Get News & Views Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Obama Speech Aims to End Race Row with Bold Plea for Harmony
PHILADELPHIA — In a breathtaking speech, delivered before a backdrop of American flags, Barack Obama attempted yesterday to lance the boil of the ugly racial row that threatens to destroy his campaign for the presidency. Delivering what one commentator described as the most personal and extensive discussion of the legacy of slavery made by any major American politician in memory, he said it was time for Americans to "move beyond some of our old racial wounds".
Commentators were quick to describe the unconventional speech, which Obama finished writing at 3am yesterday, as the most audacious and politically risky gambit of his career.
Saying he was "married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners - an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters," he implicitly rebuked those who question his wife Michelle's patriotism, after she recently said "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country".
Mr Obama said: "I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live," he said, "I will never forget that in no other country on earth is my story even possible."
Speaking near the spot where the US Declaration of Independence was written in the spring of 1787, Mr Obama took his theme from that iconic document, saying he wanted to transform the divisiveness of the race row into a quest for "a more perfect union".
In so doing, he unambiguously condemned the racially incendiary remarks of his Chicago pastor, the Rev Jeremiah Wright, saying they were "not only wrong, but divisive; divisive at a time when we need unity".
Snippets of some sermons are being endlessly looped on American television and on YouTube, showing Mr Wright describing the US as a racist country with a murderous foreign policy and a corrupt government.
The two most damaging video clips show Mr Wright claiming that the US brought the 9/11 attacks on itself and that blacks should sing "God Damn" not "God Bless America".
Mr Obama, frequently interrupted by applause, provided his most complete explanation of his long association with Mr Wright, the pastor who married him and baptised his children, despite his fiery rhetoric. "Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
"Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed."
But even as he condemned the remarks of his friend and spiritual adviser, the Illinois senator delivered some home truths about race relations in America.
Throughout the election Mr Obama has tried to avoid embroiling his campaign in America's fractious racial debate, despite the efforts of his opponents to do so. In South Carolina at the beginning of the year, Bill Clinton was widely criticised for casting Obama as no more than a black candidate, popular in a state with a heavily black electorate but not a serious contender for the presidency.
And, earlier this month, Geraldine Ferraro, the 1984 Vice-Presidential nominee, was forced to leave Clinton's finance committee after saying that Obama was front-runner because as a black man he was enjoying political favouritism.
But yesterday - facing the Wright furore deemed by some advisers to be the greatest challenge of his candidacy for the presidency - Mr Obama tackled the issue of racial politics head on, an approach normally guaranteed to clear a room or destroy a budding political career.
"I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork," he said, adding that "race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now." As the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas, Mr Obama has personally juggled racial divisions and seen first-hand that they can be overcome. "I can no more disown him [Wright] than I can disown my white grandmother ... a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
Speaking of America's "racial stalemate", he said: "I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds," he said. He talked about the anger among African-Africans that could be heard at the barbers or the beauty parlour, a hangover from the days of segregation. But he was also swift to acknowledge what he called "the resentments of white Americans" that should not be dismissed as misguided or racist.
The complexities of race were something the United States had not yet made perfect, Mr Obama said. "And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care or education or the need to find good jobs for every American."
He expressed exasperation with the media for scouring every exit poll during the tight Democratic race for signs of racial polarisation when his campaign message of unity had led to commanding victories in overwhelmingly white states. The election had recently taken on, what he said was "a particularly divisive turn", which was a political risk to his campaign ahead of the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April where white votes will play a key role.
"We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathise with his most offensive words," he said. "We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
"That is one option," Mr Obama said. "Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time'."
For rolling comment on the US election visit: independent.co.uk/campaign08 Search Query: Independent.co.uk The Web Go Advanced search
©independent.co.uk
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
120 Comments so far
Show AllI apologize if someone has already said this--but in any case, I think it is worth saying again--
In answer to the question "Why would Obama sit in that church and listen to this preacher he disagreed with?"
--Maybe a church of 8,000 members has more than one preacher and more than one service, so maybe Rev. Wright wasn't the only teacher.
--Maybe Rev. Wright had a lot of good things to say as well.
--Maybe Rev. Wright was not wrong in his thinking, but wrong only in his delivery, so it would be possible to glean something good from his words.
--Maybe Obama honed his ability to see through the lies and biases rampant in the political world, and learned how to effectively heal that kind of polarizing thinking precisely because he was exposed to Rev. Wright's extremism.
--Maybe Obama is REALLY a secret Christian, and believes that we can love the sinner AND hate the sin-- like Jesus told us to.
--Maybe Jesus did the same thing when he stayed with Judaism in spite of its corruption.
--Maybe we all do the same thing when our preachers, priests and rabbis tell us to hate gays or bomb abortion clinics, or that if we marry unbelievers our children are bastards. Do we listen to them? Maybe not. Do we leave the church? I hope not. Churches are full of fallen people. That's what churches are for.
Hi ~MAGGIE~, Even if Obama is no longer assigned to his side, he still supports Liberman's Mid East policies, in spit of his campaign speeches. Check out his votes and what he has said in repsect to the Bush policies on Iraq, Iran and Afganastan and what he has said about Joe Liberman and his stands on those very important issues during the past two years.
I have always said I believe Obama is a fine man, ___ always. I have always said I don't believe his campaign speeches are in line with his votes, because they are not. By saying that, I have been attacked by many here and accused of being a Hillary lover etc. Which I am not. I have also stated repeatedly, that I intend to vote for whichever of them is the Demo candidate.
