Letters to the Editor
-
Continued from my earlier posting
Anyway, on to the question itself. My view is that Obama was not unfair to his grandmother. The example he gave suggested to me that she had spoken out of prejudice and not racism. Though there's not a clear demarcation between the two, I think a lot of whites are prejudiced but not racist, or at least, prejudice is the early stage of a thought process that can later metasticize (sp?) as racism.
One reason I did not think Obama's comment was a dis on his grandmother is that I have heard my own grandmother say very similar things. I've also heard such things from an uncle, a family friend, a close friend, a war veteran, and a woman I was dating (whom I decided not to date because I found her views offensive; it was especially surprising because she was a PhD candidate and I couldn't believe somebody of her intellect could speak so negatively about blacks in general). Most or all of the above did not give any indication of seeing themselves as racist. Some of them took their attitudes for granted. When I obejected to comments made by the woman I referenced above, she told me, "You haven't had to live with them." In fact, I have lived in the Deep South and what I witnessed was a self-separation on both sides, with the majority of the rudeness coming from the whites. I have also lived in the northern Midwest and it was nearly as bad, only in some ways worse (the South has no monopoly on racism). A family friend said, in referring to blacks in the South, that "it's better there -- they really know their place." I wanted to tell her to F off, but my own family were silent, compliant.
So I understand what Obama was getting at, and I don't think he was insulting his grandmother or "throwing her under a bus." It seems likely to me that he has discussed this part of the speech with her; don't you think he would have? Is the purpose of his comparison lost on you?
I also have taken the opportunity to watch Rev. Wright's sermons at length. Somebody here posted a YouTube link to the full sermon where Wright used the "coming home to roost" line in reference to 9/11. The overall sermon makes his intentions clear, and shows he's making a larger point and not saying that the U.S. "deserved" it. I think when people suggest that Obama "should have" left the church, they don't really have any idea what they're talking about. They're imposing a decision onto somebody based on 30 seconds of sound bites cobbled together from years and years of sermons. There are indeed some offensive bits in those clips, but the ones you mentioned, Joan Walsh, were strange examples. Many of Wright's ideas are nothing you wouldn't hear at a Noam Chomsky lecture.
I do hope we won't continue to be sidetracked by the grandmother question. Joan Walsh, are you completely unaware that there are people with a motive to use such a small, easily misinterpreted thing to fit an anti-Obama political agenda? You act as if you are, and that is frustrating. Surely you know people want to bend this to such ends. The end result is that Obama's bigger points are forgotten, but they're far more important than this one subjective detail. Do you really think Obama has something against white women, or is painting whites as generally racist? I sure didn't hear that in his speech. Nor, apparently, did Governor Bill Richardson.
Thank you again for your column. I haven't watched the video yet. Have a great weekend.
-
Technical note
Joan -
Setting aside the commentary entirely, I have to ask a very technical favor - can we lose the porn mix in the background? Really distracting. I mean, seriously, I have trouble listening to you over the intrusive music. It's very, very bad.
-
Most. Inappropriately. Titled. Post. Ever.
You really get paid to do this?
-
OK. Once again: this is over
I understand it is hard to admit but it is over. OVER. DONE. FINISHED. FINITO. I am sure Joanie has all the misgivings in the world about the Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. At least she is trying to deal with it. It seems that after denial and anger, she has moved on to bargaining. Next comes depression, and then acceptance. Come on, encore un petit effort!!! (as the French say).
-
OLDER FEMINISTS RUINING IT FOR US YOUNGIN'S - AGAIN
Joan is so blind-sided by her Hillary support that she'll slice and dice Obama to bits.
It's gross. I'm 30, a feminist (humanist - best person for the gig), lily white, and NOTHING Obama said offended me. Not even close to the stuff Fallwell, Robertson, etc say. But I don't vote for preachers, I vote for the candidate.
What? Separation of church and state only applies to white people?
What I really resent is that many middle aged women (like Joan) are so ga-ga for Hillary b/c she's a woman. Never mind she voted for a war, introduced anti-flag burning legislation, is in deeper with corporate money, and just part of another power dynasty that does want to let go. Not to mention helping bury women her husband screwed - Paula Jones, Genifer Flowers, Monica - so much for sisterhood. And then Hilary's comment of "as far as I know"regarding Obama not being a Muslim was sooo low. The Clintonian narcissm wrapping itself in populism and feminism is the real punch line.
Why doesn't Joan address that?
I will say my mom is a first wave, fifty-something feminist who supports Obama, so there's hope. And she wisely reminds me Obama is on the right path with so many people freaking out and tag-teaming to tear him down. The established power structure wouldn't be losing it if they weren't scared. Dude must be doing something right.
Also, I'm glad all the race/ preacher stuff came out now; it will be fatiqued by general election and McCain will pale next to Obama in debates. The non-stop hate machine against Obama will peter out.
-
no, Ms Walsh, i don't think you "want him to get this behind him" - i think you want it to explode in his face
so your favorite hillary can get her miracle win.(miracle for HER, monstrous for US)