A part of Obama's speech on race likely to be glossed over by pundits, but one I think is especially remarkable:
"And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part -- through protests and struggle, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience and always at great risk -- to narrow the gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of our time."
Given the total disdain Bush, Harper and company have exhibited towards public protest at recent summits, it's inspiring to hear a presidential candidate recognize its value, not just as a means of expression, but as a fundamental tool in helping North American democracy evolve. It's popular these days to write off demonstrations as mere theatre, the thing bored and lazy twentysomethings do in between reading Chomsky and watching The Daily Show. That attitude strips public protest of its significance and allows politicians to conspiratorially scoff at it in the media -- would you listen to these wackos?, wink-wink. It's amazing to me how little attention so many massive protests against the Iraq War have gotten, presumably because we're supposed to have given up on it something that's outdated and kind of embarrassing, a leftover piece of patchouli and sweat-scented commune idealism from the 1960s.
Good on Obama for making the case that it's played a key role in advancing certain positive elements in American society.
3 comments:
I don't think the Liberals should get a pass on the topic of disdain for peaceful protest. myself and every other man, woman and child in quebec city were forced out of the city after it was completely saturated with tear gas during the ftaa protests in 2001.
and don't forget the repeated state kidnappings of protest leaders like jaggi singh in quebec city and the earlier apec protests at ubc under the Liberals.
Good post. Very well written.
J.R. Obama's words really are inspiring. I'm almost wanting for words. It's shocking to hear that my opinion is shared by someone who isn't considered "fringe," "naive," or otherwise counterculture.
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