So, why is this white chick not pissed?

Interesting conversation with a colleague. She's an independent politically, with what I would characterize as a republican leaning. After hearing Rev. Wright's speech, she commented that she wasn't sure that she could vote for Obama because he didn't disown Wright. She was mad -- downright offended by Wright's comments.


So why am I not pissed off too? I think it boils down to my perception that Rev. Wright's anger is understandable, a natural consequence of his historical experience. It isn't productive, it isn't o.k, and it isn't accurate -- but, it is understandable. History (there's a euphemism for ya) has not been kind to African Americans (Blacks? I'm not sure of the pc term anymore). Rev. Wright has been around long enough to have personally experienced the hate and inequities associated with our discriminatory history. I understand his pain and anger, and I'm not surprised that it twisted somewhere inside of him, coming out sideways, so to speak. I don't think it makes him a bad person, and I think Obama's response was appropriate in every measure. I would have found it disingenuous for him to have disowned a man he has known and respected for more than twenty years. His response I found to be honest and loving --characteristic of someone who has the talent and ability to embrace a nation divided and bring them together instead of disowning the parts that have atrophied from years of abuse and hardship. He inspires me and makes me hope for better things. It's why I would vote for him over Clinton or anyone else.


What I am pissed about are those people who find Obama's position objectionable while failing to acknowledge the truly offensive associations past and current presidents have had with preachers that have espoused truly hateful messages that cannot be explained by their own history or experience. Let's take Falwell for example:

AIDS is the wrath of a just God against homosexuals. To oppose it would be like an Israelite jumping in the Red Sea to save one of Pharaoh's charioteers... AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.

Inexcusable, unjustifiable, inaccurate, and fundamentally illogical. What have homosexuals ever done to Falwell (let alone all the unfortunate women and children infected through no fault of their own)? While there is no indication that Bush's affiliation with Falwell was as close as Obama's ties with Rev. Wright, it is clear that Falwell openly supported many of Bush's initiatives expressly throwing his support behind Bush and the Republican Party. But Bush didn't denounce Falwell. Now that should piss someone off.

Good comments on this issue by Frank Schaeffer, although again, I don't equate Wright's comments with the offensive hate filled comments of these white preachers. And, as usual, Bitch PhD has wonderful insight.


p.s. In the interest of fairness, at least McCain had the balls to call Falwell out back in 2000, although he seems to have been castrated in the meantime. I'm just saying.

Inauguration Day

So, there are only about a million blogs out there. I created this blog back in 2005, about the time this guy to the left here was laughing. I may have been laughing at the time as well, but it was slightly more pathetic and deranged having witnessed the re-election of a man who I firmly believed would have difficulty finding his way out of a paper bag, let alone a country somewhere in the Middle East (do you think he could find it on a map?). Feeling incredibly deflated, and powerless over the situation, I established OneBlueBlonde as a place to vent my frustrations and observations. But I never posted. Instead, I became enthralled with other blogs that I "researched": Blather Wince Repeat , Bitch PhD , Blonde Justice. As a result, for the last three years or so, I've been entertained by the blogging skills of others. But now The Election looms, and my frustration builds yet again. It's like watching a train racing down the tracks toward an old bridge that your not sure will hold out -- will it crash and burn? or, will it make it across safely? I don't know, but like any good car wreck, I can't look away. I don't promise to stick to purely political topics. I'm a mom of three, an attorney, and Internet junky -- it's all fair game.