Obama's Speech on Race

[LanT]

If nothing else the guy can speak. I watched MSNBC/CNN afterwards. MSNBC had two women guests (one was a WashPost reporter other was a social activist) who were actually fawning over Obama which was funny and embarrassing at the same time. CNN was a bit more measured, and actually had a few inconsistencies to point out. I flipped over to FOX about 15 minutes after the speech and they were on to something else.

[Ulter]

I think it was a great move. People are making assumptions so he clears the air on his views on race. That is funny about FOX though. They probably had 2 hours on the Presidents press conference, largely about nothing.
I just read it, I wish I had time to do what you're doing and follow every cable news outlet.

[midlifecrisis]

I will say this about his speech, and Ive said it for years. Obama said that on the issue of racism, it "needs to be addressed". That is about as insighful as "we need change".

Addressed HOW? What the hell else can be done? The courts and laws have gone above and beyond toward racial equality. Many states have publicly apologized for slavery and oppression and the segregation that went on afterwards.

WHAT MORE CAN FREAKING BE DONE ???? Do we go door to door and demand an apology from every white person in America? Do we pay out money? Do we force white folks into some form of slavery (guess what folks, we already are, every payday in the form of huge income taxes). Tell us how to address it and lets do it and be done with it for Christs sake. Its clearly not enough for us to simply acknowledge that it was terribly wrong and inhumane. I just dont see what more can be done on a governmental and/or punitive level.

[Ulter]

I think just acknowledging it is a great first step. Like you pointed out people have been gun shy of making a comment that could construed as racist. As a result, there is NO dialog about race. He obviously wasn't going to write out a plan on the back of an envelop in a day and give it in his speech. But it's like him saying, "I know I'm the elephant in the room and it's something we can talk about".

[PDOGGY]

"Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns – this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding."

I'm a 42 year old non-white male, a righteous conservative, fiscally moderate and socially conservative and though I have religious convictions, in light of my own selfish endeavors and vanity. (Meaning I take AAS and cuss more than I should) But I'll rip any religious person to shreds who say I shouldn't take AAS when they are swine-eaters, don't keep the Saturday Sabbath and give Tithes to the alter of people who scripturally are not entitled to it in any context. But I digress..

Now, when I say righteous conservative, I mean that I do not support global patriarchal white supremacy like white conservates, nor am an apologist for dispassion and contempt for poor and middle class people or complicit and the racism and classism that creates much of their adversity and plight. I say "much" instead of "all" because people also tend to bring a lot of shit on themselves.

Though he simplified it somewhat this (the quote above) is really what people should do, but they, even AFTER this speech, remain polarized which only validates my belief that people are just spiritually reprobate and intellectually dull.

The Bible says that "the heart of man is desperately and deceitfully wicked, WHO CAN KNOW IT?". It is sooo true in that aspect.

Unlike the previous poster, I don't even read what people say about this speech because 90% of the time I don't read anything remotely intelligent or contrite by our fellow Americans, and that is one of the things I hate about how our people behave, white AND non-white. People talk soo much shit it ain't funny.

Clearly white conservatives don't trust this man but the ridiculous thing is that it wasn't a trust he ever really had in the first place.

But I also believe that his addressing the subject of race the way he did may actually attract more whites than he scares away.

For many of them, what was addressed (or not as the case may be) was that he didn't throw his Pastor under the bus. (I say Pastor because what most people don't know is that the term "Reverend" is scripturally inaccurate and inappropriate in ANY context.. but that's the level we seem to work on)

One thing I find notable is how Newt Gingrich said the speech was intellectually dishonest..well...of course in my opinion Newt only gets brought out to stir up the racists (and others). They care very much about what he says. He does the job he is intended to do.

However though I'm sure our motives and spirit differ, I honestly do not disagree with Newt, believe it or not. His basic bottom line is that either Barack is lying, and he actually did know the Pastor made these kinds of statements on the regular, or he knew and stayed silent. While Newt takes this point and veers off into the pastures frequented by the usual element of scoffers and naysayers and white patriots on the right with some of his conclusions, the fact undoubtedly is that Barack knew and stayed silent.

BUT, he stayed silent BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS where the comments come from and does not disagree with what is basically being said, and neither do I.

Barack's problem here is that his understanding is an experience that cannot be captured in sound bites on TV, or even from a speech, no matter how brilliant.

INTELLIGENT and RIGHTEOUS black people know and understand where the Pastor is coming from. Even with "god damn America" statement.

BUT..BUT..BUT..the racial divide is real, and it is, at its root, an experience divide and an understanding divide. Newt's criticism is valid because Barack's speech did not adequately bridge the understanding divide. It did not, because there's no way a speech ever could, and as a result, he cast his reaction the Wright in slightly oversimplified terms that lend themselves to Newt's criticism. I guess it would have helped if Barack said "man that n.i.g.g.a. is crazy, I ain't down with that shit he talking". Maybe, maybe not..

