On Obama’s Speech:

After today, I actually feel a little better about Obama.  My first impression upon reading the text of his speech was that is was stunningly honest and daring, but having come only after being pressed to react to an issue, I cynically put it off as damage control done by a politician.  And then I heard the speech. 

Obama was both honest and eloquent in his speech.  It was an astute and poignant analysis of racial issues in this country, honest to both black and white Americans alike, admitting to resentments lingering in both races that neither like to talk about.  There was a true demonstration of hope if I’ve ever seen one, and I mean that sincerely.  To believe that America is ready to hear that racial conversation takes hope.  And maybe we are ready.  As it is now we have no choice but to talk about race. 

Senator Obama should never have been put in this position in the first place.  The media, not the campaigns, turned this race for the democratic nomination into a racial struggle. After weeks of asking, “will race be an issue?  Will race be an issue?  Will race be an issue?” guess what?  They succeeded in making race an issue.  They made a huge racial divide out of negligible statements by Geraldine Ferraro.  Just tonight one MSNBC commentator made an issue of Obama mentioning his white grandmother.  We’ve seen video of Obama’s pastor over and over and over again. 

It’s not right to judge people based on things they have no control over.  As a gay man, I hold that belief very deeply. Race, by now, should be a non-issue.  Clearly, it’s not.  Race is what we’re talking about.  Not the war, not jobs or the economy or issues, but Black and White. 

That’s another thing: I keep hearing and reading “Black” these days, when the proper term is African American.  Even Obama today referred to the “experience of Black America.”  And no one has become outraged about that fact.  I find that a fascinating observation.  On all the talk shows, on all the blogs, the term African American has been disappearing and it’s “black, black, black, black, black.”  Even the African-American pundits are saying “black.”  If the term has become a non-issue, then is America ready to truly see beyond race?  Is the Senator right?

Oh, we could hope so, couldn’t we?  Perhaps we’ll be able to discuss sexism as well, and why some men refuse to even consider voting for a woman.  And if so, Obama’s speech today may end up as a bookend to the civil rights era opposite Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, and ushering in an equal rights era.  But the realist in me remembers that old axiom: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.   Instead of being, as Obama himself wanted, not “Red America” or “Blue America” but The United States of America, we’re back to being Black and White America. 

We’ve just heard the most painfully honest speech on racial issues in perhaps 40 years.  What we do from here on out is up to us. 

Here are some highlights:

Congratulations!

I don’t know her personally, nor am I familiar with her political views, but congratulations are due to Denise Simmons of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was just installed as the very first Black (openly) Lesbian Mayor in the history of the United States!  (h/t the grammarkillers of Queerty)  This is truly a sign of encouragement for those who feel progress has stalled in our country, and a historic moment for which we should pause and reflect. 

Which should obviously be followed by a joke/question: does this bode well for Hillary or Obama?  

GA Supreme Court Orders Genarlow Wilson Freed!!!

It’s about damned time:

Georgia’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered the release of a young man who has been imprisoned for more than two years for having consensual oral sex with another teenager.

The court ruled 4-3 that Genarlow Wilson’s 10-year sentence was cruel and unusual punishment.

Prior IMBD articles on Genarlow Wilson are located here and here. 

Six Held In Rape, Stabbing of Woman in WV

Here’s my initial instinct: hang ‘em.  Hang each and every one of these inbred white-trash knuckledragging motherfuckers (h/t Smoking Gun):

A black West Virginia woman was sexually assaulted, stabbed, and tortured while being held captive by her white abductors, one of whom told her, “That’s what we do to niggers around here.” . . .

According to six harrowing criminal complaints, the woman, who apparently had been held for more than a week, had four stab wounds in her left leg, bruised eyes, and had been repeatedly sexually assaulted and humiliated. The woman told police that she was forced to lick Brewster’s “toes, vagina, and anal cavity.” Brewster’s son Bobby forced the woman to eat dog and rat feces, according to one complaint filed in Logan County Magistrate Court. The victim, who is now hospitalized, was raped at knifepoint, choked with a cable cord, and had her hair pulled and cut during the ordeal.

THIS is America in the 21st century?  It’s extremely difficult to believe that “every life has some value” when I read about abominations like this.  That poor, poor woman.  Think about it, I mean really, really think about it.  Some bastard stabs you in the leg not once, not twice, but FOUR TIMES, then has you lick their toes, vagina, and asshole.  And that’s just for starters. 

According to this source she was required to drink from the toilet as well.  This report says she had scalding water poured on her.  She wakes up screaming for her mommy now.  At 23 years old, this young woman is now scarred for life by an experience you wouldn’t wish on your worse enemy.  For the most complete coverage, go here. 

If one of these sonofabitches goes free then there are going to be race riots.  Time to cull the herd. 

African Americans Are More Patient Than I

Watch these clips from Socially Offensive Behavior.  No way would I sit through this shit.  I’ve left jobs before because of racist assholes.  Check it out after the jump: