Obama Addresses Racial "Anger"

[ChristopherHall]

Originally Posted by 1399

I think that the widespread distrust of the American government is widespread, beyond the confines of American blacks. The reasons for that distrust will vary, depending on who you talk to.

As far as distrust of whites by blacks, I know many blacks, some older, some younger than me, who feel this way. Even some who are in the military feel this way, and I can't justify or not justify every person's reason(s) for that distrust.

I have said on more than one occasion when I found myself involved in conversations when these sentiments were expressed, "Most white people aren't racist and aren't trying to keep you down. They don't know you and they have too much on their plate to be worried about making sure your life is miserable."

I get a sincere chuckle out of the younger folks sometimes-- never out of the older folks though. There really is still a lot of pain and bitterness.

Many white conservatives who believe in the New World Order conspiracy also distrust the American government.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by CC1

Chris Hall,

Would you be excusing and be an apologist for a white canidate for the Presidency if it came out they had been a member of a church for 20 years where the pastor had awarded David Duke or the KKK leader an award as "Man of the Year"? Or where the pastor spewed hatred for his own country? Or had spoken outrageous lies about massive Government conspiracies to concoct illnesses targeting a specific race of people?

Somehow I think not. No, you just are a bleeding heart liberal that will give all black people a pass no matter what they do or say. All based on "context" and the fact that their great, great, great, great grand daddy was a slave. That is insulting to black folks and does not help them one bit.

*BUMP* For Chris since I don't know if he saw it or not as I did not see any response.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by ChristopherHall

Many white conservatives who believe in the New World Order conspiracy also distrust the American government.

There is a will always be some shady stuff going on in Government Powers.

We just hope the good will win.

If we could pull back the curtain, turn the lights and see what really goes on behind the scenes we all would be shocked.

[ChristopherHall]

Originally Posted by COOPER

I do understand. There are many things about White history that is sickening.

Agreed. Therefore when hearing a man like Rev. Wright we have to understand that he remembers the news story that broke this news to the black community. Therefore it should be of surprise to us that he may see a conspiratorial element in our governmental system. What people are doing is taking a sound bite, and therewith taking his statements out of context. Most white Americans couldn't tell you what the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was. Therefore due to our "white ignorance" we find Rev. Wright's comments absolutely outrageous. But think about it in light of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment alone. That means that as recently as 36 years ago the American government was conducting illegal experiments on your people like they were lab animals. Dude...I might be screaming "God [blank] America!" too. If this happened to us as a minority people we would also more readily embrace conspiracy theories. What's happening here is a complete breakdown in communication. We're going off the deep end in condemnation...but we've not walked in their shoes. And when a white woman like Ann Coulter chimes in with criticism, one has to ask....what's this Neo-Conservative white woman on the right wing medial payroll know about being black???

[COOPER]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by CC1
Chris Hall,

Would you be excusing and be an apologist for a white canidate for the Presidency if it came out they had been a member of a church for 20 years where the pastor had awarded David Duke or the KKK leader an award as "Man of the Year"? Or where the pastor spewed hatred for his own country? Or had spoken outrageous lies about massive Government conspiracies to concoct illnesses targeting a specific race of people?

Somehow I think not. No, you just are a bleeding heart liberal that will give all black people a pass no matter what they do or say. All based on "context" and the fact that their great, great, great, great grand daddy was a slave. That is insulting to black folks and does not help them one bit.

*BUMP* For Chris since I don't know if he saw it or not as I did not see any response.

I double bump that!!!

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by ChristopherHall

YOU HAVE TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM.

Hey brother, there are many blacks, including myself, that have a distrust of the American govt, at a certain level. Honestly, it is not too far-fetched to believe that the CIA brought cocaine into the ghettos, INITIALLY (or else how did they get there?)


But there comes a time when the pursuit of civility and peace has to be more important than the past. OK, the CIA brought drugs in, but it still was another black man that hastened its spread.


It's not too far-fetched for me to believe that the U.S. govt had a hand in MLK's assassination.
But it was 2 black men who pulled their triggers on Malcolm X.


The reality is, truly, there is enough blame to pass around to EVERYONE.


Jeremiah Wright's pain, my Dad's pain, even some of my older cousin's pain is real, their anger is justified. It is important to realize that their anger is justified.


But if they never addressed the anger and pain in a positive way, they would have never been a positive contribution to our society.


It is important to realize that the pain and anger, which is the result of many generations, will not go away in one or two generations. Neither will the effects of what caused the pain and anger in the first place.


Wright's expression of pain and bitterness is his American right-- but to do so in the way he chose does very little to help the situation of the uneducated and unaccomplished younger blacks who may have heard his sermon


Sadly, the art of converting "the pain" to "the positive" has been lost by some blacks younger than me. It's troubling to me, should be troubling to all Americans, because, in the end, it affects all Americans.


Obama's comments add to the pursuit of justice, civility and peace-- I am convinced that this is the pursuit of the average American, red, yellow, black and white.

[ChristopherHall]

Originally Posted by CC1

*BUMP* For Chris since I don't know if he saw it or not as I did not see any response.

These questions are important and should be soul searching. Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to respond.

Chris Hall,

Would you be excusing and be an apologist for a white canidate for the Presidency if it came out they had been a member of a church for 20 years where the pastor had awarded David Duke or the KKK leader an award as "Man of the Year"?

