A Path Beyond Grievance

William Raspberry, The Washington Post
By William Raspberry
Tuesday, November 11, 2008; Page A19

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/10/AR2008111001544.html?wpisrc=newsletter

It's been said that the ascendancy of Barack Obama signals the beginning of a "post-racial" America.

I wish. What we have witnessed, I think, is something less profound but still hugely significant. Obama's election means that in America, including at the highest levels of our politics, race is no longer an automatic deal-breaker. That's a major step forward in the thinking of white America.

Or that bush F*ed up so bad that he made it almost impossible for a white guy to get elected.

It also helps that for the past eight years one of the few consistently capable people in the current administration's cabinet has been a african-american woman.

"My opinion" before you start throwing rocks in my general direction.

I think Condi's world-view is lacking, as are all neo-con world views, but has she been much more competent than "my husband .. I mean, The President?"

O, yes!

But the guy from Waste Management who lifts our dumpsters & pours them into his truck usually only leaving maybe a pound of trash on the ground has been more competent than Dubya.

Nichole

World-view notwithstanding, often enough, it's the image that counts: how many times before has such a powerful and prestigious black woman been so extremely visible to the American public and the world for so long? And a republican to boot (which meant no kudos for being black & successful, just the way it is)? Politics aside, she was competant. I am just referring to changing attitudes in this country, which have culminated but is not limited to the President-elect.

Things will never be the same.

Thank God.

Ms. Rice had a reputation and record before Dubya tried to apply the kiss-of-death. Yes, she is a competent and intelligent black woman.

Do I respect her? Yes. Do I agree with her stances and the way she has viewed the rest of the world? No, but agreement isn't required to own she is not only qualified to be Sec of State. She prolly would have made an infinitely better President than Dubya.

So, I believe, except for the political angle, we're in agreement, Marcus, no?

Nikki

Quotehow many times before has such a powerful and prestigious black woman been so extremely visible to the American public and the world for so long?

Looks do not count, Carter has done more for peace then she. Powell has done more but he was put to pasture for talking back to Bush. Condi just obeys orders.

Quote from: Nichole on November 11, 2008, 07:56:06 PM
Ms. Rice had a reputation and record before Dubya tried to apply the kiss-of-death. Yes, she is a competent and intelligent black woman.

Do I respect her? Yes. Do I agree with her stances and the way she has viewed the rest of the world? No, but agreement isn't required to own she is not only qualified to be Sec of State. She prolly would have made an infinitely better President than Dubya.

So, I believe, except for the political angle, we're in agreement, Marcus, no?

Nikki

Yes Nikki, we are in agreement. I tend to look at things like I am reading ancient history, totally devoid of current passions. Strength or weakness? Don't know.

Chris

Posted on: November 11, 2008, 08:59:57 pm

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Quote from: lisagurl on November 11, 2008, 07:56:46 PM

Quotehow many times before has such a powerful and prestigious black woman been so extremely visible to the American public and the world for so long?

Looks do not count, Carter has done more for peace then she. Powell has done more but he was put to pasture for talking back to Bush. Condi just obeys orders.

Unfortunatly, they do for the average voting American. Just the way it is. 

Posted on: November 11, 2008, 09:01:28 pm

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At risk of drifting way off subject, which I apologize for, but quickly to explain what I mean. One of my recent focuses has been on Byzantine politics, and reading of the iconoclasm controversy during the eighth century...basically the idea if icons should or should not be used in worship (very prevalent in the Orthodox church today, the iconophilis won)...constantly bickering and spilling blood over the issue, one ruler overturning the edicts of the previous (think conservative/liberal)...the whole issue is almost incomprehensable to us today. But if you look at it from their point of view, religion was just as important to them as politics is to us.
A thousand years from now, people may very well be a-political, or their politics completely different than ours...and look at our own squabbling as completely incomprehensable and uncaring for one side or the other, and historians taking a very detached view on the whole subject.
I do know what happens today will determine the future of course, and what we do today is important...I'm just trying to explain my own thought processes when I come in from way out of left field...and maybe trying to hide from having a strong opinion in the politics of today. But it is the process in which I make up my mind.

QuoteUnfortunatly, they do for the average voting American. Just the way it is. 

Lucky the average is now less than half.

Ms Rice is good, maybe even better than that.  She sure was better than what she got, which was more or less ignored.  In the end she was a weak NSA head, and an even weaker Sec of State.  In reality, both of those were Dick Cheney's jobs, she was, at best, a figurehead.  If you want to go with her strengths, make her ambassador to Russia, which is would do well at.  But what she wants is to be the Comish of the NFL.

Quote from: lisagurl on November 11, 2008, 08:43:05 PM

QuoteUnfortunatly, they do for the average voting American. Just the way it is. 

Lucky the average is now less than half.

Clever play on words, but untrue. Disregarding who history proved right, Kennedy won in 1960 because he had better hair (ie, better image). We can look back now and say, what a wonderful candidate and president, but most people who voted for him because of image. Most people are not as well informed as you, nor do they care to be, don't forget that.

Nixon did a lot to hurt himself, but Kennedy was also at the right place at the right time.  There was a huge pent up demand for change, and it sure wasn't Dick.

Quote from: tekla on November 11, 2008, 09:01:13 PM
Nixon did a lot to hurt himself, but Kennedy was also at the right place at the right time.  There was a huge pent up demand for change, and it sure wasn't Dick.

Yes, and Kennedy represented a new generation and change in a country that wanted change...an "image" of tomorrow.

About image: People voted for Obama mostly because of the economy and positive change in society. Walking down the streets of Saginaw, MI where I live, which voted overwhelmingly for Obama, how many people of voting age could tell me what Obama's economic policies are? I am just saying realistically people don't do that much homework before voting. They listen to campaign slogans and sound bites and talking heads on television. They understand the big picture, which is good, but lack knowledge on significant details...like what Obama's or McCain's economic policies actually were. This worked for and against both candidates. Just the way it is.

Well what Obama had going for him was he wasn't Bush.  That deep dislike/hate was so deep that even though he is black, he won.  How huge is that?

Quote from: tekla on November 11, 2008, 09:20:41 PM
Well what Obama had going for him was he wasn't Bush.  That deep dislike/hate was so deep that even though he is black, he won.  How huge is that?

Very good point, but saddens me to think about it that way...his main strength being the "Anti-Bush" people would even vote for a black man. I sincerely hope, but am very doubtful, that Obama being black wasn't much of a factor Bush or not. But hopefully 10-20 years from now no one will care what color they are, only what they stand for.

Well there was a lot to it, but incompetence was a major factor.  Overwhelming as a matter of fact.  But, I think that there was a kind of time deal going on too.  Political ideals tend to have a shelf life of about 20 years.  And that Reagan backlash deal ran its course.

Quote from: tekla on November 11, 2008, 10:10:20 PM
Well there was a lot to it, but incompetence was a major factor.  Overwhelming as a matter of fact.  But, I think that there was a kind of time deal going on too.  Political ideals tend to have a shelf life of about 20 years.  And that Reagan backlash deal ran its course.

Right about that. People get tired of 8-12 years of party rule, then do regime change. Bush being an exclaimation point as an example of discontent. Overall, seems healthy for the country to change its mentality every couple decades and evolve. Each go around, the minority party reinvents itself a little and represents change. I think Lincoln would be rolling in his grave if he saw the GOP today. Completely different party, completely different issues. Lincoln would probably be a Carter-like democrat today, but he's not around anymore so I can't ask him.