Why aren't we talking about OBAMA and preinauguration weekend?

I am new here but I am feeling all the amazing fantastic historical honorable importance of this weekend in preparation for the inauguration for Obama! I am surprised I can't find anyone talking about it. I am sorry for not being able to spend this time with the bm I spent the last year with but would enjoy hearing from the bm out there about your thoughts, feelings and emotions associated with this important time in our lives in our country.

The feelings I am having as a wm, and knowing some of the thoughts and feelings that my successful bm in his 40's felt everyday in life and business being black in a mostly "white" workplace (in charge of personal protection for a wealthy Italian wine family), made me angry and ashamed for all of us. The world and times are changing and I am so happy to be alive during this moment. Obama will bring peace to our world and a role model for all people in our country!!! Please speak!!

 

Don't know why nobody else isn't talking about him. Me? I'm just not interested. I'm not gonna say Obama's bringing peace to anything until he actually does. Right now, he just another politician who isn't white(or full white at least).

 

Can you explain Brotha Ajax? Do you think that we should have hope with him in office??

 

I of course think people should have faith in him, but I'm not gonna say he's gonna make this country a better place when he hasn't done anything as president yet. It's standard for politicians to make promises about issue and not go through with them. I'm sure every president has done that.

 

I think I'm going to differ with a lot of people on this website about the significance of Obama's ascendency. It is monumental for this country.

This is not some ordinary Black man (although I'm very biased as I don't think there is any such thing as an "ordinary" Black man). This guy is smarter than any world leader I've ever seen and my recollection goes all the way back to Nixon.

It's not just the United States that is very excited about his presidency. It's a good chunk of Europe, Africa and Asia as well. I left out Latin America and I should not have: They have very high hopes that Obama will be smarter than his predecessors.

Obama's presidency is not going to provide a panacea in the area of race relations. We are still going to have our problems as many people (Black and White) will have to be forced (kicking and screaming) into the 21st century in order for our economy to survive. But, as I watched a professional football team offer a head coaching position to a 32 year old African-American man just this weekend, you know that things are slowly changing.

I can easily remember when there were none. And I can recall trying to convince an owner to be the first to hire an African-American not too long ago. Now, all you have to be is qualified and as young as 32.

The exciting thing is also the most frightening thing: The reason why Obama has a chance to place his stamp on the country is because, economically, we really don't have any choice. If we don't work together (across ethnic lines) to compete in the global marketplace, our standard of living will disappear. In fact, it's already happening.

So, he benefits from the realization that the American ship is sinking a little.

We have the ability to repair the ship. But, it will take "all hands on deck."

And that is the exciting part of the Obama White House: Men and women that were ignored in the past will be counted on to succeed in the present (just like Obama).

I had a weird feeling after he won the election...It was the feeling of being in charge...a feeling of it's up to me to save this country.

 

Yes we can!

 

First of all please disregard Ajax's opinion. If it doesn't have to do with hip-hop, videogames, overusing the word "hella" or whining about his moms he's clueless.

Secondly, I think Obama's presence has already changed America (50 state strategy) and the world even before he takes office. A lot of people have a sense of hope including me. It really can't get much worse. Just the knowledge that the Bush/Cheney years have finally sputtered to a close and the Republican Party is in a shambles is enough for me.

Even conservatives are secretly rooting for Obama if for no other reason than their 401ks, stock options and home values are bleeding and they hope the Obama people and their economic plans can stop the slide before they tank completely.

Racially I notice a lot of people like Tavis Smiley are trying to downplay the importance of Obama's ascension by stressing that "racism isn't over" and other obvious aphorisms. But there's a whole class of black pundits who initially got over on the old-school politics of racial confrontation and guilt who are insecure about a guy (Obama) who didn't have to kiss the asses of the old civil rights era guys, Baptist preachers, or black pundits and intelligensia (Smiley, West, Dyson, etc.), nor did Obama overtly play on white guilt no matter how many (like Nader) try to say otherwise. If anything I'd say that America's debt to us is paid if we're color-blind to the point of duly electing a Black President.

My only disappointment is that Obama has said he won't be seeking indictments against the Bush people for willfully lying to the American people in the run-up to the war and torture abuses aka war crimes. I would also finally like to see 9/11 investigated more fully with a non-partisan panel.

I personally am very excited about the inauguration though and will be watching it on TV where it's warm, LOL.

 

Bronze Saint and Karmacoma....you guys are awesome...thanks for sharing your opinions so openly and honestly...there are some AWESOME minds on this forum...the future is bright!!

 

Hmmm, all I said was I'm not gonna say a bunch of stuff about him that hasn't happened yet. Am I talking down on him? No. And like you said, it was an opinion. Am I trying to change anyone else's mind? No. You're trying to make it sound like I'm saying "fuck what everyone else thinks".

 

liveloveccc, I think the overall feeling of African-American men is one of exhilaration and responsibility: Exhilaration from having one of us running this country (and knowing that this man is smarter than Einstein); responsibility because even though we have faced a lot of discrimination, we are being called upon to save this country.

That being said, this website includes many different political viewpoints. Democrats, Republicans, Independents and those of no political affiliation are about equally represented when it comes to African-American men on this site.

So, I think you need to separate out the overwhelming support Obama has among Black men as a whole in America and the varied feelings of just those that make up this website.

There is no one particular thread to see this. But, you may want to visit the "Politics" forum. You'll see a couple of threads that may give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

"Why Blacks should be Republicans"

"is there a media bias against Republicans"

 

I agree with you, I can't understand people that have all but turned Obama into the 2nd coming of Jesus. He hasn't done anything yet. Some things he 'promised" during the primary and election he already changed his stance on. I'll reserve judgement until after he has actually accomplished something or fullfilled his promises..right now, as Broth Ajax so rightfully said, he's just another politician.

Yes Obama is inspiring and has inspired the country but lets not make him into something he's not. He's an ordinary human being just like the rest of us who achieved something extraordinary, but he's not some mythical figure that some of his supporters have turned him into.

Will he change anything for the better ? Most probably yes and just because he's getting the country at its lowest point so there's really no where else to go but up so anything he will accomplish will be doubled and tripled as an amazing fete when it may not have so much to do with him but just the state the country is in and the usual cycle of things hitting bottom and turning back up.

And not to split hairs but he is not black, he is interracial. If you go by skin color then yes he's black but he is not a "black man". Not imho anyways.