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- NoDrama, on 03/21/2008, -16/+30Obama is right to reject (and denounce) Wright's hyperbolic, inflammatory rhetoric, yet he his righteous to distinguish the words from the man. His courageous willingness to bare his soul in candidly shining the light on a topic most politicians shun demonstrates his fitness as a leader, and his cogent explanation of the history paired to the belief that we must move forward is precisely what so many have deemed the proper credentials for a U.S. President.
- AdonisEffect, on 03/21/2008, -8/+2Well said.
- krnldmp, on 03/21/2008, -6/+3With plenty of drama.
- rthakidn, on 03/21/2008, -12/+14I'm sorry, I can't agree. Obama spoke for 37 minutes and said nothing of consequence. In typical politician fashion, please note I did not say Republican or Democrat, he phrased his speech in such a way as to "not take a side". He condemned actions, but made excuse for them. Acknowledged attitudes but did not say they were wrong. If the change Obama preaches will ever happen, it will not happen from the same attitudes that have existed, still exist and he defends. If this man wishes to be accepted as an instrument of change, than he will have to step outside the comfort of those that will not criticize him. He must say I cannot be with you, because you are everything that is wrong with race in America. A person cannot ask others to change until he himself has taken the first step,or made himself vulnerable. I will agree that many blacks still harbor resentment and anger born of racism, whites still fear and resentment from affirmative action. But the answer is not to say I understand it, that only perpetuates those feelings. The answer is to say, get over it.
- sonstone, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2This reminds me of the gay dog South Park episode. Stan - "Now, don't be gay! Don't be gay, Spark!"
- CoolWind, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4snore.....
- captZEEbo, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2I don't get why people think "baring their soul" is an important issue for becoming a candidate. Must be why Hillary "cries". I prefer a system where intelligent people could become president instead of demagogues. I think it's telling when we will most likely never have an atheist president. We will never again have an ugly president. We will never have a president that can't give a good speech. The system blows.
- b0geyman, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Yes, and I'm sure that if McCain went to weekly KKK meetings for 20 years and then denounced everything the imperial wizard said and "bared his soul" he would be in good with you, right?
- semrocks, on 03/22/2008, -1/+2Glad to see he gave Don Imus the same treatment.
Oh wait...
- AdonisEffect, on 03/21/2008, -8/+2Well said.
- flip2trip, on 03/21/2008, -20/+22Funny he was only ready to move forward when his campaign started taking on water from the Wright story.
- drband36, on 03/21/2008, -15/+9Actually, he considered rebuking Rev. Wright at the beginning of the campaign...then decided not to because Rev. Wright was in the process of retiring. He'd hoped to spare the old man some embarrassment.
Bad call? Maybe. But he certainly did consider it. I'm an atheist and I find all of this talk about politics mixed with religion to be a bit much (from any candidate), but...I think Obama's decision to strongly rebuke the words of Rev. Wright while still maintaining his social ties to him to be the right call.
Elise in NH
http://www.obamastraws.blogspot.com
http://www.barackfacts.blogspot.com
http://www.kitchensink08.blogspot.com- rthakidn, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Right, the man that would be president has social ties to a racist. Good call. That's change for you.
- MariusAgricola, on 03/21/2008, -2/+10It seems more clear that he was forced into this. Perhaps Obama was optimistic that race would not play as big a role as it has started to. He was always ready to "move forward," but hadn't seen the necessity before the media ran with Wright's words.
I don't know, maybe I am just the optimistic one. In any event, I felt that Obama's speech was sincere and timely.- diggdat, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2...as did I.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -2/+1As I considered it as trite and political. And a few days later I became a "typical" white person. Just like J. Wright is a "typical" black person? Don't think so!
- CryRightardCry, on 03/24/2008, -0/+2@aadyss
Yeah, but it looks like this is the ONLY thing you've commented on.
Seems like you are REALLY into this racial thing.
You don't seem like a typical white, you seem like a rightard dick.
Was this black fella not being respectful enough to you?
- diggdat, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2...as did I.
- JointVenture, on 03/21/2008, -2/+5I'm quoting the Lobamatist who said,
"Actually, he considered rebuking Rev. Wright at the beginning of the campaign...then decided not to because Rev. Wright was in the process of retiring. He'd hoped to spare the old man some embarrassment."
OK, then why did Obama name him to run his African religious council? He only fired him after this all came out?
nice try sparky- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -4/+1Maybe Obama didn't really want to fire him? Maybe the only reason Obama fired Wright from the council was to appease all the mindless ***** who will display a demented faux outrage at something his pastor said which was taken completely out of context? Maybe Obama's the type of person that uses his brain to assess certain situations, and can stay loyal to a friend, even though he disagrees with him sometimes?
Geez, give a monkey a cookie and it wants the whole cookie factory. Grow up.- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1use of the "f" word has placed you in the mentally challenged monkey group cupcake.
- alyceclover, on 03/22/2008, -1/+1Um, why did President Johnson have a letter sent to Wright saying this: The President thanks you for your help at the time of his recent hospitalization.
He greatly appreciates your skill and competence in your field which greatly added greatly to his comfort and speedy recovery from his operation.
And why did President Bill Clinton invite him to the White House for a Prayer Breakfast? KKK alive and kicking in the good old boys US of A today. How sad.
- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -4/+1Maybe Obama didn't really want to fire him? Maybe the only reason Obama fired Wright from the council was to appease all the mindless ***** who will display a demented faux outrage at something his pastor said which was taken completely out of context? Maybe Obama's the type of person that uses his brain to assess certain situations, and can stay loyal to a friend, even though he disagrees with him sometimes?
- drband36, on 03/21/2008, -15/+9Actually, he considered rebuking Rev. Wright at the beginning of the campaign...then decided not to because Rev. Wright was in the process of retiring. He'd hoped to spare the old man some embarrassment.
- matt70, on 03/21/2008, -15/+20What I fail to see is how people have trouble understanding Barack's position. Take our great nation. I'm a proud American. We have a lot over the history of this country of which to be proud. Many brave men and women have forged who we are and what we have meant to others around the world. But just because I love my country, doesn't mean that I agree with everything we've ever done. Slavery was a horrible sin, as was the treatment and eradication of the Native American. What we're doing in Iraq right now is not a particularly proud moment. But I'm an American and I'll not leave because of these unfortunate things in our past or present. For those on the right, ask yourself this question: How can you continue to support your Nation when it permits abortion? Since you're and American and abortion is legal here, should the rest of the world assume that you must also support abortion. Shouldn't you have just up and left for some place that did not have legal abortion in 1973? Of course, this would be ridiculous. It is equally ridiculous asking (no demanding) that Obama should have left his Church at the first sign of things with which he disagrees.
- IMJGalt, on 03/21/2008, -12/+13
- MoofTheStoof, on 03/21/2008, -5/+2The nuts are out in force, today. They swarm over anything that might encourage reconciliation or help people to make this a better country for *all* of us. Still, I'll happily listen to their whining for the next eight years if it means an Obama presidency.
- RepubOperative, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3Maybe you are one of the 30% that hasn't heard everything that Wright said. Take the time NOW to listen in on what this argument is all about. Listen to a black African nationalist racist:
YouTube - Best of Jeremiah Wright's Sermons Pt. 1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=617eK2XIaLk
YouTube - Best of Jeremiah Wright's Sermons Pt. 2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vaNBzU6iryo
YouTube - Jeremiah Wright - Hillary Clinton ain't never been called...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM
- RepubOperative, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3Maybe you are one of the 30% that hasn't heard everything that Wright said. Take the time NOW to listen in on what this argument is all about. Listen to a black African nationalist racist:
- MoofTheStoof, on 03/21/2008, -5/+2The nuts are out in force, today. They swarm over anything that might encourage reconciliation or help people to make this a better country for *all* of us. Still, I'll happily listen to their whining for the next eight years if it means an Obama presidency.
- iloveazngurlzs, on 03/21/2008, -7/+2tl;dr
- rthakidn, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Matt, your analogy doesn't work. As you describe, those against abortion might leave because they disagree with the practice?? The answer is to change it within the framework of the Constitution, legal system, or as you say, leave. The key word is change. Barrack doesn't need to leave his church, but should try to change those things he finds offensive. In this case, racism. To my knowledge, he never tried to do that. You know we have seen this for 40 years in the white community. On more than one occasion individuals (white) that belongs to a whites only country club where labeled racist because of the racist practices of the club. Doesn't it then also hold true that someone who belongs to a church with racist sermons and teaching should ALSO be considered racist? And last, "at the first sign", Obama was a member there for 20 years. I'm sorry, people are trying to prop him up using a double standard. It doesn't work.
- matt70, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2You assume that the Church is actually "racist" and has been for the last twenty years. What Obama has admitted freely is that sometimes his former pastor made statements that were critical of our government and our policies. He also said that he was present for some controversial discussions. Based on what I have learned of this Church and of Rev Wright, this is not a racist Church....a politically active Church, yes. Have you or anyone else uncovered secret church doctrine that talks about the elimination of all white people? Is it the allegiance to Africa that offends? Is it pride in being black? I would suggest that there is little evidence that the regular Sunday message in this Church was hate or racism.
Let's assume that Obama had heard some of this rhetoric over the years. Do you know what he has done to effect change in his church and with his minister? Sometimes as simply a member (as opposed to being a leader) in an organization, it is hard to effect change. The bottom line is that you do not know and neither do I.
As for using the argument of "that's the standards that whites have been held for forty years so now we must hold him to that standard," I disagree. First of all, Trinity United Church of Christ is not a "black" only Church. Whites can and do attend this Church. Second, guilt by association is a shallow argument. I associate with, am friends with, go to Church with people with whom I have profound political, social and religious disagreements. Our founding Fathers disagreed on many points, but found common ground What kind of Nation would we have if John Adams refused to work with George Washington or Thomas Jefferson because they were slave owners?
Barack Obama is not a racist. Perhaps some people with whom he is close are, but he clearly is not. Let's end the distraction and move on to solving out Nation's problems.- 3ugene, on 03/22/2008, -0/+2Barack Obama referenced his racist grandmother as a "typical white person" in his 'Race Speech'. If I were to call my friend Richard a "typical black person" would I be an ignorant racist? Yes.
