A Courageous Teen from the Land of Palin Speaks Out

Days in Alaska politics tend to focus on things like Troopergate, The Executive Branch Ethics Act, the endless and ongoing vote count in Alaska, the corruption and conviction of Alaska politicians and the latest comings and goings of our Governor. So, when something like this lands softly in my inbox, it stops me in my tracks. This is part of an essay written by a self-described "Caucasian high school girl" named Waverli Rainey who lives in Palmer, Alaska. Palmer is the little town that sits right next to Wasilla.

Nov. 4 was a momentous moment for me. I went to the Wasilla Sports Complex for what was called a community event. We were told it was non-partisan because it's a city building. However, once inside, it seemed as if it was a Republican-only event. Despite this, we stayed. Although I am too young to vote, I sat at the Sports Complex to see who would be the new president. I felt joy as I saw Sen. Barack Obama's electoral points grow and grow. I clapped for and was impressed by Senator McCain's graceful speech and his call for unity and support for the new president-elect.

I anxiously awaited what Present-elect Obama would say. Between speeches, a live band played music. However, when President-elect Obama began to speak, those running the event had to be asked to have the band stop so we could hear him speak. Eventually, they stopped playing, but we missed the beginning of the speech. Then half way through this historic speech, former Mayor Keller turned down the audio of President-elect Obama and put on a call from Governor Palin. I certainly understand the desire of Valley residents to hear from the governor, but if this was a non-partisan event, I feel that interrupting the next president was disrespectful. I also feel it did not represent the coming together of America that Senator McCain had only moments before asked his supporters to do.

The event was supposed to be for all parties, for all people, but it didn't feel like it. I was shocked and offended. The event was supposed to be for supporters of Senators Obama and McCain and no one paid respect to President-elect Obama's historic moment. Finally, another step toward complete equality and it seemed no one cared.

So the next day I borrowed my mother's Obama shirt and walked into school wearing my pride on my chest. Finally the campaign was over and I was actively supporting our new president, even though I knew I would be vastly out numbered at school. I expected complaints and qualms about the new president, but I was not prepared for the flat-out racist remarks said openly in the halls and classrooms. I was appalled. While I sat at my desk trying to do my work I could hear my fellow classmates:

"I think we should kill Obama," one said.

"I hope someone comes up and shoots him in the head," another would say.

"I hate Obama ... he's black."

On went the racist words for the full 80 minutes of that class. Angered, I began to think of the injustice of it all and the ignorance of the students I was surrounded by. I wondered where they learned to be so hateful, and I wondered why the teacher never stepped in - why no adult, no student, including myself, had the guts to cut in and say it was not OK. Because it's never OK for intolerance. It is never OK to cut someone down and dehumanize them because they do not look like you, or think like you, or talk like you, or worship the way you do.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

All men are created equal. All men. That does not mean only if you're the same color as me, think like me, talk like me, or worship who or how I do. It means regardless of age, gender, race, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion - we all have the right to life, liberty and happiness. Guilt does not follow race. All Arab-Americans are not Muslim extremists; being Arab-American simply means their family came from a certain part of the world. All Asian-Americans are not all like Kim Il-sung; Asian-Americans come from countries like China, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore and they are not all the same. All African-Americans are not guilty of the genocide seen in places like Rwanda and Kenya.

If we were all guilty of the sins of our race, then what am I -- a Caucasian high school sophomore from Palmer, Alaska -- guilty of? Am I guilty of stealing land from their Native owners? Am I guilty of enslaving Africans? Am I guilty of the slaughter of entire races of people? Am I guilty of imprisoning Chinese and Japanese in American interment camps?

As a Causation high school girl, it's easy to forget things like in America you wear a color -- often called black, or white, or yellow, or red, or brown. We do not pick our name or race -- we're not chameleons who can change color at will, it's how we're born and raised. Being African-American, or Latino, or Asian-American, or Native American, or Alaska Native, or Arab-American is not a crime. Being Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, or agnostic is not a crime. Wearing a burqa on your head, or glasses on your face, or studying all views of the world and seeing the flaws of all governments is not a crime.

Sometimes I think of a place where all of our languages are mashed together, singing of our own multi-heritage pride; the pride of a truly unified America. A place where we can be proud of our accents because this is how American English sounds, too. A place where there is no more White Power! or Black Power! Where it's American Power! Or better yet, where it's Human Power! A place that proudly conjures images of colonists throwing tea into a harbor, Martin Luther King Jr. standing on the steps of Lincoln Memorial, and immigrants working hard to achieve their American dream all at the same time. We are the story of our culture and colors and I'd like us all to take pride in it.

If ignorance and intolerance and bigotry is our past, then Waverli Rainey and young people like her are surely our future. And we're going to be OK.

To read the entire article in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, and leave a note of support for Waverli, click HERE.

Comments

[AKStorm]

Some of the more recent posts on the original paper's site and others are getting more negative. If you've not checked out the story or if you've not posted some encouragement, do it now. Also that Wasilla paper has now done a piece on the author of this Op-Ed. Check it out: http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/11/23/local_news/doc4928d32667913742173357.txt

[Pupadup4oBama]

what a thoughtful, eloquent and beautifully written note from an obviously bright and articulate teen. I commend this young woman for her bravery - and that it was - to wear the shirt and hear those offensive comments.
If she can reach ONE student or teacher in that school - she's done a good deed.

