Just a speech?

[stan@sunsys]

Originally Posted by FIT

Middle class?
As for guilt. I have nothing to feel guilty about. Fortunate? Yes. Because I'm white and didn't have to endure what I see so many other's endure.
You know it all.

You're middle class NOW.

If it walks like a duck and squawks like a duck...

You're fortunate because you live in the USA. That's what you should feel fortunate about!

[Kathe]

Whew, gotta get out of this thread. Got all tensed up over it. LOL

Kathe

[FIT]

If the dems take over and put through a plan that requires all employers to provide coverage to their employees--including tanning salons and other small businesses--will you be gung ho for that?

The plan would call for employers to CONTRIBUTE - not fund it. And yes I would because it's going to lower the cost of health care for everyone. If you have healthcare you are paying for everyone else anyway. The rates are what they are because so few are actually insured.

So many choose not to pay for healthcare and then when something catastrophic happens they do like Queen's friend above. And apparently that's ok with her - but Welfare is wrong? I'm not a Hillary fan but she's right when she calls it a hidden tax.

[Kathe]

Welcome to The Loft Check out the full posting below. >> Recommend to Friend | >> Send comments to The Loft The Speech That Revealed So Much Posted by Bobby Eberle March 19, 2008 at 6:37 am >> Printer-Friendly Version It was touted as a "major" speech. Facing criticism over anti-American hate speech from his pastor of twenty years, Barack Obama was forced to the podium to address the comments of Jeremiah Wright. Obama has built his campaign around a message of "coming together" and "moving beyond race." However, his speech did nothing to show that he, the candidate of change, has done any moving at all. In fact, despite specific words in which he denounced some of Wright's comments, the overall message of his speech was that Wright's comments were OK and that we just need to "understand" why he made them. Sorry Barack... you had your chance to move "beyond race," and you blew it. On many occasions, I have written about race in America. (See A Personal Look at Racial Preferences and Diversity Essay" is Not the Answer to Color Blind Admissions). Those on the liberal left have done more to perpetuate strife between the races than they will ever admit... from racial preferences to "hate" crimes laws, the dream of a color-blind society has been swept away in favor of "give me something just because I'm black" mentality. Obama's pastor has taken to the pulpit on many occasions and delivered, not a Christian message of "love thy neighbor," but a militant political message of hate. By now, you have likely seen the videos or read the transcripts. Comments such as "The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lies." and others such as "We nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye." are common place in Wright's rants. However, what did Obama say about them in Tuesday's "major" speech? First, he made the following comments regarding Rev. Wright, a person Obama now refers to as his "former pastor": On one end of the spectrum, we've heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it's based solely on the desire of wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap. On the other end, we've heard my former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; that rightly offend white and black alike. Obama then added, "I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy." Rather than strongly come out in his "major" speech and draw a clear line in the sand between himself and Rev. Wright, Obama draped his denunciation around the comments made by others in an attempt to make the Wright comments on par with other statements of race. Nice try, but you failed Senator. Someone's (Geraldine Ferraro) personal comments on whether race had anything to do with your rapid rise in politics is completely different than a pastor's anti-American, anti-white, anti-Jewish, non-Christian rants at the pulpit. Obama should have nothing to do with this person, but he is so political that he is not willing to risk his "ghetto" credentials to say what's right. Instead of saying that he will not be associated with a church or person who promotes such anti-American views, Obama spent most of the speech trying to defend Rev. Wright. He mentioned all the good things that Wright has done. He then went on to say: I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe. Those are the comments that really made ME cringe. Those statements and others in his speech were not only offensive to me, but were so purely political. Time after time he tried to equate Wright to someone else or to someone else's actions to lessen the effect or to diminish the significance. Wright's comments needed to be addressed for what they are, but instead, Obama embraced Wright as a symbol of the "black community." In addition, equating Wright's comments delivered to a modern-day audience with those of his 86-year-old grandmother is insulting. His grandmother came from a different era and was not at the pulpit or on video delivering hate speech. Obama goes on to explain the historical injustices perpetrated against blacks. He then adds: This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up. ... This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up. They came of age in the late fifties and early sixties, a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted. What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination, but rather how many men and women overcame the odds; how many were able to make a way out of no way for those like me who would come after them. Obama then said, "In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community." He goes on to give examples, but this is where his failure is complete. Yes, each racial culture in America has members who are angry, who feel cheated by "the man." And in the segments of angry people arise leaders to fan the flames of anger. However, those extremist leaders are denouncing by mainstream America, not embraced. Political leaders do not flock to side of David Duke, but rather they denounce his words and actions, and they separate themselves from everything Duke stands for. What did Obama do regarding Wright? Well, Obama "can no more disown him" than he can "disown the black community." Wright may have grown up during racially charged times in America, but he is speaking to impressionable youngsters of the present. His words do nothing more than promote racial division. Yet, we must "come together" and work for a color-blind society. We would be a better America for it. However, those who think Obama is the new leader of that movement need only listen to Tuesday's speech. Obama failed to be anything more than a politician trying to play the race card. One final note... The really frustrating part of the speech, other than the words themselves, was some of the analysis that followed. All of the analysts on FOX News seemed to be like deer caught in the headlights of a "racial police" Hummer. They seemed afraid to say anything that could be perceived as offensive. HELLO!!!! The speech was so blatantly political and so easy to dissect and yet they let it pass. Obama made excuses for Wright and continued to play the race card. Yet he got a pass. That is pathetic.

[FIT]

Kathe-

Is it fair to judge a man without knowing anything about him? You've seen 0.0000001% of this guy's life. Do you know how many positive things this guy has done for his community?

