DISQUS

d- I have never heard a liberal tell the soldiers 'fuck you'. Ever. Your rhetoric does not help get your point across.

s- how many liberals do you know? Most of the ones I know have pretty positive views of this country. As do most of the conservatives I know. In fact, I find the divide is much less greater than I used to believe when I only knew conservatives.


I have three sons raised in the public school system and I would disagree with your assertion that "In this academic and political environment it is impossible to ignore what is vile in our history." There is still a lot of ignorance masquerading as knowledge.



And no, I don't think Obama needs to state it more -- I hear that you want it stated more, but I am quite happy with the statements he has made.

s- If you have not heard Senator Obama speak of serving in the military as honorable, then I think you are not listening well.


Part of what appeals to me about the Obama campaign is the ability to hold the whole story of the USA; not need to seperate the racism that has existed in the military, in the country, from the service and the goodness that is can also be there.



If you ignore what is vile in our history, then you cannot fully appreciate the good and the noble.

I don't know whether it should have been posted or not, what I do know, as a white 47 year old woman, is that it is easy for me to hide in my protected bubble of privilege and not face the inherent race bias or lack of oneness with woman of a different culture, and an image like this is vile (evil) enough to shake me out of that complacency. And look at my own reaction, my silence and take steps to live what I say I believe.


I wasn't silent when the race-baiting started and I won't silent about this; and when an AA women is portrayed in this manner it diminishes all of humanity. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of building bridges, at the same time holding firm that there is that which is intolerable.

Thanks for posting this - I read it at Kos and was so taken with her graciousness and honesty and vulnerability. If I had a daughter, this is a woman that I would consider a role model.

damn that collective consiousness!

Anon @2:35 - Gore - been there, done that -- it didn't work out so well. Talk about disenfranchising voters; Gore has not been part of this primary. I'm just a white girl independent, but it seems some Democrats will stop at nothing to make sure Obama does not get the top spot in the GE.


Obama '08

Thank you for posting this, I had hoped to see it all, not just the ubiquitous sound bites. His responses just confirm my gut feel that he is the President this country needs. Although personally I would not wish that job on anyone!

Two years ago, I sat at a Quaker gathering and listened to Vanessa Juyle, an AA woman, speak of cracking the seed opening and growing beyond racism. Speak of experiences of black people sitting on the back bench in Quaker meetings, and of white privilege. I didn't get it then, but I knew there was more to the racial divide in out country than what I could get at that moment. So, I sat with her words, and I asked the Spirit to enlighten my heart, my mind, and my spirit as to my white experience and others black experience. Today, I am grateful for Vanessa Juyle's truth-telling, because I needed those two years to be able to hear the truth and the courage and the beauty in what Senator Obama spoke to in his speech yesterday.


Again, I have been sitting with his words, and aghast at some of the comments of those who cannot hear. Who are demanding a simplistic answer, without a willingness to sit with reality and complexities. And again, I am grateful for Senator Obama's truth-telling and speaking to us citizens as if we are adults.



Anon @ 11:53 am - I too am white, a registered independent, and could be considered rich. We have that in common, but what we don't have in common is I know that I have racist undertones within my thinking and my acting, because that is a part of the culture I was raised in,not in my family of origin, but in the wider culture that formed me. I have been shocked at the depth of some of those racist tendencies. To not own them is a lie.



I too was raised to believe many of the statements you quoted. I was also raised to try to walk a mile in another's shoes, instead of judging them. I do not hear a choir of victims, what I hear is a call to live in reality, live in truth so we can heal and repair a culture that damages all. I wish you could hear the same.

Thanks Jill for your perspective. As a white woman, reading your words helps me. I used to think the only place of commonality was pain. Obama has shown me hope is another place we can all meet too. It really angers me when it feels as if that place of hope is being defiled. For that reason as well as the obvious,I find Ferraro's comments offensive too.

Oh this video is priceless, made my day, thanks for posting it.

She said it about Jesse Jackson too. Here is the information -
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/A_Ferraro_flashback.html#comments

Yes... I think this should go in the Wiki page. Isn't it also part of the story line -- Obama is lucky, he benefits from being black, and Hillary, the hard worker and experienced one is overlooked. Doesn't that play into Clinton's PA demographics fears and prejudices? Her campaign makes me sick. I am so glad Obama is moving up in the polls again.

I read that she was actually named one of the most influential lawyers, and the rater has asked Hillary repeatedly to clear up the record, that it is not best or top but "influential".

What I don't understand is how she thinks Obama missed out on a lifetime of experience? Did he just materialize in 2002? How does anyone not have a lifetime of experience?
What I do understand is her lack of character.

Jack and Jill is one of the blogs I read to help me 're-set' the narrative the Clinton campaign is trying to sell all of us citizens. I need to be reminded that is is Clinton who has prove she cannot close the deal, that Obama continues to close the voter gap in state after state, and the MSM continues to set the bar higher and higher for him. I was so disappointed in the election results last night; not disappointed in the Obama campaign but heart sick at those fellow citizens who continue to let fear and lies rule the day. I am a firm believer that it is good to bring lies and untruths into the Light, what I am seeing is the reality of racism and inherent race bias being brought into the Light all over this country. Hillary Clinton is Rasputin with a different skin and gender, and I will never vote for her. I am a 46 year old white female, and I will never vote for her. Integrity is a keystone for me, and it is the only attribute I am willing to divide people into "us and them". Those with integrity, and those without. To me it is so blindingly clear which is the better candidate. Obama '08.

And this tells a different story -


"The relationship began to change, according to several Democrats who are friendly to both senators, when Mr. Obama began musing aloud about a presidential bid. The day he opened his exploratory committee, several Senate observers said, he extended his hand and said hello on the Senate floor. She breezed by him, offering a cool stare."



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/03/us/politics/03web-zeleny.html

"but instead they've fallen ass-backwards into this story, which ultimately places Hillary in the only role in which she gets positive press: as a victim." That is a priceless analysis.

Thank you for posting this, I have posted links to both the audio and the video, and to your blog on my own.