- matt70, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2You assume that the Church is actually "racist" and has been for the last twenty years. What Obama has admitted freely is that sometimes his former pastor made statements that were critical of our government and our policies. He also said that he was present for some controversial discussions. Based on what I have learned of this Church and of Rev Wright, this is not a racist Church....a politically active Church, yes. Have you or anyone else uncovered secret church doctrine that talks about the elimination of all white people? Is it the allegiance to Africa that offends? Is it pride in being black? I would suggest that there is little evidence that the regular Sunday message in this Church was hate or racism.
- IMJGalt, on 03/21/2008, -12/+13
- AnakSeria, on 03/21/2008, -11/+12A very excellent article. Very well written, on a tough subject. Obama undoubtedly is of a unique position to understand the tension between the black and white race, given that he has equal shares of both in him. I am therefore of the opinion that he can take us further up the path of One America, from where leaders of the past have brought us.
- rickpdx, on 03/21/2008, -6/+4Excellent? It's nothing more than the same guilty drivel written by countless white people who are ashamed of being white and are looking for every opportunity to feel even more guilty for things they didn't do. I'm neither white nor black and I'm sick to death of the constant binary optic placed on race relations in this country. Nothing he said was new or useful. Everyone isn't black or white and Obama's speech only furthered that tired and irrelevant stereotype. He pretends to be only black, even though he was raised by his white family in a white cultural setting. As for helping us move away from racial stereotyping and color lines, I think he is the last person to do this. All he knows how to do is what I've seen numerous blacks do - use color to ride white guilt all the way to the bank.
- sonstone, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2I really don't see how you could have possibly listened to the speech.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+0I liked the racist grandma part.
- sonstone, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2I really don't see how you could have possibly listened to the speech.
- rickpdx, on 03/21/2008, -6/+4Excellent? It's nothing more than the same guilty drivel written by countless white people who are ashamed of being white and are looking for every opportunity to feel even more guilty for things they didn't do. I'm neither white nor black and I'm sick to death of the constant binary optic placed on race relations in this country. Nothing he said was new or useful. Everyone isn't black or white and Obama's speech only furthered that tired and irrelevant stereotype. He pretends to be only black, even though he was raised by his white family in a white cultural setting. As for helping us move away from racial stereotyping and color lines, I think he is the last person to do this. All he knows how to do is what I've seen numerous blacks do - use color to ride white guilt all the way to the bank.
- chanop, on 03/21/2008, -21/+6.......and spear chuckers
- Azuroth, on 03/21/2008, -4/+2I considered digging you down because you didn't tell me anything about Britney Watch!
(At least, I think that's the reference you were getting at)- chanop, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1Britney is looking fat, she's nuts, and she messed up with the missing the top part of her head look
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+0And on top of the she's white. She is really messed up now.
- chanop, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1Britney is looking fat, she's nuts, and she messed up with the missing the top part of her head look
- Azuroth, on 03/21/2008, -4/+2I considered digging you down because you didn't tell me anything about Britney Watch!
- frostbyt, on 03/21/2008, -18/+2Don't you know it.
http://tinyurl.com/2q9j9y
You know you want to. - Ganja420, on 03/21/2008, -18/+3George Bush hates black people
- malman4, on 03/21/2008, -6/+7He has more blacks on his staff and in government than any other President, including the blackest one so far, Bill Clinton. You know not of which you speak.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3But if we continue to accuse people (white only) of racism, then racism will not die. Nothing is more demoralizing then losing your cause by fulfilling it.
- malman4, on 03/21/2008, -6/+7He has more blacks on his staff and in government than any other President, including the blackest one so far, Bill Clinton. You know not of which you speak.
- ryannerd, on 03/21/2008, -8/+10Obama at least seems to have a moral core and honestly believes what he says. The Clinton's on the other hand have always had their wet finger in the air to see which way the political wind is blowing and then run to the forefront and say "Charge! I was of this position all the time." This works until the wind changes again, then the cycle starts all over over again.
- IMJGalt, on 03/21/2008, -22/+12
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -4/+3church of kill whitey? he's blaming the government for racist policies, not all white people. much of what he said is true, though he stretched it out a bit with hyperbole. 9/11 was blowback. the CIA sold drugs in the ghetto to raise money for covert ops. we did use blacks as lab rats for AIDS drug tests. we were the last democratic country to support apartheid south africa. the guy grew up during the 50's and 60's, when the government didn't even consider him a whole person with full rights. any wonder why he's a little bitter?
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Yes because many of those are conspiracy theories that have no proof other than conjecture and speculation.
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1the more you know..
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october96/crack_ ...
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1the more you know..
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0The government which is run by "white rich people." Maybe he would rather have poor black people governing us. Or even any group of poor people. Poor people have done really well at governing their lives. Let them govern mine too.
The Obama family are really black rich people. Income for 2006 was over $950,000. Don't sound oppressed to me.
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Yes because many of those are conspiracy theories that have no proof other than conjecture and speculation.
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -4/+3church of kill whitey? he's blaming the government for racist policies, not all white people. much of what he said is true, though he stretched it out a bit with hyperbole. 9/11 was blowback. the CIA sold drugs in the ghetto to raise money for covert ops. we did use blacks as lab rats for AIDS drug tests. we were the last democratic country to support apartheid south africa. the guy grew up during the 50's and 60's, when the government didn't even consider him a whole person with full rights. any wonder why he's a little bitter?
- iloveazngurlzs, on 03/21/2008, -13/+7hmm... too bad america would be just another province of england if it wasn't for slavery.
