Well, I do not generally agree that "this country is racist." There are many thoughts I have of this:

1.) I guess the common belief is that Europe is less racist or something, but I'm convinced they are certainly more racist. Russia has African college students constantly being violently assaulted, and the "better" Europe has cases of futbol fans throwing banana peels at black players (http://youtube.com/watch?v=jwpO-nnFY9g). I guess that whole thing about sports being the true field of equality does not always hold true in Europe... I mean, not since perhaps the 60's has anything like that happened in the U.S. So, relatively, keeping things in perspective, we are not THAT racist.

2.) What is "true" racism? I think it's the unconditional belief that another person's race automatically disqualifies them from achieving a certain standard (say, like that of another race). Everyone, even those who are vehemently opposed to Obama, admit (at least to themselves, probably) that Obama is a capable guy. Perhaps not capable in the manner that they'd prefer, but capable in the traditional sense that he's the rare person someone that can accomplish just about anything that he sets his mind to, and one that has done it throughout his life... And so when we have "racist" comments about him, we have to wonder if they are truly "racist" as I have defined them, or simply a bitter and emotional reactionary response that is rooted, perhaps, in a distate for hip-hop culture, a dislike for some black politicians (does anyone really like Al Sharpton), a belief in "black culture is a victim culture" thing, occurences (real or perceived) of black racism etc. I would not call this TRUE racism, but rather a strong dislike for another culture. It is a a culture clash more than it is "racism". I think many white people in this country simply hate and despise living alongside a black CULTURE, and some of this slander (most of it, in my opinion) is a result of that. This, of course, is also disgraceful and unacceptable, but the fact that it is not traditional "racism" is a positive because while Obama cannot change his skin color (well, we won't go there Michael Jackson), he CAN change white perceptions about black culture.

3.) Remember, again, racism is a strong word. First of all, most people who are wary of black culture seem to be Republicans, and since Obama is a Democrat, they need to write something negative about him... If he was white, they would also write something negative, but if he is black, what easier way is there than to attack the black culture that he has no choice but to represent (meaning, he does not come from rap and hip-hop, but he is still their de facto public spokesperson at this time). The U.S. before the Civil Rights movement is racism, Jews in concentration camps is racism, Sudan is racism (in part)... The things spewed towards Obama do not come close to this.

4.) With that said, yes, we do have a history of racism (as do most countries, whether they owned slaves or directed the slave trade to their colonies), and yes, we do still have blatantly racist people... But all the Republicans voting for McCain are not racist, and even those who slander him like this are not necessarily "racist" in the purest definition.

And with that said, I WILL be voting for Obama, and I do "get it" (I dated an amazing black girl in my high school years and learned some things about race relations, at least in my view) and I also am sensitive towards slander such as Obama has been the recieving, but in the name of objectivity, I do not feel that our country, overall, is a racist country. I know a lot of people, white and black, and from my experiences and interactions, I have seen that when it comes down to it, a decent number of people are ignorant, but not that many are "racist."