Question, Marc. You say that when Obama talked about “stalwart allies like Israel," his statements were, in your view, just his "perfunctory centrist kowtowing," Do you believe that when Barack Obama talks about Israel and the Middle East, he is just saying what he needs to say to get elected, but in office he will demonstrate pro-Palestinian orientation? If you do believe that, how widespread do you think that view is, either in the general population or in the African American population?
I have a question. Are you saying that you are more comfortable and confident with the same system? The same system that has breeded and institutionalized this culture that we see and have today. Do you believe a black man can the change the system or do you hold confidence in that the system will change itself and reliquish it's power? OK, so that was two questions.
Now I believe that to a degree that all the candidates say what they think we want or need to hear. But in the same token, what they are expressing has to start with some real ideals. I don't believe that this man doesn't have a sincere hope/wish to bring us all together, one mind, one goal, etc. Now of course this ideal is a big stretch, and he's certainly not going to get this accomplished in four years should he get elected, but the ideal is his all the same. And when you find yourself backed into a corner, are you supposed to just sit there, or should you fight your way out of it????
Having taken the trouble to say this:
"...Instead of merely assuaging white racial anxieties, Obama’s words forced the entire nation to come to terms with its demons. Although he unequivocally denounced Jeremiah Wright’s remarks, Obama refused to reduce him (or his own white grandmother) to a racist caricature. Also, through his evenhanded analysis of both structural inequality and individual responsibility, Obama raised the stakes for racial discourse in American politics...". which, by itself, suggests that, indeed, you do support Senator Barack Obama, I cannot understand your protesting otherwise and, worse yet, your intimating that, most likely, you would sit this election out. Just cannot understand it, coming from one as, evidently, intelligent and well-informed as you are, Monsieur Marc.
Maybe you really need to have a sip of Kool-Aid to quench your hesitancies?
You say: " to drink the Kool-Aid is to believe that Obama gave that speech out of moral exigency rather than political desperation." and
"I do not believe that he would compromise his own personal ambition in order to realize the grand racial vision that he articulated on Tuesday" What you are saying is his "courageous speech" Is really lip service? That he would never be a martyr in that I agree. What you really seem to be saying is Obama only stands for something when trapped in a corner. In this case by his friend and pastor who uttered imprudent, inflammatory statements. If Obama were desperate perhaps he would have disowned the Reverend Wright, but he didn't. He demonstrated exactly the equanimity, and your words 'the moral exigency' that is needed to be president. He rebuked, Reverend Wright's statements, as he stood by him. This grace under fire does remind me of JFK. Is it possible to be idealistic and cool under fire both? Of course. In this Obama reminds me of Kennedy more then Martin Luther King. Kennedy did the right thing when crises came up, where King didn't have to be political and please everyone. King wasn't a politician, he was a prophet in the tradition of illustrating to the people the sins they were committing. King was the activist who brought fire upon himself to *** the people's conscience. It seems to me all these years later that we need a leader who can have a strong moral core, which clearly Barrack Obama does, but unlike King he is not a prophet, and I'd hate to see him become one, we kill our prophets make them heroes. We don't need an martyr for the faith, we need someone who has the faith but isn't going to throw it in our faces. I certainly believe your cynicism concerning Obama's moral fiber is short sighted, and that he would be the president who would be good for the whole country, not just the faithful fiery elite left. Finally with JFK still in mind; I'd say Obama fits how JFK described himself as "An idealist with no illusions." Now give me a sip of Kool-Aid please.
well I said "Martin Luther King was the prophet who brought fire upon himself to p r i c k the people's conscience" Don't you hate faulty algorithms?
Don't vote for Nader. We can't afford to let the Republicans extend the war into Iran.
I applaud Senator Obama for a courageous speech. It was one that no other politician could have or would have delivered.
I fear that the true spirit of the message will be lost to this moment in time and will not be a part of a nationwide discourse on the improvement of race relations. I can count on one hand the number of my white work colleagues and friends who took the time to watch or read the speech in its entirety (the group with the greatest need to hear this message). And I honestly believe that most voters straddling the fence to support a black candidate may not take the time to sit at the table to digest this speech rather than dine on the quick fast food of Rev. Wright clips served up willingly by many media outlets.
