Derrion Albert was a 16 year old honor student in a Chicago public school. The operative words in the latter sentence are: 

• Was,
• Honor Student,
• And Public School

“WAS”

On September 24th, 2009, Derrion was beaten to death by rival gangs as he tried to make his way home. He was said to be an innocent bystander caught up in a violent melee that broke out near the ironically named Agape Community Center in Chicago . . . Agape, by the way is the Greek term for the highest form of love, the love of God. Derrion was beaten with a railroad tie, repeatedly, and his head was stomped as he lay helpless on the ground. Derrion at the age of 16 went from “is” to “was” in terms of this earthly life. A grave evil, committed right outside of a community center named for boundless, unconditional, self-sacrificing, Divine Love.

“HONOR STUDENT”

Derrion was probably referred to as an “Oreo.” It’s a more modern day term for an Uncle Tom. That is, someone who’s black on the outside, but white on the inside. Other cultures too have similar terms. Asians sometimes refer to certain other Asians as “Bananas” . . . yellow on the outside, but white on the inside. They wield this cultural insult when a fellow Asian is “acting” white. However, the contexts between the usage of “Oreo” and “Banana” are drastically different . . . and the difference is drastically telling. Often times, an Asian who is tagged as a “Banana” by a fellow Asian is caught displaying the worst traits of Western Culture whilst ignoring the mores of traditional Asian culture. Perhaps a fellow labeled a “Banana” may have been engaged in rebellious and rude behavior toward his parents.

In the case of the term “Oreo”, the context is entirely different. An “Oreo” is often someone who is caught displaying, not the worst elements of Western, white culture, but the best, most beneficial and ennobling elements. For example, status as an honor student is usually transgression enough to be labeled an “Oreo.” For the hard work, the discipline, and the eager pursuit of knowledge, a black honor student is rewarded with the equivalent of being called a race-traitor.

It’s difficult at this point to say with certainty whether or not Derrion Albert was targeted for his clean cut lifestyle (apparently not a member of a gang, got good grades, was simply on his way home, etc.), but it’s certainly and sadly not outside the realm of very probable possibilities. In Derrion’s short life, he had likely been referred to as an “Oreo”, a Benedict Arnold to his own race. That’s a tough badge to be saddled with, especially for simply and only pursuing what is objectively good.

“PUBLIC SCHOOL”

Barack Obama would greatly like to expand the domain of public schools. He supports expanding the length of the school year or the school day. Obama also opposes vouchers; he allowed the Washington D.C. voucher program to die on his watch (actions speak much, much louder than words).

Public schools are a system in crisis. Derrion is the unfortunate student and son of a grieving mother who demonstrates, with a passion of a thousand burning suns, the utter futility of a public school monopoly. If vouchers were the established law of the land, would it be possible that Derrion would be alive today, fearlessly attending the school of his and his mom’s choice, surrounded not by gangs taunting him with the “Oreo” insult, but by supportive people (fellow students included) who praise his initiative and hard work? Dare I say . . . and say so with great confidence . . . that it would not only be possible, but also probable.

Is it not also an indictment of the highest order that the Chicago Public School System bears the horrendous dishonor of losing 34 students in 2008-09 to violent deaths? There were also 290 incidences of shootings recorded in that same academic year. Per capita, it’s safer to dress your kid up as Uncle Sam and send him for a stroll in Bagdad than it is for you to entrust him to the Chicago Public Schools. And, liberals/socialists, like Obama, have the colossal gall to tell you the solution is more investment in the public school monopoly! Yes, up is down, day is night, and black is white in the bizzaro age of Obama.

CONCLUSION

September 24, 2009 was a sad day. We lost Derrion Albert. His mother grieves in an abyss of sorrow. May Derrion Albert be at peace in the Kingdom of Heaven, in the company of the saints and angels, enjoying at this very moment the beatific vision of God. And, may his grieving mother be comforted in the arms of our Savior.

Finally, may our republic step back from the precipice that Obama is driving us toward with gale force winds of socialistic change.