Obama's Speech: He Offers Real Hope, We Should Take It
The Reverend Wright homilies were very disturbing, no question.
I thought Barack Obama's speech, which finished just minutes ago, was brilliant, nuanced, healing and shows him to be incredibly worthy as a candidate. I hope America is interested enough in progress to embrace this man. We would be lucky, very lucky, to have him as a president. If you didn't see the speech, please seek it out.
His speech was brave, and touched on the minister and race in general with real wisdom, and hope for healing. He condemned the minister's words again; but he explained what he valued in him, and you have to be rigid and unbending not to understand what he said (and which he compared to his white grandmother, whom he loves greatly, but who sometimes has made racially divisive comments). He spoke of whites with racial resentments with empathy, and kept moving on to the need to find progress for all. (And his anti-corporation thoughts are pretty relevant, I'd say, right now? Are you sick of having your money disappear in value due to banks and financial houses using the money they invest as insane, addictive gambling adventures; and when the games then blow up in all our faces, the people who did the unwise gambling for short term profits then get 100 million dollar "parachutes"? Are we sick of that yet?)
I'm sorry -- I don't often get moved and inspired listening to a speaker. I think Barack Obama is brilliant, and he is a genuine healer. If we don't take our chances with him, we are doomed to more of this endless, idiot, non-constructive bickering deadlock that passes for governance in our stuck, stalled political landscape.
Can't write more. Off to the bus for my teaching job. I am grateful to have a job. (And I can't leave it if I want to keep my health insurance, can I?)
Bravo to the senator from Illinois.
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Obama is a slick politician. His speech was great, but that is what it was a speech with a lot or rhetoric. Typically he had no specific action plan to improve race relations except saying it needs to be dealt as adults. Well great!! but how exactly?? There my friends is his big problem or is it strength!!!
Also he turned the Rev. Wright issue which is primarily an issue of judgment into one primarily of race - crafty.
I was not supporting him initially but now I do as he is not an idealist naive politician I thought him to be but a seasoned one ready to handle the complex issues that Bush will leave behind.
When I hear you morons making statements about Obama's speeches being baseless and empty I realize that the dumbing down of American has been achieved and the rest of us may have to suffer for your ignorance and stupidity. Would you say the same think about MLK and JFK and FDR, and RFK for their brilliant speeches. Brilliant, thoughtful speeches derive from brilliant, thoughtful minds and souls.
Even John McCain has more integrity than the Clintons; at least McCain believes his own bullshit; the Clintons are laughing all the way to the nomination, knowing full well that their systematic manipulation of the dumb masses may pay off after all. The Clintons are no champions of th working-class; they just know how to talk the talk; it's not Obama's talk you should be suspicious of, it's the Clintons talk you need to question.
Barack Obama will never say "I'm sorry" to any Americans who were offended by his own "Uncle" (Jeremiah Wright), therefore he will fail to be a President. Wright's sermons moved many African-Americans and Obama excels in speeches as well. Barack Obama never wears the American flag pin and it explains how is his connection to Wright's ideas, Barack Obama can twist the definition of why he doesn't wear it to fool people who are very naive. His wife wasn't proud of America till now because of Barack Obama is running for Presidency. The word ""Hope" of Audicity" is the very concept of Wright's influential idea to Barack Obama and now he hopes to unite the America? I think a foolish person would fell for it, he should have left the Church long ago because it preaches hate and racism and it's very segrated church. Barack Obama should drop off the Presidential race because he's wasting many Americans money on FALSE HOPE for his lying campaigns. He's better off teaching in school of not to talk about hate or racism. Do more accomplishments than just "plagiarism" speeches.
I see a wolf in sheeps clothing. I am tired of everyone being led by the nose by brilliant speeches. You all know what we say about BS. Anyone can say anything but action always speaks louder than words. I would leave my church if it preached hatred of any group never mind the Country.
I am an American but naturalized not born here. My ancestors were enslaved too, I don't hear them whining about it. Get over it already.
Will be a cold day in Hedes before I vote for this man, I think this is big trouble in the making and then once again we will be crying in our milk. And yes anyone who is a friend of Farrakhan in not a friend of mine..
