By Tim Dillenbeck Santa Monica
I’ve just finished reading Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech for the third time. As before, I have a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Surely this work will be remembered as one of the finest in the history of this country. For those who haven’t yet read it, find it on the Web and do read it. For you who refuse to read it in its entirety, you miss an historic document.
The national dialog on race has not only been re-energized, but has been widened dramatically. Obama’s remarkable empathy has presented the issue as seen through the eyes of all concerned; black, white, brown, Asian, even American Indian. He gets it that multiple truths may exist simultaneously, yet be in conflict.
The words of The Rev. Wright, his former minister, have been put in context. Fiery rhetorical hyperbole balanced against the man’s day-to-day service to his community. How should we weigh Pope Benedict’s rebuke of Islam as “evil and inhuman,” or the Falwells, Robertsons and Swaggarts claim that 9/11 was God’s punishment for homosexuality. And don’t forget that one of this country’s most beloved leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had his own moments of inflammatory oratory.
But it is Barack Obama’s words which move me today.
“Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy — particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.” — Barack Obama. Humility! How novel is that for a politician! His critics condemn him because they are truly afraid he will win the nomination and the White House. Yet if he does, the entire nation wins. Don’t get me wrong. I believe Hillary would make an excellent president. But Obama has the seeds of greatness within him, and could be an outstanding president. With the eyes of the world upon us, we desperately need a great leader.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 28, 2008. Read the original PDF.