''I FORGOT HE WAS BLACK", A MINDSET OF MANY GOOD OLE WHITE-BOYS?

Whether it is Senator John McCain or former President Bill Clinton or Senate Leader Harry Reid or even the anti-America's full and complete integration, racist megaphone Rush Limbaugh and regrettably now, Chris Matthews, the thinking among the 'good ole white-boys' of America is the same. Always pondering whether 'the other ones' are as intelligent, capable, competent and well qualified as them?

Unfortunately, most times, they are delusional that between 'we and them', we are the superior species? White supremacy aka KKK, may be? Even when you attend the same ivy league school like Harvard with them and excelled, they will still convince themselves that there is a reason or an explanation for your success other than your ability. To them it must be because of some form of patronage and not necessarily meritorious? Also take a look at both cable and network television and show Icheoku how many black or colored pundits or presenters there is who are given shows or even invited on one, simply because "they are not as intelligent as us" to read teleprompters or shout questions to guests without allowing them time to answer them?" It is just a mindset set in stone which will take some time to wipe off, maybe with next generation?

However, while some of them cleverly mask their doubts very well, others periodically have had their tongues betraying their hearts, while the Rush Limbaughs amongst them could care less what the 'other ones' think and feel, and their sensibilities might as well go to blazes? But for Hardball Chris Matthews, Icheoku, having followed and watched him for some years now, is wont to vouchsafe that he spoke without malice and would rather he did not phrase his take in that inarticulate way, knowing what a hot-button issue race-relations still is in America. What Chris uttered could be explained as an excited baby-boomer who was so mesmerised by President Barack Obama's eloquence, charisma and intelligent speak that he let down his guard? A State of the Union address which he described as "profound" and "so in tune with so many problems and aspects of American life" must have had an exhilarating effect on him that he just let go? In law what Chris Matthew said could possibly qualify as an excited utterance made under the influence of President Barack Obama scholarly, very intoxicating State of the Union address delivery? For many people proficient with and who have mastery of the letters and words of the English Language, who tuned into President Barack Obama's first state of the Union address, thrilled, was an apt description of what they felt at the end of the 1.05 hours stellar performance. Icheoku watched it.

So, Chris Matthews' antecedents excused his present guffaw and Americans especially black Americans should move on and not participate in the Fox-Network's current attempt to do a hit-man's job on Chris Matthews as a result of his misspeak. When during the presidential campaigns, the same Chris got so enamored by the intelligence displayed by then candidate Senator Barack Obama while answering some 'gotcha ya' trip/trap questions; blushingly uttered that he "felt this thrill going up my leg", many people called him out for expressing "tingling-feeling" for Obama. In a way, Chris might have become so infatuated with Obama's candidacy and performances that he has fallen in love, literally speaking, with the President? But hey, love is still better than hate and for this reason, Chris Matthews is free to express his passion for the "first ever articulate black-man in America who happens to be occupying their White House?" Admitted that his statement has several connotations and implications, but Icheoku is excusing it based on his past records. However, it goes to show how people of color are viewed and treated in America - not allowed equal playing field just because they are black or colored, and hence "inferior", but fortunately today, President Barack Obama is proving them wrong and conceited; and telling them to their face to have a re-thinking of this warped assumption!

In the said 'offensive' statement, Chris Matthew said, "I was trying to think about who he was tonight. It's interesting: he is post-racial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and passed so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about. I was watching, I said, wait a minute, he's an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people. And here he is president of the United States and we've completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of his discussion. It was so broad-ranging, so in tune with so many problems, of aspects, and aspects of American life that you don't think in terms of the old tribalism, the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard. A very subtle fact. It's so hard to talk about. Maybe I shouldn't talk about it, but I am. I thought it was profound that way." Icheoku asks Matthews, who else was he thinking the president is other than an American? Why must he remember that the president is a black-man instead of an American? Why see the president as 'an African-American guy' instead of an American? It is the same type of stereotyping which have led Rush Limbaugh to 'create' in the minds of some of his dumb listeners the notion that there is "an Obama America" and then their own White America which Obama is holding in trust for them, albeit temporary? Icheoku agrees with one commentator's observation that possibly, "Chris Matthews was primarily focused on the fact that he was listening to a black man who is occupying their White House and not necessarily to an American president?"

Chris Matthews statement shows that America still have a long way to go in the bridging of the gap between racial divides and that the vocalised opposition President Barack Obama administration is getting is an indirect attack at his audacity for occupying their White House? How else can one explain the virulent attacks on an administration that is barely one year old, which have just completed only 12 months out of its forty-eight months mandate of office; and being expected to fix what took President GW Bush 8 years to break into several pieces and drive under the ground? President Barack Obama is not Jesus who elected to rebuild a temple that took the Jewish several decades to erect in just three days, if demolished? It takes time and the sins of the past eight years will take some years to atone for; so America, please give President Barack Obama time to deliver, since he never claimed to be a magician with some wand to just will every problem away and at one go! GET IT!