Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
Nov 5th 2008, 5:32 pm
#61
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
I've had just about enough of this nonsense.
The fact that you even have to explain that says a lot about some Americans. Some people deny that racism has always been (and to some extent still is) an issue in America. Some people believe that dinosaurs lived at the same time that humans did. Some people deny the Holocaust. A plant can deny photosynthesis - that doesn't mean it isn't affected by it every single day.
I'm 42 years old and witnessed forced integration via school busing first hand in Texas. It wasn't pretty and I'll never forget how scary it was for everybody. At that time is seemed that we would never reconcile the racial divide. That was only 30 years ago and what I saw was nothing compared to what my parents generation witnessed in the 1950's and 60's - and the years before that were unspeakably dark and horrible times and as a country we still bear the scars today. I understand Brits not being as psychologically connected to racism in America - you didn't experience it so how could you know? On the other hand, I am saddened and disappointed when I come across Americans that still just don't get it.
The reason that there is so much reason for celebration today is because this country has come to the point where maybe finally race really is no longer an issue for the majority of us. The election of Barack Obama is symbolic to those of us that care about finally putting the race issue to bed. If Hillary had won we'd be celebrating the fact that (hopefully) sex would no longer be an issue.... and as a woman I would be very proud of her - just as many black people must be feeling about Obama. Why deny them this moment? Why not join them? I'm proud of this country today and I'm proud that the world is watching and the world is just a little bit impressed with us too.
Furthermore, I'm excited that we can finally put phrases like "playing the race card" to rest. After today we can honestly say there is no longer a need for such a thing or even the accusation of the use of such a thing. For those who don't understand the meaning of the phrase - it is the insinuation that a minority is using the disadvantage of his own race to obfuscate something negative about himself. Since Obama has already won the election there really is nothing for him (or his supporters) to obfuscate because it is resounding clear that he WON the election. Why would Obama supporters even need to "play the race card" (so to speak) at this point in the game? The time to play the race card would have been BEFORE the election. How on earth can celebrating this historical event be construed as "playing the race card"? It boggles the mind. Perhaps the ones using the phrase don't even know what it means? I don't know the answer to that question. Besides, Obama did not get elected because of his race. He was elected in spite his race - and that is exactly the opposite of "playing the race card". The Obama campaign practically did backflips to avoid bring race into their campaign - yet they still get accused. Totally unbelievable.
The historical significance of having the first black president is a singular and exciting event. The fact that we have a new president and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders (thanks to 8 years of Republican mayhem) is a distinctly separate and completely unrelated situation. The former is an exciting and uplifting event - and no amount of sour grapes by the losers will ever change that. The latter is an still an unanswered question - as is the election of any new president.
The fact that you even have to explain that says a lot about some Americans. Some people deny that racism has always been (and to some extent still is) an issue in America. Some people believe that dinosaurs lived at the same time that humans did. Some people deny the Holocaust. A plant can deny photosynthesis - that doesn't mean it isn't affected by it every single day.
I'm 42 years old and witnessed forced integration via school busing first hand in Texas. It wasn't pretty and I'll never forget how scary it was for everybody. At that time is seemed that we would never reconcile the racial divide. That was only 30 years ago and what I saw was nothing compared to what my parents generation witnessed in the 1950's and 60's - and the years before that were unspeakably dark and horrible times and as a country we still bear the scars today. I understand Brits not being as psychologically connected to racism in America - you didn't experience it so how could you know? On the other hand, I am saddened and disappointed when I come across Americans that still just don't get it.
The reason that there is so much reason for celebration today is because this country has come to the point where maybe finally race really is no longer an issue for the majority of us. The election of Barack Obama is symbolic to those of us that care about finally putting the race issue to bed. If Hillary had won we'd be celebrating the fact that (hopefully) sex would no longer be an issue.... and as a woman I would be very proud of her - just as many black people must be feeling about Obama. Why deny them this moment? Why not join them? I'm proud of this country today and I'm proud that the world is watching and the world is just a little bit impressed with us too.