You berate me for my final paragraphs of my first blog. __ Why? __ I questioned Obama's words, they were spoken by HIM. I question them because they don't make sense to ME. I am not attacking him, or saying he lied for I don't know that he did. But if a person is a close friend of another and has been for twenty years and states he never heard the person speak the way in private, that he does in his church sermons, it just does not make good sense to me.
I'm not sayng anything nasty about Obama by stating the rather obvious. It's a bit like someone saying they smoked weed for twenty years, but they never inhaled. Perhaps you would reply to that issue and enlighten me if you agree that everything he said in his speech was credible. That was the only thing he said I disagreed with. But it is an important thing fo rone who wishes to lead our country. ___ Thank you.____Kem.
You got a lot of MAYBES there ~MY2CENTS~. MAYBE the dog would have caught the rabbit if he hadn't stopped to poop.
If I ever attended a chuch service and the preacher was preaching hate, I would walk out, FOREVER. Any preacher could address the racial problems we STILL have in abundance in America, without preaching hateful comments. This guy has been doing that off and on for over 20 years. What the white race has done to the black race here is deplorable, but there are two sides to every coin and it's a two way issue now. We are all the same, every human on this God's Earth and we must do as Obama suggested in his wonderful speech. His suggestions were timely and spoken in a manner which should touch any decent person's soul.
My2sense, as usual, your 2 cents make a lot of sense.
Juliann,
Which current world leaders, in particular, does Hillary "know"? The same ones she 'met' and then had tea with their wives over a decade ago? How many of those 'wive's' husbands are still in power? Or, do you mean other 'negotiators' she knows, like Sinbad? Or maybe the ones she perhaps met while standing by 'her man' while he gave us NAFTA? Hmmm, not likely, as she is NOW against NAFTA and disavows any complicity in supporting it in the past. But, help me here, she did say she was "part of the administration", when Bill was President. Wow, maybe those big fights she and Bill had over NAFTA contributed to Monica's charms. But wait, does that mean Bill would be "part of the administration", if Hillary were President. Oh my.
It's strange, I listen to Hillary and I hear half truths and outright lies, spin, and divisive language. She mocks the idea of hope. If that is "brilliant", we've 'got a long way to go, baby', as they say.
And one final question for your "well read" and "well educated" "friend";
Exactly, what the hell is "preacher lite"? I'll tell ya, it's divisive labeling that sinks the awareness to a hollow and empty level of stupidity. It's one of those discussion ending epithets that does no one any good. Sounds like something Hillary would have said. Are you sure your friend thought of that label himself?
My2sense,
Thanks. I hope Obama reads your post. It might be his only way out of this. He's got to give people some understanding for why a peace loving guy would stay with his family under such teaching. Frankly, I expect that Obama found some of Rev. Wright's teaching edifying and excellent... if so he's got to point out what it was so that we can understand. Speeches won't do it. We need facts. An answer to the "Why?"
"Maybe Rev. Wright had a lot of good things to say as well."
Yes, I think this might be true. What are they? As of yet, we don't know.
I would be helped if Obama said something like "I ought to have confronted Rev. Wright on the hateful stuff a long time ago. I'm sorry I didn't." Of course, such an admission might doom him politically.
More and more I am reminded of George Clooney's assessment of President Bush to Rolling Stone: The man can't read a room. He has no understanding of the moment whatsoever.
Barack Obama can read a room.
He doesn't just have finesse. He has finesse when undertaking the thorniest subjects. Up to and including times when they threaten his success. This could only serve him well when dealing with world leaders.
And when the moment requires it of him, Obama can knock speeches like this out of the park.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you The Un-Bush.
all politicans have ther shortcomings.....but if obama's speech on race (rev wright) comments does not convince everyone,who SHOULD BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THIS COUNTRY THEN WE ARE ALL DOOMED !!
jlover, you are so right.
RE: - I'm not an Obama fanatic but I was genuinely surprised, it was a really effective and wise speech.
The best one I've ever seen Obama deliver - and one with an important message.
RE: - she KNOWS the world leaders the next president will need to sit down with.
Is this in reference to an earlier debate where Obama said that he would sit down with the "President" of Canada and the President of Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA?
David Wilkins did not know anything about Canada either when he became American Ambassador to Canada - his first meeting was with The Council of the Federation and they filled him in quite nicely. Wilkins once said that what he liked about visiting the Arctic was that no one there mentioned Softwood lumber - no trees!
World Leaders (and their State and Provincial counterparts) will go out of their way to fill Obama in on what their issues and interests are. Obama will listen, and will then do what he thinks is in the best interest of America. This latest speech is the best indication yet what Obama considers to be in the best interest of America - noting the contradictions which exist in every community and every person.
RE: - Reverend Wright's comments shouldn't be the real story, rather John McCain's spiritual adviser Reverend Rod Parsley's should. / John McCain seeked the endorsement of a man who believes America was founded to destory Islam. Why is this not in the news?
The story is not Wright or Madelyn Dunham (Obama's grandmother) but the very likelihood that Ayaan Hirsi Ali is backing McCain.
I am sure, though, that if McCain alludes to Wright, that Obama will find a way of saying that it doesn't matter what Rod Parsley thinks - only what John McCain thinks - all the while drawing comparisons between the two. You know I'm right. :evil
RE: - This story manages to bring to my mind the word "insipid". Now, why is that?
To answer a rhetorical question - because this story seems designed to make the speech less than it is. The entire speech is up on video - anyone here have a link to it?
RE: - I agree, It was a skillful speech that said the right things to defuse the whole brouhaha without sounding like a waffler.
Ok, that was one of the purposes behind the timing of it - but was that really what the speech was about?
