It isn’t a contest.

You may disagree, but my hope remains that one day, such distinctions will not be necessary.

I have no problem with opposing viewpoints, so long as I am not labeled a “racist” for merely having one myself.

” ‘ Color-blindness’ is too literal an interpretation of his dream.”

‘Taken’ literally—-sure.

But the use of that term is more metaphorical in this context, suggesting that skin color will be seen as a rather irrelevant afterthought in my (and Star Trek’s) optimistic vision of the future.

“He succeeded in spite of the myriad negative connotations of blackness and institutional biases which are and have been present in American society.”

Or perhaps the obstacles you describe are not as prevalent today as many people still believed they remained before the election. We are all keenly aware that such problems have plagued this country in the past, but given the “landslide” outcome of the election, it is obvious to me that such predjudices are long gone from the mainstream. It should be obvious to you as well.

The very fact that Americans– of African, European, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Latin descent, felt perfectly comfortable making Barack Obama the single most important person in our nation’s government speaks for itself. There can be no higher political honor bestowed upon an American.

“Whether his actual PRESIDENCY will be remarkable has little to do with his race.”

Little? I submit that it has ‘nothing’ to do with his race…

That’s SO COOL!!

Martin Luther King, Jr., is one of my TOP, TOP, TOP role models. I think he’s just the greatest, and Barack Obama is definitely one of my huge inspirations. He, MLK, Nichelle Nichols, and others like them, are living proof that you can do /anything/… Ya just gotta have faith of the heart!!

@56/Closettrekker

If you’re arguing that people shouldn’t be called ‘black’, I don’t agree.

Slaves in the US and (most of) their descendants, because of skin color (and laws regarding it) were not accepted into American society like others who came to this continent (despite being here longer than the Irish, for example). Instead, they remained a very visible minority over time, ostracized like ‘perpetual immigrants’ (ironically, most unknowing of ethnic or geographical family origin in Africa). Being pushed into a separate caste for so long, they formed communities and a unique American culture: ‘black’ culture. Thus, ‘black people’ who have a shared history in this country.

Color-blindness (re: ‘race’) is a running joke on the Colbert Report… because the notion is preposterous. Sighted persons perceive differences in skin color, facial features, and hair texture and, consciously or unconsciously, make judgments of strangers every day based on prior experiences.

MLK would have intended that examination of character TRUMP superficial assessment–as the elimination of initial judgments is actually… impossible. ‘Color-blindness’ is too literal an interpretation of his dream.

Barack Obama is the first black President, the first American President who is black. It’s just true.

He succeeded in spite of the myriad negative connotations of blackness and institutional biases which are and have been present in American society. This achievement, previously thought to be far off, or even impossible, happened, and that’s a big deal! And a nice thing to see!

Even when we reach your future where color doesn’t have connotations, Obama’s ELECTION will be seen as a milestone in our checkered past–like women’s suffrage or something. (Whether his actual PRESIDENCY will be remarkable has little to do with his race.*sigh* Semantics.)

BUT, for now, let us all take pride in electing the First BLACK President in history!!!

Why is it historical? Because he’s BLACK.

Not to acknowledge his historical significance? RIDICULOUS

PLUS – more thoughts of today (that I also wrote on our site) – -There was a story once that Roddenberry wanted a female black captain on TOS, and of course he did’nt get it. About 30 years later he (we) got it, the first half was Sisko, the second was of course Janeway.
Today we saw the first half of the Rushmore vision coming true.

AND, on today’s ceremony, there was a piece from the famous (sci-fi) composer John Wiliams, played be a team, like the TOS crew, from some parts of the human race – an Afro-American, a Chinese-French, a Venezuelan and a Jewish. A nice pic here:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/a-new-williams-work-for-a-momentous-occasion/
Beautiful.

I would agree completely with that definition. However, I am arguing ‘against’ such distinctions being made—not in support of them.

I don’t see how you can read my posts here on the subject and conclude otherwise.

“That assumption is your thesis, and I stand by my evaluation of it. ”

No, it isn’t. This is the crux of what I am saying. Hopefully, it will be clear for you this time.

My hope is that one day soon, there will be no need to distinguish a man or woman by prefacing his/her title with the words “black”, “white”, or any other term which highlights our different physical characteristics.

I don’t feel he should be treated or looked upon differently because of the color of his skin.

That is the very opposite of racism. Is it not?

This is the society (the one I hope for) that Star Trek portrays.

Not once on this thread have I made any “assumptions”, idiotic or otherwise. I expressed a hope that it will not happen. That isn’t the same thing, is it?

“…She matter-of-factly replies that they have learned that [labels] aren’t important; basically saying ‘no offense meant, none taken’. ..”