A More Perfect Union

For those of you who haven't yet heard Senator Obama's speech on race in America, "A More Perfect Union": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

I love analyzing Senator Obama's speeches, especially when digging for integral nuggets.  Not this time.  It stands on its own.  His speech is a great example of how one person can embody, and then express, multiple perspectives, even seemingly conflicting ones, while moving towards something greater.  Add in the courage, the candor, the nuance.  Bravo.  

I have been following the news coverage, though, and I'm struck by a couple things.  One is how beautifully some people seem to 'get it' (personal favorites: Andrew Sullivan, and some of the Slate commentators).  The other is that a lot of people seem to not be able to hear it at all.  Here's a particularly stark example:

It will not do to say that Wright is "part of America." Lots of deplorable people are part of America, including white racists. Political candidates are not required to embody every strand of America, much less the most noxious hate-filled ones. Political candidates embrace the strands that speak to them, and we should embrace the political candidates whose strands of thinking speak to us. No other candidate for president contains Wright's thinking as "part of them."

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/03/020069.php

Or, in other words: "I disown voices in myself that I'm not comfortable with, rather than facing them; and everyone else should too!"  I hate to break the news, but I'm fairly certain that "strategy" won't work.  Senator Obama condemned some of his statements, but refused to disown an intelligent, generous, spiritual man defined more by his non-YouTube moments.  That's a way to move forward.

Less starkly, though, even the mainstream articles sometimes miss the mark, devolving to: "Well, he talked about Wright, and called for us to move past it, and empathized with white resentment and talked about race in America, but didn't do much to address the criticisms of Wright directly."  Which is to say: "I couldn't understand the real discussion he was reflecting back to us, embodying multiple perspectives on race in America and how those perspectives have popped up re: Wright, Ferrarro, in the media, and elsewhere.  So, all I can say is that there was lots going on and then throw in my usual political analysis at the end."  Or: "I can't take on multiple perspectives at once, so I can't understand his speech."  To their credit, though, most of these writers at least acknowledge that his speech was nuanced and honest.  They're doing their best to reflect what they can.

I have mixed feelings about all of this.  I'm afraid we can't hear enough of what Senator Obama's saying to recognize that the broad worldview he's bringing to the table is what this country (and the world) needs right now.  I'm also encouraged that he's even a viable candidate, and I know that, however long it takes, the arrow only points in one direction.

(Special thanks to Allison)