Comments on: 3/18/08 Obama’s Speech Today

By: bigyellowmouth

bigyellowmouth — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:20:01 +0000

I loved the speech, and you know what? Mission accomplished. What are we doing now? Exactly what Senator Obama wanted us to be doing – opening up a dialogue on race relations in America. To echo Carlos’s sentiments, Hallelujah.

Obama ‘08!

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:52:33 +0000

Michael,
I have watched and read his speech. You’re right, he did explain the context of Wright’s experiences growing up. I have a serious problem with Obama’s explanations. It was a sermon. Basically, he told white people that Reverend Wright can say and do whatever he likes, because of his experiences with racism. He did nothing but excuse Wright’s disgusting behavior and his hate speech. It is hate speech. It’s divisive. Obama has sold himself to the public and one who transcends racial divides. How is he doing this? Because he speaks well? Please. I am leaving the Democratic party (after I vote for Clintion in the PA primary) because it is blind. I would like all Americans to be color blind, not blind to reality. Wright is just another one of our “leaders” who has made a living by telling us that we don’t have to be responsible for our actions because whitey keeps us down. It’s leaders like Wright who are keeping my fellow blacks down. He wants stay down, because that’s how he maintains his “leadership” in the black community of Chicago. My parents grew up in the south and experienced racism on many occassions. Despite this, they were able to run a business successfully without the help from the government. Despite the context of their experiences, they’ve never told me that white people are the root of all ills that affect black people. A coworker of mine is from Cameroon. He’s is darker than night. He has such a thick accent that it’s hard to believe his first language was English. Yet, its amazing that within the first month of being in this country, he was able to find a job. I have relatives who have never worked. They always blame racism for their problems. They say that they are owed something. They are unable to accept any responsibility for their actions or inactions. They believe that all white people are either in the KKK or has family members in the KKK. Obama’s speech, while eloquent, was just another sorry excuse of why blacks shouldn’t be held accountable for thier actions. He said he cringed at the comments his grandmother made, and yesterday said her fears of black men was typical of white people. He didn’t say he cringed when pastor wright made his racist and anti-American remarks. I really thought he was different. I feel like a fool for having supported him. I feel like I’ve been sold a lemon by a stereotypical used car salesman. Obama’s just a typical (Democrat) politician. I will probably, for the first time in my adult life, vote Republican. Obama has turned back the clock on race relations in this country.

By: marcsteinerblog

marcsteinerblog — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:20:38 +0000

Ron and Mike

Should be working now–thanks for pointing it out!

By: Ron Counsell

Ron Counsell — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:10:59 +0000

Ummm, looks like mikeincolumbia was correct. The time stamps are GMT.

By: Michael Derry

Michael Derry — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:50:30 +0000

Jonathan,

I’m glad you had a different experience from me….

I was heavily involved in the catholic church in my youth; spent a year at loyola college as a theology major , and have 30 seminary credits from the ecumenical institute at St. Mary’s…..
(while I was in social work school… initially was going into pastoral counseling) I definately have have come across intolerance from both clergy and lay people

In any event …. My point was that we all live with contradictions within ourselves…. I don’t know if you lstened to Obama’s entire speech( intially they only had segments of it on here) But he did wonderful jon explaining the context in which Rev. Wright developed his views… And while he did not agree with him… he understood how these views developed in him….

The definition of “empathy” is not necessarily agreeing with someone but understading where they are coming from….. Obama modeled for us a very important lession….. that we should all strive to better understand each other…. even when we disagree…. Imagine how much more progress we would make in solving our complex problems if we strived to do that

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:26:34 +0000

Michael Derry,
Never once in my life going to Catholic schools and a Catholic college have I heard anything intolerant. In fact, I’ve heard priests say that everyone should have the right to choose. The message I got was one of encouraging people to make the right choice. I’ve never heard a priest say that being gay or lesbian is a sin. I’ve heard them say that it is a sin to have sex outside of marriage. There’s a big difference.

Stan,
I have cousins who belong to the Nation of Islam. I have read the Koran and many ahadith and read many verses that describe Christians and Jews as descendents of apes and pigs. Jews and Christians can live in Muslim lands, but they must pay a special tax, they may not construct any new place of worship or fix those that need repair.I’ve read that unbelievers should be killed if you meet them. Not once did I read that jihad is an internal spiritual struggle. I’ve read that the world exists as two “houses”. One house at peace (dar al salam) and one house at war (dar al harb). According to Islamic scriptures any land that is not Muslim is called the house at war, and that peace can only exist in dar al Islam.
I have really had a rude awakening this past week. Not only has Barack Obama reinforced black stereotypes, his explaining away of Reverend Wright hate speech has just made it much harder for me to be a black man in this great country. I have seen the light, and it doesn’t shine on Obama.

By: Ron Counsell

Ron Counsell — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:25:44 +0000

Mike, you’re close. This blog provides time stamps for
Algerian Stadard time, not Eastern Daylight.

By: mikeofcolumbia

mikeofcolumbia — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:48:36 +0000

“9:47 pm” is what? GMT?

By: mikeofcolumbia

mikeofcolumbia — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:47:08 +0000

Well said Marc, as always! Sadly, the talk-radio ranters have neither the wit nor the cojones to come into this conversation with honesty and courage. Instead, they will continue to beat Obama over the head with their phony “shock” over what the Rev. said. They should look at what *they* say day after day as they continue to poison the airwaves.

Too bad they own the megaphones and the big-media echo chambers that allow them to pretend that they’re speaking for the Nation. While Marc gets bounced off of his teeny little platform because he’s too controversial for the big spenders who have bought Baltimore’s public radio outlet.

By: Stan Markowitz

Stan Markowitz — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:46:12 +0000

Obama’s speech was brilliant and his unwillingness to disown Reverand Wright was courageous. The media response that I have seen has been incredibly depressing proving once again how this country needs the dialogue that Obama noted. A few months ago Reverand John Hagee endorsed McCain. Hagee has, among other things, stated that Hitler and the Catholic Church conspired to exterminate the Jews, Katrina was God’s wrath visited on New Orleans, the Quran teaches Muslims to kill Christians and Jews. Hagee also joked that the diffference between a woman with PMS and a terrorist is that you can negotiate with a terrorist. His Courtyard Church held a fundraiser and advertised it as a returrn of slavery to America, telling his parishioners to “plan to come and take home a slave”. This guy spouts hatred and ignorance. You can disagree with Reverand Wright, I don’t, but you have to recognize the historical and contemporary basis for his views. Yet, McCain gladly accepted Hagee’s endorsement and there was hardly a murmer. Wright’s comments and Obama’s unwilliingness to disown him despite stating his disagreement with Wright, cause a firestorm in the media. Hagee’s racism, sexism, homophobia, anti-Catholicism are acceptable. Wright’s truths/comments are vilified. Boy, do we need a discussion about race and about the acceptablility of hatred and ignorance in our society.