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -5/+3very true. people seem to forget that we were one of the last nations to get rid of slavery. we hung onto it because of the economic gain. it made america very wealthy, and with europes destruction after the first world war it set us up in a position to become a superpower.
- jkoke, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4Hey... thanks for pointing out that the ends do justify the means. I was worried for a second that we should act morally instead of simply doing whatever it takes to be successful (as a person or as a country). I think I'll go sell some drugs to middle schoolers so I can afford a nicer car.
- iloveazngurlzs, on 03/21/2008, -6/+2hey, be sure to stick to the suburbs cause thats where the rich white kids live whose parents companies were the monopolies driving the racism against all poor, social darwinism radical history etc, to sell your drugs
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3Honestly it is the truth, shame she is getting dugg down.
Without slavery most modern black Americans would be in a quagmire of civil war, poverty, and aids in Africa.
Likewise, if the holocaust had not happened, there would be no Israel and Jews would never have gotten their homeland.
Does this excuse what the original criminals did? No. But so-called "victims" have to look at themselves and realize how good their life is because of the sacrifices of their forefathers.- ExtraEye, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1"Likewise, if the holocaust had not happened, there would be no Israel and Jews would never have gotten their homeland." - I don't agree with you this proves anything. If there was no racism, antisemitism or holocaust there would have been no need, nor the demand, for a jewish country. I don't see myself thanking anyone for killing innocent people because in the end the ones who remained secluded themselves in some country, dreaming of it having no other people but them.
- winnestow, on 03/21/2008, -19/+8What pigment of your skin is irrelevant. You are unelectable for the following top five reasons: 1: Most liberal senator 2: 20yr mentor is a madman pastor of an American hating church 3: Voted for sex education for kindergarten children, yet on important issues-he usually votes-present 4: Married to a woman that is not proud of being an American (until her husband ran for office) 5: Wishes to spend .7% of US GDP supporting Marxist African nationsctable for the following five reasons:
- ecualung, on 03/21/2008, -3/+3Your ability to simply repeat unquestioningly everything Fox News feeds you is staggering.
- mehan, on 03/21/2008, -14/+12white guilt is amusing.
- krnldmp, on 03/21/2008, -1/+12It was pretty much invented by politicians.
- TimDigg, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1Yea because everyone knows white people are an evil callous people who take responsibility for their actions.
No seriously....
I know many white who benefit directly from slavery and oppression of blacks and they will tell you a different story and how they feel quite guilty about it.
Even I today here off-color from whites....like "well Tim at least you're not dangerous" not even realizing what they just said.....
I don't let it bother me though, because I know it will take many generations of whites to change their beliefs, much like it will take many generations of blacks to change.... we're seeing some of it now, its a process
- TimDigg, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1Yea because everyone knows white people are an evil callous people who take responsibility for their actions.
- BeyondGoodNEvil, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1I for one have no white guilt. Slavery was bad because it prevented Africans from having freedom of choice, but I don't for a second think their living conditions were worse under slavery than in Africa. There were some injustices by pieces of ***** slave owners, but for the most part blacks and whites got along fairly well. Only a minority of whites had slaves, and many whites didn't have jobs because of slavery.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0The African slaves were sold into slavery by other rival African blacks. The largest slave owner in South Carolina right before the Civil War began was a black man. Everyone is guilty. Blacks and whites. Thank God for the Christians who opposed slavery.
- krnldmp, on 03/21/2008, -1/+12It was pretty much invented by politicians.
- curtisag, on 03/21/2008, -10/+16Imagine for a moment McCain goes to a church where the preacher sometimes preaches white supremacy. You can bet he would be denounced for continuing to attend that church for 20 years, having his children baptized, and getting married by the preacher. His political career would most certainly be over. He would be labeled as sympathetic to racist ideas. I'm not saying guilt by association is right, but the media practices it. Given Obama is a very intelligent man, he should have known this would happen.
And his wife made things even worse by giving people the idea that she has never been proud of her country before. Rest assured, if Obama gets the nomination, you will see some nasty ads that make the "Swift Boat" ads against Kerry look amateur by comparison. It's looking more and more like Obama is unelectable in swing states like Ohio and Florida. His lead over McCain in polling has evaporated even after this speech. McCain now leads nationally by 10% against Clinton and 7-8% over Obama. There will always be lingering doubts in the minds of many non-blacks that he's an America hater. That may be unfair, but perception is reality in politics.- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4imagine for a second mccain's spiritual advisor wants to eradicate islam. oh wait.. no need to imagine.
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/200 ...- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2not a spiritual adviser. Sorry.
- oldgal, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4When the revelations of pedophilia in the Cathholic church surfaced, and the church's efforts to hide it and sweep it under the rug by reassigning priests, I was horrified that Catholics were not leaving the church in droves, as I was sure I would be out of there in a flash. Then I realized that I might feel differently if I had been raised in the church, attended regularly and believed in it's tenets and hierarchy and began to understand why people didn't leave. We will never know for sure what is in the hearts of others, therefore we tend to believe about them what we want to believe.
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Have you been to a Catholic Church lately? They have left in droves. Many are closing down.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -2/+0Yep, they are becoming Evangelicals. Thank goodness there are no Atheists or secular humanists with the same sexual perversion.
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Have you been to a Catholic Church lately? They have left in droves. Many are closing down.