Unum Cum Virtute Multorum
(One With the Strength of Many)
RE: - I also wish Obam could have left out the "stalwart ally Israel" and "it's all caused by Islamic extremism" remarks. Surely he must understand the rage of someone who has had their land robbed, home bulldozed, and family members killed (or does he?)
Might as well provide us with the quote so we can judge for ourselves. Was Obama trying to dispel the notion of anti-semiticism or was he saying that Palestinian children are fair game? That was the issue you just brought up.
RE: - Either Obama believes what he says he does now… or he believes what Rev. Wright teaches on these things, and yet is not saying so.
Or Obama was so used to hearing racism directed at both parts of himself, that he really and truly doesn't pay attention to it any more. My guess is that Obama figured that grandma's and reverend's comments together were the lesson in the way either separately wouldn't be. The other lesson was that neither his grandmother's nor his reverend's inappropriateness preventing them from loving the other - only from trusting the other.
Was reading Shock Doctrine and there was a pristine hospital in New Orleans which did not take black or poor patients. It was fairly empty and, because of that, service was quick. In this case, racism prevented the doctor in the hospital from treating the poor or those who administrated the hospital from opening up it's doors to save lives.
To work together, though, we have to trust the other.
>Whatever white America's sins against dark-skinned people within our borders or against other nations, the victims of 9/11 did not deserve to die for them, any more than Iraqis have deserved to die for Saddam Hussein.<
Did two million Vietnamese civilians deserve to die during our war on Vietnam? We dropped a greater tonnage of bombs on that nation then all the air forces in World War II dropped combined. What about the activists, intellectuals and union organizers who "disappeared" in the various countries whose governments we overthrew and replaced with friendly right-wing dictatorships? My point is that when you use violence to achieve your ends, particularly against nations who have never threatened you in the first place, you can't really criticize others who also find it a useful tool. As a Christian preacher, it's Wright's job to point out the log in his own society's eye, rather than the speck in Osama bin Laden's.
Wow, the dog fight is really on. Or, maybe it's just politics as usual.
Anyway, what really bothers me is that I have enough doubt about all three remaining candidates to be seriously worried. The first strike against all three is that they are either Democrats or Republicans - which makes them Corpocrats. Another is that they are either short on experience, or long on the wrong kind of experience. Finally, and most importantly, is that they are all out of their minds for wanting to be president in the first place. What kind of person would want that job?
So, I'm worried about their experience and realize that none of the three candidates is the embodiment of Christ, Albert Schweitzer, or Mother Theresa. What's a poor slob to do? This poor slob is doing what he's always done: I'm whittling the field down by a process of elimination.
John McCain is...well, John McCain. "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb bomb Iran" is closer to his persona than he cares to admit. Hillary Clinton, is a Clinton. We have had a dynasty of Bush's and while dynasties are fun in football, they don't play well in the democratic arena. A vote for Hillary truly is a vote for Bill, and most of us have had enough of Bill. That leaves me with Barack Obama. The same smooth-talking skinny mulatto (who at least admits to inhaling) who seems to be able to draw out a modicum of hope from thousands of young people of all colors and genders. The same man who has little worldly experience, as did many other great leaders who started with one thing that many people seem to lack: Passion.
I am not an Obama-ite any more than I am a Nader-ite or any more than I am a Kucinich-ite. I am merely one poor slob who has whittled down his choice to one, and who realizes that sometimes all we're left with is a choice. Sometimes, what we get is what we have.
That is not what I wrote Riverman. But not surprised to see you twist my words, that's your style.
You have no idea of how pleased I am that a person such as you disagrees with everything I ever wrote here.
Wright is right in his comments. It's the corporate media that should be drawn over the coals.
Lord Trigo ... you say it like it is mah man. Unfortunately Obama has a snowballs chance in hell of making it to the top. There is no way an average white man in the USA will vote for a black man. It has a lot to do with male ego, pride and a host of other male-centric issues. Obama had the courage to not completely disown Wright and thats saying something but after this speech ... forget it ... its like handing him a long rope !! Farewell my brother ... you tried !
The fry job being administered by CNN and others has carried over to PBS. The PBS analysis on McNeil-Leher last night was the least apt, most biased piece I've ever seen on that channel.
If this speech gets negligible air time and doesn't have it's impact completely diminished by the twisted media... I'll be shocked and encouraged.
Wright is right... almost 100%. Obama was deft and moral in his speech.
Regarding his softness on our historical neo-liberalism and unflinching support of Israel, I can almost forgive Obama. After all, where would he be otherwise?
Their control is extreme. Those are the realities of political life here now. Just look at how mildly progressive and centrist Obama is... now compare that with the high warbling, dean screaming the corporate media and Clinton camps are issuing. This isn't a power grab by Clinton... it's THE power refusing to loosen it's stranglehold even ONE IOTA.
gyptian, where do you live that you don't know any average White guys that would vote for Obama?
Or I should ask, where have you been? White guys put him in the lead.
The racial divide, even in Mississippi is completely overblown because 25% of Clinton's white vote there was Limbaugh Republican crossover.
Hell, average White guys from MISSISSIPPI will even vote for him...
I give you Idaho, and THUS, I refute you.
wishful thinking on your part maybe?
Here's a link to the Obama speech.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hisownwords
kathyodat
cranky_chatter i live under a rock .. out here in the left coast ... we have our own mobile republic ... lots of white, black and colored people !! I do agree withyou about Idaho and yeah white democratic males will probably consider Obama after Clinton but in a general election with 'wright-like' smears happening every week they will crush him. I hope you are right but im a friggin cynic.
