For anyone who missed the speech on race that Barack Obama just gave I highly suggest you seek it out. It's being called 'the most important speech on race in over 40 years', and I truly think that's not hyperbole, it's fact. It may not have been politically correct, and some may have been offended by it's directness, but it was the most open and honest discussion of race I've seen mentioned by a major political figure ever. He spoke of white racism, reverse racism, slavery, the OJ trial, Katrina, blacks needing to be better fathers, the differences in our churches, affirmative action and the problems that lie within it. He quoted Faulkner and Jefferson and spoke of the greatness and imperfectness that lies within our constitution. He told white people what blacks say about them in barber shops and behind there backs, that the criminal system is set up against them, that the white politicians dont properly fund black schools, and that they still carry the hatred of Jim Crowe with them. He told blacks what whites say about them in their homes and behind there backs, that they get jobs because they're black, that they have to drive farther to schools because of racial intergration, and how they think they are taking slots in schools to fill a quota. But through it all he spoke of a need for us all to come together, not as voting blocks but as Americans. He challenged the media to think beyond polls and for Americans to think beyond their own prejudices and fears, for that is the only way to break this "racial stalemate" that keeps anything from getting accomplished in this country. And he told us to not hate the hatred, for the people who spew it are just as American as all of us. He may not win the nomination, and he may never become president, but today he just uttered one of the greatest speeches of our nation's history.
"This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected." Barack Obama
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7 comments:
Geraldine Ferraro and I agree that if he wasn't black, there's no way he'd have given this speech.
I guess the only way to truly strike a blow for unity and equality is to vote for Barack Obama!
Definitely a great, powerful, moving, epic speech of historical importance. I love Obama, I do, but he just doesn't have enough experience in Washington politics for me to feel comfortable handing over the reins of the country to him. And all the McCain and Hillary voters feel the same way. I love the guy, but really, truly feel that if he's the Democratic nominee John McCain will be the next president.
That mustard and relish sandwich sounds kind of good.
A shame the speech had to be on the heels of Obama having to explain his wacky pastor's outrageous comments.
Yeah but I think he would've had to give some sort of race speech at some point, so best to go ahead and do the "Full Romney". And with the way it's being received, not just on our soil but in the foreign press as well, it appears to be a defining moment in our country's history. To think that a politician actually spoke to us Americans as adults is still kind of staggering. And I'm still kind of keen on the fact that he wrote the whole thing himself. He's an intellectual, a hell of a writer, and can motivate people to get involved in their government once again. I understand the importance of experience, I really do, but I think the unique gifts this man brings are far too great to pass up.
Defining moment is a bit of a stretch -- there was nothing "I Have a Dream"-y about this speech. And for a guy who's mantra is "words matter" to say that his personal spiritual advisor's words don't... I don't know. Not a slam dunk.
As to the pastor it's the 'hate the sin not the sinner' thing. Besides, that pastor has done a lot of really good things, and said a lot of really positive things, so I think to pull out the few excerpts where he went a bit whacky in the pulpit just doesn't paint a fair characterization.
As for the speech, obviously everyone isn't going to be as 'wowed' as others, but if you look at most of the major newspapers in this country and abroad, and if you listen to most of the major commentators, Russert, Matthews, Scarborough, Stefinopalus, the major black leaders like Sharpton, Jackson, and Martin, and even political figures like Fiegngold and Biden, they all speak of the speech in historic terms. But like I said, it's obviously not going to be everyones cup of tea.
It's quibbling, but there's a difference between historic and defining. I don't think we're looking at the start of a second civil rights movement, here.
I couldn't make it through...can't we have Tiger Woods instead?
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