Barack Obama: Change
My fellow Americans, the moment of truth is here. America has spoken and is ready to move forward with much-needed change. Barack Obama represents that change. To my fellow Americans who can't accept a black man as President, as the great grandson of former slaves, I want you to know that I am empathetic, sympathetic and commiserate with your predicament. I understand very well that after more than three centuries of being taught, conditioned and indoctrinated to see the black man as your inferior, it is unrealistic to think that now you can just change to respect him. That's easier said than done.
Try to think of your children and their children and a better life for them. Try to think of your beloved country America and what's best for Miss Liberty. Then try not to think of Barack Obama as a black man but as an American fighting for what's best for your children and your country. Barack Obama is in it to win it. He can't give in, he can't give up and he can't quit. He's fighting for a better future--black and white alike.
The following issues are firmly planted in the minds of the American people: the economy, jobs, health care, education, national security, and improving America's image around the world. America needs change and has wisely chosen Barack Obama to lead that change.
We are living in a time when custom and tradition has grown to a new level of elevation and progress. Let freedom ring, Barack Obama, from every hill, every dell, every nook and cranny of America, let freedom ring throughout every state, every city and every ghetto of this great land. Innovative and imaginative thinking is an idea whose time has come.
It appears America is finally ready to accept its challenge, "One land indivisible with liberty and justice for all," and fulfill its promise. "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal."
History has taught us that when we cover up an unassailable truth rather than face a clear, undeniable reality, the result is chaos, bigotry, bias, prejudice and divisiveness.
I love America.... And I love the American people, black and white alike. When I began my boxing career, I quickly realized and appreciated the fact that people hold the key to success. Innovation and imagination are my tools, a better America is my goal, and I believe people are beautiful. So let's come together with unity, solidarity and togetherness.
My boxing career began while helping the Forrest City Hospital, a hospital which served the black community of Cleveland, Ohio. Devastated by racial segregation and discrimination, "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali came to Cleveland and performed a boxing exhibition spotlighting the plight of the organization.
The event led me to stage "The Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa, Zaire, in 1974. Even though I had signed the two most famous athletes in the world, racism prevented me from producing the event in my beloved homeland of America. Instead I went to Africa where I met Mubuto Sese Seko, President of Zaire, and the rest is history.
Despite its racist history, I am proud to be an American. I never thought I would live to see the day a black man be elected as the President of the United States of America and have his campaign taken seriously, endorsed and supported by the American people, black and white alike. Demonstrating peaceful co-existence, tolerance and acceptance: America The Beautiful!!!
Peaceful co-existence means we must love each other. We must trust each other. We must respect each other. We must work with each other and perform with each other.
We must believe somehow or in some form the moral universe is on the side of justice. We must come to believe as Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "I can't be what we ought to be until you can be what you ought to be. And you can't be what you ought to be until I can be what I ought to be."
We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality. What effects one directly, effects all indirectly. We must eradicate the slave master mentality or capitalism without rights. It is unjust. We must believe there is something in the universe that evolves for justice. Martin Luther King Jr. called it "cosmic companionship."
The world is watching American history in the making, live and in living color. We've taken an important step in the right direction by electing Barack Obama as the President of the United States. America and the world will never be the same again. I believe our country will be transformed into that New Jerusalem John saw on the island of Patmos. A New America transformed from a land of hypocrisy, bigotry, discrimination and divisiveness to an oasis of unity, liberty and freedom. We will enjoy a new respect for the human personality and a divine love for humanity.
We have a great opportunity here in America. An opportunity to build a great nation. A nation where all people, men and women, black and white, Catholic and Protestant, Jew and gentile, Latin and Asian, Chinese and Japanese, live together as brothers and sisters, families and friends, with God at the center blessing us, guiding us to respect the dignity and worth of all human beings.
It's our time. America is on the move and there is nothing stopping her now. The change that we need is underway.
"Civil Rights is an eternal moral issue
which may well determine the destiny
of our civilization in the ideological
struggle with communism. We must
we must keep moving with wise restraint
and love and with proper discipline and
dignity."
--Marin Luther King Jr.
America has the opportunity to lead the world with love, respect, tolerance and understanding--reducing hatred and minimizing wars.
Barack Obama can make a difference. Peace, freedom from war, a cessation or absence of hostilities between nations. Prevention is better than cure.
The peace established during and after war means: stopping of killing openly, the stopping of the arms, automatic weaponry, bombs, nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction. No more fighting each other, under the terms and conditions of the peace agreement.
