Obama Addresses Racial "Anger"

[DividedThigh]

time to move on, not all people that moved here in the 1700s had slaves, my family were indentured servants in north carolina for 7 years before given freedom and moving west with the pioneers, good grief, i want some reparations for all that sweat, dt

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by DividedThigh

time to move on, not all people that moved here in the 1700s had slaves, my family were indentured servants in north carolina for 7 years before given freedom and moving west with the pioneers, good grief, i want some reparations for all that sweat, dt

Well, I think you should get it!!!

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by CC1

So you believe his statement that America is the US of KKK is correct these last 30 years?

So you believe that the CIA created the AIDS virus to kill black men?

So you believe that the "3 Strikes" laws were created to jail black men?

So you believe that a proper response to disdain for past racism is to honor Louis Farrakan as your "man of the year"?

Incredible.

Your concept that Jeremiah Wright should be forgiven for spewing lies and hatred because of past injustices is absurd. More of liberal claptrap excusing one from personal responsibility.

We are supposed to believe that because racism has existed in our country that allows men to say anything they want no matter how outragous and untrue and we just have to accept it? You are deluded.

Thank you. Very well said.

In the end it comes down to personal accountability. Don't tell me that all of us are to be held responsible for saying untrue and outrageous things -- except if you're African American. No one should get a free pass because of things their great-granddaddy went thru.

If some Jewish rabbi was preaching against Germans today because of what happened in WWII, we'd tell him he needs to get past it, deal with the reality of today -not 60+ years ago-,and to stop preaching hate to his children.

That principle applies to all racial and ethnic groups that have suffered injustices in the past, whether Jews, African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, whoever. It certainly applies to Jeremiah Wright, his congregants, and all those who think like him.

Unfortunately, while liberal guilt, which Chris Hall exemplifies so well on this forum, does more harm than good, because it continues to make excuses for bad behavior. And it serves to silently enable those who want to poison the current generation with their bitterness from past.

Its hard for a man to drive to his destination in front of him, if he's spending all his time looking in the rear view mirror. That's what people like Jeremiah Wright fail to understand.

[CC1]

TRFrance,

Very well said. It is a shame these liberal apologists don't realize they are harming rather than helping these people by perpetuating the victim mentality and excusing all behaviour based on past offenses.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

Doesn't sound like you understand where he might have been coming from, nor his background.

I don't advocate racism, but to those who seemed racist, that wasn't it at all, but a way of life.

My granddad was born and raised in West Virginia. He called all black people by the N word. That wasn't an insult nor a slur. To him, it was just like you and I calling them black. He didn't understand what the big deal was.

He had lots of black friends that came to his house. He allowed black children to swim in his pool. He introduced his friends as 'this is my N friend, Joe'. Joe would smile, shake our hands, and tell us it was nice to meet us, and we said the same.

His friends even understood him and weren't offended.

I remember him coming to our church just south of Chicago when I was a teenager. We had about 100 black folks that attended at that time.

My mom introduced him to a military man. He happened to be black. My granddad spoke to him for several minutes, then ended with, "Brother Smith, you are the finest N man I ever met." My mom about fell on the floor, but Brother Smith, apparently understanding that it was a compliment, not an insult, replied, "Why, thank you, sir!"

My mom later apologized and started to explain, but this man was from NC, and said he understood and wasn't insulted nor upset.

Now, this doesn't mean I condone using that word if you aren't using it to be nasty, because in reality, there aren't many people alive today who would use that word as 'just a word'. I don't use it, my children don't, and we never would.

But to many elderly folks, especially those from the south, think of it as no big deal.

They used to be called 'coloreds' in the 60's. Now that's considered a slur, but to many who continue using it, it's not a big deal. That's what they were called.



Oh, please!! What his pastor stands for goes beyond mere racial and political issues. He speaks of America being the enemy and Obama nods his head in agreement.

You haven't personally experienced anything close to what Obama's pastor spews out from his pulpit.

AAAAUUUUGHH!!!

This post makes me cringe!!!!! The fact that the people you are referring to DO NOT see calling me a "N" or "colored" as offensive IS OFFENSIVE!!!

Nothing on you, mind you-- and I am glad we are having this discussion. It only proves Obama's sentiments correct that we have a long way to when it comes to race issues.

The last PUBLIC LYNCHING" was in 1970, in Georgia. Maybe when Michelle Obama made her statement about being proud of America, she was referring to how as a country we have COME SO FAR AS TO HAVE A BLACK MAN NAMED OBAMA as a serious contender for the white house.

As a whole, "Coloreds", and "N" historically was not heard in a positive way by the "Colored" or "N" person who heard it from the mouth of a white person. The "compliments" that may have been given by that white person were taken by a black person who excused their blatant ignorance.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by COOPER

What is wrong with white people any way?

lol-- it's not white people as much as it is the whole country needs t deal with this, black, white, hispanics, indians, natives, etc.

[DividedThigh]

believe it or not there are many people that profit by not taking the wise words of mlk to heart, judge people by the content of there character rather than the color of there skin, if we were truly color blind then racism would cease, but we can do something about it one heart at a time, beginning with our own heart, dt

[Jermyn Davidson]

[QUOTE=TRFrance;417823]Thank you. Very well said.

In the end it comes down to personal accountability. Don't tell me that all of us are to be held responsible for saying untrue and outrageous things -- except if you're African American. No one should get a free pass because of things their great-granddaddy went thru.

My Dad was born in 1947. He has been a Pastor for many years. He would have never have cursed America like that, spotlight on or off. That being said:

He forbid me from joining the American military. He gave his reasons and it is my hunch that although he would have never said what Wright said, he could definitely understand the sentiments.

Wright preached to 8,000 educated and uneducated people that day, who were "standing on their feet" in applause. Not because they hate America-- that is just too simple of an explanation. Besides, they probably don't-- not all 8,000 plus.

We are not talking about a building filled with "ne'er-do-well" individuals: but "successful" doctors, lawyers, other politicians, business owners, theologians attend this church and hardly none of them spoke out publicly against that sermon. Why haven't they disowned Wright?

By the way, he is Obama's former Pastor ONLY because he is retired. I think Obama has enough conviction to stand by Wright today, if he was still his Pastor. That, I think is awesome!

[Jermyn Davidson]

Its hard for a man to drive to his destination in front of him, if he's spending all his time looking in the rear view mirror. That's what people like Jeremiah Wright fail to understand.[/QUOTE]


It's hard to move on, forgive, etc if you are never apologized to. Some Americans minimize the affects of slavery on the black race in America and they completely forget all of the hate, barriers, etc blacks experienced for more than 100 years after the Emancipation. Entire "black" towns destroyed, men, women and children burned alive, pregnant ladies gutted in front of their husbands, black men serving in war returned home only to be lynched-- all happening in the 1900's-- years after we were "freed".


To not expect residual "anger" is just simply not realistic. It has to be dealt with, by every American. This is Obama's point.

This is why he should be our next President: he has enough courage and wisdom to realize that not everything is black and white, cut and dry. I am glad he did not disown Wright and I find what Wright said from the pulpit inexcusable, more than wrong.

[DividedThigh]

although i disagree with you on obama 1399 i respect your right to that opinion, i just cant vote for a socailist, the nanny state is not my idea of a good place to live, dt