In the black experience, again, most are going to agree that there would be no reason to "disown" Wright, and that there's really nothing to explain or clarify about Wright's comments, especially in the larger context of his ministry.

But again, speaking from my knowledge of spiritual protocol and church governance experience, which people are not going to know enough about to address, especially the news outlets where the people don't know shit about anything faith-wise, Pastor Wright is fulla shit for talking like that across the pulpit. On Sundays you are supposed to preach the Gospel to the lost and seeking. "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself". People are supposed to be preached SALVATION, not some black nationalist crap on Sunday. Do that shit at Wednesday night prayer meeting or allow for some times in your cell group or focus group ministry to talk about secular issues IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE, not some Georgia ant-hill barbershop street corner hold my mule bullshit. Now I will personally say there is a time and place for everything and that fool was tripping, for real.

But I digress, and say again.. or ask, can it be that the racial divide -- the "understanding divide" in this country is so great that not even a master speaker on Obama's level can elucidate these kinds of issues? Is that possible?

Maybe, and black people (I know) have a unique challenge.. and that is they have to grow up and look at some of these things like Barack is trying to. The "it's a black thing, you wouldn't understand" ideology, is fundamentally TRUE, but it's also going to fundamentally hinder THE CAUSE OF MAKING AMERICA BETTER, because America IS entrenched in spiritual darkness, racism, sloth, greed, and depression.

So Obama supporters need to check their timelines, for real. It's a good start, but that's ALL IT IS. He wouldn't be able to do all the shit he claims needs to be done in a single term even if he did it at warp speed.

I don't agree with his policies and because of that I wouldn't vote for him. All that shit he's trying to propose, I merely have one question for him and that is "where you gonna get the money, bruh?" Ridiculous.

If Barack Obama were a bit more conservative, he'd be even more appealing to me because there is no white (or black, but especially white) politician who has as much soul as he does, regarding certain things. But he's still a politician, and that always has to be kept in perspective.

Thus, from what I perceive of Obama's perspective, if black people are to even have a chance to advance anything in our interests that's worthwhile then we have to do the obvious and even the unthinkable, from an absolute perspective... and that's bite our tongue. (White folks too, but to a much lesser extent) and try to accentuate the positive in order to create the environment for positive results, however meager. In other words, people need to stop talking schit and start doing something. I say that because black people, as a whole, are not much unlike white people, as a whole, in that they sit around talking shit and really don't know shit, though their ignorance is born out of different circumstances and motives.

Hell, I've even read the posts here regarding the matter and shake my head. I'm BLESSED to be born an American, a black American. I don't want to go live in fucking Africa and people who suggest that any black person goes back to Africa is dull.

And I can say whatever I want to say about America, and still love the country. I don't have to be so blind to Patriotism that I put my National Identity above my spiritual identity. I'm a servant of Yahweh. My Hebrew Bible trumps the constitution, the bill of rights and any other American document or sentiment, yet those documents give me the right to speak my mind.

Pastor Wright can speak his mind, like it or not, ridiculous or not. Barack Obama can, in all transparency, tell his business by saying that his own grandmother was on some grimy scandalous shit at one time or another.

I can criticize whomever the hell I want. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters and and only two of us have the same Father and the other 2 have the same mother and one who the fuck knows. My mother was a whoremonger and my father was a no-good gambling pimp. My grandmother would sell her own daughters to perverted older black men because they had "a lil change in their pockets and at least the kids could eat". My father was a coward and sycophant and I reconcilled my disdain for him right before watching him breathe his last breath on his hospital bed. I held his hand and closed his eyes and walked out of the room. It was just me and him.

That is the truth, and I can say it if I want to. It's my family and this is MY COUNTRY. I can say what the hell I want, but in saying that I categorically believe in justice and correctness at all times in all places in the known universe for all people WITHOUT EXCEPTION. In saying that, it makes me, and other black and white Americans, BETTER than most.

I think that Barack Obama (whether you agree with his policies or not) wants everybody to have that sort of moral ground and he wants America to GET BACK TO THAT, and IT'S NOT. America sucks when it comes to equality, spiritual fortitude, and morality, on more fronts than I can even elucidate on this forum. That doesn't not make me any more unPatriotic than it does make me anti-family for telling it like it is about my own family.

But it's still my country, and I am personally gonna try to do I can, with every encounter I have with INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS, to make it the best country it can be.

You dig?

And when my daughter asks me whose Daddy is who and why so many people in my family have all these kids from outta nowhere and nobody lives with their mother and father and people are in jail, have no education..etc.