- TimDigg, on 03/21/2008, -2/+1But then again whites represent the majority of the society...so a racist white is more dangerous than a racist black...even though I strive for the ideal no racism
- sonstone, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2Or imagine if some his top political supporters and donors believed that 911 and Katrina was because America didn't persecute homesexuals even more than they already do.
- matt70, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3Imagine that JohnMcCain actually sought out the support of ministers who want to start war with Iran to start the Apocalypse....
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4imagine for a second mccain's spiritual advisor wants to eradicate islam. oh wait.. no need to imagine.
- cassjewelry, on 03/21/2008, -9/+12Some comments here show why the wounds haven't healed. The truth is that slavery opened the wound, and segregation allowed the wound to fester. But the attitudes of the people of today are what causes the wound to not be able to heal. We can not heal when denial and hatred are the watchwords of the day.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -6/+5The biggest problem is that so many people see racism where it is not, and in doing so, will not let it die.
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3many people see racism where there isn't any, but even more people continue to deny the racism that is there. jim crow ended not too long ago. james byrd jr was lynched just last decade. even our legal system has racist laws, just look our drug policy. why does crack get so much more time than cocaine? we were the last remaining democratic nation to support apartheid south africa. institutional racism still exists. overblowing the problem doesn't do any good, but ignoring it won't make it go away.
- TimDigg, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2pintomp3 on point
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -2/+3Why does crack get more time than Cocaine? That is like arguing why meth gets a worse sentence than marijuana. Anyone selling draino on the streets to inject in your arm does deserve a harsh sentence.
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1crack is not injected.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Why would you want to jail somebody for making what amounts to a bad nutritional decision?
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2I didn't say crack is injected, I just mean that crack and meth are the worst of the worst and anyone who sells such ***** on the street is marketing pure poison.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+0You are right. Drug users should all get the max.
- kfed2, on 03/22/2008, -1/+1Drug users do nothing that causes harm to any unconsenting person, all they do is risk their own health. For that they deserve to go to jail?
Why not alcohol users? From a physiological standpoint, alcohol is just another drug, the difference is purely legal.
- kfed2, on 03/22/2008, -1/+1Drug users do nothing that causes harm to any unconsenting person, all they do is risk their own health. For that they deserve to go to jail?
- pintomp3, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3many people see racism where there isn't any, but even more people continue to deny the racism that is there. jim crow ended not too long ago. james byrd jr was lynched just last decade. even our legal system has racist laws, just look our drug policy. why does crack get so much more time than cocaine? we were the last remaining democratic nation to support apartheid south africa. institutional racism still exists. overblowing the problem doesn't do any good, but ignoring it won't make it go away.
- ScienceDoc, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1'tis the neocon way.
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3What "denial" are you talking about? We all know slavery happened, we all know segregation happened, get over it, it is in the past. As someone of German heritage I think Germany got the ***** end of the stick in World War I by the imperialist French and British but it is just an opinion, I don't base my life around whining and bitching about what happened 70 years before I was born.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -6/+5The biggest problem is that so many people see racism where it is not, and in doing so, will not let it die.
- krnldmp, on 03/21/2008, -15/+10"A racial divide, once lived, dwells in the deepest parts of the psyche." Oh ***** off.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -5/+7He is basically saying everybody is a racist, and he is offering himself as the solution.
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Ah, a Messiah so to speak.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -5/+7He is basically saying everybody is a racist, and he is offering himself as the solution.
- Vohu, on 03/21/2008, -9/+7If we needed yet another commentator to remind us that Obama is a true leader while the others are merely pretenders, this commentator was a good choice. Great article, submitter.
- NelsonR, on 03/21/2008, -8/+6Congratulations to Gov. Bill Richardson by endorsing Obama. Finally I feel the Democrats will come together and defeat the Republican far right smear machine that will occur. More Democrats need to get on the bang wagon and truly seek the change we do desperately need here in America. 100 more years in Iraq are looking more unlikely daily.
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -6/+2Politics should not be a team sport. We should be focusing on what is right, not which party is right - they are both wrong and drift from their platforms to the point where they are unrecognizable.
- Ricemanstm, on 03/21/2008, -1/+4Uhhhmm...where the hell did you get the impression that McCain is "far right"?
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1You are right, the democratic party is the traditional war party. Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam and Korean wars. GWB is the only pro war republican president we have had in a very long time.
McCain is basically a democrat.
See the problem with party loyalty?
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1You are right, the democratic party is the traditional war party. Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam and Korean wars. GWB is the only pro war republican president we have had in a very long time.
- RRJackson, on 03/21/2008, -13/+7You can keep slathering ***** on the heap, but it isn't going to make America vote for a black nationalist with ties to radical Islam. Maybe Obama can become a motivational speaker after he finishes out his term in the Senate. He can travel around to inner-city *****-holes and teach his "base" to hate America, too.
- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
- RRJackson, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2Nope. Not into fantasy. That's why Obama's "message" never appealed to me.
- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2there's a difference between optimism and fantasy.
Obama's message of Hope = Optimism
Obama is a black nationalist with ties to radical Islam = Fantasy
See what I mean?- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2Obama's ties to white hate groups = fact
- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2there's a difference between optimism and fantasy.