[clamperken]

I fully agree. This young lady is a credit to her family, school and community. I certainly hope Sarah Palin recieves a copy of Miss Raineys' letter. She could learn alot from this intelligent high school student as could the racist classmates she overheard. It's high time we come to realize that this isn't a " White America " It is the UNITED STATES of AMERICA !!!!!!!

For the record I am a 51 year old white man.

[TRYKER]

What a sneaky underhanded tactic...Sarah Palin calling in right at the time of Obama's speech, so she could pre-empt him.
She knows dirty!

After a few years of Obama's admin, I fully expect this country to be more united than in many years. I expect he will address this divisiveness and start a dialog and educate and inform.
The ignorance that pervades the country was cultivated by the Bush admin, when added to the fear he tried to rule by and the hate he drummed up, we have a stew that has rotted...time to puke.
Thank heavens we have a new start and a new way, things will be more human and humane and we'll work for it.
Bless the young lady that knows right from wrong and has the spirit to write about this, she is the next level of leaders , casting dark shadows on Sarah Palin-types.

[hip dibler]

there's always alot of fear associated with ignorance, that's why it's so vocal, trying to find like minds that it can cower with.

[picard922]

AK Muckraker is a terrific blog. I read it daily.

[Hemkit]

I think Waverli is a minority; one of the few young people who do care about our country and the direction it's headed in. She said herself that she was shocked by the outright racism and violence spoken in her school by students about the PE. I think bigotry and racism and intolerance is very much our present and future UNLESS young people like Waverli are given a forum to speak and help bring change. Very well written and thought out essay, Waverli. Please don't be afraid to speak your mind.

[clamperken]

Hemkit,
I think you are wrong about the new younger generation. I think for the most part they are more politcally savvy than I was when I was in high school. That was the 70s before mass media and the internet. Now young people can do instant fact checks to seperate biased from unbiased statements. This past election saw millions of new , young, first time voters go to the polls. This was a major reason President Elect Obama won. I only see this base of young voters growing as they become more educated and interested in the political process. We owe a debt of thanks to this young woman and the many more like her. Thanks Miss Rainey. You do our country a great service.

[RochelleM]

I speak as a graduate of Wasilla High School ('86) and a survivor of small town politics and pressure. Waverli is to be commended, supported and cheered. I know that for all the bigoted and small-minded people of Wasilla/Palmer/Alaska/Anywhere USA, there are also many small-town folks of all ages and backgrounds who are tolerant, wise, loving people. Those voices need to be heard far more often! So much of our dialogue is negative and hate-filled (I'm talking to you, Hannity/Coulter etc.) and I would love to see many more articles like Waverli's. People learn to hate from their environment, and if we introduce more enlightened discourse to the media, it will reach people - even young people from Palmer, Alaska. For you, Waverli, for every blogger out there, for everyone who wants to further both the cause of Obama as well as The Dream for Amercia which is all about peace, freedom, tolerance,. acceptance - keep writing about what your are FOR! We already have a lot of noise around what people are against - let's push our positive messages every time we encounter ignorance and bigotry.

[DeniseD]

This girl reminds me of my daughters, especially my 15 year old.

Unfortunately, my ex-husband, her father is a racist bigot, and so is his new wife and her kids. My daughter was visiting them last weekend and they started slinging racial slurs at Obama. They all knew that my daughter supported Obama for President, even though she is too young to vote. She told me about how she stopped them from talking and said, "That's racist. I don't have to listen to this.", and she left the room.

Needless to say, I am very proud of her. I am glad that her father has not had much influence in her life. She is turning into a wonderful young woman.

[Pupadup4oBama]

You've done a great job, Mom - much to be proud of...:).
I feel sorry for her step-siblings.

[livesimply]

Thanks, Waverli! Let's all hope you represent the face of the future. Regardless of one's party, fairness and equality are our greatest values.

[Figerre]

WOW! Every time I hear someone put down young people - I direct them to RED DAWN, and tell them to watch the movie and then tell me that our young people are too self-absorbed to look at the world around them.

What a magnificent, wonderful human being! How proud her family must be that they did a wonderful job raising a wonderful young person!

[Hemkit]

Patrick Swayze was hardly a young person in that movie...he was 32 when it came out...

[wildflowermaven]

I'm so sad Waverli missed the joy and general euphoria so prevalent in other parts of the country after Obama's win. Its like the world took on a rosy glow. But sometimes adversity breeds strength, certainly this is evident in her essay. And shame on those teachers who let the students say nasty things about the President-Elect--wrong no matter who was elected.

[hopefulinpa]

It is typical Republican division. Separate the people and never listen to us because we speak with forked tongue. I will never vote Republican ever.

[BassMent]

Be sure and click the link to the Mat-Su Valley paper and read the comments that have been left for this courageous young women. If I were her dad I would be mighty proud.

[ladycubsfan]

Always happy to read AKMuckraker's articles here as well as at Mudflats. Waverli, keep up the good fight. We will prevail through enlightenment. I also agree with the above poster that threats against our new president need to be reported. We have to send the message that this won't be tolerated and we need to do it NOW, before things get more out of control.

[cmilburn]

This is what a leader sounds like. Somebody send this to President-elect Obama.