I tell her, "some people in our family have different priorities", just like it is in the world. (America)

[solidspine]

Thank God for Ralph Nader,

Obama is more electable that Clinton

But Nader has cut them both off at the knees,


and Clinton will Kill obama before she lets him win.

I don’t really like McCain at all,

Wish that Mormon guy had been Presbyterian, everyone loves Presbyterians,

[midlifecrisis]

Originally Posted by PDOGGY

I'm a 42 year old non-white male, a righteous conservative, fiscally moderate and socially conservative and though I have religious convictions, in light of my own selfish endeavors and vanity. (Meaning I take AAS and cuss more than I should) But I'll rip any religious person to shreds who say I shouldn't take AAS when they are swine-eaters, don't keep the Saturday Sabbath and give Tithes to the alter of people who scripturally are not entitled to it in any context. But I digress..

Now, when I say righteous conservative, I mean that I do not support global patriarchal white supremacy like white conservates, nor am an apologist for dispassion and contempt for poor and middle class people or complicit and the racism and classism that creates much of their adversity and plight. I say "much" instead of "all" because people also tend to bring a lot of shit on themselves.

Though he simplified it somewhat this (the quote above) is really what people should do, but they, even AFTER this speech, remain polarized which only validates my belief that people are just spiritually reprobate and intellectually dull.

The Bible says that "the heart of man is desperately and deceitfully wicked, WHO CAN KNOW IT?". It is sooo true in that aspect.

Unlike the previous poster, I don't even read what people say about this speech because 90% of the time I don't read anything remotely intelligent or contrite by our fellow Americans, and that is one of the things I hate about how our people behave, white AND non-white. People talk soo much shit it ain't funny.

Clearly white conservatives don't trust this man but the ridiculous thing is that it wasn't a trust he ever really had in the first place.

But I also believe that his addressing the subject of race the way he did may actually attract more whites than he scares away.

For many of them, what was addressed (or not as the case may be) was that he didn't throw his Pastor under the bus. (I say Pastor because what most people don't know is that the term "Reverend" is scripturally inaccurate and inappropriate in ANY context.. but that's the level we seem to work on)

One thing I find notable is how Newt Gingrich said the speech was intellectually dishonest..well...of course in my opinion Newt only gets brought out to stir up the racists (and others). They care very much about what he says. He does the job he is intended to do.

However though I'm sure our motives and spirit differ, I honestly do not disagree with Newt, believe it or not. His basic bottom line is that either Barack is lying, and he actually did know the Pastor made these kinds of statements on the regular, or he knew and stayed silent. While Newt takes this point and veers off into the pastures frequented by the usual element of scoffers and naysayers and white patriots on the right with some of his conclusions, the fact undoubtedly is that Barack knew and stayed silent.

BUT, he stayed silent BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS where the comments come from and does not disagree with what is basically being said, and neither do I.

Barack's problem here is that his understanding is an experience that cannot be captured in sound bites on TV, or even from a speech, no matter how brilliant.

INTELLIGENT and RIGHTEOUS black people know and understand where the Pastor is coming from. Even with "god damn America" statement.

BUT..BUT..BUT..the racial divide is real, and it is, at its root, an experience divide and an understanding divide. Newt's criticism is valid because Barack's speech did not adequately bridge the understanding divide. It did not, because there's no way a speech ever could, and as a result, he cast his reaction the Wright in slightly oversimplified terms that lend themselves to Newt's criticism. I guess it would have helped if Barack said "man that n.i.g.g.a. is crazy, I ain't down with that shit he talking". Maybe, maybe not..

In the black experience, again, most are going to agree that there would be no reason to "disown" Wright, and that there's really nothing to explain or clarify about Wright's comments, especially in the larger context of his ministry.

But again, speaking from my knowledge of spiritual protocol and church governance experience, which people are not going to know enough about to address, especially the news outlets where the people don't know shit about anything faith-wise, Pastor Wright is fulla shit for talking like that across the pulpit. On Sundays you are supposed to preach the Gospel to the lost and seeking. "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself". People are supposed to be preached SALVATION, not some black nationalist crap on Sunday. Do that shit at Wednesday night prayer meeting or allow for some times in your cell group or focus group ministry to talk about secular issues IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE, not some Georgia ant-hill barbershop street corner hold my mule bullshit. Now I will personally say there is a time and place for everything and that fool was tripping, for real.

But I digress, and say again.. or ask, can it be that the racial divide -- the "understanding divide" in this country is so great that not even a master speaker on Obama's level can elucidate these kinds of issues? Is that possible?

Maybe, and black people (I know) have a unique challenge.. and that is they have to grow up and look at some of these things like Barack is trying to. The "it's a black thing, you wouldn't understand" ideology, is fundamentally TRUE, but it's also going to fundamentally hinder THE CAUSE OF MAKING AMERICA BETTER, because America IS entrenched in spiritual darkness, racism, sloth, greed, and depression.

