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.

Belly
you are not from left of center, you seem from center to right but may be you have many faces. If you wrote with your real name then we will know who really you are, then of cause you will be full responsible on unionists,if you are a unionist officer as you said, for what you write. His pastor is not an idiot because he said the truth, without people like him, every one would think that the race discrimination does not exist in USA. But it exists, as it exists in Australia and it hurts very much. Idiots if not racists are the people who think putting their head in the sand the race discrimination would disappeared, automatic.
I understand what his pastor said, it is not helpful at all for Obama but he told it long time ego. The pastor spoke from blacks side, from human rights activist's side, as the unionists speak from labors side, Obama speak, for all Americans and of cause he can not agree with his pastor. Two different roles, one express a part from American society, the blacks, the victims, some prefer the blacks without rights, without voice. I stand by blacks side, I understand them very well, and I support Obama ONLY if I think he will bring more justice and more equality.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

A Symeonakis, I disagree with you on this one - Belly's been pretty upfront about his identity, and it's pretty clear he's a leftist.

The pastor is indeed an idiot.

There is probably some truth in the pastor's overblown rhetoric, but to express it in the way he has will only engender dislike and hatred.

Things are never as simple as they seem, and the pastor's criticism was scathing.

TurnRightThenLeft
The pastor did what he did in the past. He promoted the equal opportunity and blacks interests. You know Bush's popularity between blacks is very low, 2-3%, they are against the conservatives, the right parties. Why? BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. Many of the problems have deep roots, are problems from the past and other problems of cause current discrimination against them. The pastor is not a politician, he try to bring the problem on the surface of American society. You have right, his criticism was scathing, but was the best if not the only way to be heard!
TurnRightThenLeft
All activists, all fighters at first stages use this kind of tactics, by time they slow down. Do you remember Arafat? At the end he awarded with Nobel of Peace! Now the PLO receives weapons from USA to fight Hamas!
I mean do not be hard with activists if they say the truth, if they fight for good reason ONLY because they use hard comments.
They push the history forward.
I am left too, but not left for the chair.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Col Rouge
Obama do not plays on race card as the blacks are only 13% of USA population and 30-35% have not right to vote.
In countries with many races every politician play a race card. The extreme right is against the blacks, Latinos, migrants, aborigines etc.
The center, the opportunists try to seem that they do not play on the race card BUT THEY PLAY ON RACE CARD. With their behave, they keep the problem as is, they leave the race discrimination to hurt and victimize innocent people.
Obama said sir we have a problem, the best way to solve this problem is to recognize its existent. He said this problem has deep roots and we can not solve it from one day to an other but let's try.
Obama said our main goal is the health system, the working contritions, the lost jobs, the business which close, we have many and big problems which we can solve ONLY if we are UNITED. The race discrimination divide our society and minimize our abilities to solve our problems. Let's give a fair go to all Americans!

Race? I never did like the Indianapolis 500. I don't have much time for Formula 1 anywhere. Dead boring. But if Obama wants to give the US of A a decent health service he is a refreshing change who won't get to the White House.

A symeonakis - I'll agree that sometimes strong words are needed.

But consider this - the pastor's words have damaged Obama's campaign.

If Obama is indeed the best option for the equality of which you speak, wasn't it stupid of the pastor to make statements that would polarise and damage Obama's campaign at such a crucial time?

While strong words are needed, the intelligence of knowing precisely where and when to use them is more important. This was not the time or the place.

The pastor didn't just touch on issues of race inequality, he made some very cruel, scathing comments about America in general.

He didn't just insult the guilty parties, he also insulted the many decent Americans as well.

Obama says US cannot ignore race.

So ? Tell me something new.

TurnRightThenLeft,
Obama's Pastor said what he said not today but, many years before. Then he could not imagine that in the future Obama could be candidate for USA president, and the mass media could use his words to damage Obama. He was against Bush, as the 98$ of American blacks, and spoke against Bush's foreign policy.
The problem is not what he said, most people say worst things, but that he was Obama's pastor!

