Posted on 03/26/2008 8:15:50 AM PDT by jdm
Jim Hoft links to this speech from January of this year by Michelle Obama to students at the University of South Carolina, presumably just before their primary. It shows how Mrs. Obama can utter some truth but put it in such a tone-deaf manner that she obscures the truth with hostility and sneering condescension. In this case, she starts by challenging students to actually embrace diversity by having the courage to reach beyond their social comfort zones, and winds up calling America ignorant:
We don’t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones. You know it right here on this campus. You know people sitting at different tables- you all living in different dorms. I was there. You’re not talking to each other, taking advantage that you’re in this diverse community. Because sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance. That’s America. So the challenge for us is are we ready for change?
Anyone who spent time at a college or even a high school with a diverse population knows that the first part of her statement is absolutely true. I discovered this for myself in college, ironically when I took an African-American Studies class at Fullerton State. We had a debate over diversity in public schools, and I said that my high school was a good example of how diversity could work — and I got challenged by a student who had gone to my school whom I had barely known. Despite the diversity, the populations didn’t interact much socially at either level of school.
However, the second part of the statement doesn’t follow from the first. America is not about being “justified in our own ignorance”, no matter how Mrs. Obama feels about campus life. America has been about fixing its flaws, sometimes haltingly and imperfectly, but always working towards that end. If she feels otherwise, then how can we explain the efforts made by many people of all backgrounds to end racism and protect civil rights? If anything, America is about hope, not ignorance. Her husband didn’t invent hope and change.
Besides, after the exposure of Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a racial demagogue, the Obamas are the last people to talk about reaching beyond their comfort zone. They financially support a church that excoriates black conservatives such as Clarence Thomas and Condoleezza Rice by using playground-level names such as “Clarence Colon” and “Condoskeeza”. The Obamas supported Wright as he called the nation the “US of KKK-A”, not exactly a formula for outreach and understanding. The Trinity United Church can hardly be considered an inclusive environment, given the nature of its pastor’s tirades.
The Obamas want to be seen as agents of hope. Calling America ignorant and framing the situation so that Obama’s election will be the only cure doesn’t sound very hopeful to me. Perhaps this is why we’ve seen so little of Michelle Obama on the campaign trail of late.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND THE TRINITY CHURCH
Minorities flock to one another and push everyone else away in diverse settings, they are not ostracized.
This woman is just one big pain in the neck.
First Lady? Nope. But she sure is the First Nag.
What an insufferable pinhead. Geez.
Thanks, Michelle. The scales have fallen from my eyes!
Today, I will go to The Bad Part of Town and hug a Gang Banger. That’s all he needs; a big old hug from this ‘Typical White Woman!’
“Insufferable pinhead,” indeed! :)
Blacks, Hispanics, Chinese, Indians all have their own fraternal organizations. Universities should outlaw them and make everybody live together in dorms.
Top of the morning to everyone.............this just gets better and better.
I hope this gets a lot of play in the media. I emailed it to Fox News but who knows if anybody will see it.
or allow a white fraternity as well.
Omarosa Obama?
Her husband didn’t invent hope and change.
Can anyone help me find the article I saw recently that dissected Obama’s speech on race by indicating where he got the phrases he uses.
If he is the nom, all they neep to do is loop this along with a few other choice statements they have made.
Not gonna win. Not even close.
Big Mouth Michelle—”do as I say and not as I do” philosophy.
Oh Michelle - who demanded the separate dorms in the first place?
Michelle Obama: Racist harridan hack
I tried to listen to her from this link, and lasted about 10 seconds. She has a knack of having this quality of talking down to her audience. It doesn’t sit well with people in this country, when someone tries to tell them how ignorant “we” are, meaning “you white people”, etc.
In this day and age we are well aware of the plight of minorities along with the failures of big gov’t and programs that line the pockets of the Jessie Jackson’s out there and other beureaucrats.
Why not address those inequalities, Michelle?
The problem is, trends are against integration. First, there are the whatever-trait pride movements which elevate one group over another. Second, there are the privileges handed out to those who identify as minorities. Third, and probably most important, the multicultural movement encourages self-segregation when it demonizes those who “offend” minorities. Since it is difficult to relax and be yourself and also be on constant guard for possible offense given to “others”, one tends to stay away from “others” in social situations. And social situations tend to bleed off into all other relationships, especially in the sense of networking.
How many of you would be able to relax and enjoy yourselves in the presence of Ms. Obama?
Michelle Obama’s smugness knows no bounds...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.