You probably were not going to vote for Obama prior to speech in the first place. I would also think you more sensitive to the experience of African-American in the United States considering your ancestors were enslaved as well. You probably have more in common with African-Americans than you think. I think terms like whining and crying in our milk adds to your insensitivity and ignorance about race as never been settled in this country, but some of use will never have a honest conversation about the subject. We tend to sweep things under the rug we wish not to discuss because it is hurtful and painful. I was listening to a story about a woman who a white man pull her fingernails out with pliers because they were polished with red polish. Her grand daughter told that story for the Story Corps archive about her grandmother was that woman, and it is a story one does not forget. I would not tell survivors of the Nazi camps to stop whining because it is the kind of memory that does not leave one's psyche.
It has one generation since the civil rights movement, and people's attitude are not going to change. In fact, it may take longer. Saving get over it already is easier said then done, and very insensitive. How would like for someone tell you to get over the death of a parent or child? When you think of from that perspective, it is a horrible thing to say to someone. I think race was always used by the powers that be to cause separation between the masses so that people could not come together with common goals. It was used in the industrial revolution when white workers wanted reasonable working conditions and decent wages. When the workers walked off the jobs, the owners got Asians and blacks to fill the jobs at much lower wages causing a riff. It is human nature to blame a group than placing the blame on the company which caused the problem, but it easy to fight what you see before you, then something invisible. Just something to think about.
You are demanding that Sen. Obama deliver Rev. Wright's head to you on a silver platter. But Obama will not do it, although that would be the path of least resistance. Obama will follow the Christian edict to condemn the sin, but not cast the sinner from his house. If the senator loses your vote, so be it.
You're exactly the kind of ill informed voter that the Clintons are brilliant at exploiting. Most of us have ancestors who were enslaved....but we're talking about slavery in America. Unless you've walked in the shoes of the African-American, please don't judge.
As a white woman of european ancestry I was not at all offended by Wright's remarks, although I don't agree with eveything he said, and yes his angry delivery was vile and over the top. Perhaps I'm not offended because I don't feel guilty, but I can still empathize. If you're offended you obviously you obviously feel guilty. Most people go to church and remain in their church because of 'community', in spite of their pastor. The pope and the catholic beliefs have caused more damage in the world, than any religion I can think of. Millions of people have been discouraged from using birth control because of catholic beliefs. As a results thousands of unwanted pregnancies, over-population, poverty, AIDS. Wright, who is an ex-marine, accomplished so much good for his community., ...he should be judged by his actions.
Just go wear your little flag pin. It's permission not to think. And it's made in China.
There is one statement that Obama made yesterday that I think everyone posting here will agree with 100%:
"Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough."
Senator Obama's speech was incredibly profound and courageous. I kept thinking, "this is our president."
After 7 long years of organized incompetence and outright lies, America is ready for a leader with this level of intelligence and vision and depth of spirit.
Thank you Mr. Durang. Thank you Seantor Obama.
peace.
Well yes when you put it that way in contrast to Bush he looks good doesn't he? So you want more lies do you? I mean how can you go to church and not hear hatred being spewed from the pulpit? This will surely go down as the biggest scam ever perpetrated on America. I would rather write in a candidate than vote for this covert racist. Be careful what you wish for it may become your reality.
I am always amazed at the ignorance and stubborness of the average American....
Of course I'm aware that IS BY DESIGN....KEEP THEM IGNORANT AND DUMB (fox, cnn etc...)and they will agree with everything you tell them and run to their DOOM. Like sheep!
It is happennig.....The Administration has succeedeed to fool most of us still....It is almost too late to turn around....Clinton is part of that picture.
OBAMA at this point is the only one who can MAYBE help us turn around, we hire McCAIN or CLINTON and WE ARE DOOMED!!!!!
PLEASE PEOPLE WAKE UP NOW!
I agree..it's absolutely frightening. This kind of systematic manipulation by the right wing pols and the right wing/mediocrity /status quo media reminds me of what occurred in nazi Germany....people ask in wonder how the people in Germany could be so guilable and stupid to allow naziism to rise---it's easy to understand when you see what's happening here in America....you've got 'archie bunker' enclaves throughout America and right here in Queens, NY.
Sorry but hope doesn't pay the mortgage or the gasoline or the kids going to school, for that matter.
...but hopelessness does?
I hope that Americans are wise and willing enough to recognize the greatness standing before them. Win or lose, this man has earned my respect and I will consider him my leader, no matter who wins the election. Just the opinion of one 59 year old white female ex-Republican who was touched and moved and amazed at the courage and the brilliance! (I am SO proud of Barack Obama - whatever happens from here on out, he's here to STAY!)
So true! We are the change we've been waiting for, and he is the leader our nation needs. Intelligence + Integrity + Wisdom + Compassion + Vision all in the same candidate. I am hopeful - and donating and making phone calls!!
