February 20th, 2008
Keep Hope Alive, What Did Mrs. Obama mean, when she spoke about being proud of her country
We have to realize history is being made. Barack is making a larger step than Neil Armstrong’s “small step for man but giant step for mankind!” This is bigger than Dr. King’s dream. His dream included children being able to play together and being judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Not even a visionary like Dr. King could have imagined a black President of the United States.
I mentioned in a recent post, where I projected the race was over and Barack would not only be the nominee but our next President, that if so I would be proud of America. I further stated that the chair of the Presidency was an empty one for black Americans. We have not been included as a viable part of the heritage of this country. Slavery was a part of the Constitution.
Mrs. Obama is 44 years old. Do the math; in the last 23 years what has America done to make any black American proud?
Governor Deval Patrick of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts helped put all of this into perspective in a speech I saw yesterday on CSpan. He eloquently told a story of looking out his state house window and seeing little black school children. These school children were happy, excited and pointing at the state’s first black Governor. Governor Patrick mentioned he saw hope in their eyes and anticipation regarding their opportunities. They had witness to a black running their state government. They had a right to work hard, study hard and know success is possible. For that all of us should be proud of this country. If the United States can put aside it’s well documented bias toward black citizens and elect a black President, the empty chair would be filled with hope.
For blacks in business, we are witnessing confirmation that can and will restore our dreams.
As the mother of 2 small children, Mrs. Obama wants hope to be a part of a country she can be proud of! What is wrong with that?
February 21st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
As I was sitting in an airport in Chicago, I was watching CNN and they were talking about the big mistake she made by saying that for the first time in her life she was proud of her country. I on the other hand understood her statement and appreciated her confidence to make it. If we indeed have a black president, than for the first time in my life and that of my children we will have common ground in government, someone who can hopefully be our voice in government…
Congrats to Michelle for her outspoken and truthful comments!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Thanks Regina, I think all blacks have an understanding of what she meant. Safe flying, my office is close to the airport
February 21st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
The way her statement was covered, you’d thought she said that there is no God. For the love of Mike, I can’t get over how nit-picky the media was to Michelle. Sour grapes if you ask me. We all know what Michelle meant.
That’s why I don’t watch TV news. If I did, I’d probably have stroked out by now.
CNN - shame, shame, shame.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Did you hear about how Bill O’Reilly wants to lynch her for saying that if it means what he thinks it means?
http://www.blackperspective.net/index.php/bill-oreilly-wants-to-lynch-michelle-obama/
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Morgan, I hear you! It is not just CNN and this story has shown more legs than the McCain story.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Yobachi, nothing O’Reily says dumb is a surprise, it is when he says anything of substance that is surprising. I will check out your post
February 22nd, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Everybody knows EXACTLY what she meant. The spin that was put on it gave it all sorts of new meaning.
I’m sure that Michelle has learned that in her new position, you can’t leave anything open to debate.
February 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Shelia, I know we know but I do wonder about many of the haters. The goal is to win the election and then perhaps Mrs. Obama can help the country grow and open it’s mind to a different America than the way it was during WW1 and 2.Thanks for the comment
February 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
It was a way for the media to generate controversy. Remember this is one of the first elections where negative ads are OFF LIMITS so they need to do something to get people’s attention.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Shazza, thank you for your comment, the negative aspect is here but the peolpe are paying closer attention than ever.It is compelling drama
March 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Forget the race thing, what whites can do blacks can do better. So their is no need to feel inferior.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 am
Soli-
Who brought up feeings of inferiorty?
How can you say ‘forget the race thing’ and then go on to say, in essence, that one race is better than the other. Aren’t you fomenting racism?
Man, we’re all brothers and sisters -it’s only that we haven’t realized that yet. May that day come soon.
I wish you peace.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Soli, thanks for the comment, often times blacks are raised to understand
we have to be twice as good in order to compete.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Morgan, I agree with the goal of your comment. Many times as blacks in America, we have to pump ourselves up and sometimes overstate our confidence just to deal with all the negative energy we attract. I am sure you have heard, anything a man can do a woman can do better! Thanks for your comment
March 4th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Jim - I’m with you all the way.
I don’t think any race attracts negative energy, but rather it’s those who can’t ’see’ beyond the color barrier, that foist negativity on others. It goes both ways.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover” -this, too, should be a golden rule.
GO OBAMA!
March 20th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
The only downside of all the attention on this primary election, is how the media picks apart every word that is uttered and spins it all out of whack. I think Mrs. Obama was speaking from her heart and it is sad how she was villified for it.