Asymeonakis you mate fill me with pride, truly you do, see I am truly from the true left.
I in my youth stood with Socialists even for a time Communists.
I found them to be no true voice of workers.
Indeed they kept the ALP in opposition for 23 years, with policy's average voters could not vote for.
Workchoices ,that harsh weapon used against all who work for wages was a gift to conservative Australia.
From people who failed to understand the left of center had to evolve.
We have, we govern, My pride is that you confront me.
50 years from now a look back will see this is the time the new left learned to win elections , to govern for a whole country not as conservatives did for some.
I am a trade union official, that movement too must confront the fact it must be Representative of wage earners not just a few.
Obama is the hope of the world, his task is huge, he has not yet won the right to challenge, he must.
Only he in my view can restore America, while we look back on Howard in wonder and for some shame America has to remove the memory of Bush!
My name? it has been published, your taunt is unwise we are better not to let foolish people have that information.
I have suffered personal warfare because I gave my name here.
My Friend my movement is a proud one while 62 years of age I stand firmly with future unionists and Labor supporters, our enemy is as much the radical left as the conservatives.
Obama minister may have installed a Republican President in the white house.

ASymeonakis

That’s utter rubbish. In 2006 at a sermon delivered at Howard University, W right blamed America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs, and creating a racist society that would never elect a black man as president. This is despite the fact that Bush had a black Chief of Defence and later Secretary of State, Colin Powell, a black National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, A black secretary of Education, Roderick Paige and a Associate Justice on the Supreme court, Clarence Thomas among many others.The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, honoured Louis Farrakhan with its Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Lifetime Achievement Trumpeter award. Lois Farrakhan is the racist, homophobic and anti Semitic head of the nation of Islam movement. There is little doubt that Wright himself is a racist.

The problem for Obama is that he won’t distance himself from an obvious racist. Obama’s campaign is a feel good campaign that attempts to be all things to all people. His lack of experience should, but probably won’t count, against him. However the fact that he is prepared to say one thing on the campaign trail and another to stakeholders like the Canadian trade minister show that he is a populist above all things and that perhaps he is also a liar. In any case the democratic nomination is irrelevant, because John McCain will easily beat either of the democrat candidates now that they have ripped each other to shreds. Without doubt he is the more capable potential commander in chief.

Belly

You usually have something sensible to say however “Obama is the hope of the World” is a bizarre and rather extreme statement. With America’s economy in a perilous state, international relations on a knife edge and the threat of nuclear terrorism, now is not the time to elect a ‘P’ plater. Obama’s campaign is high on the kind of feel good nonsense that the soft left love but it is rather short on content and depth

PaulL your bias is showing funny I agreed with most of your post.
Not for nothing did I say some very powerful black leaders are ,well lets be honest they are racists.
A great deal of wrong has been done to African Americans by America but racism is always wrong.
Now for your biases, Hilary if she wins will not win the presidency .big call but real harm has been done to the Democrats hence your miss placed belief they are beaten.
I stand by my claims America has to reinvent its self Bush has been a distasteful failure in near every thing he did.
Obama can unite America, and he is no weakling he can start to restore his country's name.
While a chance exists it will be a task too hard , here now I go on record saying Obama will face the republican and win.
His minister? an idiot.
I once more mark out the line that divides my left from the Wil Robinson extremely lost left, but Obama is not from either no American leader could ever be.

