Posted on 07/23/2013 5:21:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
It seems to me that almost every time President Obama talks publicly about race, he stirs things up rather than calms them down. Whether intentional or not, it's unfortunate -- and damaging.
It's difficult to express opinions on race that don't conform to the politically correct narrative, because race baiters are always lying in wait to denounce anyone who dissents from their assessment as a bigot. Indeed, many leftists who call for a national dialogue on race routinely brand conservatives as racists -- merely because they are conservative -- even when they remain silent on racially sensitive issues.
But understand this: Whether or not people publicly express contrary opinions, millions hold them, and they'll continue to, no matter how effective the liberal establishment is at intimidating them into public silence.
Let me share with you a few objectionable statements in Obama's latest trip to the podium to discuss race: his unscheduled remarks last week on the George Zimmerman case.
He said he would "let all the legal analysts and talking heads address (the legal issues in the case)," clearly implying he wouldn't inject himself into those matters, which is great, except that he did just the opposite.
He said, "I'd just ask people to consider: If Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman, who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened?"
Aside from the inappropriateness of Obama's speculating about the legal issues after saying he wouldn't, his questions are gratuitously incendiary and misleading.
Under what set of facts presented to the jury -- or that we've heard elsewhere -- or under what law of any federal or state jurisdiction could Martin, had he been armed, have been justified in shooting Zimmerman?
Is the chief executive of the United States of America really suggesting that people can open fire on someone who is not attacking them or threatening them but just following them? Are neighborhood watch programs henceforth to be outlawed?
We don't even know whether Martin felt threatened -- as opposed to, say, incensed. If he had been threatened, would he have circled back to assault Zimmerman after he had removed himself from the scene (and any danger, assuming he was ever in danger)?
Obama also said, "That all contributes, I think, to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, that, from top to bottom, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different."
Oh? I just ask you to consider: If the races of the two gentlemen had been reversed, would any groups have organized protests to pressure state and federal authorities to pursue criminal charges against the shooter when investigators and prosecutors had concluded they had no winnable case? Would the president and attorney general of the United States have injected themselves into the case with racially charged remarks and otherwise to pressure authorities to file charges?
The answer is, "No -- it's not even conceivable."
How appropriate is it for Obama to intimate that with the exact same facts, except for the respective races of those involved, the shooter would have been convicted?
Obama doesn't and cannot possibly know that, but what's worse is that what he's suggesting -- while denying he's doing so -- is that Zimmerman was either guilty but acquitted because he is a nonblack person who shot a black person, or that if he'd been a black person, he would have been convicted even if he'd been acting lawfully in self-defense. Just, wow!
Is Obama projecting his own racial predispositions here? After all, he did say, "It's important to recognize that the African-American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away."
Did people completely miss that outrageous remark? "A history that doesn't go away" or a history that he refuses to let go of? Of course history doesn't go away, but does that mean there will be no redemption and no forgiveness -- ever? Is Obama saying that certain people simply will never allow us to get past our racially tainted history and live in harmony? If not, forgive me for drawing that inference based on my own observations of the endless exploitation of the race issue by the present-day civil rights movement.
President Obama has a moral duty as president of all Americans not to pit groups against each other. He has a duty not to undermine the public's confidence in the legal system based on his own biases, especially when virtually all experts believe that the case was correctly decided.
How can anyone have heard or read the totality of Obama's speech and conclude he helped calm racial relations?
Is it too much to expect that just once, Obama would not make a situation about himself? Could he just once use his uniquely historical position to lead the nation toward colorblindness rather than effectively fan the flames of racial animosity?
We really need to come together, and you need to help us heal, not drive us apart, Mr. President.
Something about getting blood out of a turnip comes to mind . . .
“We really need to come together, and you need to help us heal, not drive us apart, Mr. President.”
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That is like asking a disease not to kill you, after it has already infected you.
This guy is really naive. Obama hate Whitey.
Pray for America to Wake Up
Well, I agree with David in principle, however, i am not sure how we NEED healing. Seems things are going along just fine when the race-baiters aren’t stirring things up.
Are there any problems out there? Yes. There is no national crisis. 99.5% of the time different races deal with each other just fine. I work regularly with both black and hispanic people with zero issues and zero tension. This includes both ‘management’ types and labor.
This is an invented issue to purposely divide.
Bozo couldn't heal anything.
Look to God. He heals.
David, David, David ...
I know you’re smarter than that.
The Won is just following the orders of the barbarians who put him in power ... “Death to the Great Satan”.
America would heal on her own—if he would JUST GO AWAY.....
That’s not what community organizers do...
He should, but healing America runs counter to his big plan.
Uh huh, he’s trying, but he spelled it H E E L.
Obama hates Whitey => Obama hates “white culture” => Obama hates Western Culture => Obama hates Christian Culture => Obama hates Christians => Obama hates the Laws of God.
Same with all on the left.
Obama was, is, and always will be first and foremost, a community agitator (organizer). His heart is close to the SEIU because they are kindred hearts (they stir the pot of dissent).
He will never change and will always being stirring the pot of dissent and discontent both racially and ideologically.
Obama Should Help America Heal
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That goes against Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals.
The statement is ludacrous, Dave
Dream on! “O” doesn't give a f&^% about America, and he never did! He ignored, deliberately mishandled or blew off any chance (and there have been many) that he ever had to demonstrate his regard this country! PERIOD He isn't big enough to lead America and he certainly isn't big enough to bring us together. He IS however, big enough to drive a wedge into our heart and enjoy the outcome! SICK SOB for sure!
Why would he want to heal this corrupt and evil nation?
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