Blatherskite

Did you listen to Barack Obama’s speech this morning? I have to say, it kind of blew me away. I was kind of on the fence between Obama and Clinton (veering a bit more toward Obama). But after that speech, my full support is with Obama. I have never heard a politician speak so frankly and openly about an issue that is so apparent in our culture today, and that gets swept under the rug time and time again. We, as a country, needed (and need) to hear this. Race is still a touchy subject in this country. But it can’t be ignored and it is so refreshing to hear a politician actually address it. And in such a real way. Not a dodgey way.

I also liked that he didn’t turn his back on his pastor. He didn’t condone his comments but I like that he said that he couldn’t turn his back on him either. Here is the quote:

As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions – the good and the bad – of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

I don’t know. I just really respect him for saying this. Like I said, it’s real.

Here is a link to the transcript if you want to read the whole thing.

Oh, and while your clicking around, stop by Frank’s blog to  check out this awesome impromptu photo that was taken before the big speech. Frank pointed out some very telling things about the photo, but I would like to add this: Check out how happy the kids are! That says a lot to me, as well.