| So, media savvy Jesse Jackson got caught with his | | | | success. Black American history has been so intent on |
| proverbial pants down. The microphone was still on as | | | | placing blame that purveyors of hate like Jackson |
| Jackson uttered the now infamous words "See, | | | | have been allowed to flourish. But, Obama has elected |
| Barack's been talking down to black people. ... I want to | | | | to follow a different path. And, good for him! |
| cut his nuts of." Interesting how someone who must | | | | Barack Obama is not "talking down to black people", |
| obviously be very familiar with the functioning of media | | | | he's talking them up, and not out like Jackson has been |
| equipment managed to commit such a faux pas. I don't | | | | allowed to do for several decades - to the detriment |
| think there's a political pundit alive that believes that | | | | of the black community. Obama represents the blacks |
| Jackson intended for his words to go unheard. | | | | of this great nation in a light that encourages a |
| The problem is that Jackson and Obama approach | | | | cooperative government, not one that forces the |
| black politics from very different angles. Jackson has | | | | beliefs of others into the spotlight. Obama seems to |
| always attempted to rally the troops to action with | | | | realize, as Jackson does not, that the success of the |
| inflammatory words and combative beliefs. His | | | | nation, and the people that live here, depends on the |
| blame-it-on-the-white-guy politics have never been | | | | ability of everyone to work together, not against each |
| effective as his failed presidential bids have proved. | | | | other. As long as blame takes precedence over |
| Obama, on the other hand, realizes that, regardless of | | | | progress, someone's gonna pay. And, in a sort of |
| the reasons which may have kept some black people | | | | self-fulfilling prophecy, it's usually the group consumed |
| disenfranchised in the past, the future depends on their | | | | by their own need to place blame that suffers. |
| ability to move on. Obama's call to action has nothing | | | | So, get over it, Jesse. Your impotent attempt to |
| to do with protests or hostile words, and has | | | | emasculate Obama was as futile as your political |
| everything to do with responsibility. As long as the | | | | career. Your time is over. And the time for a kinder, |
| black community continues to remain planted firmly in | | | | gentler form of action is at hand. Stop trying to fan the |
| the past, the prospects for the future will continue to | | | | flames of anger and support Obama in his efforts to |
| be barred by hate. | | | | get past the obstacles that have kept blacks in this |
| Obama has adopted a stance that identifies less with | | | | country from realizing their full potential. |
| a past defined by slavery than a future based on | | | | |