NOTE that I haven't listened to or viewed the video yet, so I don't know what it says; only knowing that what's quoted below and from the 'about' information for the video tells me that I want to view and [listen] to this recording. If it bears words of the reverend as BBC quoted (a little) in a very recent article, last week I believe, then yep, I will be interested. Good speaker, and [thinker], the reverend [is]; from what I've gathered so far.
Also note that I have no affiliation with the person or group that posted the video below.
YouTube: "Jeremiah Wright - Obama's mentor - Hate speech" (03:11)
QUOTE:
From: DemocratsHateTheUS
...
About This Video
"Just words?"
-The Obama campaign said in a statement, "Senator Obama is proud of his pastor and his church."
-Mr. Wright, who has long prided himself on criticizing the establishment, said he knew that he may not play well in Mr. Obama's audition for the ultimate establishment job.
"If Barack gets past the primary, he might have to publicly distance himself from me," Mr. Wright said with a shrug. "I said it to Barack personally, and he said yeah, that might have to happen."
-"If you want to understand where Barack gets his feeling and rhetoric from," says the Rev. Jim Wallis, a leader of the religious left, "just look at Jeremiah Wright."
-Obama has said valuing Wright's "day-to-day political advice"
-In 2006 Obama & wife gave $60,307 to charity and the largest single amount of that was to Trinity United Church of Christ for $22,500 (less)
Added: March 13, 2008
END QUOTE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc
Additionally note that I believe it's been reported that Obama has said, contrary to what's quoted above from the video page, that he doesn't rely on Rev. Wright for political advice at all. Iow, there may be some blatant lies in what's quoted above from the video page.
And DemocratsHateTheUS?
Ha ha ha ha ha ....! Well, sure, I'm democrat in terms of being for democracy (NOT the U.S. DParty), and I, as well as any true and therefore unbiased, fair democrats with the same view, have grounds for hating the US, for we're told that the U.S. is a democracy, meaning a real one, while this is a LIE. But putting that "bit" of reality aside, RepublicansAlsoHateTheUS too!
Any questions about that? If so, then see Scott Ritter's article of yesterday.
"Published on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by TruthDig.com
Dinner With Ahmed
by Scott Ritter"
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/18/7738
That SHOULD BE READ by everyone who hasn't yet read it, and irrelevant to the purpose of this post and page. It should be considered a must.
Anyway, and like Tim Wise writes in the CounterPunch article someone posted a link for further above, it's not the words of people like Rev. Wright that are a problem, but the ugly and tragic fact that too many "Americans", i.e., USA'ns, refuse to ADMIT and live up to the TRUTH.
Rev. Wright "blew my mind" with his great words, and they immediately reminded me of great words of Rev. MLK Jr decades ago. This is saying a lot about his words, given I, so far, know very few of them; but assuming he's quite integral, I'll thereupon say that he reminds me of Rev. MLK Jr.
Then comes along monsieur establishment Obama, messing everything up all over [again]. Not fully, but pretty well stated was his speech; however, carefully listening to it, and considering it along with his senatorial track record so far, NO WONDER he can legitimately be referred to as being of or aiming to be of The Establishment.
Elect him, sure, for neither McCain nor Billary should be, but if and when elected, his voters better make sure to not be idle; they're going to need to be energetically active about LEADING him in the right directions.
Reverend Wright is a person of PASSION and compassion, and righteous at that. Obama ... [boring], let's say.
When I heard the news about Rev. Wright I was devasted. I only know too well the injustice that has been taking place within our government. At 18 I was obligated to serve jury duty for a month. Since I was young and curvy officers and the pool officer displayed their worst. I saw money change hands. The jury pool officer used to get his kicks holding out my pool number so that he could sit and look at me. Towards the end of my obligation he actually offered me money for services. This left a impression I would never foget. I knew if I were to ever to get into trouble I better head to Canada without any money.
I understood your reasoning for your initial explanation but I was disappointed for I knew it wasn't the truth. I also understood your reasoning for the denial. You knew there are people that would not be able to understand. To be honest I think the only thing you demonstrated with your speech is that you have the ability to be diplomatic in difficult circumstances. Those that have condemned you for associating with this preacher are going to continue to condemn you for associating with this preacher. Nothing is going to change their mind, as far as they are concerned what was said is treason. They are too self-alienated to understand where you are coming from. They are learning this self-alienation in our public school system. If everyone wasn't so brainwashed you might have been able to get through to them but unfortunately they will continue to live in denial. Students end up graduating being dependant on corporate america and manipulated by the media. It is not going to change Barrak until our public education changes. It is going to take several generations before change can truly start taking place in this country.
I was hoping people would learn from the experiences we have had in the past 7 years, but now I am beginning to fear the cycle will continue and this country will keep gaining at the expense of others until it completely destroys itself inside out. It absolutely breaks my heart this is something my grandson is likely going to have to face in his future.
I am hoping people "want" the change you spoke of in your speech. I don't feel there is much time left before this country is going to get what they "don't want" by continuing the direction this country is going.
After denying that he knew his long-term pastor's rhetoric could be viewed by many as bordering on the incendiary, Obama had to give this speech. It was hardly a mark of courage, but only an act of necessity. Few in this country deny that racism exists. That isn't the issue. What this whole incident points to is Obama's judgment in having a close, 20-year relationship with a pastor who uses his pulpit and position of authority to express his views in terms that many find objectionable. Since Obama has made his judgment and his desire to "heal" divisions his major qualifications for the presidency, this presents a real problem for him.