But, we must remember, this doesn't end attitudinal hate. Hate of the adversary, who we have been taught and conditioned to loathe. The hurt, scars wounds and deaths of loved ones we've mentally and psychologically fed off of must be dealt with while we continue our personal battle against hate and any bigotry we've been taught to believe in. Our deliverance lies in the love you feel for this country and your relentless pursuit to reach the goal.
True freedom, is easier said than done; however we must keep the faith, believe in God, and ask him to free your mind and touch your heart.
And for those Americans, who just can't accept an African American as President of the United States, ask God to help you to pretend that Barack Obama is white!!!!
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Don King.
Now here's an opinion I would value.
They don't come any sharper than this fellow.
Don, could you see the Presidents press briefings as pay per view?
Go figure that an enthusiastic supporter of George W. Bush can offer no more insight into the issue than stating the obvious.
A heart warming message by a controversial man. Absent from his piece, i believe, in speaking of moving into the future, is how we can be even further inclusive of those indoctrinated by control and confusion, to bridge gaps in logic by holding a more open discussion of what racism really is with those who consider themselves so, upon the fact that it is purely indoctrination into misunderstanding and nothing else. Sometimes criticism of racism lends to a substantiating of it. I believe we're living in a time wherein people can step out of the confines of the term itself, and into open analysis of it's purer synonym, indoctrination. Why has someone given up control over their mental ability to independently ascertain what has triggered the choice of one's submission to faulty logic and a refusal to be understanding of truth? If labels got us into the mess, how would labels be able to get us out? I believe the future is unlabeled, and us collectively with it. Love is sewn into the lives of those blanketed by small mindedness as surely as those blessed with open-mindedness. Understanding is being informed when information is love. Those misinformed and lacking that love, are misunderstanding. Let love ring, freedom will be right there alongside.
Mr King,
As a white person, I'd like to give this advice to my fellow white people, we elected a black man to be president. If you don't like it or feel embarrased-get over it. We, the voters of the USA, elected a black man as POTUS, that is it, no ifs, ands or buts. This is no big deal.
The majority of America didn't vote, and that in itself is a sad story. Obama was elected by a majority of the popular vote and soon to be Electoral College. WE didn't elect him, because almost half of the people who voted didn't vote for Obama.
As for getting over it, as you state - it's NOT ABOUT RACE. To say that those of us who didn't vote for Obama are somehow afraid or unwilling to accept a "Black Man' as president as as preposterous as saying you didn't vote for Bush because he's white.
You and I can disagree about the election results and have a vigorous discussion about it, but leave the race baiting at home. It has no place in this debate. I've told others the same thing and will continue until our president will stand or fall on his accomplishments (as has been the standard of every other president) and not by the color of his skin.
^ ^ ^ Republican panties in a knot ^ ^ ^
"WE didn't elect him, because almost half of the people who voted didn't vote for Obama."
Where did you learn math? Liberty U.? Obama scored 9 million votes more than his closest opponent. W scored less votes than Gore in 2000. (He needed Harris and SCOTUS to win the election.) W only scored three million more votes than Kerry in 2004. (He needed help from Republican electoral corruption in Ohio to win the EC.)
"It [race] has no place in this debate."
WE didn't elect you as the DEBATE DECIDER.
"I've told others the same thing...."
"Others" as in other than white bigots?
Actually, that is not true.
131 million people voted this year for President. That is 63% of all eligible voters.
Obama got 69.5 million votes which is 53% of the eligible voters.
There are many people in the US who are under 18 or not citizens or are not qualified to vote for some other reason. The majority of eligible voters did vote by far.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2008
Michael Franti & Spearhead have released a new song called the “Obama Song.” The song, which also features Solliloquists of Sound, Cherine Anderson, and Anthony B, has been released as a free download at www.iLike.com The song is a tribute to the president elect Barack Obama and is a celebration of the hope and optimism that has filled the hearts and minds of the country ever since the words uttered on the campaign trail, “Yes We Can.” It is also yet another example of how Michael utilizes his music to effectively convey his message of peace, joy and hope. Featuring Michael’s unique sound, “Obama Song”’s lyrics will resonate with all those that were similarly moved by Obama’s message of peace, unity, and hope. The song is currently available for a FREE download at iLike.com/frant
Good call.
“We’ve got a governor in Rod Blagojevich who has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois.”
-barack obama, illinois state fair, august 2006.
Your boy lost. Get over it.
"To my fellow Americans who can't accept a black man as President, as the great grandson of former slaves, I want you to know that I am empathetic, sympathetic and commiserate with your predicament."
Don.
1. It is unlikely that anyone with these kind of thoughts would be a frequent flyer on HuffPo.
2. I think it is about time that the black racists get over the fact that Obama was elected by the white folks. Without their vote he would not have been elected. You can say thank you. In fact, that might be a more positive approach than the old, tired race baiting agenda of you liberals.
3. Keep your sympathy. From now every white, black, asian, hispanic and "other" will get what they earn and not what the government says they deserve because of their race. As Martin said, they will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Hahaha, Oh my aren't we self-important?
Question.................what do those deserve that that treat people inhumanely because of the shade of their skin? You say that all americans will get what they deserve, I don't think you quite understand history.
"Get what they earn?"...How would one "earn" the right to vote, or "earn" the right to marry, or "earn" the right to work for a decent wage, or "earn" the right to health care? I am eager to hear how one might "earn" these civil liberties without the government being involved, or without being born into "privilege".
what he said was "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. " Call me when that happens.
Not sure why my comments didn't post since it wasn't offensive (what's the deal lately, HuffPo?), but to keep my original sentiment short and to the point: Get over it!
Don,
Thanks for voting the right way this time. I'm not quite sure why you were always a republican in the past. I guess you've finally seen the light.
You're right about Ali. He was the greatest; the hand speed, the foot work, the jab, the confidence. Marciano was a tough customer, but he would have been unable to handle the big men like Ali could.
I want more from Mr king and Sean Penn and Cesa, and J Lee Curtis, Carville and Begala and Larry david, HAHA, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year while I'm at it everybody!
See John Wellington Ennis's Profile
I appreciate your comments about the historical significance of this new administration, and share your pride in the progress that it represents for our country.
I am glad that you support Obama after proudly endorsing George W. Bush on FOX News. (Even Obama had to ask: "Is FOX news included in the media?")
Your post is all the more striking because of your support for Ken Blackwell when he ran for governor of your home state of Ohio. As many remember, Blackwell ran the election in Ohio 2004 while co-chair of Bush's campaign.
I made a documentary following Ken Blackwell's bid for Governor of Ohio in 2006 while investigating the 2004 election. FREE FOR ALL!, online at www.freeforall.tv, chronicles Blackwell’s efforts to suppress African-American voters through too few machines, deliberate confusion of polling places, ID laws and provisional ballots. A quarter of the voters in your hometown of Cleveland were purged from the voting rolls, one of the biggest Democratic counties in the country.
Combined with efforts to privatize the voting process with Republican contractors, my film is a case study of how our democratic process has been subverted and what we can do.
Hopefully your posting is indicative of an expanded awareness, a sincere embrace of Obama's message of change and progress in a new era, and that you will continue to use your name and voice to spread a message of reform, transparency, and thus accountability.
Wow.
I sure hope Blackwell doesn't get the RNC Chair. That's terrible. I'll look up your documentary.
Don-
I have never been convinced that the 'Louisville Lip' was the 'Greatest' but he certainly was an olympic champion, to us boxing fans.
As a promoter of a sport that is considered sadistic by many, would you not like to see the 'Good old days' of Cassius Clay, Ray Robinson, Ingemar Johanssen .........? And, forget the likes of Sonny Liston and Gerry Clooney?
-As you always say "Only in America". Keep talking, Don, your words always make me go to the dictionary. You should be a politician.
Mr. King,
In your article you speak of Tolerance, Love, Understanding, and the "attitudinal Hatred" that we have been TAUGHT and CONDITIONED to feel, and I wonder if you were including our Gay and Lesbian fellow Americans. Do you support thier "rights and freedoms" that you talk so fondly about. Will you "search your heart, and ask God to Free your mind" for thier freedoms and rights?
In your own words:...
Peaceful co-existence means we must love each other. We must trust each other. We must respect each other. We must work with each other and perform with each other.
We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality. What effects one directly, effects all indirectly. We must believe there is something in the universe that evolves for justice.
Do these words and ideologies encompass ALL americans, or just the "straight" ones? Will you breach the wall of ignorance towards homosexuality and accept that GOD created ALL men and women, and we should "love, respect, tolerate, and understand to reduce war and hatred?"
" We are a nation with homosexuals; men and women, black and white, Catholic and Protestant, Jew and gentile, Latin and Asian, Chinese and Japanese, living together as brothers and sisters, families and friends, with God at the center blessing us, guiding us to respect the dignity and worth of all human beings."
These are YOUR words, do they apply to ALL of us, or just the "chosen few"?
Ummmmmm, Mr. King, are you just now getting in on this discussion????
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