Pieces of Obama's speak in Philadelphia.
We do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist between the African-American community and the larger American community today can be traced directly to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation
For all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream, there were many who didn't make it — those who were ultimately defeated, in one way or another, by discrimination. That legacy of defeat was passed on to future generations — those young men and, increasingly, young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons, without hope or prospects for the future. Even for those blacks who did make it, questions of race and racism continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways. the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or the beauty shop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings.
I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy — particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.
The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races," he said.
We can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union. America can change. What we have already achieved gives us hope — the audacity to hope — for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
For more info read:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hisownwords/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/18/AR2008031801452_2.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7302938.stm

Every nation on the planet has its prejudices and racism. Mr Obama is achieveing much by just being in the race. As is Clinton. To be totally honest Obama is RIGHT up against it and the people who shake his hand now will be the very ones who sell him out and backstab him later. There's SO MUCH that many will see to be compromised by the potential reality of a black president, most of that will be based on the ignorant fear of the influential. Just look at the ongoing issues with women in combat and gays in the military. Those are OLD SCHOOL institutions based on centuries of boys clubs and eliteism held down by traditionalists and the very people who continue to sit in the REAL seats of power watching all this unfold, pushing buttons where necessary. The States is in desperate need of Obama in power after the ABORTION of an effort by Bush. Clinton would need to be like Thatcher to to taken seriously by world leaders. I don't think she has 'it'. Corazon Aquino, Benazir Bhutto, Margaret Thatcher.....Mate, she doesn't fit those profiles.

Good luck to Obama. The States needs to get away from the face of white, fundi 'christian', military backed boys club candidates to trun around the damage done. I'd be MASSIVELY surprised to see that happen tho.

Stg says > “Just look at the ongoing issues with women in combat and gays in the military”

Yes let’s look at the issues of women and gays in combat. After watching “Seeds of Summer” on SBS I can’t think of a better argument for why women don’t belong in combat. Perhaps it was just the way the Israelis do things but it was a thoroughly confidence sapping look at women soldiers. One soldier had to be trucked out of a final march because she was hyperventilating over an unrequited crush she had on female soldier. The lesbian relationships always seemed to take precedence over the training which is just unbelievable since these people are training for life and death scenarios in which skill and training will be the only advantage they have.

It always astounds me that the people least likely to be in the military want to determine who the person fighting next to you is. A combat units power is almost entirely developed through the cohesion of that unit. This includes the belief that your fellow diggers will 1. always come to your aid, 2 be of some use when they do. The very best of armies have always been made up of young men in the 16 – 20 age group. The natural aggression and lack of fear are a product of the testosterone flooding around their bodies at this age. Along with the testosterone comes the muscle required to complete tasks expected of combat soldiers. Women lack the requisite upper body strength and there is no getting around this. During the Falkland campaign at Goose Green soldiers marched for three days straight carrying 160 pounds and then fought through nearly five kilomtres of trenches to reach their objectives. Many men who where very fit but lacked musculature dropped out of this march.

cont'

Cont’

Women have been barred from combat in Israel since 1950, when a review of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War showed how harmful their presence could be. The study revealed that men tried to protect and assist women rather than continue their attack. As a result, they not only put their own lives in greater danger, but also jeopardized the survival of the entire unit. The study further revealed that unit morale was damaged when men saw women killed and maimed on the battlefield,"

As for gay men, combat units function best when there are no individuals. A famous quote noted that in a good battalion the CO could say that the battalion “thinks this” or the battalion “feels that”. Being gay and demanding everyone accept you is fine in the civilian world but in the military it is a non conformist attitude that upsets unit cohesion. Sexual relationships between soldiers is also not conducive to harmony within a unit. Don’t ask don’t tell, while unacceptable in the mainstream society is the best solution to this particular difficulty. Why does ones’ sexuality need to be public anyhow?

You say >” The States needs to get away from the face of white, fundi 'christian', military backed boys club candidates to trun around the damage done. “

To this I can only say that the Islamo-facists hate the US because they are populated by pornographers, adulterers, sodomites, drug users, degenerate gamblers and non believers. It seems, to borrow a phrase, that the US is like Orwells' room 101, the very representation of your own personal fear and hate, no matter what it is.

From living in USA for a couple of years I would observe, the USA makes too much of "race" in many social as well as political contexts.

It seemed to me, whenever a government form was filled out one of the questions was if one was hispanic, african-american, oriental, caucasian or "other".

I am pleased to observe we do not follow this practice to anything like the same degree here, excepting "aboriginal or Torres Straight Islanders".

My personal view, developed over time and observeation of several different nations is and always will be, asking people direct questions to their racial origins is no a way of promoting a culture of inclusion or equality. Operating affirmative action programmes of any sort or qualifying for other government services based on race is, likelwise, working against a culture of inclusion and equality.

If Obama is playing up the "race card", instead of a "Unified America card" he promotes himself as the champion of division, instead of inclusion and deserves to be dumped forthwith.

I am from left of center some are far left of reality Obama is indeed the hope of America however.
He must confront the fact his pastor is an idiot.
Some very powerful black leaders in America are and they are so close to being racist them selves it hurts.
While even the most committed conservatives here should agree Iraq was a stupid mistake, America can not alone take the blame for the rise in Islamist extremism.
So many from the very left, a minority group getting even smaller, see faults in America but not in future world leaders China and India.
Obama must confront the American right, Hilary and Bill, some racists in both camps and his idiot pastor.
Yet I hope he gets the chance to bring real change.