Comment Up
Of course problem is not solved. You know, as long as people can be
judged by the color of their skin, problem’s not solved. As long as
there are people who still, there’s a whole generation – I say this, you
know, I said this, you know, for apartheid South Africa, I said this
for my own, you know, community in the south - there are still
generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and
marinated in it, in that prejudice and racism, and
they just have to
die.
~
Oprah Winfrey
Because of all her recent inflammatory comments, I have to admit that I was offended when Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom yesterday which is the highest civilian award in the United States.
It recognizes those individuals who have made "an especially
meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the
United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or
private endeavors."
Oprah is a billionaire, thanks in part to all of us older white people who supported her throughout her career, loved her, admired her and appreciated who she was and what she had attained through hard work and determination. Her skin color was never a consideration. No one thought about that. It was the person and that's how it is in America today. But sadly we discovered that she has her own prejudices and demons that sill linger. She believes that all of us folks who are not embracing Obama because of the direction he is taking our country should
die. We shouldn't have a voice because in her eyes, she has given us all the label of "racist."
There has been an "Oprah effect" when it comes to social issues and policy in our country. She came out over 25 years ago defending gays. Her friend, Barack Obama, on the other hand was against gay marriage before he was for it. She even influenced the most powerful man on Earth. I guess she deserved that Medal of Freedom after all.