As to the Harper/NAFTA controversy, Austan Goolsbee, who did meet with Canadian officials, is the chief economic advisor for the Obama 2008 campaign and has been Obama's senior advisor since Obama's Senate run. In that position, he essentially "speaks" for what Obama will do in the Senate and would do as president. Goolsbee is also Senior Economist to the Democratic Leadership Council. Saying that Goolsbee is "not on his staff" is disingenuous. Obama is a centrist, not a populist, and someone who is dedicated to free trade policies. If Hillary is Republican-lite on economic policies, then so is Obama.
"Hillary seems to me to be "Bush Lite". She's corporate, and Obama's the people. Look at the two campaigns. She gets money from lobbyists and PACs, and he gets most of his from over a million small contributors."
Oh, if only this were true.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/09/pacs_and_lobbyists_aided_obamas_rise/
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2006/11/0081275
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/select.asp?Ind=F03
And, after all of this, I would still take Clinton or Obama over McCain. Definitely not my first choices, though.
madcow March 19th, 2008 12:27 pm :
"Obama's the people."
His wording seems to strike a note of authenticity seldom heard from glib politicians. He seems to believe what he says he does; whether he would be able to deliver or enact policies is another matter. But, so far, in my eyes, he's the millennial JFK.
My thoughts on Mr. Obama's speech:
In light of the media-driven furor over comments from some of Mrs. Clinton's supporters and Rev. Wright's words, I was immensely interested in hearing what Mr. Obama had to say. I was impressed by the thoughtful, intelligent and honest way that he discussed his views on race and on Rev. Wright and his inflammatory words. I felt that Mr. Obama showed himself to be a person with a deep understanding of both the issue of race relations in America, and how that issue has evolved throughout our history. He was wise to point out that there are generational as well as experiential differences in the way that Americans view race and racism. My experiences are clearly different than those of my parents and grandparents, and are equally different from those of my daughter. They are obviously different than those of people of color from all generations. This is an inescapable truth, and yet rarely have we heard it expressed in such a frank and articulate manner.
I grew up in Detroit in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, my father served as a police officer during the riots, and we experienced busing first hand. My school chums were both black and white. We eventually left Detroit for northern Michigan. One of my best friends throughout high school, roommate in college and friend for the years since is a white woman that had grown up in northern Michigan. On the few occasions that we discussed racial issues, she expressed a deep fear of the people she called "burr heads," and would sometimes make racial jokes about blacks, hispanics, asians and people from all sorts of ethnicities. I found her fears ludicrous and ignorant, since the number of non-white people she had actually met in her lifetime could be counted on one hand. I found her racist jokes and remarks offensive in the extreme, and I told her so. Yet I loved her dearly and do to this day. Although we are from the same generation, our experiences and understanding of people of other colors are very different, and those differences shaped our views.
Some of the media pundits and posters here at CD wonder why Mr. Obama would not have long ago disavowed himself from Rev. Wright, especially when he uttered comments and opinions that Mr. Obama says he does not share. Folks could wonder the same of me and my friend. The answer is that I know her, and I realize that her prejudices do not reflect the sum of who she is, but rather her world view as shaped by ignorance and her own experiences and upbringing. Although we have disagreed, often vehemently, and will likely never see eye-to-eye on this issue, she has many other qualities I admire and opinions with which I do agree, and I will always cherish her friendship. The people in my life come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, ages and each with their own unique view of the world. I like it that way. Folks with Christian beliefs might do well to recall that Jesus surrounded himself with a group of men and women from all walks of life, some of them with views and opinions he did not share. Perhaps the lesson here is not that it is our duty to spurn those whose views we disagree with, but rather to embrace them for their better qualities and by example hope to show them a better way.
Although I am disappointed to see the primary season take this turn, it does not surprise me. In an election where the three remaining contenders are a white man, a black man and a woman, I suppose it would be naive to think that issues of gender and race would not eventually surface. As Mr. Obama said, what better time for us to take an honest look not only at where we have been as a country, but how far we have come? I am interested in hearing what all the candidates have to say about this issue, as well as the other critical issues facing our people. It is important. It is a festering wound in our common, American experience. But I also remember that I am not voting for Reverend Wright, or Geraldine Ferraro, or Bill Clinton, or Reverend Parsly. I am more concerned about the views of the candidates themselves, and I have to measure what THEY say against what I know of their respective political histories, voting records, platforms, etc., and determine for myself whether what they say is credible.
IMO, it is unfair to take a few statements made by Rev. Wright (awful as they may be) out of thousands of sermons and assume that those divisive words alone present us with a clear picture of the man, his church and all of the people who make up his congregation. It is equally unfair to take one or two statements made by Geraldine Ferraro (awful as they may be) and ignore all the positive words and accomplishments of her years in public life. Were any of us to have every remark we have ever made used as a yardstick to define who we really are, I doubt that any of us would emerge from such scrutiny looking very saint-like. Even less so, were the yardstick to include not only our own words and deeds, but those of all the various people in our lives, both past and present.
If I surrounded myself only with a homogenous group of friends and family who agree with me on everything, my life would be not only extremely boring, it also be very, very lonely.
Lynching is a true and tried american technique when it comes to dealing with blacks. A sort of high-tech lynching if you will. What the Rev. J said was for the most part true. However there are people in high palces who lied and innocent people died.
grumpyoldlady, right on the money. Thanks for posting a thoughful comment. I agree. We all have our "Jeremiah's" in our lives, people who utter hateful words here and there (in their moments of weakness, for the most part), but at the same time have a lot of good and noble within them. I was pleased to see that Obama was able to clearly explain why he disagrees with Mr. Wright's view of the world, while at the same time refusing to reject him as a person. He was both corageous and correct. With this speech, Obama really hit a homerun.
militantliberal,
Rev. Wright _never_ said anyone "deserved" the Sept 11 terrorist actions. This is not what the saying "chickens coming home to roost" means. He said that they were - consequences - of out actions.
