Nation of Cowards?!

A few days ago, our newly appointed U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, stated that we are a "Nation of cowards."

Wow.

Wait a second... did he? why?

That was my first reaction, as I hadn't heard it in full context - only after as it was torn apart by my lovable pundits on FoxNews (i'm only partially kidding.) The statement was in reaction to his perception of our national inability to speak of race. Our American culture knows of it, however, in its diservice of our cultural progression, we do not speak of it. Now, how overgeneralized this viewpoint is I believe is subject upon that of an ear's owner. We speak volumes but in closed sections, that is not to say we don't speak of race - we just don't speak too extensively of it. I also find that my disagreement with such a bold statement is partially unworthy because I have found that those who do speak of racism are discussed in groups that have little to no dicriminatory histories relative to those who keep their lips tight. Those of us who need most to vocalize their inner dialogue are those who more often than not, have experiential circumstances that hinder the progression of equality. I use "equality" in the term = everything to everyone, nothing to no one. We are just as we are. No better, no different. There's no word in Webster's Dictionary, nor in our dominering slang that can express such a meaning.

As bothered as I am by Holder's comments - I think it sparks a significant discussion among those who need to speak most. I can write about this topic for hours on end going off on tangents about past experiences, implications, education, igonorance, and so on. But that's not going to help us - we as a progressive society need those who restrain themselves to speak. Getting those individuals to that point, is one that I cannot answer in a blog post. It certainly wouldn't seem too frank for an Attorney General to call me a coward.