I have read Barack Obama’s latest speech on his relationship with Rev. Wright.
I have to say that despite all my cynicism toward hype of all kinds, and especially media hype, I can’t help but be bewitched by Barack Obama, his oratory, and yes, the symbolism of his identity.
The speech is beautiful, profound, and 99% right. In particular, it is one of the most astute writings I have ever read on racial divisions in America.
That being said, where it is excellent in its diagnostic of the problem and in appealing to the better angels of the American experiment, I am still disturbed by passages like these:
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze – a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many.
(…)
This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn’t look like you might take your job; it’s that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.
At times he sounds almost like his prescription for ending racial division in the U.S. is to get all the races to unite against their common enemy — the profit-making corporation.