- RRJackson, on 03/21/2008, -1/+2Nope. Not into fantasy. That's why Obama's "message" never appealed to me.
- dinot, on 03/21/2008, -2/+2Do you still believe in Santa Claus?
- Maevirko69, on 03/21/2008, -6/+13I voted for Obama in the primary, but on digg all this kissing Obama's ass in every article has gotten ridiculous. It's almost as bad as all the Ron Paul crap a few months ago. Guys, you can support a politician without offering them a blow job on digg.
- MetalPig, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0Obama, I wish I could quit you?
- kfed2, on 03/21/2008, -6/+6Obama has made his racial stereotyping entirely clear, it even crosses into his own family:
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_My_grandmo ...
Maybe Obama was lying about his grandma, and is not racist after all:
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Washington_Post_ ... - natejw7, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4How can someone truly feel guilt for acts in which they had no participation? Empathy would be more appropriate. People living today are not responsible for actions of those that came before us. However, we are obliged to internalize our history and never allow past transgressions to be repeated.
- oldgal, on 03/21/2008, -2/+1Unfortunately you are left living with the consequences.
- sonstone, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3Yeah, I don't get the whole white guilt argument either.
- smacksaw, on 03/21/2008, -3/+3Good article. The author really showed how he as a person can make a change if we all did as he did. Even little things, however symbolic are a step in the right direction. It makes me think...
Barack Obama is the missing variable in Ron Paul's equation about self-sufficiency and libertarianism. While anger and disenfranchisement are not an excuse for bettering oneself, they still are circumstances that need to be understood and healed. And that goes both ways - from the black or white perspective.
I'm a libertarian, but the first and foremost problem with our philosophy is it's just that. A philosophy. Sometimes you need some real-world experience to get it done, and Obama has it. A philosophy is useless without the tools to apply it to real life. As a philosopher, Ron Paul's ideas are idealistic. To filter them down to everyday people with their own problems and challenges, that's where you need dialouge, healing, understanding. If Ron Paul had offered that in concert with his excellent aspirations for us, we'd be talking about his genius instead of Obama's.
I don't think I will prefer Obama's eventual legislation that comes with fixing these problems, but at least he's giving dialouge a chance first. If we can fix these problems within ourselves, perhaps we won't need legislation to fix them. I think of things like Affirmative Action and I see it as much of a failure of gov't as I do white Americans. If we as white Americans did a better job of understanding and working with black Americans, we would have never gotten to the point where we needed Affirmative Action. Often times, we have no one to blame but ourselves.- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4Socialism doesn't appreciate self-sufficiency. IF you don't need the state, socialism is out of a job... That's something Ron Paul supporters need to realize.
- 3ugene, on 03/22/2008, -0/+3Why must we keep a form of government employed if it does worse than a competitive market could deliver? What does the government do better than Mom and Pop McGee would be able to do? Well, besides force the collection of taxes.
- SpaceMonkeyZero, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4Socialism doesn't appreciate self-sufficiency. IF you don't need the state, socialism is out of a job... That's something Ron Paul supporters need to realize.
- appletoapple, on 03/21/2008, -2/+4Touching, moving, wonderful, well-written article.
- displaced1, on 03/21/2008, -2/+12I am the living legacy of 7 generations of slavery. 500 years of a constant battle for freedom. My ancestors country was taken over, which forced them to the mountains to hide and fight guerilla wars. Those that were caught were put into slavery and either raped, beaten or murdered in the middle of the town square to show the others what happened to resistors.
Despite all this, my father at the age of 16, came to America on a boat 40 years ago with about $10 in his pocket. He immigrated his way through Ellis Island and found work as a bus boy for a restaurant. He saved up enough money to have his father come here too and to be able to rent an apartment with 5 others. Both my father and grandfather worked for years for very little money. My father moved up from being a bus boy to a cook, to lead cook, got better hours and finally made manager. When he was making enough money, he sent my grandfather back home and had my mom come to America.
During my fathers time here in America as he was working his way up, he was robbed mutiple times, stabbed, beaten and shot at. He had it very hard. But today our family has 3 restaurants, all because of hard work and a dream.
I am a White European American, first generation born in America. You do not have to be from Africa or have black skin to have a history of slavery. It is not something only one race can claim. I am not part of "Americas Original Sin" I am the living legacy of Americas Original Dream.- weeczar, on 03/21/2008, -5/+1
- displaced1, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2My point was, not all whites were slave owners, not all blacks were slaves. There is no need to hate or fear each other because of things that happened in the past that most of us have no link too.
- weeczar, on 03/21/2008, -2/+1
- displaced1, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0+digg
Its refreshing to have someone point out the flaws and back it up with great ideas.
Thank you.
- displaced1, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0+digg
- weeczar, on 03/21/2008, -2/+1
- displaced1, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2My point was, not all whites were slave owners, not all blacks were slaves. There is no need to hate or fear each other because of things that happened in the past that most of us have no link too.
- redwritinghood, on 03/22/2008, -0/+0Great comment. Well-written. There is a lot of pain among various races in this country. If we want to really nit-pick the issue, wouldn't America's original sin be against native Americans?