[FIT]

Bobby Eberle is President and CEO of GOPUSA

[solarmeter®]

This is actually not the governments responsiblity. Way back when things got started things like this were taken care of by the church. Even Jesus talked about the widows and orphans. The government was not in charge of taking care of the less fortunate, the church was. In your case it was the church that should have stepped in and helped out. I'm sorry they didn't. But then again, many have thrown God out and wanted more government instead. I see that is working out really well.

She has a good point. The government is worthless at helping people out of poverty or any other bad situation. Forty years of trying has failed miserably.

Maybe I should go do my "Easter Duty" this year after decades away from the Catholic church I was raised in. Too much Go To Hell if you do this, don't do that, or even think about tsk-tsk. But they did have a good charity and support program for people who needed it....

[FIT]

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

[FIT]

Who said it? ^^^^^ Anti- american?

[Kathe]

Originally Posted by FIT

Kathe-

Is it fair to judge a man without knowing anything about him? You've seen 0.0000001% of this guy's life. Do you know how many positive things this guy has done for his community?

I'm sorry FIT but yes it is. As I stated in an above post, by their fruits you shall know them. I can do all kinds of positive things for my community but if I am a murderer do I go before the judge and say well judge, look at all of the good things I've done, surely you can forgive this one little murder.

Now I'm not saying that he murdered anyone but when I am voting for someone as president of my country I am going to judge them on what I know. And I know he is a liar. He lied about knowing about these sermons/speeches. This pastor has been preaching like this for years. The sermons are on CD and on websites. Obama had to know about them and in fact he at one time admitted to knowing. Although now I think he is backtracking on that one. You can't go to a church like that and not know. And if you know and continue to attend then in fact you are agreeing with what is being said.

Kathe

[Kathe]

Originally Posted by solarmeter®

She has a good point. The government is worthless at helping people out of poverty or any other bad situation. Forty years of trying has failed miserably.

Maybe I should go do my "Easter Duty" this year after decades away from the Catholic church I was raised in. Too much Go To Hell if you do this, don't do that, or even think about tsk-tsk. But they did have a good charity and support program for people who needed it....

Maybe try a different church than the good ole Catholic version of it this year. My hubby was raised Catholic and he feels the same way. Jesus already did all that "stuff" that they tell you that you need to do in order to escape hell. Just living for Him is all you need. Find a good non-demoninational bible believing church is better. That's what we did. What a relief.

And you are right about helping in the community. Our church helps fix homes for people, food for needy people, missions in downtown Detroit and more. This is not a government problem, it's a people problem. The government is there to keep us safe from invaders and things like that. Not as community service.

Kathe

[Kathe]

Originally Posted by FIT

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

UGH! This is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. Anyone I know, and I know plenty of people of different backgrounds and color, are what they make of themselves. No matter where they came from and some of them have come from some pretty bad stuff. It is in your mindset.

You are taking away free will and giving it all, all of the responsibility, all of the consequences, to the government. If it works, they take the credit. If it fails, well, who knows.

The person needs to be responsible for their life. I've seen people dig themselves out of holes that were huge without relying on handouts. Essentially what you are saying is they can't do it on their own. They aren't good enough. They don't have enough will or want or gumption.

I would hate it is someone talked about me the way you are talking about black people. I have a black friend who I've had conversations about this and she gets spitting mad when things like you just said are said. You wouldn't want to be in the same room with her and tell it to her face. And she grew up a poor black girl in Arkansas.

Ridiculous.

Kathe

[FIT]

Well we have a national holiday for the guy who said that. It's Martin Luther King and it is straight from his "I have a dream speech".

It's obviously not the entire context of his speech. Just like Jeremiah Wright he said things other's wouldn't agree with or find "ridiculous" but it shouldn't define either of them as people.

I'm willing to bet your black friend from Arkansas has a pretty high regard for Martin Luther King.

[stan@sunsys]

As ridiculous as that part of MLK's speech was, or would be if made 40 some odd years later, it was not anti-American or racist, it in no way compares to repeated racist and anti-american statements by Wright. Wright is no MLK. You're riding a dead horse there FIT. Give it up.

[George Sklenicka]

Originally Posted by FIT

"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

As far as I know, the word pursuit is not synonymous with "Free" or "Entitlement". Pursuit means you go out, work hard, earn your own way and pay your own way. I'm pretty sure that's what they were getting at back in the 1700's.

[solarmeter®]

What MLK forgot to say was: Keep blinking fast. Never slow down, or worse yet quit trying.

Try the blink test next time you're in a resturant. Your service will be 2-3 times slower if the person blinks slow. The tips will be less too.

Then try it at the DMV office, bank, hotel desk, or anywhere else. Always the same. No exceptions.

We don't need Obama to fix slow blinkers. They have to fix themselves... whatever color they might be.

[stan@sunsys]

Originally Posted by George Sklenicka

As far as I know, the word pursuit is not synonymous with "Free" or "Entitlement". Pursuit means you go out, work hard, earn your own way and pay your own way. I'm pretty sure that's what they were getting at back in the 1700's. [/left]

In all fairness though, MLK was speaking metaphorically, unlike many today that think the government owes them something, like real checks.

[George Sklenicka]

Originally Posted by stan@sunsys

In all fairness though, MLK was speaking metaphorically, unlike many today that think the government owes them something, like real checks.

I understand that but FIT was not.

[FIT]

Wright is no MLK

How would you know? All we know about him is what you can find on Youtube.

[stan@sunsys]

Well, if MLK was an anti-American racist, then maybe I'm wrong.