As I listen to the media reaction to Barack Obama's speech on race I am sad, angry and proud. I'm proud because Barack Obama did not compromise himself in the face of considerable political pressure.
I'm angry because the press has minimized his speech to, "Did he reject his pastor or not?" This speech not only revealed more about his philosophy on race and politics it allowed Barack Obama to describe these past events as a distraction. We are being distracted from the issues and the more the media keeps this up the more people are looking away from problems that are real in their life.
I'm sad because in order to understand the situation fully people have to actually believe Barack Obama when he says that these sermon snippets do not represent the pastor or his church. But how will people believe that when all they see are these continuous clips of inflammatory speech? They would actually have to take Barack Obama at his word, research the church and the pastor and come to their own conclusions. But I'm sad because I don't think the American people want to do this. It's too easy to watch TV and let their opinions be formed by what they see in the media. But looking at those clips is like looking at a red spot on a white suit and calling the suit red.
If Barack Obama's relationship with his church and pastor are what people use to decide whether he should be president, then I have and am losing faith in the American people. I'm not sure we deserve Barack Obama's talent if it has come to this. What I do know is that I'm glad he took a stand for what he knows is true. This church is not racist and Barack Obama is not racist either. It's better that he maintains his character and lose the race than cave to political pressure, compromise himself and lose the race.
What happens next? I think that he will go back to talking about the issues but lets hope that this speech ends the discussion of his church and pastor. Judge Barack Obama for who he is--study him and his policies. But don't make assumptions about his pastor and then project your incorrect conclusions on him.
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3 comments:
I agree with what you've stated.
Due to the media spoon feeding us everything, research is rarely done, which is why the assumptions are made.
As far as race issues...it's a topic our society doesn't seem ready to deal with.
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