Im going to say some things here that I think alot of people would like to say and are afraid to. Im going to say alot of things here that many people will probably get bent out of shape over. Im going to say some things here that might possibly ban this letter from appearing on "Get My Vote." Im going to tell the truth from a white mans point of view. At least, one white mans point of view; about race. Ive been thinking about writing this since I heard the advert on NPR. I hope I come across the way I want to, but ive no doubt some people will take what I say the wrong way. Such is life. Anyhow, enough small talk, on to the post...

A little background first....

Im 35. Im a graphic designer. I have a 10 year old son. My wife and I are seperated but we have become closer friends than ever. I grew up in the suburbs mostly, although throughout college I lived in the inner city of Pittsburgh. My son currently lives in the city with his mother. I speak from some experience here. And im only telling things from personal experience. So lets begin, shall we?

My wife takes my son to a local park near her house, so he can learn how to ride his bike. Theyre enjoying an early spring day, several other kids are out and about. Suddenly a bottle smashes at her feet. She turns and is confronted by a group of black kids, between 8-12 years old. An older black girl stands there grinning. My wife, somewhat irked, asks who threw the bottle. They all deny it, laughing and giggling to themselves. Then take offense, saying that the only reason shes accusing them of throwing the bottle is because theyre black. Not because theyre all standing there laughing. Not because theyre the only ones there...but because they are black. It ends with the kids telling my wife to perform obscene sexual acts on them. 12 year old kids saying this to a 36 year old woman and her 10 year old son.

Another situation at a nearby park ends with my son being punched in the face by an older black kid. My wife and I have our dogs with us, we run to where my son is laying on the ground holding his face. This is a public park. In the city. It was beautful once, but its now covered in graffitti and trash litters the ground. Still, there arent alot of places to take a 10 year old to play so we go. As soon as we get to my kid, the crowd of black kids start telling us to get the *F----* out of THEIR park. We dont belong there. If it wasnt for the fact that Im a big man and I had my dogs, I have no doubt there would have been more violence. We left to the black kids singing "(We) is takin ovah....(We) is takin ovah...." and jeers and catcalls.

Why are there several colleges that are blacks only, but a college that billed itself as whites only would be considered racist? Why is it that a black man can be proud of being a black man, but if im proud of being white im a racist? Why are black people called African Americans? Why arent white people European Americans then? Why can a black person wear a tshirt that says "The blacker the college the sweeter the knowledge" but If i wore a shirt saying "The whiter the college the sweeter the knowledge" I would at BEST be asked to remove the shirt, and be labeled a racist? Why is it that whenever a black kid gets beat up by a white kid the race card is pulled, but when black kids jump a white kid, its considered justice? Why do I feel like im paying for something that I never had anything to do with? Why do i feel guitly of being white? Why is the inner city a dangerous place to be when the sun goes down? (and dont tell me police presence is greater in the suburbs).

I dont have any answers to these questions. I dont even have any guesses. Ive tried to teach my kid that all people are created equal. Ive tried to teach my kid that race doesnt matter. What do i tell him when he asks me why black people are so mean to him then? That theyre angry over something that happened to them a hundred years ago? Something that they dont even fully understand? THats not a reason, its a lame excuse. How do I teach my kid to treat everyone equally when hes treated like a pariah in his own school and neighborhood? Because hes white? How do i keep myself from being racist, when I see these things happening in my own backyard? This is a difficult time in America, for everyone. Black people no longer have a leg to stand on as far as equality...the next president of the United States will most likely be a black man. The equality thing just doesnt hold water anymore. "Whitey" isnt holding anyone down. Is this just something that I have to deal with? Do i have to teach my son to stay away from other races because hes going to be treated like a criminal by them?

These are only a few examples. I could write a bloody book on this. But im sure ive said enough already, and Im interested to see what kind of replies this post gets, if any. In a perfect world, we would all love one another and treat each other as brothers. But its not a perfect world...and races are polarizing themselves even more. I dont think Obama being elected will do anything but push the racial divide even further apart. There is no desire to get along, to understand one another. Not with the generation that seems to be coming up. There seems to be only anger, and hatred, and division, for no other reason than...I dont even know what to write there. The media? Music? Parents? The Gov't? Ourselves? Im at a loss...ill just end this here. Thanks for your time if you read this through. Luck.