Part one CONTINUE
Belly,
At the end I think you are really a trade union official.
In an other thread of this forum you wrote
<<Those who get the minimum wage are not trade unionists, very few in fact can afford union fees on those pay rates.>>
Tell me Trade Union official what do you mean when you said <<Those who get the minimum wage are not trade unionists>>? Who are these labors and why the labors with the lowest wages, with the worst conditions are not Unionists? Most of them are migrants and women. It is seemed you do care very much for this kind of labors.
What do you mean <<very few in fact can afford union fees on those pay rates>>? Do you mean that the minimum wages are extremely low? What did you do as Trade Union official for higher minimum wages,to give the ability to a big number of labors to become member of the Union?
Or do you mean that the Union fees are very high for their income and they can not afford to pay their fees? What did you do to limited the union fees for low income wages and give them the chance to become union members?
Are you sure that you do not prefer as union members only the labor aristocracy as the employers? I am afraid you do not care very for labors with low wages. Probably you ignore that the backbone of the Union movement worldwide are the low income labors, these labors more from any one else need the Union movement and these labors are the best union members.The labor aristocracy is closer to employers than to union movement. When I become union representative one union aristocracy member resigned, he was manufacturer manager! Do you want this kind of union members? If there are many Trade Union officials as you then I can understand why the Australian Union Movement is so weak. I think slowly, slowly you can understand why I call you center right, OK, I mean center right from the Unionists.

Part two
belly
About the <<His minister? an idiot.>> Belly he is not only a fighter for blacks rights but also he fight for justice and peace world wide. Americans have ignored Palestinians rights, European keep a balance between Jews and Palestinians BUT Americans do not care if Israelis kill Palestinian women and children, if build new residential areas on Palestinian land, if build walls and block Palestinians from their farmers, if Israel ignore repeatedly the UN resolutions and the decision of International Criminal Court. I expect from you as Trade Union Official to be more fair and not to ignore Palestinians and Muslims rights.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

'Security breach' accessing the passport file of presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Breaches occurred on three separate dates - 9 January, 21 February and 14 March.
Bill Burton, a spokesman for Mr Obama's campaign, called for a full investigation.
"This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years," he said.
"Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes."
"We demand to know who looked at Senator Obama's passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach."

It is rule one in this forum not to divert the threads.
My hopes for Obama, and yours are different.
But clearly define the difference between the very left and me.
Yes those on low incomes , even thou the ACTU acts for them in wage rises mostly can not afford to be in unions.
YES in my view fees are TOO HIGH some must remember the reason unions exist.
Now I understand Obama is not from the left, not even new Labor left, but I want him to win.
He is outstandingly better than Bush.
The left , that very small in this country extreme left seems to hate America and all things American.
No discount is given for funding two world wars for feeding so many or any good, only the wrong is highlighted.
Proudly am no Friend of the radical left in any group fighting for any thing , some one from the left will claim ownership for the left.
Time and again you see it now it is the American election, bizarrely putting the lefts colors on an idiot minister and trying to harness Obama.
Workers are not in unions in the numbers I wish, you will not like the real reasons for it.
They are weary of extremism, left extremism, getting politics too involved in workplace issues.
But 22% are union, can you claim even double figures for leftist extremism?
I expect to be insulted in a few months I go to ALP conference and will be roundly boo,ed but as votes come in my section of the floor will win every vote.
Do you understand how funny it is? the left shout and scream that in being the majority we are insulting democracy?
In being the party most want we are wrong? love the extremists good practice for our other enemy the conservatives 2 small groups both intent on defeating us.

Like a broken record, you can always count of Col Rouge to wade into discussions like with his 'lets all be inclusive' (but remain blind to how racism created inequality in the first instance) - take on the world of race relations.

So too for those who want Obama to represent a colour blindness that in reality does not exist in the US beyond wishful thinking.

For one eyed people like Rouge, the whole world will be equal "if only black, yellow and brown people begin by pretending to be white".

Rouge knows this is impossible but it gives him quiet racist comfort.

As for Obama, everyone knows that big corporations and old white men run the US. The political aesthetic of a black president will do nothing but provide another chapter in the Soap Opera that is American politics visa vis.

Guess who came to tea?

And with joyous elation that village somewhere in Texas can have its idiot back.