- weeczar, on 03/21/2008, -5/+1
- RememberAmerica, on 03/21/2008, -5/+7My god whats is with this Obama BS. ALL IT IS IS BS. Americans say they want change and are so heavily influenced by the media on who is the choice for them. Why rely on media for your political news? Has it ever really been right? We americans are going to be ***** 3rd world hell hole if we dont pull our heads out of ass's and start thinking with our brains. WHY, is Obama a good choice? Has history not told as repeatedly that when we vote for someone we never get what we want as people and what we need as people. Bush ran on a weak foreign policy and now we have a war REGARDLESS! REGARDLESS! REGARDLESS! of what they say.. we are going to be in the middle east for a long time, permanent military presence. REGARDLESS! of what they say they economy is going to collapse here because we were too stupid too do anything about it......sure we get outraged when another president get oral in office. But when a president false flag attacks our own people and puts us in a war that has taken more than 4000+ american lives and countless civilian lives we dont care or do anything about it. Whats that say about us as americans? What kind of people are we? Why do we let the media tell us what our battles should be? People have become afraid of the government which is sad on so many levels. As far as im concerned we dug our own graves and we are going to lay in them.
See ya all in the bread line or internment camp whichever comes first.- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -1/+0No, you go if you want to. I'm not coming with you though. I can't because only victims are allowed.
- NelsonR, on 03/21/2008, -3/+2It's a shame but apparently many would want Obama to not touch on a sensitive subject as so many of our politicians, and Americans have done in the past. We all know there have been injustices from all sides so why continue the charade of keeping it Hush, Hush? Can't we Americans, who by the way are still far ahead of all other nations concerning race relations, improve the quality for life for all instead of the privileged 10 percent of our upper crust?
- sa9e, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1Obama self-destructed when he equated his grandmother's private predjudices with what we've seen on video of Rev. Wright, and then further screwed himself (the very next day) by describing said grandmother as "a typical white person". He can no longer claim total "transcendence" of leftist, racial ideology.
- Chip53, on 03/21/2008, -4/+7I will not vote for Obama. Not because he is black (or whatever). I really don't give a rat's ass. He is a liberal lightweight with no moral core. Neither he nor Hilliary has the one thing McCain has... GUTS!, and guts is enough.
Digg me down all you want, truth is truth and not one of you moonbat loonies out there will ever be able to compare McCain with either one of these two.
God help us if either one of these Dems gets the white house. Please excuse me while I send McCain some more money. - groone, on 03/21/2008, -1/+1As long as people are different, there will always be racial divides. There is no way around it. There is only one way to cure it....and that is.....by creating a special day.......each year........called........ Do a Different Race Day.....or DDRD....that's right. Let's make gray babies! DDRD will break those barriers! I'll start with Asian first.
- Ricemanstm, on 03/21/2008, -3/+3Oh brother, pack your bags "white" America, we're going on another guilt trip! I'm sorry that slavery happened but I refuse to feel guilty about it. It's a blight on our nation's history, but show me a country that doesn't have a crooked past. You don't hear about Chinese people complaining, moaning, and groaning about how exploited they were building the railroads. Probably because there isn't a Chinese Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson. If liberal "white" people want to feel guilty about something, there is plenty in this world to ponder, but slavery isn't one of them. I don't believe in slavery, I never owned a slave, nor is there a history of slavery in my family tree. Also, if the radical segment of the African American community is so gung ho about their "lost" African culture, feel free to reclaim it in Africa. I mean that continent is just the epitome of a perfect community where black people are free to express themselves, advance and better themselves and their families. African Americans have far more opportunities in this country than in their "motherland". I have nothing to feel guilty, nothing to feel sorry about, and I refuse to buy into Obama's BS. This is just another race card to play.
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Hell most white people in the past never owned slaves. Only the very richest of the rich could afford them.
It is a joke too that revisionist history depicts the civil war as a war about slavery. You mean to tell me millions of poor white southerners who never owned a slave were fighting to protect an institution they had no economic interest in?- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1Blacks in the South owned slaves also. Louisiana and South Carolina to name a few states.
- solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Hell most white people in the past never owned slaves. Only the very richest of the rich could afford them.
- buddywlkr3, on 03/21/2008, -1/+0Wonderful utopian language. Obama has shown us that, despite his rhetoric on sealing the racial divide, he himself is a part of that divide. He defends the racial hate speech of his pastor and must in fact believe it since he has gone to the church for years. At the same time, he condemns his white grandmother -- "a typical white person" - and Geraldine Ferraro, somehow equivocating her one statement to the continued hate speech of his pastor. Our great hope? Only if you are a black person claiming to be a "victim".
- headhunterMDK, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0Her one statement? How about more than one? She said basically the same thing 20 years ago in regards to Jesse Jackson
- JointVenture, on 03/21/2008, -2/+5Id like to hear what Obama thinks about Reparations.
- 140Suffolk, on 03/21/2008, -1/+5Here is what Barack says about reparations:
" After his election [to Senate], Obama [stated] he was against "just signing over checks to African-Americans," leaving open the possibility of other forms of reparations would be acceptable to him (Chicago Tribune 11/14/2004)."
Get it? That means Barack is in favor of milking Americans for trillions in "reparations". Then giving the money to guys like Jesse Jackson and Sharpton to do "good works".
- 140Suffolk, on 03/21/2008, -1/+5Here is what Barack says about reparations:
- 140Suffolk, on 03/21/2008, -2/+7You know when Rev Wright said "Hillary never been called a n---er!" Come on. I bet Barack has NEVER been called a *****. Except by another black.
