Obama will change victim politics into yes you can.

One of the most compelling features of Barack Obama's campaign, has been his ability to reach into the African American community and call for more self-reliance.

In this he will create a generation that will aim far higher and break out of the chains of the past which explained why you couldn't.

Jesse Jackson's remarks are not only unhelpful, they're misguided.

As Obama shows there is no ceiling.

Win or lose.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2008/07/11/obama-who-will-rid-me-of-this-turbulent-priest/

off because without blame game politics Jesse becomes a very poor man. Can't keep filling the coffers with yes you can. I feel the same way about the ADL, they fill their coffers by finding antisemitism under every rock.

support and acknowledge children they fathered? The description might have hit a bit too close to comfort to Jackson.

Also plays a big part.

Both Wright and Jackson have their noses out of joint.

The politics of crying "woe is us, the man is keeping us down" will be over.

From those who tell you why you are lost to someone who says the sky's the limit.

I don't think Obama denies the real issues, but like a helpful leader/friend/parent he tries to take our focus off the obvious negative, which sucks people in, and keeps us stuck- and says "where do you WANT to be"-

Like the "some men see things as they are and say why- I dream of things that never have been and say why NOT?-" that RFKjr. encouraged.

Not denial, but refocus as you so succinctly say.

and a belated welcome to DU-


:hi:

peace~


(edited to add 'belated')

Two different people. I love Sharpton but Jackson I can't relate to.

I agree that Obama's message is the correct one in the long term. But let's not pretend that if all of a sudden he is elected, institutional and even overt racsim will just dissappear.

Legitimate claims of discrimination will STILL exist and must be challenged and explored.

Obama's election will be an incredible milestone for race relations in this country, but it is NOT the end of racism.

I fact, I predict a backlash against minorities. The same "oh, well one of YOU is in the White House so you have no excuse!" theme will drive these attitudes.

I'm seeing a lot of these types of posts and attidues with non-black voters. A few may support Obama, but more are against and use this topic as a perhaps one positive that could come out of his win. 2009 will be an interesting year when Obama wins.

I agree that there will be a backlash. I also think that discrimination is going to be around for a long time, and can't be casually dismissed or ignored.

I believe Obama is well aware of this- and I don't think he sees his run or election as the magical cure-

You make a very good point. This is a new begining, not the end.

peace~

thank you for the kind words.

Of course there will be problems. backlash might be too harsh a word, but that applies to every new adventure.

Old feels comfortable.

DUers chimed right in-- in agreement! :shrug:

Don't get that...

Nice broad brush there. :eyes:

If you think it's meant as flame bait stop there.

Go read the rest of the blog and you'll get the picture.

I'm a massive Obama fan who believes in his positive thinking rather than the "why we couldn't" of the past.

Like Cosby, Rock, Lewis Hamilton, Woods, Condi, Powell, Jordan, Obama....endless the message must be YES WE CAN! And better.

As I said Jackson's message is still necessay to draw attention to problems in the community and assist in drawing funding but the way forward is bigger and better than that.

Flame that if you will.

article right there-

I went and re-read the article, and it has a bit of a 'bite' that clouds your very GOOD observation- just as you said it above.

I'm no literary expert- and don't communicate very well, but what you just said- that together, both Jessie and Obama possess the ingredients necessary to really make the way forward a reality is Excellent- and the 'can-do' attitude is critical, but often dismissed as 'out of touch'- 'elitist'- Pollyanish... because it involves risking failure, and failure is painful, destructive and too often deadly. But the alternative is little better.

Obama isn't standing outside the equation and telling people what they "should" do- as some people would like to claim. He knows discrimination in a way many people never have to experience it- and he has found a way to overcome it-

IMO-

peace~

as negatively as the OP, which I feel is important to say.

I don't believe Obama has any illusions that discrimination and prejudice are real and alive, and how much more difficult it is for African Americans to achieve their dreams than for many 'white' people in similar situations. I DO think that his quest to encourage people to put more energy and effort into what they hope to achieve/be/do is a good, necessary , ..healthy one- as long as we don't step over the line into the land of denial. It's hard to break out of bondage- and seeing that there IS something worth struggling towards is critical- along with a continued effort to eliminate the barriers that society has created and allowed to exist.

The OP's comment about 'refocus' is a good one- IMO.

The article is a bit more .... off the mark- again IMO- because it tends to ignore the reality that there IS inequality and racism very much alive and active in this world- people ARE victims, and don't have equal access or equal opportunities, but it is important not to focus on what holds us back so fervently that we don't fight to get to where we have every right to be.

It's a fine line, but I believe Obama knows that better than most people.

peace~

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2008/03/21/barack-obama-echoes-of-mandela-the-rainbow-nation-address/

The Philadelphia speech on racism

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2008/07/05/flexible-obama-the-african-despots-and-republicans-worst-nightmare/

On Africa and Iraq