Furthermore, I'm excited that we can finally put phrases like "playing the race card" to rest. After today we can honestly say there is no longer a need for such a thing or even the accusation of the use of such a thing. For those who don't understand the meaning of the phrase - it is the insinuation that a minority is using the disadvantage of his own race to obfuscate something negative about himself. Since Obama has already won the election there really is nothing for him (or his supporters) to obfuscate because it is resounding clear that he WON the election. Why would Obama supporters even need to "play the race card" (so to speak) at this point in the game? The time to play the race card would have been BEFORE the election. How on earth can celebrating this historical event be construed as "playing the race card"? It boggles the mind. Perhaps the ones using the phrase don't even know what it means? I don't know the answer to that question. Besides, Obama did not get elected because of his race. He was elected in spite his race - and that is exactly the opposite of "playing the race card". The Obama campaign practically did backflips to avoid bring race into their campaign - yet they still get accused. Totally unbelievable.
The historical significance of having the first black president is a singular and exciting event. The fact that we have a new president and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders (thanks to 8 years of Republican mayhem) is a distinctly separate and completely unrelated situation. The former is an exciting and uplifting event - and no amount of sour grapes by the losers will ever change that. The latter is an still an unanswered question - as is the election of any new president.
Right on sister, you definately got your groove on here !!!
Nov 5th 2008, 5:33 pm
#63
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Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Back in the UK!
Posts: 1,097
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
I've had just about enough of this nonsense.
The fact that you even have to explain that says a lot about some Americans. Some people deny that racism has always been (and to some extent still is) an issue in America. Some people believe that dinosaurs lived at the same time that humans did. Some people deny the Holocaust. A plant can deny photosynthesis - that doesn't mean it isn't affected by it every single day.
I'm 42 years old and witnessed forced integration via school busing first hand in Texas. It wasn't pretty and I'll never forget how scary it was for everybody. At that time is seemed that we would never reconcile the racial divide. That was only 30 years ago and what I saw was nothing compared to what my parents generation witnessed in the 1950's and 60's - and the years before that were unspeakably dark and horrible times and as a country we still bear the scars today. I understand Brits not being as psychologically connected to racism in America - you didn't experience it so how could you know? On the other hand, I am saddened and disappointed when I come across Americans that still just don't get it.
The reason that there is so much reason for celebration today is because this country has come to the point where maybe finally race really is no longer an issue for the majority of us. The election of Barack Obama is symbolic to those of us that care about finally putting the race issue to bed. If Hillary had won we'd be celebrating the fact that (hopefully) sex would no longer be an issue.... and as a woman I would be very proud of her - just as many black people must be feeling about Obama. Why deny them this moment? Why not join them? I'm proud of this country today and I'm proud that the world is watching and the world is just a little bit impressed with us too.
Furthermore, I'm excited that we can finally put phrases like "playing the race card" to rest. After today we can honestly say there is no longer a need for such a thing or even the accusation of the use of such a thing. For those who don't understand the meaning of the phrase - it is the insinuation that a minority is using the disadvantage of his own race to obfuscate something negative about himself. Since Obama has already won the election there really is nothing for him (or his supporters) to obfuscate because it is resounding clear that he WON the election. Why would Obama supporters even need to "play the race card" (so to speak) at this point in the game? The time to play the race card would have been BEFORE the election. How on earth can celebrating this historical event be construed as "playing the race card"? It boggles the mind. Perhaps the ones using the phrase don't even know what it means? I don't know the answer to that question. Besides, Obama did not get elected because of his race. He was elected in spite his race - and that is exactly the opposite of "playing the race card". The Obama campaign practically did backflips to avoid bring race into their campaign - yet they still get accused. Totally unbelievable.
The historical significance of having the first black president is a singular and exciting event. The fact that we have a new president and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders (thanks to 8 years of Republican mayhem) is a distinctly separate and completely unrelated situation. The former is an exciting and uplifting event - and no amount of sour grapes by the losers will ever change that. The latter is an still an unanswered question - as is the election of any new president.
The fact that you even have to explain that says a lot about some Americans. Some people deny that racism has always been (and to some extent still is) an issue in America. Some people believe that dinosaurs lived at the same time that humans did. Some people deny the Holocaust. A plant can deny photosynthesis - that doesn't mean it isn't affected by it every single day.
