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I don't know about you, but I have yet to encounter a President or presidential candidate who did not have a more than ample helping of confident drive wrapped in a very muscular ego.
Hello, people! If you believe you are qualified to lead the most powerful country in the free world (still) you had better believe that you know what is right, what is best and have the courage of your convictions. ...
I believe it was arrogant of George W. Bush to distort the power of the White House into a weapon that he used to execute countless end runs around the Constitutional checks and balances of our government; but I don't hear Pat Buchanan complaining about that display of "entitlement."
If you are wondering why people like me get so peeved when words like "arrogant" or "uppity" are thrown around with such velocity, it's because some of us understand that there was a time in America that black men and women who were deemed "uppity" were tortured and lynched for being proud of who they were and successful. Black people who "did not know their place" and who owned land and businesses and sought to exercise their American rights were slaughtered, entire communities burned to the ground.
And there's the rub. Even today, for some people, it's just too much to see a relatively young, self-identified black man who displays such composure and fearlessness. It makes them feel, oh I don't know, it makes them feel like "he just makes me nervous" or "he and Michelle just seem to think they are entitled."
Here's the kicker. They ARE entitled. Barack and Michelle Obama are entitled to every opportunity and benefit this country has to offer every citizen. No more, no less. They get to claim it ALL just like the rest of us.
Silly identity adjectives are unnecessary distractions in the current political campaign. We don't have a moment to let our focus drift away from the big issues our nation had better deal with.
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By: Applauding this article on 9/02/2008 8:09PM
OMG!!!
What a beautifully articulated point-of-view displayed in this article. For this, I say, "Thank you" to the author. : }
I truly appreciate her insight, candor, and willingness to take a stand on such adjectives, too often and too casually thrown around. Her sharing explains why when I hear these word spoken, it stirs-up something within me--often creating a profound sense of primal discomfort and clear irritation. Up till now, I had not been able to quite put my finger on it. However, the article address why!, much like when the "N-word" is used.
Because words *do* mean something, because they *do* have power, because they *are* charged with energy, and, when used, often carry a generationally/ancestrally-compounded *sting*, it is most unfortunate when people wield these words like weapons, and do harm when doing so (sometimes even defaming the character of another)--whether unintentionally or otherwise.
Beyond this, it's a greater misfortune when: weak logic; ridiculous rhetoric; polarized views; voting for irresponsible, self-serving and dangerous politicians; desperate lies; smear tactics; character assassination; and *more*...are the result of fear, prejudice, and hate--each of which are (and always will be) poor factors in yielding sound judgment.
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By: S.B. Redd on 9/03/2008 12:27PM
Check out my blog on The Most Feared Person in America at www.maverick-books.blogspot.com. I put a face on that feared person being Barack Obama. I also have a blog titled When You Have to be Twice, Three Times Better.
As a black male, It's been my experience that we're derided as being arrogant and uppity when we exude a level of confidence that our counterparts can't grasp or comprehend us when we're superior in all phases: intellectually, in terms of articulating our thoughts, and even physically. So their way of dealing with it is to call you arrogant, uppity, and elitist.
All I know is when it's been instilled in you to be twice, even three times better than your white counterparts there is no way you're going to back down to anyone. You know what it took to get there, and you'll be damned if you're going to let anyone get the upper hand.
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By: S Hebert on 9/03/2008 4:07PM
You want to elect a pretty package with all the bows and pretty paper but no substance. There are so many more attractive representatives of the Black community that have credentials to be president. Why Obama? A man with little insight.
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By: SandraROBERTSON30 on 4/21/2010 11:27PM
I had a desire to make my company, but I did not have got enough amount of cash to do that. Thank God my dude advised to use the mortgage loans. Thence I took the short term loan and realized my dream.
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