It is sad, but the seeds which could germinate into blossoming progression in cultural dialogue and exchange may not have hit the intended soil needed to take root. But then, at Obama's most vulnerable state, Gov. Richardson defied my general skepticism by offering his endorsement based on this same speech. The seed had taken root not only in the black soil it usually populates, but now potentially in the brown soil which to date has been reluctant to allow germination for fear of correlation.
I have often said that the strength of race relations begins with ALL minorities and extends through coalition and joint efforts to non-minorities. Why? Because we all share a common history of exclusion and marginalization. The black, native american, hispanic/latino, and asian communities (the list expanded now to include middle eastern descendants) have always been on the fringe of society and viewed as a secondary citizen, a part of the working populace rather than the determining populace throughout our nations history. I always believed that the non-black minorities passively benefited from the civil rights struggle without having to stand out front and take the hits, arrests, water hosings, dogs, and abuses required for equal admission into full American citizenship. I have always felt that these other groups look down upon or away from blacks while reaping all the benefits that blacks fought and died for. I would love for our histories of marginalization to somehow allow us to forge better alliances and educate each other culturally and learn to communicate and trust each other and open the dialogue to all people so that we can somehow overcome the last vestiges of racism - misunderstanding. I was encouraged by Obama's and Richardson's actions over the last week. Somehow, the healing and growth can not and should not stop there.
Thanks Marc for always perfectly articulating what I'm feeling!
Okay, I think you need to take your analysis of BO down a notch, Marc. He is just a man. Are you conversely judging him at too high a standard because he is black? Surely, you expect him, a politician, to behave as one. If in the meanwhile he delivers a worthwhile speech so be it.
This is not City Council, he is running for the presidency of the United States of America, he must color inside the lines. All in all, vote for whomever you decide. But, I think you have to vote. You owe it the your kids and grandkids to let them know where you stood.
Marc,
now i've heard it all. what ridiculous reasons not to support barack. speeches like that my friend aren't born out of desperation - that's the point. let me tell you something. desperation makes people disown others, sound stupid and run and hide. his race has been neutral on race? are you crazy - didn't you hear the speech he gave to an all black audience telling blacks that where health care is concerned they need to stop giving their kids cold popeyes' and turn off the tv when the kids come home to do their homework - the audience recognized that of which he spoke, by the way.... did you not read his plan to stop racial profiling and police brutality? who do you think the billions in education is for my friend? did you hear his address in maryland where he stated his personal plans for reviving black communities based on a harlem model and shared specifically how it can help urban blight around the world? have you not seen the prized videos on baracks websites of older black women and men supporting him? racial neutrality? i think not - i tell you one thing - mr.philadelphia, mrs. clinton doesn't have a plan on her website to stop police brutality or to diminish the desparate numbers of blacks in jail (yes he does!) - because those aren't her concerns. are you listening to their speeches? when i went to see michelle speak she said she understood what it feels like to be a single parent and live with a sense of failure. i'm a single parent and i understand that too. who do you think she's talking to marc?
the bottom line is this - these issues exist whether you are black or white - urban blight is an american problem but he's been steadfast since the inception of his career to help blacks- his church community was filled with bretheren (can't spell this right now) committed to this cause. a candidacy isn't about speaking about or to one group of people - race is neutral in this campaign but i tell you this - he has always said that racism still exists and that racial equality could not be bought on the cheap and that it would take work to heal our country.
i think you are seeing him through a lens with your own special filter and your filter is very dirty!
please email me when you hear hillary neutrally talking to a black audience about their morning popeyes and how it contributes to obesity-diabetes- which he said straight out is bankrupting the system. when you say he's racially neutral, who are you talking about?!!!
you are a very ill informed writer today.
Drinking the Kool-Aid...How Quaint! lol...I agree with you on the Point that his speech was born out of political necessity, however, when you break the speech down, you must admit that he spoke about race with a frankness that was well above politics...You also have to admit that he took a risk by preaching to America about race as a blackman..We knew that he was going to win points with the Brothers and Sisters...but he could have lost everyone else in the process.
http://www.afroamericanpie.com
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