Friday, November 22, 2013


November 22, 2013
Oprah and the Elephant in the Room

Why is it that when someone speaks out about “the elephant in the room” they are verbally bashed, ostracized, discredited, or even ignored? This doesn’t just happen in the media; it happens in all circles, economic, cultural, racial,social, political, and even family circles.
Could the reason some groups, organizations, or individuals get so upset when someone points the finger at “the elephant in the room” be because they are “the eight-hundred pound gorilla in the room?” You know who they are?  The eight-hundred pound gorilla in the room” refers to a large unstoppable individual or organization that can exert its will as it desires even if people do their best to ignore. They’re usually intelligent, out-spoken, and may have many followers. They like protégé and power.  Could the gorilla be someone like Rush Limbaugh, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and The Tea Party, your boss, or even a particular individual like a friend or relative?  These GO-RIL-LAS can’t accept change, diversity, or just a difference of opinion. They like power. We find them everywhere. They’re either too far to the right or too far to the left. There’s no compromising with them.  

Oprah Winfrey has a right to her opinion. She just told the truth about the race problems that still exist in the United States, “the elephant in the room.”  We all know there are still traces of racism in America. I don’t think Oprah was being judgmental or prejudice toward racist people. She was stating a fact. There are still people living who are so deeply rooted in prejudice ideas and ways that they can never and will never change. They are not going to do anything but go to their graves with their preformed opinions based on irrational feelings, stereotypes and beliefs.

In my opinion, racism is still not going to end when these individuals pass on.  Racism is a burning fire.  Fires spread quickly and can be destructive to anything in its path.  The sparks and embers from fire can be just as harmful as the fire itself because it ignites more fires. Racist people are bred from generation to generation, and they can be from any nationality.  They can influence the beliefs and opinions of many people throughout their lifetime. Oprah’s right; those embers of racism are deep-seated in many families, organizations, and areas in the United States and world. Prejudice and racism will be around as long as man is living and breathing. 

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/racism

http://racerelations.about.com/od/understandingrac1/a/callingsomeoneracist.htm

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