note, that I am the last person to sit around smiling at someone who continues to “beat a dead horse,” except when it comes to religion. I commend Governor Perry for not being ashamed to acknowledge that he does believe in some form of a “higher power,” and that regardless of the many turned noses and backlash he receives about his vocalism regarding his faith, he is not ashamed of that faith nor has he backed down on commenting about that faith, despite the negative feedback.

Let’s face it people, in “the end” there will be only one group of folks with their heads held high as to the decision they made throughout their lives on what “higher power” to follow. Many will perish at a time when it will be too late to “switch teams.” Whether Governor Perry will be amongst those “standing tall,” or “falling short,” is not up to me to comment on or judge for that matter, after all he is amongst many citizens of this country who has obtained the right to freely speak about his religion and beliefs. We can assuredly say that at least 67% of Texans are onboard the “Perry Ferry,” as estimated in a recent poll of Texas Perry supporters.
 

“You Go,” Rick Perry for not being ashamed!

The God I serve makes it clear that, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." –Mark 8:38 (NIV)
 

That’s enough for me to back off Perry, and his associates, when it pertains to his prayer and religious statements.