“We are still In the Pickle Barrel!

“We are still In the Pickle Barrel!

Recently, I was talking about the need for Photo ID’s to protect the integrity of the voting process in South Carolina, as well as the rest of the US of A. Immediately after my comment a man who was standing nearby, a man I had never seen before, step closer and said “You’re one of those typical Southern Republican Racist.”

My blood began to boil and I started having flashbacks. I reheard a comment by the head of the SC Democrat Party in response to our Congressional Redistricting movement to obtain the 7th Congressional District and a seat in the US Congress.

During that heated battle to develop a fair, reasonable, commonsense, workable map the Democrat Leader said “Republicans are trying to bleach out their districts so they don’t have to talk to or deal with the African American voters.” Well, needless to say this kind of bull gets my blood boiling!

When are the fear and hate monger leaders of political groups of all sides going to stop using race as a tactic to keep their so-called ‘African-American base’ and other minority groups under their thumb? When are they going to stop referring to constituents “my people”?

Well, I have news for these so-called leaders. They are not your people! They are free Americans and you need to treat “your people” like free Americans and give them a little respect.

I take offense to anyone playing the race card and presuming every issue is about race. I believe in National Pride and one’s heritage. Everyone should be proud of their heritage!

I hate terms like Africa-American, Latin-American, Asian-American or any such reference to their nationality. I have a trace of Cherokee blood, but I do not go around saying I am a Native American. I am an American!

I wish everyone would just believe in and practice the belief of “One country under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Truth is, I am proud to be called a South Carolinian. I am proud to face the whole world and boldly say, “I am a free American!

Bill Pickle is a regular columnist for The Standard and host of In the Pickle Barrel weekdays.