Alaska may be a large geographic state, physically, but that hardly means we could characterize it in any way, shape or form as the model for ethnic diversity. Gov. Sarah Palin does indeed have a lot to answer for in regards to her thoughts on diversity and her record on diversity in the state of Alaska. This was an issue brought up by activist Tavis Smiley, of PBS, in a recent interview he did with Wall Street Journal. Smiley’s comments are interesting because he is not as much in the tank for Sen. Obama as some people might think. There are a lot of misconceptions out there (including that all or most black people get along). Smiley has not always been a huge supporter of Sen. Obama. This is not to say that Tavis Smiley does not support the Illinois senator now … I have no doubt he does. But, his bigger point about diversity issues and how Gov. Palin might feel is important because she could become frighteningly close to becoming president of the United States.
Here are Tavis Smiley’s comments:
“Sarah Palin has not been asked anything about diversity and inclusion. If you’re going to be a heart beat away from the presidency, it’s important when you’re from Alaska, that we understand what diversity means to you: This is the most multicultural, multiracial, multi-ethnic America ever. And no one should get to the White House in this America without us having a clear understand on where they stand with regard to those kinds of issues. … She’s been asked nothing of the sort. I just don’t get a sense that Sarah Palin understands anything about me, anything about people of color.”
The questions are fair and perhaps now that Gov. Palin has, by even Republican accounts, “gone rogue” … could the answers now be forthcoming?
No comments:
Post a Comment