Bad American

Personally, if Rev. Wright’s comments sink Barack Obama’s candidacy for President, not only would it be a crying shame but it would reinforce most of my negative thoughts about American society. So it will probably happen because, of course, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.

Which brings us to Phillip Morris’s column in which he reminds the readers what it takes for a black man to front a major column for a corporate journalism tool like the PD:

It was a great civil rights speech.

“Just the wrong presidential speech,” I said to Beatrice, shortly after Sen. Barack Obama finished explaining his problematic spiritual adviser Tuesday afternoon.

“Obama seems to have tripped onto the wrong side of his hyphen for the first time. He sounded like a defensive African-American trying to simultaneously explain and denounce racism. Not the heralded All-American unifier, who transcends race.“

A cookie to anyone who can unscramble this garbled syntax, especially the third paragraph. “Tripped onto the wrong side of his hyphen?” What? Is Morris trying to write that Obama was too ‘African’ and not ‘American’ enough? Jeez-O-Pete just say so whydontcha? Veiled insults shouldn’t be this difficult for a professional writer. And why can’t someone simultaneously explain and denounce racism? Sure Obama tried to have it both ways with his speech but he probably came as close to pulling off a rhetorical miracle as anyone who ever tried to lecture America on race.

“I thought he sounded like a black man trying to explain the racist rants of his former pastor. That was good. He highlighted some continuing racial challenges.

“But he did not sound like a morally outraged American incensed by his spiritual adviser’s apparent hatred for America. He didn’t convincingly sound like a man who knows how to put a nation ahead of a really close friendship.

I think Obama did a very good job explaining that merely stating that perhaps there are some things America should rightfully be damned for is not “hatred for America.” If anything, people who truly love their country and want to set it on the right course sometimes have to point out its flaws, sometimes in language that shocks. America has been running away from her history for 200 years and sometimes shock is what is needed to get this society to realistically face the fact that all past is prologue and much of our current racial and social difficulties can be explained by drawing a straight historical line right back to the source.

And why is this an either-or situation where Obama would have to throw a friend and mentor under the bus just to satisfy the Lou Dobbs and Sean Hannities of the world who aren’t ever going to vote for him anyway? Is Morris really saying most Americans are too stupid to be able to rationally separate the two issues?

Judging by the letters to the PD and around the Internet, they may indeed be, much to our sorrow.

But here is where Morris gets to the root of his discomfort and the discomfort of those who pay him:

“I just think Obama missed a unique commander-in-chief opportunity. He squarely addressed his minister’s racism. That was a no-brainer. But he didn’t strongly address his anti-patriotism. You can’t explain that away when you’re one of three vying to become president. Assaults on the flag should be met with brass knuckles, not Harvard debate team soliloquies.

Well, yes, if you’re a uneducated moron, perhaps that’s how you would think. I thought it was outstanding that Obama refused to speak down to the American people (and Jon Stewart agrees!) and, instead, tried his best to explain the nuances in what people say and why they say it. If you believe that mindless knee-jerk patriotism is a prerequisite to serve in public life, than the nation will continue to get the kind of leaders it apparently deserves - mindless incurious people like George W. Bush or John McCain.

And you, Mr. Morris, apparently believe that mindless knee-jerk patriotism is a worthy quality in a leader.

“You’re wrong. And you must not have good friends,” Beatrice said with a tone that signaled the conversation was over.

“I respect Obama even more for sticking with his minister. He’s loyal.”

For the record, I agree with Beatrice. I think she understands her community better than the PD’s token in the newsroom.