Things that needed saying

Those naively convinced our country has moved past long-trodden racial divides need only look at the Democratic primary race and the tone it's taken in recent weeks. The comments of surrogates have successfully shifted the discussion from issues universal to us all to issues hinged on the colors of our skin. Those comments made by Dina Ferraro and Jeremiah right are not indicative of the beliefs held by Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, respectively. Nonetheless, they have been the fascination of mainstream media. The picture painted by the talking heads is an inextricable fusion between the ill-advised words of campaign surrogates and the convictions of their candidates. Such isn't so. Such is the act of lazy logic, lazy logic that clouds the records our fine candidates' and operates in spite of honest, open discussion.

While in Wyoming, campaigning for Barack Obama, Ryan and I attended a Unitarian/Universalist church service, the first I'd ever been too. The congregation was a nuclear group of progressive thinkers in a deep-rooted conservative region, a group I hope will someday serve as a bellwether for their state. Throughout the service I was taken aback by the notion that we all share universal commonalities, blind to religious allegiances, the race or ethnicity of our parents and the political codes we abide by. Open, honest discussion as the crux, politics are discussed without spurs being flung from any side. Those participating formulate and/or adjust their opinions based on the subjective understandings of others. Without an outright endorsement of the Unitarian Church, I will say that this brand of dialog is what our nation needs. Such should be the brand of discussion at the water tank. Such should be the brand of discussion to which the Talking Heads prescribe.

Such IS the brand of discussion Senator Barack Obama adopted long ago and has offered as his defining attribute as a public figure. Below is a video of Barack Obama's speech on race and politics in America. It runs 40 some minutes and speaks to universal truths that mustn't be ignored within the discussion surrounding the nomination and election of the next American President. The Clinton campaign is aptly mute in response to the speech and it very well may be a final turning point in the tone of the election when it comes to race.



Not since Dr. Martin Luther King, has someone with Senator Obama's influence spoken so candidly on the State of the Union's Racial Divide--and this groundbreaking speech may someday serve as a turning point on racial issues for our generation. Once again I am made proud of my service for this man. I will hope, with the utmost optimism, that this speech casts a shadow long enough to eclipse the dirty, rotten racial baiting of yesteryear and that Senator Obama maintains the highroad he's become accustomed to traveling.