What I learned about "Race Relations in America".

These couple weeks to me have been weeks of learning and observing. I am an Immigrant, an Indonesian and I am hoping to articulate my opinion, on the case of Race Relations, as an outside-observer, who came to United States because of its belief in moral values "that all men are created equal", "men should not be judge by the color of their skin", "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". I came because of the allurement of those honorable values that have been promoted regarding this country.

From the death of an Icon Michael Jackson, the arrest of Professor Gates, and to the backlash of President Obama's comment regarding Gates' arrest. I think the question of "Race relationship in America" has been brought to light since Attorney General Eric Holder made a statement "when it comes to Race Relations, US remains a "Nation of cowards"". This remains a sensitive issue for all Americans, and have been lingering underneath this great society. We all have been challenged to face it.

Through decades, I think "racism" has changed its form, it is no longer in a form of physical aggression, segregation, derogatory name calling; rather it became a subtle attitude that makes it harder to pin-point as "racist". It is a subtle attitude of "less desirable" because the color of one's skin. An attitude shows when a swimming club refused 65 minority kids to use the pools because of their complexion in Pennsylvania, an attitude when a taxi driver refused to give service to an old black man, an attitude when a waitress refused to serve a customer because of his/her skin, an attitude of the neighborhood that insisted their district should only be white. This subtle attitude should no longer be directed between Black and White, but should also be directed to Asian, Hispanics, Native Indian, Arabs, etc. As an Asian, I myself, must admit that we too, are guilty of these subtle attitudes toward other race.

The arrest of Professor Gates was unfortunate incident, but yet was not an accident. The past historical facts, the number of incarceration, and the practice of racial profiling have given the "evidence of presumption"-(I assume, I experience, I see the facts, that's what I think)-to believe that discrimination does indeed happen. I think this incident is not a matter of racism, or racial profiling, instead it is a matter of racial sensitivity. It is a sensitive issue which requires honesty to admit, and humility to learn to understand each other. 

America as a Nation should have been proud with the progress they have reached. America have progressed this far by electing the first African-American Barack Obama as a president. Thus, in regard of Race Relations, we should not stop to work together for the better community.