A little more
Expanding a little more on Barack Obama's speech today, what made it so brilliant was that it was so honest and so absolutely real. And it's that honesty that makes the ridiculous criticism by folks like Erick look so craveningly stupid and ignorant, that I hardly know where to begin.
But, of course, I do, and it's because the speech relied on a basic faith in the ability of those listening to Obama's words to accept them as a frank discussion on race relations in this country. In actuality, people like Erick show how small and petty they are by cherrypicking quotes, dreaming up 'unanswered questions' and thirsting for the same, old way of doing politics in this country that has delivered a nation divided along so many lines (economic, racial, gender, age, ideology, religion, etc.).
One can disagree with some of Obama's policy prescriptions in a perfect legitimate manner, but to deny the reality of what he was talking about is to plug your fingers in your ears, cover your eyes and pretend that America is something else. The truth is, it isn't.
And what drives home this point is Obama referencing his grandmother, a white woman who loved her biracial grandson yet would use disparaging and racial remarks toward other African-Americans. Why is this important? Because all of us experience this profound struggle when it comes to race.
I have a grandmother who, to this day, remains distrustful of the Japanese because of Pearl Harbor. I have a brother-in-law who harbors some personal prejudices against African-Americans. I have a mother who has freely admitted she's not sure if she could support a Mormon, let alone a Muslim, for president. My mother has a friend, one one full and well knows my mom is very progressive on ideas of race, yet freely uses insulting and demeaning language toward African-Americans in her presence.
Yet, I love all of this people. I cherish all of these people, despite what I perceive to be shortcomings on their part because I recognize the brokenness and imperfection of humanity, of which I am fully included. It's because for all of their biases or prejudices, there is also goodness within them that shines brighter than that hate.
And that is Obama's message. That this is an imperfect union, but our charge is to work to the best of our ability make it perfect, and sometimes that calls for denouncing the wrong but giving value to the good.
Folks, like Erick, will pick it apart because that's what they do, and that's a shame. It's a shame because they don't know how to process an argument that not only challenges them and their beliefs, but it also opens the door to move past the petty disputes of the past and finally - finally - consider how best to move forward.
But, of course, I do, and it's because the speech relied on a basic faith in the ability of those listening to Obama's words to accept them as a frank discussion on race relations in this country. In actuality, people like Erick show how small and petty they are by cherrypicking quotes, dreaming up 'unanswered questions' and thirsting for the same, old way of doing politics in this country that has delivered a nation divided along so many lines (economic, racial, gender, age, ideology, religion, etc.).
One can disagree with some of Obama's policy prescriptions in a perfect legitimate manner, but to deny the reality of what he was talking about is to plug your fingers in your ears, cover your eyes and pretend that America is something else. The truth is, it isn't.
And what drives home this point is Obama referencing his grandmother, a white woman who loved her biracial grandson yet would use disparaging and racial remarks toward other African-Americans. Why is this important? Because all of us experience this profound struggle when it comes to race.
I have a grandmother who, to this day, remains distrustful of the Japanese because of Pearl Harbor. I have a brother-in-law who harbors some personal prejudices against African-Americans. I have a mother who has freely admitted she's not sure if she could support a Mormon, let alone a Muslim, for president. My mother has a friend, one one full and well knows my mom is very progressive on ideas of race, yet freely uses insulting and demeaning language toward African-Americans in her presence.
Yet, I love all of this people. I cherish all of these people, despite what I perceive to be shortcomings on their part because I recognize the brokenness and imperfection of humanity, of which I am fully included. It's because for all of their biases or prejudices, there is also goodness within them that shines brighter than that hate.
And that is Obama's message. That this is an imperfect union, but our charge is to work to the best of our ability make it perfect, and sometimes that calls for denouncing the wrong but giving value to the good.
Folks, like Erick, will pick it apart because that's what they do, and that's a shame. It's a shame because they don't know how to process an argument that not only challenges them and their beliefs, but it also opens the door to move past the petty disputes of the past and finally - finally - consider how best to move forward.
posted by Jmac at 4:31 PM
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