The following article is my subjective view of the American presidential election. I'll get the disclaimer out of the way first. I’m not American, I’m not as informed as many of you regarding the current presidential race with regards to policies and so on however, as I have already said, this is my subjective view (opinion) and if anything will prove as a good way to perhaps educate myself on the subject further.
I think the likes of the e-mail floating around that contain out of context quotes that was recently used in a JU article as a reference for an example of Obama’s supposed lack of patriotism and racial mentality shows at what length people are willing to go to just to influence the opinions of the masses, with one of our very own JU users falling for it when they used it as a reference.
The article in question can be found HERE.
It is all to often that we get people reacting in way that is can only be described as hearing only what they want to hear. People read that Obama is racists and anti-American, get floated an out of context quote and before you know its common fact amongst certain communities.
That’s not to say there haven’t been some genuine criticisms of Obama that should be debated properly, such as his position on Iraq, oil drilling and I think perhaps the most controversial issue of all, his former pastor.
The first two, I’m not all that clued up on, other than reading other JU users articles and what I’ve seen on the http://www.bbc.co.uk (which is very little). The third issue however was something that intrigued me, as I had heard the name of his pastor previously. As someone who is passionate about secularism, I’m all too familiar with the Nation of Islam (of whom Obama’s former pastor used to be a member).
I’m all to familiar with what he’s said and what he and others like him have said, they themselves are not the problem, its those that listen to them. I think far less would take these people seriously had the opportunities such as racial segregation and poor American foreign policy not existed. The likes of Henry Kissinger playing a game of chess with the world are out right the cause of so many of today’s major issues. With regards to racial segregation, thankfully America as a state has removed this, but the aftermath of it still lingers like the unwanted odor of washed up drunk stood behind you in the queue at the paper store as your purchasing the morning gazette.
I think something like segregation of the races will be a thing of the past in years to come, but there are still to many people with deep rooted and inherited xenophobia that walk the earth. Someone said once that Science only progress with funerals, I fear the same is true for society and politics.
The question still remained for me, had I been an American citizen, would i still vote Obama in the next election, despite this issue having come of light? Let me first come to say that the polices I am aware of I fully support and think are what is needed from America, things like removing lobbying influence, promoting universal healthcare and his concerns over nuclear terror.
With this in mind I think I still would. The pastor issue isn’t enough, it was a mistake sure, but lets face it I think he can be forgiven of a mistake or two in comparison to your current president who has been nothing short of a disaster.
Thanks for reading and all comments are welcome.
When Obama loses, as he most certainly will, the media narrative will be... "America Not Ready for Black President." They will insist he was rejected because of race rather than his far out left wing policies.
Maybe and maybe he will not be voted for his policies and i hope that if he does lose thats the reason why, but what i'm trying to point out is the sheer willingness of people to take things such as his apparent racisim as face value, what is this saying about these people?
I hear a lot of people say this country is not ready to elect a black president. Granted it’s a very small demographic I’m exposed to to draw any conclusions, however I believe it to be generally true under normal circumstances. Right now however there are so many factors in Obama’s favor that could make it possible I think he’s going to win, but this is going to be a tough one to call.
You have an intense dislike for what the republicans have done in the last 8 years, more than I’ve ever seen and McCain is just another liberal republican which apparently is just too much of a contradiction to function properly. We’ve had 8 years of the most uninspiring unintelligent public speaking in the history of not just this country but in all of recorded history and Obama just happens to excel at delivering an inspiring “intelligent sounding” speech. I think most are severely underestimating how much the country is starving for just that.
Obama was a risk for the democratic party and so was Hillary. Just about any qualified white male democrat would have easily defeated any republican in this election, just because that’s the way the public swings. Eight years of one party doing badly is long enough to make people forget that the other party was just as bad so they switch.
If the people who want a black president to demonstrate that America is ready for a black president were really ready for a minority president, why would nobody expect them to vote for a male orthodox Jewish candidate?
As minorities go, that hypothetical candidate would totally out-minority Obama. There are more blacks than Jews in the US, there are more non-orthodox Jews than orthodox Jews in the US, and there are more women than men in the US. Further Jews have in the past experienced (and in many countries still do experience) much harsher discrimination than American blacks can imagine today.
But somehow I don't see the people who support Obama because he is black (and there are many such) as possible supporters of a Jewish president, despite their claims that they are not black-supremacy racists but are just trying to make the world a better place by giving minorities a chance.
Obama's racist priest wouldn't be a problem if the two hadn't been good friends for 20 years. I would have to know someone very well before I speak of him as my spiritual guide.
Personally, I don't see an advantage in a black president. A woman president, however, would have been fun. There are today more countries that discriminate against women than against blacks, at least legally. A woman president would have sent a signal. A black president doesn't send such a signal. (To whom would he send it? Zimbabwe?)
If the first black president became president because he is black America will have failed its colour-blindness test.
Even if i don't have enough information to form an opinion (which i think is quite a ridiculous thing to say on an internet discussion site), surely writing an article on the subject and taking in what people have to say about your opinion is only going to enhance it? More to the point it is interesting and entertaining, isn't that why we are all here?
Charles, where did i say i specifically limited the resources i use to gain information. Instead didn't i just list the places where i get my information?