So Obama supporters need to check their timelines, for real. It's a good start, but that's ALL IT IS. He wouldn't be able to do all the shit he claims needs to be done in a single term even if he did it at warp speed.

I don't agree with his policies and because of that I wouldn't vote for him. All that shit he's trying to propose, I merely have one question for him and that is "where you gonna get the money, bruh?" Ridiculous.

If Barack Obama were a bit more conservative, he'd be even more appealing to me because there is no white (or black, but especially white) politician who has as much soul as he does, regarding certain things. But he's still a politician, and that always has to be kept in perspective.

Thus, from what I perceive of Obama's perspective, if black people are to even have a chance to advance anything in our interests that's worthwhile then we have to do the obvious and even the unthinkable, from an absolute perspective... and that's bite our tongue. (White folks too, but to a much lesser extent) and try to accentuate the positive in order to create the environment for positive results, however meager. In other words, people need to stop talking schit and start doing something. I say that because black people, as a whole, are not much unlike white people, as a whole, in that they sit around talking shit and really don't know shit, though their ignorance is born out of different circumstances and motives.

Hell, I've even read the posts here regarding the matter and shake my head. I'm BLESSED to be born an American, a black American. I don't want to go live in fucking Africa and people who suggest that any black person goes back to Africa is dull.

And I can say whatever I want to say about America, and still love the country. I don't have to be so blind to Patriotism that I put my National Identity above my spiritual identity. I'm a servant of Yahweh. My Hebrew Bible trumps the constitution, the bill of rights and any other American document or sentiment, yet those documents give me the right to speak my mind.

Pastor Wright can speak his mind, like it or not, ridiculous or not. Barack Obama can, in all transparency, tell his business by saying that his own grandmother was on some grimy scandalous shit at one time or another.

I can criticize whomever the hell I want. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters and and only two of us have the same Father and the other 2 have the same mother and one who the fuck knows. My mother was a whoremonger and my father was a no-good gambling pimp. My grandmother would sell her own daughters to perverted older black men because they had "a lil change in their pockets and at least the kids could eat". My father was a coward and sycophant and I reconcilled my disdain for him right before watching him breathe his last breath on his hospital bed. I held his hand and closed his eyes and walked out of the room. It was just me and him.

That is the truth, and I can say it if I want to. It's my family and this is MY COUNTRY. I can say what the hell I want, but in saying that I categorically believe in justice and correctness at all times in all places in the known universe for all people WITHOUT EXCEPTION. In saying that, it makes me, and other black and white Americans, BETTER than most.

I think that Barack Obama (whether you agree with his policies or not) wants everybody to have that sort of moral ground and he wants America to GET BACK TO THAT, and IT'S NOT. America sucks when it comes to equality, spiritual fortitude, and morality, on more fronts than I can even elucidate on this forum. That doesn't not make me any more unPatriotic than it does make me anti-family for telling it like it is about my own family.

But it's still my country, and I am personally gonna try to do I can, with every encounter I have with INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS, to make it the best country it can be.

You dig?

And when my daughter asks me whose Daddy is who and why so many people in my family have all these kids from outta nowhere and nobody lives with their mother and father and people are in jail, have no education..etc.

I tell her, "some people in our family have different priorities", just like it is in the world. (America)

All I can say after reading that is, please stick around this forum. We can use your experience and views. That peice you wrote was absolutely amazing, so honest it shook me. Thank you for sharing that with us and again, please stick around and contribute. Great post.

[cipherkingtoo]

you took the words right out of my mouth midlife. That was nice bro,every thing you said was exactly how I feel but couldnt put it in words. Amazing

[the truth]

Originally Posted by solidspine

Thank God for Ralph Nader,

Obama is more electable that Clinton

But Nader has cut them both off at the knees,


and Clinton will Kill obama before she lets him win.

I don’t really like McCain at all,

Wish that Mormon guy had been Presbyterian, everyone loves Presbyterians,

Yup that's about right

[solidspine]

Well it was not suppose to be about race,

it was suppose to be about his crazy minister and the racist things he has said,

and how Obama by his silence is concurring, but he side stepped it and stepped in a huge cow pie, & that Clinton clan could not be happier, either could old man McCain.

[solidspine]

you took the words right out of my mouth midlife. That was nice bro,every thing you said was exactly how I feel but couldnt put it in words. Amazing

Cipherkingtoo

Here is the deal, what has the federal government ever done to help anyone with anything,

Think

Ok here is the answer nothing, never.

Obama who is 20 times more talented and polished than McCain or Hillary, thinks the government can solve our problems, It never has, if so please tell me where and how.

It has simply made politicians wealthy, nothing else, it can be cut way back and your tax dollars returned to you.