Obama offers hope, and he destroys hope. He says that we must overcome our internal struggles, and that although government cannot directly cause this to occur, it must do what it can to support and assist us in accomplishing this.
And yet, when he talks about Iraq, he doesn't talk about shared vision. He doesn't talk about Iraqis desiring the same freedom and pursuit of happiness as we do. He ostracizes them. He distances them. He puts them into a neat little package, and blames them for all their woes.
He doesn't offer them hope. He says that they and they alone can solve their problems. He says that our government has no role. He says that our presence is a crutch, preventing them from progressing. He says that the Iraqis must be abandoned so that they can rise to the task.
How does this fit in with his vision for the future? Why doesn't he see reverse racism by the government as a crutch? Why doesn't he demand that we abandon such policies and force the black community to rise to the task? Why doesn't he say that blacks alone can solve problems in their own communities, their own families, and their own culture?
There's a major, major disconnect. If racism devastated the black community, then didn't the war in Iraq devastate the Iraqis? If the black community requires understanding and assistance and compassion, don't the Iraqis require the same?
Obama talks a lot about shared vision and the inherent humanity within each of us, but when it comes to Iraq, he blatantly refuses to be his brother's keeper. He blatantly refuses to accept responsibility for our role in the situation.
Would someone please explain this to me?
Iraq is a soverign nation. Clear?
You may as well put him on Ignore. Others have tried to get through to him on this thread. It's like following a rabbit down a hole.
"Iraq is a soverign nation. Clear?"
As is Afghanistan. And yet, Obama says we MUST assist Afghanis in their fledgling democracy.
Isn't it convenient how Obama's inspiring, unifying, humanizing rhetoric can so easily be dismissed when it becomes politically inconvenient for him?
Iraqis are not American, they should not be required by anyone to conform to any "Democracy" that they haven't decided on themselves. We (our government) invaded Iraq on the capitalization of 9/11 sympathies, national shock, and anger - - I have said this from the moment I knew we were going in to this day, the war in Iraq....has a further agenda riding on the soundbyte "War on Terror".
I would speculate that Iran being the next target under the "Nuclear Boogeyman" clause will go much the same....I digress, the way we we invaded Iraq, and the way we continue to play guerilla games with the opposition there has no bearing on what we as United States Citizens have to do to come to terms with our own racial issues. Our brothers/sisters keeper is relevant to policing our own society, not to enforce freedom/democracy on nations with their own cultural history using an iron fist.
One of the points I took from Obama's speech was: You, and you alone are responsible for your successes or failures, and while we all have a common goal to prosper, be happy, and live peacefully....ultimately there is no "man" holding anyone down from achieving these things, so quit looking for someone to blame, and keep your eyes on the prize.
I cannot jump up and down in celebration of Obama's speech today. I have watched this election very closely and have come to an independent conclusion that has since been validated by various journal articles that it was Obama who injected race into the primaries, not Clinton. The supporters and surrogates of the Obama campaign twisted, distorted, misrepresented and exploited comments made by Clinton supporters, all the while when his spiritual advisor and mentor was spewing messages of hatred toward country and countrymen. Now that he is facing charges of possible racism, he is trying to present himself as the one to fix the problem. He is the problem. He created the problem. He exploited the problem. All the rhetoric in the world no matter how flowing makes up for what he has done to sway this election based on race. It is not statistically probable that 80% to 90% of any group would vote similarly, yet he was able to reduce Clinton's lead among African Americans by these overwhelming margins. This is racism. He is responsible for it. And I don't forgive him.
"...it was Obama who injected race into the primaries, not Clinton. The supporters and surrogates of the Obama campaign twisted, distorted, misrepresented and exploited comments made by Clinton supporters..."
Citation, please?
Check out Michele Obama's speech's during Nov. 2007
"The black people ought to wake up and vote for my husband"
Citation? How about Geraldine Ferraro! Her comments were taken out of context and called racist by Obama's campaign manager! That was certainly divisive and a reflection of the mind set. And that's just the most recent time - besides the fact that now the focus is on race completely in this campaign and when he could have been making these speeches about these important issues - months ago, years ago - and not in reaction to the possibly of loosing his voting base. Now, of course as we all see the FOCUS is NOT on the disasters of this war, not on the failing economy, not on people loosing their homes, not on the state of education or the difficulty in accessing it, not on the losses on wall street and NOT on the current games Bush is now playing with the Federal Reserve! Those things affect ALL of us! Obama said in his speech that he has made some mistakes in this campaign. He didn't say what those mistakes were but surely having his people call on the race card so many times was his biggest personal mistake - granted the silver lining in his misfortune is the important discusion on race but he didn't pro-actively start that conversation! After calling on the race card so many times, it seems he got just what his handlers say he didn't want to happen! Didn't want to happen? Hmmm.
