Letters to the Editor
Rayon Fog
Published Letters: 188 Editor's Choice: 7
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Proud to be Keeping It Real
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]normankelly said: Let's be for real. America is an anti-intellectual nation, which doesn't mean that Americans are stupid, but there is a marked tendency to revel in not knowing things about the world and about each other, about pertinent issues, and the Internet compounds this because people can virally spread their no-knowingism as "fact" or as learned opinion. A case in fact: whites are shocked about black ministers' preaching style. Why? Because if you're white, you don't have really know anything about "them."
Couldn't agree more. It's this tendency to revel in, to actually be proud of that ignorance that's truly amazing. It reminds me of that old Chris Rock skit, "Keepin' It Real Dumb"
Contrary to what realitycounts and other have to say, I also agree that most folks are shocked more by the style than the substance, not just with Wright, but with just about any public figure. It goes kinda like this (I'm borrowing from someone else to illustrate my point here):
Black communication, in general, is more blunt and direct. I doubt that there are a lot of Blacks in shock mode over what Rev. Wright said, they seem to be in a more embarrassed-for-Barack mode.
[White Susie's Mom would say: Susie, sweetheart, I know you're getting much older now and you're becoming more attracted to boys, but I need you to be careful and know that you can come talk to me any time.]
[Black Susie's Mom would say: I know you think you grown, but you better keep your damn legs closed, because I'm not raising any more children. Keep your head in those damn books and off those damn boys, because all they're going to do is use you and leave you used up. Now you better hear what I'm saying. I'm here for you, but you better listen.]
For some people this is also what's called "keeping it real." Pastor Wright's words are not those of Barack Obama. Former United States Marine and Pastor, Wright was not hatemongering ...he was reciting US history, which IS hateful toward Black Americans. US history has in fact been hateful toward Black Americans and to do something as simple as recall American history toward Black Americans IS inflammatory at least.
Finally, and OT, this business of demanding a source for someone's opinion is getting way out of hand. That's not keeping real, it's keeping it real annoying.
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@ virtue001
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Because Hagee isn't McCain's pastor.
Makes not a whit of difference, especially when you consider McCain actively sought Hagee's endorsement. If Hagee was nothing more than some random wing-nut who just happened to support McCain, I'd agree with you. This relationship is deeper than that.
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@ virtue001
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree with you on one thing: there definitely is a clear difference. The differences, as I see them, are as follows:
1) We are taking a handful of Wright's comments, many of them out of context, and blowing them into an indictment of the man's entire career. Hagee actually has made a career out of his hateful rhetoric, yet he and McCain's association with him, get a pass. The same goes for Michelle - she is a thoughtful, intelligent woman, yet we are taking two comments she made out of context and putting the screws to her for making them.
2) Obama has been repudiating Wright's comments for months, while McCain has been actively pursuing the support of Hagee, knowing full well that Hagee is nothing more than a hatemonger, and never once offering a believable repudiation of Hagee's garbage.
3) I think it's worse that McCain would seek the support of a verified hatemonger who is not his pastor, because it says essentially that McCain has listened to what Hagee has said, thought about it, tacetly agrees with it, and believes he would make a welcome passenger on the Straight-Talk Express. What Obama says about Wright being the "crazy uncle" is dead-on. After all, how many of us have relatives or close friends who have said something possibly embarrassing, especially when taken out of context? I'd have less respect for Obama if he had taken the politically expedient route of throwing Wright under the bus. Instead, he offered (and has been offering ) valid commentary regarding his association with Wright, and, ahem, his wife.
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@ realitycounts
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I believe that one of the more troubling scenes from the Wright videos is when he implores God to curse (damn) America, and by extention, the American people. That is not US history.
Once again, taken out of context. The extension you make is your own interpretation of what Wright said. An interpretation, I might, based on a line that you are taking out of context.
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@ realitycounts
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Truth be told, I do think Obama was indulging his critics a little. Nobody is losing sight that he is still a politician. Even so, at least he did that, whereas McCain + Hagee + silence = free pass.
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odog
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]While Hagee, Fred Phelps, Thomas Robb and their ilk live in squalor because they are, you know, saints.
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odog
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why does finding a moral equivalent(or lack thereof) make it o.k?
It's not a question of "OK". It's a question of relevance, specifically, that your initial point is irrelevant.
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Tourette Parrot
[Read the article: Barack Obama, working-class hero?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]lolcait is little more than a parrot trained to regurgitate this bulls**t whenever the word "Obama" is whispered.
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Interesting
[Read the article: Barack Obama, working-class hero?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Economic Left/Right: -6.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.08
I'm pegged somewhere between TDL and Mandela, but that's not really me at all, or at least my "Matrix" of me. Interesting.
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One can't nominate "undecided". MI should get a do-over.
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton's petition ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sure, as long as Michigan pays for it. Why is it that they should deserve a pass for breaking the rules? If they want their delegates seated, they can remedy their own malfeasance.