"Consequequences." "Deserved." These are two entirely different concepts! The conflation of these two concepts seems to ba a peculiar to USAns, borne of their Puritanical roots.
And, sorry to say, but if one genuinely believes in democracy, than it is certainly arguable that we all bear collective culpability for the actons of our collective leaders. Maybe this is my Catholic upbringing, but I certainly regard my soul as stained with the sins of my fellow citizens and so-called leaders. I have done and can do penance by speaking out and participating in protest actions, cut my oil usage to a bare minimum, but, like all mortal sins the stain will remain.
cicero,
And Rev. Wrights "view of the world" notably US foreign policy is wrong how?
It is "hateful" how?
Those thst call Rev. Wrights sermon "hateful" are clinging to an American-exceptionalist mythology that will be our downfall.
No douby you would also call Rev Kings Riverside Church sermon as "hateful" as well.
Until the US people learn to engage in national honesty and national self-criticism, we do not deserve to be called a "democracy" in any way.
USAn, I wrote 'world' thinking more 'society'. I wasn't referring to the international arena, since obviously no criticism of US foreign policy can be harsh enough.
Here's the excerpt I had in mind (from Obama's speech):
"The profound mistake of Reverend Wright's sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It's that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country - a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old - is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know - what we have seen - is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation."
I know a few Jeremiah's in my immediate surroundings. They may be white, and their racist views may be anti-black rather than anti-white, but in a fundamental way they share the same static view of this country that Obama mentions in his criticism of Jeremiah Wright.
So I'm going to start referring to any person who is stuck in America's tragic past, as a "Jeremiah". You see, I'm always looking for ways to expand my vocabulary.
I believe the foreign policy's are having a direct impact on the domestic; which is why I see this country rotting from the inside out. This country can't keep on supporting these foreign blunders. Yeah sure, the rich are getting richer but at the expense of the middle class and the poor.
Education, health care, economy not to mention the environment or our aging infrastructure is going right down the drain. So perhaps I am a "Jeramiah" stuck in America's tragic past for I have remained financially stagnant my entire life.
What is the answer? Do I move from where I currently live to get away from it. Is that how I help my situation heal?
Oh yeah, where does a disabled person move to have a better quality of life? I am open for any and all suggestions. "Jeremiah" wants out, tired of being stuck in America's tragic past.
Katyodat, thanks for the video!
Iammyself - nodding in agreement.
Riverman101 - Edwards is still the best person for President and don't tarnish his good name by comparing him to Hillary "I see Imaginary People" Clinton. How do you explain away Clinton's response to Michael John Hamdani. Oh yes, I forgot, you can't.
How can you trust Clinton to do right by us (or even right by you) if the polls say the people want blood.
I will leave you with the Official Motto for Greater Winnipeg:
Unum Cum Virtute Multorum
(One With the Strength of Many)
RE: - –Maybe Rev. Wright had a lot of good things to say as well.
Of course! In Obama's words, Wright just gets distracted once in a while. Would you prefer a leader who sees people as either all good or all bad or someone who can see the good and bad in everyone?
RE: - many of these anti obams are people with low logic and keep showing hypocrisy
You were saying the same thing about the pro-Edwards people way back. Go swim with the catfish if you are going to engage in personal attacks and I promise to throw you a minnow.
RE: - Whatever white America's sins against dark-skinned people within our borders or against other nations, the victims of 9/11 did not deserve to die for them,
First of all, all people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds died on 9/11 so don't consider it a crime just against white people. Secondly, more American soldiers have died during the Iraq war than died during the 9/11 attacks. Thirdly, the number of Iraqi civilians who have died since the beginning of the Iraqi war is way off the charts. Forthy, even those Iraqis who hate Hussain's guts figured that they were better off with him in charge than with the Americans in charge - which the Americans should find quite unflattering being called even worse than Saddam.
Finally, you are dealing with organized crime with Bin Laden. Do you think that Canada should bomb the United States just because the States harbors the Mafia and Hells Angels?
RE: - My point is that when you use violence to achieve your ends, particularly against nations who have never threatened you in the first place, you can't really criticize others who also find it a useful tool.
Actually you can, as Bush does over and over again, it is just that you are not credible. Btw - did you see the first 10 minutes of The Hour last night - George was making fun of Bush's speech:
http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1073
RE: - What the white race has done to the black race here is deplorable, but
Where does the "but" come in, Kem!
What Americans have done to the people of Iraq is deplorable.
What your government has done to its soldiers and its veterans is deplorable.
What NAFTA has done to ordinary working people is deplorable.
I see a pattern here.
Blacks, like whites, have been soldiers, and veterans and working folk. You have something in common.
Ok, this is what you meant, basically, I know, but still needed to make the point. Rabbit ducking as dog raises leg.
RE: - When I heard the news about Rev. Wright I was devasted. I only know too well the injustice that has been taking place within our government.
I only heard the clips that were dug up and they seemed fairly reflective of what I know of America and the treatment of blacks - and the comments concerning whites seem tamer to be that what George Jefferson used to spout. The dirt poor white boy may not feel all that privileged, but on the whole, we whites tend to be.
RE: - As to the Harper/NAFTA controversy, Austan Goolsbee, who did meet with Canadian officials, is the chief economic advisor for the Obama 2008 campaign and has been Obama's senior advisor since Obama's Senate run.
