Should a Descendant of Cain Be President?

Growing up in Utah, I learned the following things about blacks in Sunday School:

1- Blacks were less valiant in the War In Heaven
2- Blacks are descendants of Cain (who was an associate of Lucifer in the preexistence)
3- Blacks are cursed and not worthy of the priesthood (until 1978)

Luckily, those messages weren't reinforced at home because honestly, since there were only two black kids in my whole high school, it wasn't a big issue. Now I'm living in the South and at certain times, I'm the minority. Some of my favorite neighbors and co-workers are black, the man I want to vote for president is black, but should I be wary as clearly the color of their skin lets me know they are less valiant if I learned anything from my church lessons? What about you, what has the church taught you about race and how will that factor into your vote on election day? Can you believe LDS church teachings and still vote for Obama?

We Should Listen To Emily Post

Today I was pumping gas at Costco when the attendant jumped out from behind the pump and tried to pitch me a store credit card. When I turned him down, he asked who I’d be voting for this November. Bold I thought, but I told him anyway , and when it didn’t match up with his pick, he launched into a diatribe about why my candidate was the wrong one. Now I suspect the guy’s job entails breathing in more gas fumes than recommended, so I gave him a pass, plus my kids were knocking on the window like caged animals so I didn’t have time for a debate. Later in the day I went to a doctor’s appointment and in the waiting room two women were sparring back and forth on their candidate choices, so I raised my magazine higher and tried to hide so I wouldn’t have to take a side. When I got home I read the blog of a friend who was talking about the election and couldn’t contain myself any more so I left some serious bloggeria on her page. (sorry about the mess Joanna)

My point being, this election is everywhere! It’s all people can talk about, it’s the only thing being analyzed on the news channels, it’s blanketing the web, even the tabloids have it on their front page. On one hand I applaud so many people being interested in who will govern this nation, but on the other, why can’t we keep our choice to ourselves? Why do we feel compelled to convince those around us that our choice is the right one? I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this, but when the gas station attendant tried to pigeon-hole me today, I realized that I’ve had enough. Doesn’t the etiquette that you don’t talk about politics or religion in polite company still apply? Oh Britney, please flash your vadge to the paparazzi again so we can go back to being shallow and instead of being angry at each other, we can have the old days where you were the nation’s voodoo doll obsession.

Racism

Growing up in Utah I rarely encountered racism as our area was so white, there was no one except women to be prejudice against. In my 20's I lived in the liberal northeast where I was again blind to racism as there was too much diversity and openmindedness to single anyone out. Presently, I'm living in the South and my eyes have been opened and now I see what I've only heard about and thought long dead.

I met with a faculty colleague this week who told me stories of students refusing to take her courses after they arrived and saw she was black. Then today, I got talking outside with my neighbor who said he was reluctantly voting for McCain because when it came down to it, "I just can't bring myself to vote for a black man." This said as the neighbors behind us, who are black, sat on their back patio enjoying a holiday weekend with their extended family. I prayed they hadn't heard him as I now understood why his daughter doesn't go outside when their children are out playing with mine. How can you slur such a beautiful family because of their skin color? (For full disclosure, my neighbor is Asian). The worst part is my mother-in-law won't vote for Obama, which is fine and she gives several reasons why, except my husband and I agree that the largest part of it is because he's black and I suspect she still hasn't gotten over blacks being "cursed."

I'm encouraged that a black man stands to gain the presidency of this country, but his candidacy is uncovering an ugliness that has long been hiding behind the fake pleasantries of suburbia. It is my hope that in my lifetime, I will see a day when this country can leave behind its obsession with color and concentrate its efforts on issues that will lift us all up, no matter our race.