Obama never injected race into the primaries; in fact he tried to keep race out of the primaries. I was a Clinton supporter until I realized the Clinton machine was injecting race and all kinds of slander and lies. The Clintons figured they had the blacks in their pocket and for a while they did...Obama had to prove himself to the black community and once he did, only then did they come around. You are proof that the Clintons are geniuses at exploiting the ill-informed.
What percentage of blacks voted for John Kerry? 80 to 90%? It must have been the support of his racist black preacher drumming up votes in 2004. Obama should tell some of his supporters in the black community that enough is enough. Hillary ought to tell her women voters that the numbers are getting suspiciously high as well.
please look up the definition of racism before you use it to accuse my candidate of something he is not responsible for. The reason why 80-90% of AAs are voting for him is because he's BRILLIANT as yesterday's speech illustrated.
Yes, we damn well can!
The anti-Obama attacks and are already getting extreme, and it’s still six months before the November election. We’ve been bombarded with discussions about Sen. Obama’s pastor’s words and what it might mean about Obama’s integrity or judgment. Jeremiah Wright, pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ, said, “God Damn America.” How shocking! I gotta tell you, I’m more scared about the opposition’s tactics (they must have spent a lot of time weeding through old sermons to dig up this stuff) then the words an African American pastor uses to express his outrage at our country’s often misguided policies.
So, what about the D word and what does it mean to criticize America? The word damn is partially defined as “to doom to eternal punishment or condemn to hell”, but that’s not what it means to everyone. I've said damn plenty of times in my life, and I sure didn't mean it in the biblical sense. When I say damn, in my very own secular way, it means I'm mad or frustrated at whatever comes after it ("The damn car won't start," "The damn dog stole a burger," or "The damn President won't admit global warming exists or that the economy is in the crapper.") See, it’s not the word that’s so bad, it’s the situation.
What about Obama’s “association” with someone who would say stuff like this? Hell (whoops, I mean Heck) he already vehemently condemned all the statements that are the subject of controversy. He said the statements directly contradict his profound love for this country. What more do people want?
This kind of attack is to be expected. Americans are getting inspired by the possibility of taking back our government, mitigating the damage done by our out-of-control President, and restoring control over our economy. Big business, the GOP and theocratic institutions recognize the swell of public revolt and are running scared. America has done some wonderful things in this world, but our government has also done things I’m ashamed of, including propping up terroristic leaders in other countries, killing innocent civilians in Iraq and elsewhere, and spying illegally on our own citizens. It’s not a case of America Right or Wrong. We can love our country without being blind to its failings. In fact, criticizing our country’s mistakes is our duty as citizens, especially when the government makes them in our name (and with our tax money). That might include stopping the Bush giveaways to the ultra rich, ending the war in Iraq while still helping their fledgling government, and supporting our struggling middle class and our economy. It might even mean holding Fox “News” accountable to the public it supposedly serves. Obama’s candidacy for Presidents represents those possibilities for many of us.
So what if Pastor Wright said God Damn America. I’d prefer to keep it in context with the many other things he has said. Maybe in the process of talking about mistakes America made he felt so frustrated he couldn’t think of a more rational way to express himself. Maybe he deliberately chose those words to get a rise out of the audience, or to inspire them to take action to make our country better. Lord knows, many sermons leave listeners snoozing. Were those two seconds picked out of hours and hours of sermons where he says uplifting, peaceful, inspiring words? Is Pastor Wright a good person who does good work in the world but who gets frustrated now and then because he’s working with downtrodden people? One thing’s for sure, sound bites don’t give you the whole story.
No matter what the context was for the pastor’s statements, Barack Obama is not responsible for what someone else says. But you can see just how scared the opposition is when they sift through his pastor’s sermons for the past twenty years to get a couple of potentially damaging sound bites. Trust me, that kind of digging for dirt and out-of-context finger pointing is what makes people like me fight all the harder for change.
This isn’t about Obama, it’s about the rest of us reclaiming our government. So here are a few more words for you: YES WE DAMN WELL CAN!
How was his speech brave? He was trying to save his candidacy.
If he disagreed with the minister, speaking up during his 20-yr relationship with the church would have been brave.
