Obama tackles race anger in major speech

[shinerbock]

This whole dispute is partisan.

If you think the speech was less than brilliant and didn't do an adequate job explaining away his connections to a fearmonger, then you're an idiot conservative.

If you're falling all over yourself about how this is the most revolutionary speech every, you're a braindead and lovestruck liberal.

The fact is, it was fairly interesting and somewhat daring. It doesn't get the same acclaim (perhaps receiving negative backlash instead) if a white politician gives it, but that doesn't mean it didn't contain some valuable substance.

That said, I could care less what Obama says about race. I'm scared of what he'd do to the country, and lets not forget, this is about political posturing, not about some altruistic move to heal a racial divide (except insofar as that brings more delegates). I don't think he's evil, and I don't think he's racist. I simply disagree with the idea that he is good for America, and some liberals (not necessarily on this board) don't understand that. There seems to be a mindset that if just fixes this one thing, we'll all come around. Not quite.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

This whole dispute is partisan.

That said, I could care less what Obama says about race. I'm scared of what he'd do to the country, and lets not forget, this is about political posturing, not about some altruistic move to heal a racial divide (except insofar as that brings more delegates). I don't think he's evil, and I don't think he's racist. I simply disagree with the idea that he is good for America, and some liberals (not necessarily on this board) don't understand that. There seems to be a mindset that if just fixes this one thing, we'll all come around. Not quite.

I am unclear what you mean by partisan. I only saw the dems responding to it. The repubs could care less... If that isn't what you mean, help me understand?

As far as what Obama will do to the country--that I am not scared of, from my perspective it is already bad and I can only go up from this lowly point I reside now... Aside from the fact will ANYTHING get done? Really?

And I agree with you, this is ALL about politics and posturing. He is NOT going to fix a racial divide created long before there was an America, but I also am not cynical to think this will NEVER be good for America. Someday we have to heal. When will that be? After a mushroom cloud and 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit? Just asking?

[AKA_Monet]

Interesting that Huckabee say this...

On MSNBC

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

I am unclear what you mean by partisan. I only saw the dems responding to it. The repubs could care less... If that isn't what you mean, help me understand?

As far as what Obama will do to the country--that I am not scared of, from my perspective it is already bad and I can only go up from this lowly point I reside now... Aside from the fact will ANYTHING get done? Really?

And I agree with you, this is ALL about politics and posturing. He is NOT going to fix a racial divide created long before there was an America, but I also am not cynical to think this will NEVER be good for America. Someday we have to heal. When will that be? After a mushroom cloud and 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit? Just asking?

AKA, I meant partisan in that people are taking sides on here based on their political ideology. Perhaps not the best wording, but I hope that clarifies. I think people on here who are die hard GOPers won't have anything good to say about it, while people on the left see no fault in Barack. Sure, this is a generalization, but that is often the tone on this site.

I don't think things can only go up from here. I think we can abandon Iraq and leave it to fester. Combine that with a President I think would be weak on terror, and we have a disaster. Also, you could have a weakened form of capitalism in the United States, another decade preaching reliance on the government, and judges appointed which agree with those views.

I hope we do heal. I think Obama probably wants that, but this speech doesn't happen unless the people in his life are exposed through conservative media outlets. I'm sure the speech is at least somewhat authentic, I just don't think his motives are to be applauded as though this came from nowhere. This is a classic situation of a politician (yes, Obama is one) trying to turn something bad into something more palatable.

[scbelle]

I so wanted to get in on this thread yesterday, but my dumb computer was acting up. Anyway, since then, I've been able to give a lot of thought to the matter, and this is what I've come up with so far:

1) The speech was brave and courageous, and things that needed to be said were said in regard to race and the path this country should take to heal old wounds.

2) In all honesty, Wright's comments didn't get under my skin. They shocked me, of course. They angered me for a flicker, but then I realized that I didn't have the full context of what his message was that day. I went to seminary and loved the study of liberation theology and social justice... I know that themes of both are frequently interwoven into messages into black churches. His message could have been along those lines, but the incendiary comments are the "sound bytes" we're stuck with.

3) I applaud Obama for not completely breaking ties with his pastor. What is that saying... oh yes, Hate the sin, but love the sinner. Obama is living his faith. It would be so easy and convenient for him to condemn the man, just as many others have done, but, even with the possibility of political suicide, Obama is remaining loyal to a man who has done so much for him. Back in the day (biblical day, that is), tax collectors were the Jeremiah Wrights of the day. They were despised and reviled because they were crooked and just the worst of human scum. Yet I remember a story of a great man who decided to eat with one. He turned the public spectrum on its head. I don't want to seem like I'm making Obama the savior or anything, but I think that part of his charm in the media is that the media has never really seen a candidate like Obama, who, in most personal cases in his life, has stood up to do the right thing.

[shinerbock]

SC, I understand what you're saying about "loving the sinner." However, if I ever use that phrase with any consistency for my pastor, I don't think I'll be staying in that church. Clergymen are fallible like all of us, but I'm not interested in seeking guidance and spiritual counsel from people who don't even strive to meet the standards I set for my own life.

[scbelle]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

SC, I understand what you're saying about "loving the sinner." However, if I ever use that phrase with any consistency for my pastor, I don't think I'll be staying in that church. Clergymen are fallible like all of us, but I'm not interested in seeking guidance and spiritual counsel from people who don't even strive to meet the standards I set for my own life.

I can understand that. Parishioners *know* their clergy people are fallible, but I believe they *desire* or *hope* that they live a little better than the average person, meaning they have less sin or something. They are seen as the "experts" in all spiritual matters. And for that reason, your post makes sense.

I have a different view, I suppose, because I am extremely close to my pastor. He, of course, says things at regular intervals that piss me off and I think are wrong. I confront him on it, and we have dialogue. I think we both come away with understanding where the other one stands. He hasn't said anything that could be fodder for news crews, mind you, but in my mind, they're offensive to my sensibilities. Of course, I could never turn my back on him, because he married my husband and me and baptized our children... and he's my dad. Perhaps that is why I can understand Obama's stance more than the average person.

[shinerbock]

SC, your situation sounds a little unique, though I guess not too much so.

I don't want a pastor who is really my friend. Don't get me wrong, I love having a friend-like relationship with my pastor, but he's a spiritual leader for me, someone more concerned with my relationship w/ the Lord then anything else. Perhaps that is the definition of the best kind of friend, but I know at some point Wright would have ceased to be any sort of spiritual leader for me, and we would only be left with friendship. It is one thing for somebody to fall, it is another for that person to attempt to lead others while making no apparent attempt to remedy or cease their mistakes.

That said, this isn't a huge issue to me. I do find it questionable, but I don't think it shows that Obama is a racist. I think it shows that he struggled to stand up for what he thought was right when it required him to object to his own community. He seems willing to do that now, but that doesn't necessarily mean overly much to me, and I think other people have reacted similarly.