You know when Rev Wright said something about Hillary was never passed up by a taxicab? NewsFlash -- it's not white men who are driving those cabs, stupid. In big cities it's largely ARABS who are discriminating against you. Muslim Arabs. The sames ones who invented the African slave trade.- BeyondGoodNEvil, on 03/21/2008, -3/+1I'll call Obama a n*gger. OBAMA YOU FILTHY SPEARCHUCKING NI**ER! I'll also call Hillary one. HILLARY, YOU FILTHY N*GGER!
- rinote, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0Yeah, I don't know about how accurate that statement is. The African slave trade was pretty much a free for all perpetrated not only by Arabs, but white colonists and even Africans themselves.
- 140Suffolk, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Yeah, I was taught that too. At least it was implied. But it is not a fact:
As early as 869 there was slave trade between the Muslim (mostly Arab) traders and black Africa.
Look up Arab Slave Trade in Wikipedia, for example.
BTW, the very first war the brand new United States ever fought was with the Barbary pirates. Muslims out of what is now Libya would ambush American ships and enslave the crews. And they had been raiding the European coastal cities for slaves for a thousand years.
- 140Suffolk, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Yeah, I was taught that too. At least it was implied. But it is not a fact:
- Spoomeister, on 03/21/2008, -1/+7Obama: "Words matter."
Wright: "God damn America!"
Obama: "Ok, not those words." - solid12345, on 03/21/2008, -1/+7Obama is a sham. I admit I was intrigued a little at first by him even as a conservative. I thought maybe we could go above race and forget the past. But it is obvious that Obama has been attending a church for 20 years that wants to live in the past and is open to a better future so long as white America continues to feel guilty for what our forefathers did.
- johniskew, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0Even though im a conservative, i do feel a bit for obama - this racial back and forth is getting old quick. And his unfortunate wording of "typical white woman" - i really dont think he meant anything bad by it, and hes kicking himself for wording it that way. Its so easy to say dumb stuff, but hes got to realize now that he cant be associating with people like Wright. The fact remains that no matter how many times people say "cant we all just get along" there is always going be strife among certain people. The majority of us have no problem getting along with each other, those who have problems, will probably never get over them...heres hoping for the next generation. However, the people posting these articles got to really stop "slobbing nob" for obama with the titles and descriptions of these submissions. "Pitch perfect" - give me a break.
- amightywind, on 03/21/2008, -3/+6How does Obama's smoke billowing about race excuse him from explaining his attending to a racist, black separatist church? He is the same bigoted pig he decries.
- ChristmasPoo, on 03/21/2008, -5/+2Isn't that like calling the kettle black? A large portion of your comments you "decry" are biased and ignorant.
- amightywind, on 03/21/2008, -3/+4Are you still following me around, you *****? Enjoy getting pwnd by my friends? I'd do the same to you but your posts are too dull.
- ChristmasPoo, on 03/24/2008, -0/+1No more like you the pile of feces that you are and me the fly. Again, "you *****"? Have closet thoughts?
- amightywind, on 03/21/2008, -3/+4Are you still following me around, you *****? Enjoy getting pwnd by my friends? I'd do the same to you but your posts are too dull.
- ChristmasPoo, on 03/21/2008, -5/+2Isn't that like calling the kettle black? A large portion of your comments you "decry" are biased and ignorant.
- liuite, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Now that Hispanics are becoming the preferred minority, Blacks are adviced to jump off the preference bandwagon and start supporting hiring and promoting based on merit, seniority - anything but race.
- MeSusan, on 03/21/2008, -2/+0Eloquent! Tears and chills. I flew to South Africa in September 1989, one of the few whites on the first non-violent march. That march led to the freedom of Nelson Mandela. Through the Bush Administration, I have been ashamed of my country. A story like this reminds me of that I can love my country and still love justice....
- aadyss, on 03/21/2008, -0/+0sob...........you are making me cry. Stop it.
- aadyss, on 03/22/2008, -0/+0sob...you are making me cry. Stop it!
- sexydarin, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1is oracist blaming black slave traders for the atrocities they perpetrated against other blacks?
- MrSir, on 03/22/2008, -0/+2I have a hard time believing he is sincere. his words are very eloquent, but his actions fail to persuade me. His basic statement for everything is this. (well i see how your argument is important...but my idea is this and your idea sucks because we need "change")
i've heard enough of what people think is a need for change, but he never says how he wants to change besides ruining our health care system so the lazy can have some. bush is a democrat in disguise. make our government bigger and less efficient. ***** with our civil rights in the name of "security"
Don't let eloquence pull the wool over your eyes. substance is much more important. if you eat cookies all of the time, you get fat. I was fooled when I first heard him speak.- alyceclover, on 03/22/2008, -1/+1Millions of people understand what he means by change. It is only the mindless that do not "get it". Check out Hoffman-La Roche, criminal fines for price fixing, Hillary Clinton and campaign donations from Roche, those "real Americans" and you might wake up from your slumber.
- alyceclover, on 03/22/2008, -1/+1Typical KKK mindset: accuse, judge, condemn, lynch. Sad people do not have brains that think and believe whatever they hear on TV. The corrupt in government count on it; they need mindless sheep to do their bidding. Hope Obama sues every one of the stations that has defamed his character.
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