Letters to the Editor
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Published Letters: 151 Editor's Choice: 4
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Historic call to the nation's intelligence
[Read the article: Barack Obama delivers make-or-break speech on race]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Senator Obama's landmark speech today provided a courageous window into the intellect and heart of this remarkable leader. Could anyone really imagine Senators McCain or Clinton even attempting such a bold and honest exploration of the meaning of race, distrust, and history in America? They lack the soaring intellect, the incisive wisdom, and the sheer guts to get the job done. Obama has passed the only real "commander in chief threshhold" that counts with this historic address. Now we can easily and clearly contrast Obama's grace and honesty with the "100 years in Iraq" promise of McCain and the dirty "kitchen sink" tactics of Clinton.
It remains to be seen if the American electorate will rise to the level of intelligence, empathy, and analysis Obama has displayed so emphatically here. I truly hope we are worthy of him.
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Where is Hillary's address on race in America?
[Read the article: Clinton "very glad" Obama gave speech]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is discouraging to learn that Senator Clinton did not even manage to read or listen to Senator Obama's landmark speech today. Is she truly as shallow as her comment makes her appear? She could have learned something about America today. The Obama address in Philadelphia will go down in history as one of the most important and illuminating speeches on the central topic in American life and culture. If she ever wondered if words really do have the power to make a positive change in the world, she should go back and read this speech. Senator Clinton should now reiterate her statement that she is honored to be (a footnote) in the same campaign with Senator Obama.
Today's speeches by Obama and Senator McCain provide illuminating contrasts, don't they? Obama delivers a powerful dissertation on the complexities of race in America characterized by humility, honesty, and blazing intelligence. McCain delivers a speech in Jordan which reveals his profound confusion over the most basic of facts about Iraq and the tangled politics in the Middle East.
Obama was right: there was no al Qaeda in Iraq before the United States launched its unprovoked attack five years ago. The fact that McCain believes that Iran is backing the Sunni al Qaeda is a serious blow to his claims to being an experienced leader. With these remarks, McCain trips over the "commander in chief threshhold" and falls flat on his face. In this election, Obama is the only candidate we can count on to provide us with mature, reasoned, informed, and sensible leadership in international or domestic affairs.
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@jebldmm
[Read the article: Clinton "very glad" Obama gave speech]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank you for the link to the listing of great speeches on social justice and civil rights issues. I had read many of them, of course, but several were new to me so I am grateful for the fresh information.
The speeches on this web site share several important characteristics which makes them great: they turn an unblinking and analytic gaze on a central question in American history. They do not skirt the issues of the day or attempt to sugarcoat them with circumlocution. They are not delivered in coded language meant to convey a "kitchen sink" message to followers while deceiving the unsuspecting general audience. They were not delivered by surrogates. They opened up new conversations about the gap between America's ideals and the reality lived and suffered. These speeches are brave, direct, and speak to grim but essential truths that many contemporary listeners were unhappy to have thrust before them.
These are precisely the qualities that characterize the remarkable speech the Barack Obama gave today in Philadelphia. He was honest, open, thoughtful, and unafraid to display the power of his intellect and his compassion.
Race is far and away the toughest issue in American history and contemporary life. Barack Obama showed today that he has the guts to examine that issue head on. The question now is, are we as a nation ready to accept his challenge. Or will we scurry to our pre-defined holes, throw dirt over our heads, and continue to thrill ourselves with YouTube video loops and contemplation of the navels of superdelegates?
So again, thank you for the link to the web site for paradigm-shifting American speeches on social justice. You have convinced me that Obama's address will be listed there soon enough.
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Yes, this extraordinary speech was enough...
[Read the article: Was Obama's speech enough?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...to inspire countless intelligent and heartfelt conversations about race and history across this nation. Getting white people and black people and brown people and all people to talk openly about race was the overriding goal of Senator Obama's address. That was the purpose of Senator Obama's historic speech in Philadelphia and it was an unqualified success in all aspects.
Obama displayed uncommon grace, humility, and blazing intelligence in his dissection of the canker at the heart of the American story. His reference to his grandmother was particularly apt and moving because he demonstrated the love, understanding and forgiveness that he called upon all Americans to exercise. His message was this: We are all part of the same American family, and with all our grieveous faults, we cannot and should not repudiate one another. We must learn to listen to each other, to learn from one another, and to help each other. This is what Obama did with his grandmother and what he urged through his example that we do now as we take up his challenge to truly talk frankly about race and history.
Obama's stirring speech shifted the ground for this most essential of conversations by touching the essential chord of pride and empathy in every patriot heart. If we are not able to rise to this ocassion then we are the ones at fault, not him.