It was great to wake up this Sunday morning to the news that Colin Powell has endorsed Obama. If you have not seen his interview, check out http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490
Powell displayed a great amount of integrity and gave a fair-minded analysis of the candidates. I hope his voice is heard. Sadly and ironically, since race is always an issue in our country, I have no doubt that there are those who will dismiss Powell’s opinion as prejudiced because of his skin color. As long as he’s “acting right” or doing his "house" work well, to many, he is an acceptable representative for Republicans or conservative thought. I do not deny the “house nigger” pun. I have no doubt that by speaking out against McCain and supporting Obama, Powell will soon be pushed out into the field. This is a disturbing metaphor and I do not mean to imply that I buy into this sort of pitting between people. The thought is disturbing from either perspective; whether it be the hostility between blacks based on their social/political/economic status, or from the prospective of the “house,” that “place” is determined by how well behaved the Negro is. It is my opinion that this “house/field” notion still haunt our country. I think Colin's past and present political positions might be an interesting focus in which to find yet another threat of slavery era consciousness weaved into our culture. What are your thoughts? I'm curious.
3 comments:
lala, I read all your coments. I love them, it almost make me feel the intensity, the non-glamorized work and the human aspect of what is to campaign in a different state.
Of course ratpublicans are going to spin the endorsement as a race issue and will try to dismiss it as not important. But we know that privately Mc Nasty and Apallin are saying "you betcha" it hurts.
However, those of us who saw the interview, can't obviate the clear, precise and well thought reasons for his decision.
Well as to learning a little of spanish:
OBAMA PRESIDENTE
ASI LO QUIERE LA GENTE!
thanks for your insights.
wapo
No doubt. McCain's friends at Faux News were smearing Colin Powell even before he made the announcement. The headline of their story: "Hip-Hop-Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He'll Endorse Obama." http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/15/colin-powell-fuels-speculation-possible-endorsement/
But despite the innuendos, I think/hope that Powell's endorsement will have an effect on soft repubs and the national security voters. We'll see in 2 weeks.
Manny
There is tremendous interest in the rest of the world in this campaign...and as one Jamaican friend told me last night, the majority of people of the world are people of color. There's an international computer "voting" website called something like:
"If the World Could Vote" On the site anyone can vote, but only once per computer. About 87% of the voters go for Obama. Results are broken down by country. Last night after worksdiscussion with two Africans, a Jamaican and a French woman, the talk was all Obama. A Ugandan woman spoke of pressing the "replay" button over and over again to hear Colin Powell's endorsement yet another time. She lives now in the UK and works with me in Kosovo. She's Muslim. So pleased to hear SOMEBODY make the statement Powell made. A Philipino doctor at the UN Clinic couldn't wait to comment: "I think the US will make history in this election." The Jamaican woman expressed fear that racists would harm Obama and volunteered that there could be some major world upheaval if something did happen to Obama. The world is indeed watching and, even somehow both invested snf concerned. People identify with the hope Obama inspires...The website re: voting is below...198 countries so far!
For the world vote site, just "google" the phrase: if the world could vote
Love the blog, rest when you can!
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