One thing's clear, uncertainty's in America's future

It�s been called by many names: a fiasco, a blunder, a mess, even a travesty. The Gore/Bush stalemate in their race for the highest position in the land has caused anxiety in the usually proud, no, arrogant, psyche of the American population.

This country mockingly refers to the electoral process, or lack thereof, in developing countries as Banana Republics, an underhanded way of voicing a racist philosophy that people with pigmentation can�t run efficient government and that their people are deprived of "democracy".

Well, the current catastrophe presents an occasion for those afar to take a swing at the big bully as headlines and commentary around the globe has called attention to the latest Banana Republic.

Never wanting to show its vulnerability and imply that all is not well with the "last superpower," politicos are quick to point out that the Florida holdup gives Americans the opportunity to show the world "how democracy works" as they hold their collective breath hoping that civility won�t go out the window and news cameras show the world white folks, and some blacks, throwing barbs and fists at each other on the streets of Palm Beach and Miami.

But the fact remains that the American psyche has been jolted. It has been shamed, again, in the face of the world. This stalemate has the potential of lasting into January when the next president is supposed to be inaugurated. Not having a declared victor by Jan. 20 would be an unprecedented event, further demonstrating that at the dawn of the new millennium, which begins in 2001, America stands in a valley of indecision, strongly divided.

Considered that Vice President Al Gore represented a party and administration that superficially has steered the country into growing economy, relative peace on the foreign frontier, and minor hiccups with regard to domestic policy (please don�t include the Monica Lewinsky affair). Yet the country was clearly against the continuation of this administration�s policies, as demonstrated by the strong white vote against Gore. The black vote is the only reason Gore is alive in this presidential race.

Many have blamed the vote on such things as Mr. Clinton�s baggage and Mr. Gore�s campaign strategy of totally distancing himself from Clinton, but such a strong white vote for Bush, and a potential complete change in the direction of the country, only demonstrates that the policies of the Clinton administration toward blacks, as cunningly deceptive as they are, can no longer be tolerated by the whites of this country. They are tired of the window dressing appointments of Mr. Clinton, and if his policies were to continue, the Republicans would have to unleash from captivity Clinton�s black nominees to federal court judgeships.

The politicians know that when the economy takes a turn downward, the illusions of black progress and the hidden numbers of the black unemployed will come forward big time. Then the tense racial anxieties will emerge to the forefront once again as they always do in stringent economic times. Especially since the black community has made no real economic advancement that would sustain us as a community when times get rough.

But undoubtedly the other aspect of this election that drove conservative white males, in particular, to the poles for Bush is the Sen. Joe Lieberman factor.

Several months back, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan raised the most pertinent question concerning this election: Is America ready for a Jewish president that is a heartbeat away from being the President of the United States of America?

The answer is apparently not. Neither has white America decided to open up for blacks and others who have been oppressed in this country the avenues that would bring them the reality of the promise of this land.

Florida represents the manifestation of the deep divisions in this country that can shake it to its foundation.