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Promise of Obama | Hope and change

obama promises — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:02:48 -0500

Thanks for posting, President Barack Obama and his campaign promises have been so inspiring, and I agree with you that cooperation is the key to the new generation and the new Hope movement, for real change. Thank you again and I will be reading your blog.

Joni

Reality Check

wraithofwonder — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:38:47 -0500

Candelaria,

Whoa, slow down. You have zero basis for claims like those, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

All the guy did was recognize what being white in America is for the moment and has been. He didn't espouse for a second some belief in the innate superiority of whites. You read WAY too much into this.

Recognition that whites have had it easier and that he has assumed they would continue to have it easier isn't equal to believing they should have it easier.

Bianca,

Same to you. Shameful, just shameful. He didn't say he had any desire to perpetuate it. Assuming that it would always be and working towards keeping it are two very different things.

White supremacists actively work towards that goal and if you start labeling every white who is a little uneasy about what Obama in office means a white supremacist, you'll do us all - the country and the world that is, more harm than good by helping Newt get sworn in in January 2013.

Melissa,

Please read my comments to Candelaria and Bianca. Recognizing your privilege, even assuming its continued existence and fearing its loss is NOT equal to actively working to preserve it.

This was a sad display of poor judgement by all of you, to take this guy's honesty and twist it into something much dirtier than it was.

Depak Chopra for one

Maria Niles — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:29:59 -0600

Linked above, Depak Chopra would agree with you that religion should not play a role in a government ceremony. And I would agree, too. I would rather that no one faith be singled out and highlighted at government functions. If a blessing must be invoked I rather it be non-specific and inclusive. I also would rather that marriage not be an issue and that the government not give legal sanction, privilege and benefits to any relationship. However, I do recognize that neither civil marriage nor invocations/benedictions at state events are going away any time soon, unfortunately. So, under those circumstances what do we do?

I still don't know. But thank you so much, Regina, for adding your thoughtful and passionate view and post to the discussion.

Separation of Church and State

Regina Varolli — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:53:19 -0600

Am I the last person in the United States who still believes in the separation of Church and State? This isn't about judging Obama, or Rick Warren judging everyone who doesn't belong to his church, it's about a fundamental aspect of our Constitutional Democracy, and that is the separation of Church and State.

Pastor Rick Warren Again Rears His Ugly Head

Excellent Question

Pam — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:52:58 -0600

So I am left wondering. Who Is Obama? Is he secretly a bible
believing Christian who is attempting to secure a platform by catering
to the left. Or is he more of a leftist liberal who is patronizing
the conservative Right. Who Knows. If nothing else I think Obama is
an expert in making both sides pay attention.

I think this is a really well stated question that sums up my feelings on the matter. Personally, I'm hoping Warren will step down, though I'm not naiive enough to believe that's what will happen - it's just what I hope for.

More critical is that Warren and Obama's less than green pick for the Sec't'y of the Interior remind me that as a progressive leftist, Obama has only begun to disappoint me. Don't get me wrong, I'm MUCH happier with Obama than I could ever have been with McCain, but I'm reminded by these choices that American politics has a long way back to representing my values, too.

Nerd's Eye View
@nerdseyeview

I think we should take a breath and give Obama a chance

JCK — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:40:52 -0600

Wow! What a beautifully written piece. I, too, have been repulsed by Rick Warren's views on gays and lesbians. His views are not mine. Not even close. However, he has done many good works around the world. This is such a topic that flings people to one side or the other. As you pointed out, Rev. Joseph Lowery will also be participating in the inauguration. These choices, in my opinion, clearly continue to illustrate Barack Obama's desire to bring people together. Isn't that why we voted for him? For his gift in bringing people together? I don't see that there is any call for us to give up who we are or to give up our opinions, but to come together and see that we can agree on some issues. Not all. But, some. We have to start somewhere. Let's give Obama a chance.

Once again, great writing! And thanks for all the links.

JCK

Motherscribe

Thank you, all

Maria Niles — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:20:14 -0600

I very much appreciate all these comments. You've added rich perspective and food for further thought. And, I must say that I'm glad that I am not the only one who is seeing a lot of grey here.

Nordette - thank you for your links and adding additional context to the discussion. And thank you as well for applauding my bravery though I don't think it took much courage because I'm not taking a stand. I am genuinely torn but hopeful and really interested in other folks sharing their views. Even if some might be angry with me for not picking the "right" side I would like to hear their arguments which I can solicit by blogging the question.

Again, thank you all for adding your voices to the conversation.

BlogHer Contributing Editor
PopConsumer
Beyond Help

Obama Who?

nettalyce — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:19:49 -0600

Nettalyce

What exactly is it that we are hoping for? I am stunned at the number of people who believe that in order to come together as a people we have to somehow give up who we are as individuals. Rick Warren is a Christian whose beliefs, philosphies, perspectives, opinions, and platforms are fully informed by the Bible. He believes the Word of God is inerrant, immutable, and that it serves as a manual for how Christians schould live their lives. His subsequent views on the submissiveness of women, homosexuality, and abortion flow from the Bible. Now I know stating this is blasphemous to some individuals who either reject the Bible or who opt to use it as an a la carte menu where you can choose what you like and leave the rest. His ideas don't orignially come from the Southern Baptist. They stem from the Wrod of God upon which the Southern Baptist have sought to develop their doctrines. The question is can members and supporters of the LGBT community, abortion rights advocates, and liberal pundits look beyond their issues with the Bible and its advocates and embrace Rick Warren for who he is. Isn't that true tolerance?

I find the whole Rick Warren/Obama controversy interesting b/c I am trying to figure out who exactly Obama is. He purports to be a Christian but many of his statements tend toward the more post modern type of Christianity where interpretation and application of scripture takes a backseat to his social causes (i.e. instead of accepting the actual statements regarding homosexuality you fashion a more palatable faith system that allows you not to offend political correctness). So I was shocked to learn he had asked Rick Warren to participate in the inauguration. Now for the most part I really respect Rick Warren. I think he has a special gift of remaining relevant to today's culture while not compromising his faith. So I am left wondering. Who Is Obama? Is he secretly a bible believing Christian who is attempting to secure a platform by catering to the left. Or is he more of a leftist liberal who is patronizing the conservative Right. Who Knows. If nothing else I think Obama is an expert in making both sides pay attention.

Brave, Maria

Nordette — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:16:43 -0600

I wouldn't have touched this topic in a post b/c the older I grow, the more practical I become and would have surely insulted someone writing what I think. I lose patience with the naive who think Washington DC is a place of no compromise, and wrote at my own blog this summer that Obama is only human. Surely folks should have seen these types of choices coming. But no, they've projected onto him their expectations for what they believe rather than his own philosophy about how to get work done. Women do this with Michelle Obama also.

People who want perfection and absolute agreement should request a transfer to the next life. But anyone who wants to win a war, will watch opponents and supporters more carefully, pick battles wisely.

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is WSATA, and she's finally taken the dive into Twitter.

We are more diverse than we know

Addofio — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:22:44 -0600

Sometimes I think that even in this age of electronic communication, we all still manage to live our own lives in more or less comfortable niches in which we don't come in contact with those who are really different from us. At least, not knowingly. Which this controversy brings out, I think--that Warren't participation is being criticized from both sides shows just how long the stretch is from the far left to the far right. One person's "moderate" is another person's flaming radical.

I personally am somewhat comforted at the inclusion of Reverend Lowrey. I'd be even more comforted if the media gave it more play, so that people could see more clearly the possibility, at least, that Obama is trying to live up to his commitment to bring the country together. Unfortunately, controversy is life's blood to the media, so they will always play up what divides us.

Reaching out to heal the divide, to bring us together, is politically risky in many ways. One of the risks is that one side does all the flexing, while the other side stands fast, thereby "winning". I think that's what us lefties are worried about with Obama. I worry about that, too. Liberals are committed to living with diversity in a way that conservatives are not, and we are thus inherently vulnerable to always being the ones who flex. Furthermore, sometimes it is important, even essential, to stand fast and not be moved. But if everyone does that all the time--we won't get out of this unhealthy divisiveness that has dominated the political scene for so long.

