Comments on: Candidate Obama's Sense Of Urgency
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- I just wanted to add that what almost happened to my colleague was African American on African American crime, and while that doesn't make the act itself racist, one could argue that the racial segregation in Chicago and its effects has driven these guys to engage in such acts, and indirectly, that could be seen as a result of racism. That particular area has improved a lot in the last ten years but I have been through there myself and I don't know where you live, but you haven't seen poverty and a lack of any sort of escape route in this country until you have seen a place like that. Half of the buildings boarded up, empty lots, the few businesses that exist are either fast food chains or locally owned fast food shops with hand painted signs advertising pig ear sandwiches or liquor stores.
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- In response to the question about how my colleague knew, it's been years so I don't remember all the details but It think they had baseball bats or said something to the effect like "Get out of your car" that made him realize what was going on.
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- Sometimes you don't have a choice because prejudice hits you without you doing anything. My husband is Egyptian-Arab and Muslim. Fortunately, he has never had any problems because of this, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been the victim of a racial attack here on the Southside of Chicago.
One night we were taking a bus around 11 pm to Midway Airport. It passes through a predominantly African American neighborhood before passing through a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. We were sitting silently on the bus (I was next to the window and he was on the aisle by the rear exit), not talking, not doing anything that would have identified my husband's real background. But he was punched in the face by an African American teenager passing as he got off the bus. The teenager obviously was able to get away but we realized that he had been the victim of a prejudiced attack. Not for what he was, but what he looked like. You see, my husband is always mistaken for a Mexican here because of his hairstyle and complexion, and he may have been wearing the wrong colors that night without even realizing it. He had been attacked for being a Mexican in the wrong neighborhood, even though he isn't Mexican.
Just as Obama said you are treated as a black man if people think you are, you are treated as a Mexican if they think you are too. Racists don't stop to ask questions first. - Reply to this comment
- The so-called "race card" is not so much being played by Mr. Obama, the media, journalists, etc. as it is by you all, i.e. the complainers and whiners, essentially acting or serving as self-
fulfilling-prophecy" messengers. There are un-doubtedly any number of chronies of Clinton, of Republican wannabes, etc., licking their chops, observing blog exchanges such as this, ready to gleen selected exerpts from exchanges, for the sole purpose of arming competitor's negative campaigning arsenals. Well armed indeed. - Reply to this comment
- I was very impressed with Mr. Obamas speech to run for President of the U.S. As a Mexican -American growing up poor I can relate to many things Mr. Obama said while he worked in poor neighborhoods. But, I belive and I am proof as are so many other people I know that we can be and do anything we want to become successful in this country. I believe that with the right leadership we can accomplish much without the rhetoric of war mongers and the lies that have led us into an unwinnable war for oil. Our war is to find Osama Bin Laden and his aides and to defeat terrorism with the assistence of other countries then just our few allies. We are not the World Police Department and we cannot force our values and culture by force based on lies. Mr. Obama may have litle politcal experience but, I believe he can lead. Like myself,I had no expierence in business when I chose to become self-employed and now I'm financially secured.
Any negative baggage that Mr. Obama has needs to be addressed fully and as soon as possible to avoid embarrassment and los of potential votes. Good luck Mr. Obama! - Reply to this comment
- To Nuunu,
I just wonder how you friend knew that these guys were going to attack him? My brother who is African American and a lawyer once saw a woman (white) being attacked by a man (white) late one evening. He walked up to them and got into a fight with the man. The police came shortly after and would have arrested my brother if the woman had not mentioned that it was the other guy who was attacking her. They immediately assumed that it must have been the black guy who was the attacker. They might have even considered him a thug because he was in jeans and a shirt that evening instead of a business suit. People make wrong assumptions all the time and it is probably the reason that many serial killers (like Ted Bundy) get away with murder for so long. - Reply to this comment
- To Jprescia,
Oh please. You are living in so kind of fantasy world if you think that race is not a deciding factor in how people are treated sometimes in this country. Get your head out of the sand. All you have to do is look at the hate crime statistics in this country. Many people have been attacked because of nothing more than their race. Are you saying that if these people choose not to be attacked based on their race that the attackers would have actually cared? - Reply to this comment
- Both of my parents and I were born in Puerto Rico. We moved to the mainland in the early 1950's to try to make a better life for ourselves. I have lived through many changes in our political system, from the hysteria of possible nuclear annihilation in the 50's, the upheavels of the 60's, and to the divisions of our society in recent years. I have been a Republican for years, but I too feel it is time for change. Senator Obama, in my opinion, offers the best chance for us as a nation to rejoin the world community as partners and restore our credibility. I am sad to see our government so beholden to special interests that it has abandoned the principles our great nation was built upon, equality for all, rule by the people, and finally a social conscience for the oppressed. The Republican part no longer stands for that, and that is why I will work to help get Senator Obama elected, and those who oppose his policies un-elected.
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- Sen. Barack Obama's comments regarding racial prejudice shows how strongly racial prejudice is in hiw OWN mind. You can live in whatever world you decide to live in. I don't deal with racial prejudice because I CHOOSE not to go there. I KNOW who I am and what I can do for society and I live off my strong suits. Sen. Obama's comments rank as low as Jesse Jackson's racial prejudice. What a copout to personal responsibility!
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- Having too long been ashamed to say I am an American, I intend to get behind this man's campaign and help anyway I can. I was watching Hilliary closely as I do believe she made a credible effort years ago regarding healthcare BUT this fellow seems to combine all the best qualities..youth, solid academic credentials, political saavy, commitment to people and community and the right of all to participate in government and the economy. I am more than willing to pass the torch to him and to his generation.
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