To sit in a pew and hear hateful speech directed at vulnerable, impressionable minds, but yet fail to stand up and speak out against those harmful words is to fail in leadership.
Even a person who is less than presidential material, should be moved to step up in such a situation.
But to sit quietly for 20 years, and to fail to speak out vehemently shows cowardice, not courage.
If ever there was an opportunity to try and implement "change" his church was a shining example. As a member for twenty years, he should have spoken out. His failure to do so shows that he either agreed with the hateful words, or he is not equipped with the character to be a leader.
Monique, I disagree with you.
We didn't see the whole sermon, don't know where Rev. Wright started, don't know where he ended, but I believe he spoke out of pain. If you love America, you are furious when America fails to live up to its ideals and promise. While we're here, we're the keepers of the flame. If you're a Christian believing we should love our neighbors and treat others as we wish to be treated, you feel wild pain when we don't. Rev. Wright reminded me of my father, who had fits when we did wrong. He shamed us into doing better.
One thing I would take away from Obama's speech today is tremendous reassurance and confidence, no matter who I am or what side of an issue I might take. That's because Obama considers all sides. He listens respectfully to all ideas, is curious and fair. The one thing he does not tolerate is personal attacks.
Words are more effective than guns. The First Amendment is of the utmost importance as opposed to some candy words. It matters that we say and hear. Everybody.
Pretty much that's what's missing in America's "national security." Our bombs and Gitmos and dungeons are measures of our national insecurity, which is what you get when you can't be respectful, can't be fair, can't be real, can't HEAR another person, another country, another viewpoint.
What a weight fell off today. We can be real again. We can be Americans again. We can be fellow humans again. Joy!
The video clips were put together by Rev. Wright's church, not by Fox or other news sources. They reflect the message of the church. The rest of the sermons can be about love or making the trains run on time. Neither negates what the Pastor said.
Exposing the thoughts of Obama's "Spiritual Advisor" is not a personal attack. It is telling you something about what Obama thinks. We, as voters, need to know about the whole man or woman asking for our votes. We, as voters, have an obligation to know what we are voting for.
I am a registered Democrat. As a White Jewish male, I will not vote for Obama. His spiritual advisor thinks I am the enemy. By having a 20 year association with a man who hates me, why on earth should I think that Obama is for me? why should I even take the risk? Obama, the miracle man is a miracle man only until you dig deeper and find out what he really thinks.
I'm with you, Monique. This was not the reflection of Obama pro-actively giving a "brave" speech -and although the message was profoundly important, to show vision, leadership, brave - HE SHOULD have made it a LONG time ago. Now, that would have been brave! He obviously did this one to save his campaign!
I agree with you monique. Action speaks louder than any words ever do. I would leave my church in a heart beat if they spewed hatred for any group. To sit there week after week and not do anything is to agree. Sorry, if you have integrity you act upon it. But who am I , my church is mixed racially, we don't care what you drive, what you wear just that you come in the spirit of love. This man is not someone I would vote for.
I saw it tonight on C-Span. It was like a long dawn, getting warmer and brighter. Grinning. You know how FUN it is when somebody pulls something off right in front of you, when you're in the presence of somebody who can really surf the wave, dance the mess around, pull a Beatle? I am LOVING it! I saw the Constitution resurrected, our old friend, breathing in and out again, inhabited again by We the People. I only wish Barack had been speaking across the street at Independence Hall, that would have made it perfect.
What you mean is that Obama offers us a chance to end "racism." I think we should take it!!!
He didn't advise his spiritual advisor to stop the racism and he had 20 years time to do it.
what have you done in the last 20 years read the clinton legacy and tell everyone why they should vote for her instead of spreading your hate. thank you
I listened to Obama's speech on TV live this morning. And try as I may, I could not help but cry. It was so honest and a call to our higher selves. Then when it was over, I had to call and ask others did they feel the same way as I had to listening to it or was I just dreaming. And they all said they were confirmed in their support for this man as out President.
But tonight, I see the Fox media pundits still trying to marginalize Obama. I hope America is intelligent enough to discuss the issues and move forward with the best candidate for our collective future. If not, we will deserve what we get with a McCain or Clinton. Empty promises while they work for lobbyists and not the dummies who elected them. And why should they?
I hope so too but I know that as a whole America is not that intelligent. I think that it is up to us to tell everyone that we know the truth. I have been watching news channels all day and if America gets its truth from them then we are in trouble. It is up to us so take the challenge and do something about this. Please let everyone you know the truth.
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