No. Because the KKK is an instigator of racial hatred. I know people are comparing it to Farrakhan's movement but really it's not a good comparison. KKK was an instigator of racial hatred, murder, and discrimination that extended it's power throughout local governments and communities in the deep South. Farrakhan's movement is a response to this kind of hatred. This is an example of two wrongs not making a right...but in my mind Farrakhan's movement was a civil rights movement like MLK's. The only difference is that Farrakhan's movement was far more radical and willing to do real damage to us if we didn't wake up to the black condition. Farrakhan's movement has evolved down through the years and has started advocating a brand of Black nationalism that I find disturbing. Therefore I would be cautious in any association with it. However, if I were black I may indeed rub shoulders with them and show a degree of respect for their position on black civil rights and applaud what changes they have contributed to.

Or where the pastor spewed hatred for his own country?

I've heard white conservative pastors condemn our country for abortion and sodomy. I know a white conservative pastor who firmly believes that 9/11 was the beginning of the end of America because of these issues. Let's put statements of condemnation against our nation in context. Are these men condemning our nation as a nation because they hate America....or are they condemning our nation's evils? Condemning national sin and atrocity isn't the same as hating one's country. In fact a real preacher is called to speak out against the evils of his nation. Consider another Jeremiah...the one in the Bible. He spoke out against his own people and told them God was going to deliver them to their enemies, the Babylonians. Jeremiah even advocated that they surrender to their enemies to be spared. Jeremiah was then deemed unpatriotic and thrown into a pit. Loyalty to God demands the denunciation of national evils.

Or had spoken outrageous lies about massive Government conspiracies to concoct illnesses targeting a specific race of people?

If the American government could be conducting in human medical experiments on black people as recently as 36 years ago, it's not a far jump to imagine that the government unleashed AIDS upon the African people to destabilize the continent and secure our national interests in the region. I've always wondered...where did AIDS come from? If I had to pick a conspiracy theory, personally I think it's more likely that the globalist elite are behind it.

Somehow I think not. No, you just are a bleeding heart liberal that will give all black people a pass no matter what they do or say.

Not true. I disagree with Rev. Wright on many points. However, I'm not going to act like some woman about to faint over what he says because while I don't agree...I understand. I think the complexity of seeing a person who disagrees but understands and doesn't take the path of judgment and condemnation just baffles you and your ilk.

All based on "context" and the fact that their great, great, great, great grand daddy was a slave. That is insulting to black folks and does not help them one bit.

That's a very ignorant statement. It's about far more than that to black people.

Here's something I was talking about with my wife on this subject last night. I have a good friend who is black and I asked him a few questions about what it is like to be black and I just listened. In the beginning of our conversation I asked him when the last time he felt discriminated against. He said he hadn't felt any institutionalized discrimination in a long time, but the last time he was reminded that he was black was when he went shopping. He told me to watch people in the stores at the cash register. According to him on average if a white person is working as cashier they will personally hand any change right into the hands of another white person. But in his experience more times than not the white cashier will politely lay the change on the counter and gently slide it to a black customer. He admits that he doesn't see this as being a conscious slight...but he says he sometimes feels like saying, "Hand me my money, my hand's not dirty!"

Rather it's real or if one wishes to argue that it's perceived, you'd be amazed at how different the everyday black experience vs. our white experience in our country.

[Pressing-On]

1399,
You have been wonderful on the conversation here. I appreciate you for that. Thanks for your patience!!!!!

God Bless,

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by 1399

Hey brother, there are many blacks, including myself, that have a distrust of the American govt, at a certain level. Honestly, it is not too far-fetched to believe that the CIA brought cocaine into the ghettos, INITIALLY (or else how did they get there?)


But there comes a time when the pursuit of civility and peace has to be more important than the past. OK, the CIA brought drugs in, but it still was another black man that hastened its spread.


It's not too far-fetched for me to believe that the U.S. govt had a hand in MLK's assassination.
But it was 2 black men who pulled their triggers on Malcolm X.


The reality is, truly, there is enough blame to pass around to EVERYONE.


Jeremiah Wright's pain, my Dad's pain, even some of my older cousin's pain is real, their anger is justified. It is important to realize that their anger is justified.


But if they never addressed the anger and pain in a positive way, they would have never been a positive contribution to our society.


It is important to realize that the pain and anger, which is the result of many generations, will not go away in one or two generations. Neither will the effects of what caused the pain and anger in the first place.


Wright's expression of pain and bitterness is his American right-- but to do so in the way he chose does very little to help the situation of the uneducated and unaccomplished younger blacks who may have heard his sermon


Sadly, the art of converting "the pain" to "the positive" has been lost by some blacks younger than me. It's troubling to me, should be troubling to all Americans, because, in the end, it affects all Americans.


Obama's comments add to the pursuit of justice, civility and peace-- I am convinced that this is the pursuit of the average American, red, yellow, black and white.

Good post

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by COOPER

I do understand. There are many things about White history that is sickening.

I prefer to think of it as, "America's History" as opposed to white history. My family has been here since the early 1800's. America's History is my history too. We share a morally wrong and a very painful American History and it's good to deal with it, and remember it so that we don't repeat it.

Remembering is good, "dwelling" on it is self destructive.