Jun 03 2008
disappointed !!!
Over the weekend Barack Obama resigned from Trinity Church in the wake of another tirade by the pundits about his being responsible for what a preacher said in his church.
Obama Quits His Church - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
I am disappointed. I’m disappointed because he said he would speak the truth even when we didn’t want to hear it. I’m disappointed because the decision seems more political than principled. I’m disappointed it seems the accessory price or pound of flesh for a black man to pay to gain credibility. I’m disappointed because I wonder if it is worth it?
While browsing the web I came across this quote. I don’t know if it is accurate or not but It certainly relevant.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy - Martin Luther King Jr.
I’m disappointed!!!!!
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I understand your disappointment. But surely no one is surprised. For months now we’ve heard this man preach the gospel of unity and new politics while never once in his time as an elected official adhering to these ideals. So why now should be be surprised when one more time the guy simply is not who he says he is. And that is my biggest issue with him. You can not continually say you are an apple when the letters a,p,l, and e aren’t even in your alphabet.
Rich,
I’m not sure you understand my disappointment. You are reading your opinion about Obama in to it. I am saying that I am disappointed that in order for Obama to become president the system says he has to move away from what is formative to who he is.
White candidates don’t have to do that. Again you can’t just see this from a purely political point of view. If the conversation on race in this country is to go any where we have to think more critically about these kinds of situation rather than default to our well worn and comfortable mental models.
I do understand your disappointment, completely. But it’s more than just my opinion and politics I am inserting here. On many many matters that can be proven he has shown himself to be someone other than who he says he is. That has nothing to do with politics. He’s proven it politically and now personally.
At some point he has to have some personal responsibility for his “sell out”. You ask if it’s worth it. If it’s not, then he should thumb his nose at the system and say “no I won’t condemn my pastor and I won’t leave my church just so I can be president. ” But that is not who he is obviously. And you have to questions his principles. Black or white he is still just your average politician. He just preaches speaks better than most.
The question you ask is the correct one. Is it better to sell out and become president, or should he be who is and let the chips fall where they may? Arguments can be made for either side of that coin. I would say that if he is elected and continues down this path of backing off of the real Barack, he will harm the black community in a great way. And his supporters better be very wary of this. Maybe he isn’t ready to be president if he can’t stand up for he believes in and has invested his life in. Could mean he will be a bad President and cause further harm.
I’ll say no more here or on any other post. Apparently you find me unqualified and not bright enough to understand what you saying. I’m used to it as a “hick from Tennessee” out in the blogosphere.
I’ll keep reading though as I enjoy your blog greatly, but will slink back and keep my thoughts to myself. Happy posting!
Rich,
I don’t recall calling you a hick or suggesting you are “not bright”. You used those words and by somehow attributing them to me you are proving my point about how we treat the discussion about race in this country. What if you really don’t understand where I am coming from? Could that be true without you being a hick or stupid? What if you could just entertain that possiblity? Consider this quote from Aristotle
“The measure of a wise person is the ability to entertain new ideas… without necessarily having to accept them.”