I'm 42 years old and witnessed forced integration via school busing first hand in Texas. It wasn't pretty and I'll never forget how scary it was for everybody. At that time is seemed that we would never reconcile the racial divide. That was only 30 years ago and what I saw was nothing compared to what my parents generation witnessed in the 1950's and 60's - and the years before that were unspeakably dark and horrible times and as a country we still bear the scars today. I understand Brits not being as psychologically connected to racism in America - you didn't experience it so how could you know? On the other hand, I am saddened and disappointed when I come across Americans that still just don't get it.
The reason that there is so much reason for celebration today is because this country has come to the point where maybe finally race really is no longer an issue for the majority of us. The election of Barack Obama is symbolic to those of us that care about finally putting the race issue to bed. If Hillary had won we'd be celebrating the fact that (hopefully) sex would no longer be an issue.... and as a woman I would be very proud of her - just as many black people must be feeling about Obama. Why deny them this moment? Why not join them? I'm proud of this country today and I'm proud that the world is watching and the world is just a little bit impressed with us too.
Furthermore, I'm excited that we can finally put phrases like "playing the race card" to rest. After today we can honestly say there is no longer a need for such a thing or even the accusation of the use of such a thing. For those who don't understand the meaning of the phrase - it is the insinuation that a minority is using the disadvantage of his own race to obfuscate something negative about himself. Since Obama has already won the election there really is nothing for him (or his supporters) to obfuscate because it is resounding clear that he WON the election. Why would Obama supporters even need to "play the race card" (so to speak) at this point in the game? The time to play the race card would have been BEFORE the election. How on earth can celebrating this historical event be construed as "playing the race card"? It boggles the mind. Perhaps the ones using the phrase don't even know what it means? I don't know the answer to that question. Besides, Obama did not get elected because of his race. He was elected in spite his race - and that is exactly the opposite of "playing the race card". The Obama campaign practically did backflips to avoid bring race into their campaign - yet they still get accused. Totally unbelievable.
The historical significance of having the first black president is a singular and exciting event. The fact that we have a new president and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders (thanks to 8 years of Republican mayhem) is a distinctly separate and completely unrelated situation. The former is an exciting and uplifting event - and no amount of sour grapes by the losers will ever change that. The latter is an still an unanswered question - as is the election of any new president.
Amen to that, sister.
Nov 5th 2008, 5:34 pm
#64
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
Nov 5th 2008, 5:35 pm
#65
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,165
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
When a white man with a beard, brown hair and eyes and a slowly receding hairline and a stocky build with a little bit of a gut starting, that prefers Coke over Pepsi but SunDrop over all other soft drinks and likes his steak medium rare with nothing but a little garlic salt and coarse ground black pepper, a man who's favorite color is forest green and likes the outdoors but isn't into team sports that much can become POTUS, that's when I will be happy.
If you were willing to give a fair chance to all you could count on my vote
Nov 5th 2008, 5:35 pm
#66
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Nov 5th 2008, 5:36 pm
#67
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Posts: 3,264
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
Well said Leslie
Nov 5th 2008, 5:36 pm
#68
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Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
After spending the whole night watching the amazing US election, I was just wandering what the great Dr Martin Luther king jnr would make of the great achievement of Barrack Obama to be elected the first black president of the USA. Has his dream of fainess and equality for all been finally realised ?
It certainly brought a tear to my eyes. Are you elated or deflated ?
Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!
It certainly brought a tear to my eyes. Are you elated or deflated ?
Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!
Nov 5th 2008, 5:38 pm
#69
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
So what's your point? Isn't it bedtime in OZ anyway? And besides, all great men cheat on their wives. Kennedy, Clinton, King... it's almost a requirement.
Nov 5th 2008, 5:40 pm
#71
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Posts: 16,162
Nov 5th 2008, 5:43 pm
#72
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Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
Nov 5th 2008, 5:46 pm
#74
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Re: Barrack Obama, YES WE CAN !!!!!!
I know through speaking to Afro Americans. The majority just do not want to let the country down. They have waited a long time for this and they certainly do not want Barrack to fall flat on his face. They mainly want Barrack to be accepted for who he is within, not his outward appearance. They think like this because they hope their children will no longer have to experience any discrimination and just be judged by the content of their characters. Above all they just want unity and to be accepted as Americans and not referred to as Afro Americans, the majority have have absolutely nothing to do with Africa now.
As for the rest of your point, I can see that. The "We waited 400 years for this, don't **** it up" syndrome.
