Scorpio
A More Perfect Union
"Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.
The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished. It was stained by this nation's original sin of slavery, a question that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years, and to leave any final resolution to future generations.
Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution - a Constitution that had at its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.
And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States.
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Re: Barack Obama: A More Perfect Union
By Paul Sullivan, March 19, 2008 at 13:52I haven't seen this level of honesty from a political candidate since ... Bobby Kennedy. This speech will enter the annals of the few and the great, whatever its effect on Barack Obama's candidacy. I also hope that it will make much of the spinmeistering and posturing that revolves around race and other issues seem small and inadequate. Could it be the dawn of actual change in the American political dynamic?
Paul Sullivan,
Editor-In-Chief
Re: Barack Obama: A More Perfect Union
By Melkor, March 19, 2008 at 12:08I can’t help but wonder what would happen if a Republican candidate took his or her sermons from a blatantly racist anti-Semite? My guess – America’s reaction would be about the same - partisan posturing, damage control and finger pointing politics. I do think it is unfair to lump the two together – I’m Catholic and certainly don’t condone the morally reprehensible activities of various parish Priests. It would be unfair to label the Boston faithful as pedophiles, and Obama does not deserve what he is getting.
To my mind, while undoubtedly the greatest country in the world on many many fronts, the US is still a sick and divided nation. It would be great to see this so called news story spring board into a serious, grown up discussion about race and the inequities both real and perceived felt by seemingly everybody in that country. Or better, lead to some tangible changes which might help put an end to the things that set people apart.
But of course it won’t – such is the dilemma of being the hegemonic power – serious self reflection on an axiological level is at best a tertiary concern, the economy and war machine take priority. And everybody knows an election is no time for a serious discussion – if you can’t say it in 20 seconds, don’t bother to say anything at all. And speak in sentences less that 7 words (next time you’re watching these clowns, count – they do this). And for goodness sake distance yourself from the anti-Semites in your life.
And for those keeping score regarding elected officials – go to a prostitute... get vilified; practice morality with a racist... stay tuned.
Re: Barack Obama: A More Perfect Union
By Heather Wallace, March 19, 2008 at 11:38Is it safe to say Obama had us at hello? I guess there's no such thing as money in the bank, to quote Robyn.