We don't have a transcript of what was said. What we have is Goolsbee being approached by those who were trying to get him to say (or come close enough to saying) something that can be used later against Obama. What Goolsbee admits to saying fleetingly was that he was more concerned with Mexico than Canada - which means that what was put in the memo is likely a "convenient misunderstanding" of the conversation. There was no attempt to get Goolsbee to clarify what he meant.
Harper and his department has been caught a few times recently not being completely honest about a variety of issue. It is at the point where, if asked who I believe more out of Harper or Bush, I would have to give the slight edge to Bush.
That said, Obama had two choices: Obama could either distance himself from the NAFTA issue as a means of making NAFTA-gate go away or he can up the risk and jump more whole heartily into the NAFTA issue - which means that he has more to lose if he doesn't deliver.
RE: - Although we have disagreed, often vehemently, and will likely never see eye-to-eye on this issue, she has many other qualities I admire and opinions with which I do agree, and I will always cherish her friendship.
I can see that. A few weeks ago I would not believe that there was anything Jack Layton and Lou Dobbs could agree on.
Jack Layton on Lou Dobbs
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N_MR7tL7tWs
Jack Layton's wife on the topic of Immigration:
NDP challenges immigration changes
TORONTO – NDP Immigration Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) joined with national human right groups to condemn and map out strategies to defeat the Conservative government's sweeping changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. ...
http://www.ndp.ca/page/6291
Move to where MA? I seriously doubt at this time in history, that Americans are very welcome anyplace else. The very rich of course are welcome almost anyplace. I see our V/P Cheney spent the weekend on the leader of Oman's yacht, __ fishing. That's much safer than hunting birds.
The buuutttt, comes in prior to the rest of the sentence Vaudree, you trying to start somethng again? ___Shove it.
Kem, if it were not for my immediate family I would consider Norway.
It seems to me that they are better educated, better health care system and they treat disabled people with some dignity and respect.
For the life of me, I can't figure out why this Jeremiah Wright thing is such a big deal. What's wrong with a little constructive criticism, America? Are you afraid to face it, the horrors we've caused in the world?
John McCain's cozying up the the right wing religous fruitcakes like Hagee is WAY more scary. After all, these guys want to bring on Armagedon NOW! Let loose the nukes! People should be asking McCain if he really believes this nonsense and hold him accountable. And if he believes that Islam is the enemy and that all Muslims should be annihilated. Why is he getting away with this?
cicero,
Your points are correct.
but I would disagree with you, and Obama, on the degree that the concerns of Rev. Wright are "past".
Like "roosting chcikens", there is a word for this - "sweeping it under a rug".
Certainly Wright's observations on US exceptionalist arogance toward other lands and peoples are not "past", and based on what I see in my home town, his views on domestic racism and poverty are not "past" either.
And, I find this whole "quit your complaining - that was the past" to be a pretty frightening rehtorical tool to quash dissent.
When Obama takes office, I can assume, then, that he will brand demonstrators against the Iraq occupation (which he will be continuing with minor changes) and US imperial foreign policy and it's war machine (which he has no intention on changing) with "quit complaining - you are living in the 1960's"! And, as we all know, there is no quicker way to quash dissent from a bourgeois liberal than to accuse them of being unfashionable.
Drink that Obama kool-aid up, dear liberals! While you engage in your blogospheric-lovefest, we'll be in the streets.
Finally, you are dealing with organized crime with Bin Laden. Do you think that Canada should bomb the United States just because the States harbors the Mafia and Hells Angels?
This is funny but not funny, the people in this country are so naive. I don't think the Mafia exists anymore....I believe there has been a Corporate merge.
USAn, our disagreement may be more in degree than in kind. There's been enough progress on racial issues to justify an embrace of Obama's optimistic outlook. At the same time, we are sufficiently far from perfection to also justify, at least in some moments of hopelessness, screaming like a desperate Jeremiah.
I think Obama is, right now, doing the job he is supposed to do. While acknowledging we have problems, he invites us to join him in taking things to the next level. In the context of an election and the need to attract votes, an optimistic outlook is likely to be more productive.
A few restatements of relevant remarks:
"I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies."
Obama, in the Huffington Post
Then, in his speech:
"But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's [Rev. Wright's]effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country – a view that sees white racism as endemic..."
["Endemic" seems to be a pretty good description of what I see.]
"and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America;..."
[This is just so much rhetoric that says nothing. Even a mass murderer has a lot of right things about them - but the wrong things are doozys!]
" - a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam."
If Obama genuinely believes that this even faintly reflects reality in the Middle East, and Palestine in particular, he is frighteningly off in a fantasy-land.
Well ~BIG STINKY~, Obama thought the reverand's words were appalling, so did the vast majority of Americans, so that's the BIG deal. The preacher's words were not constructive criticism, or an attempt to heal our racial problems. Instead they are the type of words that in-flame hatred and racial discord. Race in American is a two way street now and we ALL have to work to stop prejudice, look to the future, remeber the past and attempt to not allow that to ever happen again. That was what Obama was saying and he said it very well.
Well ~MA~, you may consider Greenland. I see that actually is going to be a greenland now with all of their ice melting. Maybe the Danes will allow home-steading there. It's very quiet there, not horribly polluted and the Northern Light's displays are awesome. Start a cattle ranch, or grow cotton or raise sheep. If ten families settle, someone will start a chuch and pretty soon you'll have an atomc power plant, a drag strip, a McDonalds and a Wal-Mart. ___ Finally, drive by shootings.
"There's been enough progress on racial issues to justify an embrace of Obama's optimistic outlook."