I didn't neccisarily choose to limit my information, its just the way it is. Perhaps i should have just said 'I'm not an expert on this, but here's my opinion'.
I didn't ignore the rest of your comment by the way, i just didn't have much time to respond to everyones opinion on this just yet, as i'm at work. I just went through the comments here and that particular aspects of yours stood out and i wanted to respond to it immediatley.
Part of forming a better (or in your words solid opinion) is discussing it with people whom's opinion differes to your own.
I was told his Philadelphia was quite inspirational, yet i saw Christopher Hitchens slating it, saying it was overhyped, i think he then went on to mention Martin Luther Kings March on Washington speech in 1963, saying thats an example of inspiration.
I decided to watch the speech as i was rather intriguied by Hitchens comments as with most of what he says it goes aganist the grain so to speak, but more often than not he makes a point that most of us are too afraid to admit.
After having done so i was somewhat dissapointed by Hitchens, i don't think it was a fair comparison to make. It's not on the same par for sure, but we live in a different era and more importantly the issues he is addressing are not as sevre in my opinion.
Il felt it showed a confident speaker, a man with intelligence, integrity and honesty. Incidentally it deals also with his former pastor also, the most important aspect is i felt he was more in touch with modern society as opposed to McCainn.
Very true, here in the United Kingdom we had a strong influx of immigration from the former colonies and dominions after the war. In my parents generation there is i feel, unfortunatley, a deep rooted distrust between different communities.
This however has eliviated slightly within my generation, this is to do thankfully to the integration of people from a young age from different ethnic and cultural background.
I'd of probably said it was a none issue, but recently however 9/11, the wars in the middle east and of course our own domestic terror incident, cultural ammonosity has to a degree raised its head, certainly with the peoples view towards people of islamic faith.
Well it's a fair arguement and one that still troubles me, but as i said in my initial article not enough to convince me that Obama isn't the right man for the job.
Yet i think if you look at Obama's answer to that very critisim, he goes on to mention that many of us have disagreed on a political level with someone we can relate to on a spiritual one. Thats his arguement, not mine.
As a secularist, i can see where he comes from, what someone believes in politically should not be influenced by their religious beliefs or those whom preach religion to them.
I think thats a huge problem with humanity, when you say 'advantage in a black president', do you mean any symbolic advantage? As thats the only advantage that you can really gain from having someone of a particular skin pigment colour.
We shouldn't be looking at them as 'A women candidate', 'Black Candidate' or 'Jewish Candidate'. We should be looking at what their policies are, what they believe in politcally and how they present these ideas to us. Isn't that where the advantages lie? Not in symbolic representation of that person from a societies piegeon holes fo categories?
To those who think Obama is not fit to be commander in chief all of you to ask yourselves the following question:Do you want another four years of compassionate conservatism from someone who has no clue on how to solve this country's economic problems? C'mon people! The current commander in chief is not smarter than a 5th grader and he has basically ran this country into the ground. Obama is not perfect,but I would put my money on him than McCain anyday of the week.
Proud Puma here - not voting for Obama because I think he is inexperienced, unqualified and would be a disaster for America - it has nothing to do with race.
Cheers for the link little-whip, i'll update my article now.
With regards to the comment from Farrakhan that Obama said he identified with, well i'll have to take a further look into it before i pass any judgement. If is true, and is true in the right sort of context, then it's worrying, to say the least!
I'll fly over to your article now and take a look also. Cheers for responding.
P.S I wasn't aware we had anyone leading any of the opposition parties from Brum? Or has Ozzy Osbourne recently decided to follow up his life long ambition and dive head first into politics? haha!
Il felt it showed a confident speaker, a man with intelligence, integrity and honesty
I suppose if lowing your grandmother who raised you part of your life so you can elevate your racist pastor of 20 years cries integrity you should go with it. I guess throwing grandma under the bus is the safe thing to do.
If America wasn't ready for a black president , Obama wouldn't have won the nomination and have won primaries in very white states , such as Iowa , Montana , North Dakota , Alaska , the list goes on ,
Yeah, wonder how that would have played if the voters at the time would have known they were just holding onto their guns and religious beliefs. Or maybe they could have given up their 401-k’s (apparently a white entitlement) as Obama friend father Phleger suggests to atone for slavery. Obama was the ideal candidate when nobody knew him and he had no substance. Now people are learning more and liking less. Tell you what, be sure to get a good paying job, I’m getting ready to retire and I want you to insure my healthcare is excellent, dig deep now don’t scrimp.
The current commander in chief is not smarter than a 5th grader and he has basically ran this country into the ground. Obama is not perfect,but I would put my money on him than McCain anyday of the week,
So what are Obama’s credentials in regards to spending the taxpayer’s money? Not counting that wonderful interest rate he got for himself on his home, of course. The fact of the matter is the congress has more influence over the economy that the president past and present. And this congress is so wonderful. Ask for hope and change and see want you get. When will people understand businesses (i.e. those nasty rich companies) don’t pay taxes, they pass them onto the consumer. Thiers your middle class tax break Obama is promising you. Sure you might make more on paper right before you spend it on everything that just when up to cover the “taxes”. One born every minute.
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