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Apr. 2, 2008 About two weeks ago, in defense of his pastor, Barak Obama gave a speech on race that some pundits have compared to the addresses of Abraham Lincoln and other noted speakers. There are a number of things wrong with this: First, no politician, essayist or public speaker has ever equaled the best of Lincoln. Second, the speech was only about race insofar as race could be used to excuse the excesses of Reverend Wright. Third, Obama made the mistake of his career when he played the slavery card. Why? Because that card exists only in crooked decks. Lets regress for a moment and consider another minority. When the Irish first came to this country, they were treated as sub-human. Help Wanted signs added the message No Irish need Apply. Other signs said Irish and dogs Keep off the Grass. In newspaper cartoons of the 19th century the Irish were often portrayed as drunken apes. Im mostly Irish, born in the middle of the 20th century and guess what? None of that ever happened to me. Further, neither Obama, Wright nor any other living African-American was ever a slave. Its also been reported of late that Senator Obama is favorable toward slavery reparations to descendants of slaves. Assuming that, as President, he would pressure Congress into passing such a measure, what then? Give taxpayer money to every African-American? But how would he know who he had entitled? With over a hundred years of immigration to this country legal and illegal its likely there are many African-Americans who are NOT descended from slaves. Of course, he could just send a check to everyone with black skin but Wouldnt that be racial profiling? Another anecdote: Some years ago, while I sat waiting for a job interview, a young white man came in to fill out an application. He had long hair (not then fashionable) wore jeans and a motorcycle jacket. On his helmet, jacket, the pockets of his jeans and the sides of his boots were prominent swastikas. Would any of us white or black offer a job to anyone who so defined himself? Senator Obama, if he wishes to discuss race frankly, should confront the way some African-Americans define themselves. Address yourself, Senator, to gangsta rap, gangbangers, drug dealers, single-parent homes and welfare moms. When the black community can put an end to these definitions, then we can all truly say we are moving beyond race. It is easy for Reverend Wright to say the government brings drugs into black neighborhoods what he doesnt say is that drugs, whatever their source, are not free. Blacks and whites - are paying money for them. It is also easy, as some have claimed, to say that gangsta rap wouldnt exist if white recording companies werent producing it. Wrong. Gangsta rap exists because people buy it. Word. You want to discuss race, Senator Obama? Fine. Discuss all the issues, then. But you still can't play the slavery card. ------------ About the author: Erv Bobo is a free-lance author. His current books THE VELVET BRAND, THE CHEYENNE BRAND and WESTERN STAR are currently available at Lulu.com. Email: Dasher1945@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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