Another risk of trying to heal the divide is that you just piss people off on both sides, and end up with everyone mad at you and the divisions worse than ever. I think that's what happened to Clinton, and why he abandoned the attempt. I'm hoping that Obama has the political capital (and the wisdom), and that enough people really are tired of the politics of division, that he/we will be able to bring the body politic back together to a more healthy condiiton. But I also hope he doesn't give away the store in the process.

I'm with you--I'm torn. And I'm sure glad I don't have to figure out how to bring the country together--I haven't a clue. But maybe all these public and semi-public conversations are part of the process, as people work through their initial feelings and thoughts get aired in the process.

To get more specific--I definitely don't think Warren's invitation should be rescinded. That would insult the right even more than the invitation has insulted the left. It would also make Obama look wishy-washy, and he needs to be strong/we need him to be, and appear, strong.

We get there by doing the uncomfortable

BarbD — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:17:51 -0600

I'm tired of outrage. It seems to me that for the last 20 years, Americans have backed into their respective corners and shouted at each other. I'm willing to pay attention to any leader who tries to stop this cycle, which I believe Obama wants to do.

I, too, don't know how we overcome this -- but I do know that what we've been doing isn't working. I remember a time when debate was more of a spirited (but still respectful) discussion -- not a shouting match. It's something I've been trying to bring back in my own conversations with close friends and family members who have deeply conservative views that run counter to mine. I'd like to think that this has at least led to more understanding about why we believe as we do. And it's exposed me to a broader range of conservative thought, some of which I find myself in agreement with.

It's easier for me to understand the objections to Rick Warren than the objections of conservative evangelicals. That's understandable -- I'm a social liberal (and not religious). But I also believe that in order to get to a more respectful place, I must be willing to expose myself to discomfort.

That doesn't mean I have to agree with beliefs counter to my own -- just that I be willing to truly listen and respond respectfully. It's hard to shout at someone who's willing to engage with you in that manner -- and it's always possible that just as I can find some common ground with conservative thinking, maybe those I interact with will find some common ground with mine.

I think his threat about

battledress — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:04:04 -0600

I think his threat about feeding American soldiers to his dogs were more offensive, or at least it was a challenge and an open invitation to blow him to smithereens.

Kat of Tough Girl 101 I am physically and mentally tough.

Thanks for putting this out there!

Blue State Cowgirl — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:30:05 -0600

Critics, Black and White, need to stop criticizing successful AFrican-Americans as "not Black enough", "House Negros" and other ridiculous labels. I'm not forgetting that Black Repubican Alan Keyes led the charge on that "not Black enough" label for Obama. Then there was Sarah Palin with her thinly disguised neo-Klan rhetoric ("He's not like us, he doesn't think like us, he's not a 'real' American.")

Time for some people to learn that Americans come in all shapes, sizes, colors and levels of accomplishment.

Blue State Cowgirl

There's a great role for bloggers in tracking that issue

Kim Pearson — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:31:13 -0600

Hi Norma,

First, you're welcome. Thanks for reading and commenting.

I think that property taxes are going to be an issue in many local elections in the coming year, and the pressure will be in two directions. On the one hand, certainly homeowners will be pressing for revaluations. On the other hand, municipalities will probably also see pressure to maintain services, especially since state and federal funding for many services will likely be cut or remain flat.

It would be great if bloggers could track this issue over the next year or two, and the results could be collected in a central location, like placeblogger.com.

Thanks again.

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|

Kim-This is an interesting

Norma156 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:24:57 -0600

Kim-This is an interesting and important article. Thanks for it. One thing, though, you didn't mention is the impact of property taxes, especially when those taxes are indexed at the higher, previous value of the home. Are you aware of any discusssions at the municiple level about rolling back property taxes to reflect the newer, lower home values? I'm not.