Senator Barack Obama anissued the Issue of Race

Why the Senator's speech will rank with Mlk's

from JoeUser Forums
Race as a political issue exploded in a big way due to the indiscreet sermons of the pastor of the United Trinity Church, Rev Jermaiah Wright. The US media is aghast at the observation of the pastor that racism is alive and truly well in the USA. The liberal media that has thrived on the general atmosphere of political correctness is unable or unwilling to face up to the reality of racism in the social and political life of the USA. Senator Barack Obama gave a speech in Philadelphia in which he answered the critics and in so doing gave one of the most impressive speeches of US political history and will rank along with Lincoln's Gettysberg address and Martin Luther King's I have a dream speech. What unites both these great rhetorical acts is that they deal with the eternal issues of liberty, freedom and human dignity and Senator Obama reiterated these values in a highly effective manner. Why is race and racism so difficult for the USA to face. AS the Senator put it: The "original sin" of slavery. With emancipation came nearly a century of segregation along with the infamous "jim Crow" laws. Did the USA move beyond thesemajor maoral and political issues. Yes, undoubtedly. The civil rights's movement was a great step forward in the right direction. What the rev Wright is saying is that opportunities for the African American have been restricted due to a pattern of what some sociologists call Institutionalised Racism" in which opportunities for quality education and well paying jobs are denied to the under class. It is this fact that breeds resentment that finds its utterance in the violelt and vehement rhetoric of Rev Wright and his fellow spiritual leaders of the Afro American flock. A few years back, when I was in Graduate school I read Herbert Guttmann's The Black Familiy from Slavery to Freedom and Edward Fox Genovese's Roll Jordan Roll: The world the Slaves made. In both these excellent treatises the horrendous reality of slavery is documented and it is this history that stands in the way of the economic and political advancement of the Black population. The very triumph of Barack Obama in these primaries has sent a positive message to the black population and the good the his campaign is doing to the cultural fabric of American society is beiong undermined by the repeated broadcast of the soundbites taken out of context. Senator Barack Obama has very effectively drawn attention to this fact and thereby turned a huge public relations disaster into an opportunity for self reflection and attonement. The over representation of black youth in the US prison system has called for a lot of soulf searching in the society. The lack of economic opportunities are turning the youth to crime and drugs and Rev Wright and others like him are quite right to draw attention to the abiding links between social empowerment, education and economic advancement. Senator Barack Obama in his Audacity of Hope has shown that there are great opportunities in USA and the African American population must reach out and grab those opportunities. The message of Senator Barack Obama has begun to resonate very positively in the Balck population and so the debate must move on beyond the 5 second soundbite taken out of context.
senator rev jermaiah wright slavery usa
1,799 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

That speech was very impressive and right on the mark, and Obama was the only candidate that could have given it. Racism is still very much alive in this country and blacks and whites are still suffering from its consequences. The truth is most whites are not racist towards blacks and have genuinely moved past it, but it's still a seething issue with blacks and many whites are genuinely surprised when it surfaces like this. 

I have black employees, one of which I pick up for work and I have encountered hostility on many occasions coming from kids in the neighborhood who have obliviously picked this up from the adults in there lives. Most blacks still don't feel like they're part of this country and harbor a great deal of resentment towards it.

It's going to take many more generations for the effects of slavery and years of racism to be completely gone but with one speech senator Obama has done more for race relations in this country than any other since MLK. Senator Clinton says speeches don't matter but she couldn't be more wrong. It is by far the most important quality of a good leader. Even if you don't agree with senator Obama's politics you have to give credit where credit is due. 

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
1. You are confusing "America" with democrats. The Media does not think that racism is gone, and indeed touts it at every opportunity, whether real or not. What they are shocked by is that it is coming out of the democrat party. Which is not really surprising if one is a student of history - as they are the party of slavery.

2. Obama's speech was ok. No where near as great as you make it. But not one that will be remembered like Lincoln's.

3. Racism in any form is abhorant. Another surprise of the media is that they have to finally acknowledge that blacks can be racists. That is as difficult for them to swallow as the fact that democrats are the racists.

