Michelle Obama’s Remarks on American ‘Ignorance’ Elicit More Questions About Race

Fox News ^ | 3/27/2008 | foxnews

[tobyhill]

Michelle Obama came under new criticism Thursday as opponents seized upon remarks the would-be first lady made in a speech in January, when she told a group of students that they need to take advantage of diversity on campus so they can stop feeling “justified in your own ignorance … That’s America.”

Obama’s speech at the University of South Carolina hit the radar only this week, after it was circulated and widely viewed on YouTube.

In the speech, she said: “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?”

Conservative critics said Thursday that Obama’s latest take on America is another demonstration of her disregard for the country her husband wants to lead.

“A statement like that suggests a distorted view of America and what it’s about,” said National Review editor Rich Lowry.

[TCats]

Not at all sure of that. have you seen him lately - Has real trouble reading a speech from the prompter. His delivery is totally flat and uninspiring - Not to mention his Lib leanings.

Either Dem will chew him up in a debate IMO.

[Chode]

sorry, my bad... 8^)

[Chode]

[bannie]

This crew won't be happy until they start a race war. They're rabid.

If they're not careful, the victims of their rants will become just as rabid.

[windsorknot]

Michelle just wants us white folks to think the Wright way.

[stopem1]

“In the speech, she said: “We don’t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones”

What is your comfort zone Michelle? Wright’s church?
Anywhere BUT America?

[popdonnelly]

Does an Obama Administration mean that every black leftist will be able to stick their thumb in our eye?

[popdonnelly]

This notion that race relations will be improved by forced togetherness has been circulating in black churches for some time.

[Miss Didi]

So funny!

[Kirkwood]

She’s a racist. So’s her husband.

[VeritatisSplendor]

Just playing devil’s advocate here, but she might have been talking to blacks and whites and whatevers about the whole self-segregation thing, separate tables - which I always believed to be black-initiated - but then I never had a discussion about that in college. How did the blacks see it?

Now that I’m back in school for a second degree I am really enjoying talking with people from other countries and cultures and learning about the way they see things and do things. I will say my classmates are a good lot and we have a lot in common regarding work ethic, family values, and education although they may come from the other side of the world. No aggrieved insecure 19 year olds among them.

[jimfree]

Anyone who accuses me of ignorance and doesn’t know the first thing about me, .... well I have little respect for that person’s knowledge and understanding of any topic.

[enough_idiocy]

adding to your post . . .

if she’s so smart and others are comfortable in their ignorance, why is it that her thesis was so wrong? she assumed black alum from Yale would think/behave a certain way and she was far far off. so I wonder, just how smart is she, and just how ignorant is everyone else?

With Kerry, Michelle O, Hillary, and so many other Dems/Libs I see a consistent trait - an arrogance that they’re right and everyone else is simply an idiot.

[enough_idiocy]

Kerry won all three debates. Delivery scores a lot of points with people, myself included (think of Fred), but content still matters for a majority, albeit slim.

I think McCain will put people to sleep, but when they listen to what the other two have to say, he’ll pull it off.

Sometimes you don’t have to say anything, sometimes you let the other guy hang himself by running his mouth.

[TCats]

OK, fine. The problem with that is that McCain has very little to say himself and, in the process of saying very little, he is slow on the uptake. To boot, aside from his stand on the War, some of his thoughts are not that much different than the more moderate Dem positions.

IMO He's a sure loser against Clinton and MAYBE can win against Obama becuase of the new look people are taking of him because of his wife and Pastor.

[TCats]

I've got news for you - Every Black leftist is ALREADY sticking their thumb in our eye. Take a peak at Detroit and many other Cities of similar demographic composition.

[LibertyRocks]

Ping... for the new list...

Obama/Wright Issues Ping List
If you would like on or off the Obama/Wright Issues Ping List. Please respond to this post, or send me a Freepmail. (Keyword for Search: ObamaWrightList).

WARNING: This will most likely be a High-Volume List, but hopefully it will be a short-lived list (as in hopefully Obama will no longer be a factor soon!).

NOTE: If you run across an article here at FR or elsewhere on the web, drop me a ping, or send me a Freepmail with the URL so I can add it here, or ping the list as appropriate.

Thanks!

[oswegodeee]

Gottcha beat! I’m a Jewish Honky Redneck Cracker! ha ha!

[Biblebelter]

She is making John Kerry’s pickle princess wife appear sane and stable.

[VanShuyten]

In the speech, she said: “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?”

Except for the "That's America" part, she's right about many Americans, especially those kids at college. This was more true 30 years ago, but I still see it at the college I teach at.