Comments on: “Yes We Can” http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/ "If not now, when?" Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:20:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lily http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/comment-page-1/#comment-25819 Lily Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:14:51 +0000 http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/#comment-25819 While I agree that Barack Obama is the best and most transformational candidate, I take issue with the notion that "if we go back a couple of centuries, we will discover that the situation of women was never as tragic as that of African-Americans, who were treated as animals or worse." I find attempts to create such a hierarchy of oppression inadequate at best. Yes, African Americans were legally property, like animals, for hundreds of years. Women, however, gave up their legal status as individuals by marrying, which was necessary for economic survival. While slave women could be legally raped by their masters based on their racial-slave status until 1865, it was legal for men to rape their wives (black or white) in every state in the US until 1976. Lacking basic control over one's own body seems like a "tragic" situation to me. We need to stop trying to compare who has been more hurt by discrimination, and get to work on fixing it. While I agree that Barack Obama is the best and most transformational candidate, I take issue with the notion that “if we go back a couple of centuries, we will discover that the situation of women was never as tragic as that of African-Americans, who were treated as animals or worse.” I find attempts to create such a hierarchy of oppression inadequate at best. Yes, African Americans were legally property, like animals, for hundreds of years. Women, however, gave up their legal status as individuals by marrying, which was necessary for economic survival. While slave women could be legally raped by their masters based on their racial-slave status until 1865, it was legal for men to rape their wives (black or white) in every state in the US until 1976. Lacking basic control over one’s own body seems like a “tragic” situation to me. We need to stop trying to compare who has been more hurt by discrimination, and get to work on fixing it.

]]> By: ThomThom http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/comment-page-1/#comment-25818 ThomThom Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:07:40 +0000 http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/#comment-25818 I support Obama and voted for him in the DC primary. And I also opposed the Invasion of Iraq because I always considered Saddam Hussein a contained pipsqueak. However, like Hillary Clinton, I would have voted for the Iraq War Authority Resolution on the basis that you don't tie the hands of a president while he's negotiating with a tyrant. Also, in October 2002, most people were willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt that he wouldn't act irresponsibly with the authority. The latter part was a mistake that couldn't be predicted at the time. I think it's unfair to blame Clinton for Bush's unpredictable irrersponsibility. I support Obama and voted for him in the DC primary. And I also opposed the Invasion of Iraq because I always considered Saddam Hussein a contained pipsqueak.

However, like Hillary Clinton, I would have voted for the Iraq War Authority Resolution on the basis that you don’t tie the hands of a president while he’s negotiating with a tyrant. Also, in October 2002, most people were willing to give Bush the benefit of the doubt that he wouldn’t act irresponsibly with the authority. The latter part was a mistake that couldn’t be predicted at the time. I think it’s unfair to blame Clinton for Bush’s unpredictable irrersponsibility.

]]> By: Philip Calderon http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/comment-page-1/#comment-25817 Philip Calderon Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:34:08 +0000 http://www.eatbees.com/blog/2008/03/02/yes-we-can/#comment-25817 I agree with your Morrocan friend that Obama will change American thinking. I know he has already changed my thinking or, better still, my way of viewing America. You see I have always been proud of being an American but, at the same time, I have felt like an outsider. Maybe it had something to do with belonging to a group of people that are for the most part out in the periphery. Not seeing influential people with my face reflected back at me and not feeling wanted probably had a lot to do with the way I felt. I am not going to go into the reasons why but this feeling of not being a member of the larger group is not unique to me. Now I feel like I belong. Obama didn't really change me. It was seeing the acceptance of Obama by so many mainstream Americans. How could I not feel like I belong in a country so accepting of someone with my face. I am so proud of my country right now. Prouder than I have ever been because now I can say I am American and believe I am wanted. Regards, Philip I agree with your Morrocan friend that Obama will change American thinking.

I know he has already changed my thinking or, better still, my way of viewing America.

You see I have always been proud of being an American but, at the same time, I have felt like an outsider.

Maybe it had something to do with belonging to a group of people that are for the most part out in the periphery. Not seeing influential people with my face reflected back at me and not feeling wanted probably had a lot to do with the way I felt. I am not going to go into the reasons why but this feeling of not being a member of the larger group is not unique to me.

Now I feel like I belong. Obama didn’t really change me. It was seeing the acceptance of Obama by so many mainstream Americans. How could I not feel like I belong in a country so accepting of someone with my face.

I am so proud of my country right now. Prouder than I have ever been because now I can say I am American and believe I am wanted.

Regards,
Philip

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