Bill Richardson Obama's historic speech
Bill Richardson,endorsed Barack Obama yesterday for the Democratic nomination, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader" and suggesting that it's time for Hillary Clinton to withdraw.
Richardson said he made his decision after Obama's widely praised speech this week on race relations.
"Earlier this week an extraordinary American gave a historic speech," the New Mexico governor said at a campaign event in Portland, Ore. He "didn't evade the tough issues," rather "he inspired us" and started a long overdue conversation on race, Richardson said.
"As an Hispanic-American, I was particularly touched by his words," said Richardson, who took the stage with Obama to thunderous applause.
"You will make every American proud to be an American," Richardson said.
Richardson said that during the campaign he learned of Obama's "steadfast patriotism and remarkable talents" and discovered that he's "a really good guy. Richardson, the nation's lone Latino governor, held several posts in the administration of former president Bill Clinton. He is also a longtime friend of Hillary Clinton, but found more affinity with Obama.. Richardson had been wooed by both campaigns, as a superdelegate and for his particular influence among Hispanic voters - a constituency Obama has struggled to secure.

The reality of politics is each of us can bring some one to support our views.
It is my view America will be a better country if Obama wins.
Not a leftist country just a better one.
Race in America will always be an issue, maybe it will never be totally removed as a problem.
Minority's too can be and are racist, and foolish people like Obama minister will always do more harm than good.
While we parade those who support us we would do better to understand those who harm us by actions like that man.
Obama needs no enemy's with Friends like him.

Belly
I do not think you are interested very much for migrants rights, probably you do not write with your real name because you afraid that you will lose migrant's votes and there are so many migrants labors, victims of race discrimination in Australia! I understand you, union bureaucrats as you work on darkness, no name, no fingertips! You can write anything you want and of cause for you any one who disagree with you is leftist, as anyone who disagree with Bush is anti-American. But you do not know that I am member of many American Organizations, progressive of cause.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Mr Symeonakis may I say I find your post offensive? yes I may , remember our earlier conversations?
How we spoke of my great Friend who came from your country? he jumped ship nearly 40 years ago, is my mate and a life member of my union.
You talk of me not using my real name? far from a coward I gave it here in these pages.
It began a haunting of me at work and home.
It is unwise to tell your your name here , unneeded too.
How hard would it be for you to look at every post I ever did here?
No coward I have lay ed a trail that leads to my very front door.
However I have read each of your posts, am extremely proud to disagree with most of them.
How funny it is that the extreme left use lies to fight such as me, no evidence can be produced to find I do not support migrants, a baseless insult knowingly untrue.
Can it be you are blind to this WASP hoping for Obama to win?
I again with pride hold my ground I am not from your faction, forever will stand against radicalism from any side.
My country rightly opened its doors to people from every race, we are better for it, we will do much more of it and grow even better but some?
By years end the true struggle to get Obama elected will be over, if he fails? blame his minister and understand racism can come from minority's and even victims of racism.
We are truely lost if we do not understand some in every race are racist.
And if the left in Australia think they put Rudd in the lodge lost is a word that discribes the folly, this country is a better place because middle Australia spoke.

BARACK OBAMA and HIS CHURCH
Trinity United Church of Christ is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ. It is part of a liberal denomination that was the first to ordain an African American, a woman, and a gay man. Congregants have described it in the New York Times as a "warm and accepting community," and while it is a predominantly African American congregation, people of all backgrounds are enthusiastically welcomed.

Belly
You think that I am radical while I am not! Simple I try to press little more on very basic issues as race discrimination, women rights, democracy and environment because we have big problems, and we have problems worldwide, not only in Australia. Very often you write that you are not radical or extremists and I feel that you WRITE it because you think that I am an extremists! I am between ALP and Greens. Do not worry from your left side, they do the hard job for free and without any personal benefit, worry from you right side who can sell you any time for a chair or a pouch of dollars. You write me that --I again with pride hold my ground I am not from your faction --I do not belong to any faction. TRULY I AM ALONE IN MY FIGHT, I DO NOT LIKE THE FACTIONS BECAUSE INSTEAD TO FIGHT FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AT THE END THEY FIGHT FOR THEIR FACTIONS BENEFITS. NEVER IN MY LIFE I WAS MEMBER IN FACTION. IN REALLY I AM AGAINST THE FACTIONS. IF WE HAVE DEMOCRACY IN THE PARTY AND WE ARE HONEST ON OUR GOALS WE DO NOT NEED FACTIONS