I Just Can't Forget That...

Man, everything seems to be going right in the world until Piyush opens his mouth...For those of you who are unaware who I am speaking of, Piyush "Bobby" Jindal, governor of Louisiana, is the same pundit whose views reached mainstream America in wake of the 2012 Presidential Election but got shitted on for the Republican nod. He seems to criticize the Republican Party a lot so I'm sure if all this is for a 2016 bid to the White House or if someone really enjoys hearing this guy talk. I know the majority of y'all consider Louisiana to be backwoods and hickish, so I'm not sure if y'all even pay attention to Jindal's stupidity. Anyway, his latest rant, an op-Ed, http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=204B316A-BBF4-46A4-81AE-CFD90C1D448C, ran in the wake of the 50 year anniversary of MLK's famous I Have a Dream speech speaks on how America should eliminate the "hyphenated American" (African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American) and become the melting pot of America. Piyush, seems to forget that King was never anti-black, that he just wanted

"His Momma named him Clay, I'ma call him Clay"

people to be judged on who they are, not what they are. And while I admit that I am one in favor of dropping the hyphenations from our names, I feel like its more of a pride thing than it is a crutch on identity. AND that is what King was preaching that just because someone looks or acts differently than you, that shouldn't preclude that person from being declared intelligent, beautiful, or even comparable to yourself.

I got inspired to write this piece from watching The Butler. I personally think its funny how racism becomes out of sight of mind until one is reminded of the days of the South only 50 years ago. While Cecil Gaines developed relationships with most some of the most memorable Presidents in the history of our nation, such was not achieved until they expressed a care of who he was instead of letting what he was define him. Cecil's own acceptance of what was is much like the same attitude Piyush would like us to achieve. The son of Indian immigrants switched to Christianity and was called "Bobby" as a youth and now he wants us to eliminate our own traces to our history. I dont want this to be a comparative piece, but I wonder just how much Piyush would have achieved had he not opted to be called Bobby both socially and formally. Because under that rhetoric, we should just assimilate as much as we can so that us looking differently is of little importance in the grand scheme of things. Am I weird for asking "why?" Because, honestly American society is one that judges, or maybe that's just the human race. Without the definition of race I think society would subject itself to different -isms to judge and ostracize those who aren't the minority. I think all Americans should remember that this country was founded by people who wanted to be different from the masses, but I doubt their intentions were so that their new nation would consist of carbon copies of households as far as the eye can see. Yes, I want you to see me for who I am, not what I am, but when it comes down to how violently you've tried to make me out to be just like you White America, I Just Can't Forget That Shit...