First black pres, first black pres ....

I think it's bad that the only two things that flew threw my head before checking the link were that he puked in public or was shot.

i thought for a second that link would be about him being assassinated.


anyways.

i forgot what i was going to say.

I don't know - I know it gets tiresome when the media beats anything to death (and they do) but 50 or 100 years from now today is going to be a big entry in the history books as a major stepping stone for ethnic tolerance. While other nations are really down on America we are definitely at the top in this regard - though admittedly we still have a very very long way to go.

I also understand the thought that this is just another form of getting hung up on race - that color shouldn't matter in any way etc, but we are not at that point in this nation, and will not be by tomorrow - so as such this IS a big deal.

EDIT: One more thought is that for many of us in the majority racial issues are easy to look at sadly and hope for change, but for those suffering more directly - and in some countries this is life or death daily - racism is a barrier that is not something that can be overcome. No matter what you do, what talent you have, or what life choices you make you can not reach the top or have the same chances for every dream as others - today that is no longer true, and so the importance of today sends hope to subjugated peoples in other countries as well.

but hes not just black.. Why is his other half not important too? The dead beat father he had that donated his seed is the most visible part of him and treated as the most significant part of him. The mother and grandmother who raised him from infancy is nothing.. barely worth recognition..

The whole black thing is getting old now, but without a doubt this was a very significant day in our country's history. I watched the address from work, and I dont think I have tuned into one of those since Reagan. I kinda felt bad for him during the swearing in, man did that get botched, however I thought he gave a very good speech. I decided I'm not going to be critical of the man until he gives me reason to. Two positive points that went through my mind during the speech were 1. He's definitely smarter than Bush was and 2. He's a much better speaker.
He ran on hope and change (and little else) during the election run. Here's to hoping he changes the right things!

Know what really irkes me...not just that the fact they keep calling Obama the first black pres.. but the term they use.. African American. I just dont like the term at all. I don't consider black people African American unless they were actually born in Africa and then moved to the US and gained citizenship. I'm white with German heritage (grandma was actually born in Germany). I don't go around calling myself German American. o.O Whats wrong with just being called an American?

I can't remember which black actor it was (Im thinking Morgan Freeman?) brought up a good point once. He said that as long the black community keeps separating themselves with things like Black History month and NAACP.. then there will always be racism in this country. They need to just call Obama what he is... The President.

I remember I used to think it was unfair that my high school got to have a latino club, an african american club, and an asian club, and a native american club but us white kids werent allowed to have a euro american club.. that woulda been racist.. *eyeroll*

Alot of it irks me, but as far as the presidential thing.. yeah I wish it were more about what he could do rather than what he looks/acts like

Because there have been 43 white presidents and 0 black presidents. That is why people aren't going on and on about his white heritage. We all know its there - it simply isn't very historic so there is no need to talk about it as much. We didn't make a big deal about George Bush being white.

While its a special anomaly.. or whatever.. its just not as important as being everything else..( like what he will do with his next 4 years) and he iswhite just as much as he is black

I think that's another reason a lot of people identify with Obama. He's the product of a mixed, broken (as in 1 parent not in the picture) family. But you're right, he's the sum of the whole parts and not 'just black'. Look at Tiger Woods - he's asian and black, but he looks black and their physical appearance leans more toward the black heritage. Still, that doesn't make him any less of a man or any less of an important event. It comes down to semantics, and the point is..he's not the traiditional white, no matter how you slice it.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that he's more like the non-traditional part of the nation. He's more like us.

gogo brownie team!

hehe he could be blue for all I care, I just hope he does a good job.. and I wish that the color of his skin wasnt more important than everything else to the media.

No, we don't make a big deal about him being white, we just have everybody calling him a dipshit every time he opens his mouth. ;)

Seriously - Am I the only one who thinks Obama sounds like Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) ?

Funny, I always heard that when Palin opened their mouths.

Question. When you say this, do you mean "he's more like us" because of heredity or environment?

Just curious. I was talking to an ex before the election and she made a similiar comment. I had to ask her because I figured she meant it in a "he's black like me" kinda thing, which I really don't get. The guy is mixed, his black father wasn't around, he spent most of his time being raised by his white mother or white grandparents. He grew up in places like Indonesia, and went to Harvard. In terms of upbringing and life experience, I don't see where he's like the majority of people, black or otherwise. Like most presidents, he doesn't really have that much in common with the average person.

I don't know that I agree with that. While it could certainly end up true - if you think about all the other presidents, very few made decisions in their 4 years that had major lasting consequences - it was immediately trivial, but is just a small part of the sum now (years later). There are exceptions - some made decisions that massively affected our history and present, but most I don't think did. But I think the barrier broken WILL be a huge step without doubt for 50 years from now or 100 years from now. The next four years "might" make a big difference. I'd agree more if we were talking about difference in dictators where one was a bumbling idiot and another a genius, but too much of this comes down to staff and all the candidates are intelligent - I don't think the difference is ground shattering usually. Always that potential though with nuclear weapons and economic collapse looming.

Given the things that've been said about her, I'm not sure if this was intentional or not. Now I'm just confused.

Anyone who thinks skin colour doesn't matter in western society (whether that is a good or a bad thing isn't my point) isn't being honest. There was a woman who ran the Blue Eyed exercises http://www.janeelliott.com/ and it became apparent very quickly that colour and appearance do affect how everyone treats each other.

We don't have a large, dominant ethnic group down here in Aus. We have many minority ethnic groups, including our indigenous Aborigines. Similarly to the USA, our aboriginal people only gained the right to vote in the late 60's. Their kids were taken from them up until the 70's in the belief that they couldn't raise their children properly, and put into foster or institutional care. It was only last year that our politicians acknowledged the injustices of the past and apologised for the pain and suffering of a stolen generation.

My roundabout point is, regardless of his genetic heritage, the man looks black. As far as I can tell from down here, he identifies as black, his wife is black, his kids appear black. I doubt he spends much time worrying about whether he is doing enough to split his colour allegience. It is a big deal that in only a couple of generations you can go from slavery and lynching to having your most important and powerful authority figure wearing dark skin. It isn't that long ago such a suggestion would be cause to find your house firebombed and your family with death threats.

The world know doubt sees Barack as a black man, I myself have no greater interest in his skin colour than a passing one. It is more important to me to reflect on the symbolic nature of it, that nations that were traditionally separatist are overcoming their racism and fear. Nelson Mandela in South Africa was one voice who overcame. Maybe we will remember Barack Obama in a similar light?

That's good speakin' there, Tam. Wish I had your command of getting your point across!

Well said :thumbsup