Genius of the Week: Senator George Allen and his Macaca Foul

Worse than a politician’s racist gaffe is the charade he acts out immediately afterward to show exactly how not racist he really is.

A week ago, while campaigning for re-election in the southwest corner of his state, Senator George Allen of Virginia picked out one of the lone people of color in a room, a 20-year-old Indian guy, and said, “This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt. Macaca or whatever his name is. He’s with my opponent, he’s following us around everywhere.”

Macaca? Those of us not so versed in derogatory slang find were lost. The term is listed in neither Webster’s nor the Oxford American Dictionary. Apparently it’s derived from the word “macaque,” which means monkey.

Unabashed, Allen went on, “So welcome, let’s give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America, and the real world of Virginia.”

Allen was, at least until this week, a possible Republican candidate for the 2008 presidential ticket. So, to save face, and here’s where the last nail goes in the coffin, on Wednesday the Senator corralled 20 Indian Americans into a Ritz Carlton conference room and apologized. Don’t politicians realize that just makes it worse?

Genius.

Comments

[Frances]

The "Indian" you spoke of is 100% American actually. Mr. Sidarth was born and raised in Virginia. Don't chastise one racist while being one yourself. Just a thought!
~F

[YouTube clip of George Allen]

well, I'm not sure what 100% American means and I don't know what relevance where you were born and raised was is to your ethnicity but the man in question, while not Indian, is dark-skinnededed enough for George Allen to call this guy (an opponent's supporter) a "macaca" and it sounds nothing nice. anyway, I heard the guy was 1/2 french-tunisian or something.

[Ramish Da' Souza]

And to think that I once voted republican. Did so for several years during my 20's. Even belonged to several activists groups which embraced and promoted all things "Christian and conservative." With time, it was easy to look through the vails of hypocrisy. Mostly white, 100% Christian, most possesed by a mental stranglehold in which they could do no wrong; in which all their answers and solutions were the only true and correct ones. External points of view were unwelcomed or unworthy of consideration.

As time passed, overtly condescending comments were made by some. Comments which afforded little room for the expression of cultural differences, or experiences external to this country. Our duty - as non-anglos - was to embrace the "stars and bars" and their rendition (and excuses) of U.S. history, and it's providential calling on the world's stage. This was akin to saying, "it's our way, or the highway, because our path is right, and all others are wrong!"

Now I am a middle aged person. Years of life have given me a wealth of experience. Every time I hear of the doings of people like Senator Allen, I am swiftly taken back to my 20's. I am reminded that there will always be people who sincerely believe they are somehow better than others on account of their race, cultural background, beliefs, or convictions.

It is no wonder why the majority of the world has taken a stand against this country and its people.

The vails have been removed!