Your remark may be true among the bourgeois circles in which Obama moves.
but here, and now, in 2008, in Pittsburgh,there is overt, flagrant racist discrimination in most of the kinds of jobs and housing that keep most black poeple, particulrly black men, dirt poor, and justifiably embittered - and I doubt Pittsburgh is all that unique.
1. I have seen, first hand, overt discussions among my neighbors, to keep black people from purchasing homes on our street when a house goes on themarket. There are even "good" real estate agents who people know that can trust to keep blacks out of the neighborhood.
but, then showed no ojection to a series of derilict heroin addict white women renting a fled-to-the burb's slumlord's house on the street, causing considerable probelms.
2. On construction projects, I have seen, first hand a complete lockout of blacks from the construction trade unions - even the Laborers International. Such living-wage jobs are inaccesable to them.
3. My brother worked as a cemetary groundskeeper for a couple Catholic cemetaries in the city. The racism, and raciist slurs and jokes among his co-workers was aboslute. No black will be working for the reasonably well-paying and unionized Catholic Cemetary Association anytime soon (yes, they hire protestants). It was ultimately the last straw that led him to emigrate to Canada. He is now gainfully employed as a wage-earner in Toronto.
4. I have seen numerous cases of police stopping and harassing black people for nothing more than walking down the sidewalk - the only way to avoid it is to dress twice as smartly than any white person has to. I have yet to see the police stop any of the thousands of publicly drunk, loud, public-uninating white suburban kids poeple that fill a street near me every Friday and Saturday nght.
5. Black enrollment has visibly plummeted in the the major State Universities I have attended or visited since graduating with my first degree in 1980.
6. There have been a nunber of police killings of unarmed black people - including a 12 year old kid - over the past decade. But never any whites.
7. In a liberal hipster bar on the southern "front of gentrification" in the previously black East Liberty neighborhood I saw an elderly black man ejected from the bar for nothing more than "acting excessively black" (i.e "cutting up" etc...)
I'm out of time for more examples...
USAn , there is no doubt rascism is alive and well. My father told me if I didn't end a relationship of mine the family was going to repudiate me. I repudiated myself from my family. Now that this campaign has gotten heated I hear the rascist slurs "every single day' double since this preacher ordeal has made the press. It is horrible.
RE: - The buuutttt, comes in prior to the rest of the sentence Vaudree
We both know that Kem. It is not that there was anything wrong with what you meant to say. It is just that we should all get out of the habit of putting a "but" there because it makes it look like (though I concede it was definitely not your intention) that we are dismissing that history.
You of all people should know how easy it is to fly off the handle over something that even remotely appears to be a slight!
It is like Israel telling Palestine "Ok, we killed innocent Palestinian children but that was past history, let's be friends" (or the other way around) rather than "There have been enough deaths and it has to end for both our sakes. Let's work together for peace." The former is divisive and dismissive and the latter is both sides looking for common ground to move forward.
RE: - we ALL have to work to stop prejudice, look to the future, remeber the past and attempt to not allow that to ever happen again. That was what Obama was saying and he said it very well.
See, I knew that was what you meant.
Strange that both the Irish and the Ukrainians had Potato famines which basically turned into genocides. The English (in the case of the Irish) and the Russians (in the case of the Ukrainians) refused to let them keep enough potatoes to survive. What were a few dead Ukrainians or Irish when potatoes were selling for a premium price!
And then there is the Chicago School boys of Milton Freeman - which is the true ideology behind all the things we need to remember.
RE: - When Obama takes office, I can assume, then, that he will brand demonstrators against the Iraq occupation (which he will be continuing with minor changes) and US imperial foreign policy and it's war machine (which he has no intention on changing) with "quit complaining
Not if he wants a second term. Obama is no John Edwards, but he's the best we got. Bush may be a liar and a cheat, but he never promised before he was elected to be any different. He said debating Kerry that the US should not be beholden to the UN and actually scored points for that disgusting comment.
RE: - This is funny but not funny, the people in this country are so naive. I don't think the Mafia exists anymore….I believe there has been a Corporate merge.
I know the French Mafia in Quebec still exists.
MA_Matriarch, agree that one thing Bush did was legalize some forms of organized crime and that the line between organized crime and the practices of some corporations were often blurred. Both use schmiergelder to influence the electoral process and conduct business.
RE: -Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country – a view that sees white racism as endemic…" - ["Endemic" seems to be a pretty good description of what I see.]
There was nothing in Obama's speech to indicate that racism, in some shape and form, isn't endemic - he seems to feel that it is endemic from all sides, though.
Though I concede that no politician in their right mind will quit as long as they still have a chance, the Repugs do benefit from a prolonged battle between Clinton and Obama. As long as they (and their supporters) keep fighting each other, neither are going after McCain.
That is how Obama sees racism something that keeps us fighting each other instead of focusing on fighting everything McCain represents - and, despite compassionate conservative image, McCain is the real enemy.
RE: - It was ultimately the last straw that led him to emigrate to Canada. He is now gainfully employed as a wage-earner in Toronto.
Ok, it is not as extreme in Toronto, but it still exists.
"And, sorry to say, but if one genuinely believes in democracy, than it is certainly arguable that we all bear collective culpability for the actons of our collective leaders."
USAn,
I agree, and am doing some of the same things as you to right some of my wrongs. We may see some things differently, but I think our hearts are in the same place. Seems like most of us are having this struggle. It's good to know I'm not alone.
Peace.
Thank you for the lessons ~Vaud~, this KID needs all the help he can get. I write like I speak, that's how it is.