4. America's past is a part of its road to a position unequaled in the anals of this planet. For it has come farther and faster than any other nation in addressing the sins of the past and rectifying it. But that is only a foot note because the dirty laundry is still being aired (and yes, even touted). There will not be a complete elimination of racism as long as men have the freedom of thought. Education will go a long way in marginalizing it, and has. But there are racists in every country, and of every color. And always will be. Taht they can spew their hate is a part of freedom. That they cannot deny those they hate their rights or priveleges is a part of progress. ANd indeed, the whole Wright issue is not a denial of anything, rather another airing of a litany of past wrongs. Current ones are dealt with by current laws. You cannot make a person suceed. You can only make sure they have the opportunity. And that is where wright is wrong.

5. And where Wright is wrong, is where Obama is vulnerable. It is one thing not to disown a wayward relative (Billy Carter anyone?). It is another to give the appearance (and only Obama knows if it is more than that) of support to racist views. Obama had to give that speech. But he did not go far enough. He is still be tainted with the racist views of Wright because he will not repudiate them entirely.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

2. Obama's speech was ok. No where near as great as you make it. But not one that will be remembered like Lincoln's.
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Difficult to say how history will remember it but it's was a long time to wait for anything even close. Especially after an 8 year borage of the worst speeches ever delivered by any politician, let alone a president. America was a little starved for inspiration so an over reaction would be understandable.

Obama had to give that speech. But he did not go far enough. He is still be tainted with the racist views of Wright because he will not repudiate them entirely.
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He went far enough it's just that you and some others don't believe him.

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
He went far enough it's just that you and some others don't believe him.
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I did not say I believe or dont believe him, nor do I care to get into that argument. It is not a question of belief. It is a question (as I indicated) of appearance. He can say anything, and you are free to believe anything. The truth is that he did not repudiate Wright. And that will hang on to him, regardless of what he says.

Factum Non Verba.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

You mean he didn't separate himself enough from the man, because he made it quite clear he didn't share his views. He also made it clear why he could not and did not disown the man. I think it showed much more honesty and integrity that he didn't cave to political pressure and tell everybody what they wanted to hear. I think he showed that this anger is much more prevalent in the black community than white America would like to admit. That's what he meant when he said that disowning Wright would be like disowning the entire black community. You should maybe give the speech another listen.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
That's what he meant when he said that disowning Wright would be like disowning the entire black community. You should maybe give the speech another listen.
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No, I dont need to. You are just pointing out your take on it, and I am not saying you are wrong (and probably more honest than what we will see).

If I grew up in a family of KKK zealots, my world view would not allow me to disown them, even if I did not agree with their views.

But it would not make me any less susceptible to the accusations of racism and bigotry. Just as it will not make Obama any less susceptible. This is not a pick up game in a school yard. This is the presidential election, and it will come back to haunt him. Probably because he was honest about it instead of being political.

Nevertheless, solutions come from recognizing a problem and working towards a resolution, not wallowing in it for self pity sake. Wright is your typical victim. Cries about problems, and yet does nothing to change things (other than to place blame). Which is fine. This is america. He can wallow as long as he wants.

But it is not what America wants to hear from its president. And that is the reason jackson and Sharpton have never been serious candidates for president. At this point, you might as well add Obama as well.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

The importance of the speech lies in the fact that Obama could haVE BOUGHT PEACE AT THE COST OF DISOWNING his erstwhile pastor. He did not do that and it shows that he has the strength of character not to prevaricate, something Hillary Clinton does as a matter of habit.

He has repudiated the views of the Reverend and that too in no uncertain terms. Those who argue that Obama must disown his pastor are not aware of the central role played by the church in the spiritual life of the Africa American community.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
The importance of the speech lies in the fact that Obama could haVE BOUGHT PEACE AT THE COST OF DISOWNING his erstwhile pastor. He
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This is true. But unfortunately, politics does not make heros of those who do what they feel is right. They make goats out of appearances.