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I must say, the word "refreshing" comes to mind when I think about the speech Barack Obama gave today concerning the preacher at his church, Rev Jeremiah Wright. There are so many reasons why I completely connected with his speech, but I will concern myself with the three most important.
1) He faced a reality that the unending and nauseating tide of political correctness would have us all deny; racism and prejudice are realities, no matter the color of your skin.
I know this may upset some people, but for the most part, I don't give a shit; I am racist and I have prejudices. I have had them from the time I was brought up in a blue-collar home run by an ex-marine with a serious potty mouth.
There, I said it, and fuckin' a, if I don't feel better!
Now, how about the rest of you here? Are any of you man or woman enough to admit your truths?
I live in Dallas. In my neighborhood, groups of black men are generally a bad thing; a serious threat to physical well-being. This is even truer if they are: a) in a "hooptee" with their stereos cranked to the point where my computer desk rattles, or hanging out of said "hooptee" making lots of noise, or pointing guns out of the same. b) in gangs of three or more walking about like they own the sidewalk, and everything within their line of sight. c) are carrying a forty in a paper bag, or hitting a crack pipe.
Then you aren't dealing with black men, you are dealing with niggers, and you better know the difference. That is unless you like having random acts of violence perpetrated on yourself.
Not pretty, is it?
No, it's a pretty bleak picture. But so is reality, my friends. I didn't make reality, I'm just reporting on it. Life may look pretty in your selective ivory towers, but reality is always there at the end of a long precipitous drop.
2) He didn't throw Rev. Wright under the bus.
Oh how the pundits have been gearing up for this one. You could almost smell the scent of political blood in the air. With the general feeling in the past seven years that it's ok to throw people under the bus for whatever reason, to see Obama out and out refuse to act in such a cowardly fashion shows me he is a man of integrity!
The strange thing is, I can't help but agree with some of the things that Rev. Wright said. He too, spoke real truths.
It is our constant and incessant fucking with the middle East that has put us in the present situation. And it's not only us. The oil and the trade routes of the Middle East have been bones of contention since before there were twelve tribes of Israel. Every European country has claimed that part of the world as it's own. Same with every other country that is anywhere near.
Don't you think by now, the indigenous inhabitants might be just a WEE bit pissed off? Were talking millenia of conquests, crusades, blood baths, and ruthless insanity, not centuries! It would be weird if they weren't more than ready to strap explosives to themselves and run headlong in the direction of seventy-two virgins.
"Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage" Smashing Pumpkins Bullet With Butterfly Wings
And yes, America has turned a blind eye to the plight of the poor in America, especially the poor born with black skin; two words: "Hurricane Katrina!" Bodies floating in flood water for weeks makes a really strong, "we don't give a fuck about you," statement, doncha think?!
To deny this truth is to deny the reality that there was discussion about emancipation at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The idea was scrapped so the southern colonies would go along with it. That's reality! That's history!
America was built on the backs of the poor, and the black slaves. This is reality. And you know, some people are still pretty pissed off about that period of history, and in some ways, rightly so.
So, I don't necessarily agree with Rev. Wright, but I can't disagree with his words or his sentiments, either. There is truth in his words; a bitter, unpleasant truth. The truth he speaks is a truth that is too true for most Americans to accept. Shame on us, not him!
3) Best of all, it was exhilarating to be talked to like an adult; like I was capable of using my brain as more than something to keep my skull from imploding.
I haven't had a politician talk to me like that in years! Not since Bill Clinton, who didn't treat me like I had to be told how to make poopie and peepee in the toidy at age forty-fuckin'-five.
While I originally wanted John Edwards, I have to say that this particular speech lets me know, in no uncertain terms, that Barack has real integrity, and he is worthy of respect.
Respect for a politician? Yes, it can happen. I used to support Barack, now I respect him. He's definitely got my vote come November!!!
Blessed be! Pappy
