This one did not, except I failed to see how the jabs at the past administration pushed forward his message.

It was contradictory.

But!

There were so many messages that weren’t.

I heartily endorse JF’s statement above @ 10:06. Too often, the race-related commentary has fallen into one of two traps: The Obama presidency means black folk have no more excuses, and need to get their act together. Or the Obama presidency is a particular joy especially reserved for black people. You know — it’s a black thang, and y’all wouldn’t understand.

Both perspectives are extremely distorted. And that is why I loved Obama’s speech. Because we need to come together as Americans to surmount these grave challenges that confront us, challenges exacerbated by the us-against-them politics of the last several years. Ideology, partisanship, tribalism — these are the childish things that we need to put aside.

Most commentators decried the lack of soundbites in the speech. But the times required exactly what Obama said, in the way it was said. It was solemn, unifying, and adult. And most of all, bracing.

There is work to do, and we must set about it. So from now on, I’ll not bother myself with debates about various isms and who said what to whom and when. Obama yesterday told me to grow up, and I intend to do just that. To the extent that I continue to post here, I will be confining myself to non-partisan issues of substance.

I apologize if I have ruffled any feathers in the past. But like Lalah Hathaway says, that was then. This is now.

I had always thought is was just a religious song, but it has a compelling story behind it.

The movie is about William Wilberforce, who, as a Member of Parliament, navigated the world of 18th Century backroom politics to end the slave trade in the British Empire. Albert Finney plays John Newton, a confidante of Wilberforce who inspires him to pursue a life of service to humanity. John Newton, after spending the early part of his life as a slave-ship captain, wrote the song Amazing Grace because of the anguish and redemption he felt. So the song became a rally cry for people trying to stop slavery in England.

It took Willberforce 15 years, but he got the Abolition Act passed in 1807, prohibiting British slave-ship. His health was failing, but he spent the rest of his life fighting to end slavery.

Here is a link to the movie website

http://www.amazinggracemovie.com/index.php

Very cool.

As for the young people, if you saw the youth ball last night that is done. Now it depends on Obama’s deeds to keep them involved.

how about scooter for a cause?

I saw the commercial for that yesterday!

SEATTLE — Starbucks and HandsOn Network are launching a national campaign to support President Barack Obama’s call for national service. Register today through Sunday to volunteer for five hours in your community and receive a free, tall Starbucks coffee.

Just go to Pledge5 from now until Sunday or the Starbucks Web site for details. The volunteer opportunities are designated by Zipcode.

During those five days, according to Starbucks, when you pledge 5 hours for the charity or cause of your choice, Starbucks will salute your work and dedication with a free, tall brewed cup of coffee in participating U.S. Starbucks stores.

This offer is not valid at airports or at Barnes & Noble bookstore locations.

You support a local food bank, provide skills to a nonprofit organization, clean up your community, walk or run for a cause, mentor a child or teen or help a local family in need.

The ‘childish things’ quote is something used quite often in the Black church and community.

But the beauty of it, and Obama being a person who understands the power of words. Is that the way he wrote it in the speech, it can have many different meanings to different people.

So actually everyone who commented here was right. It meant whatever you needed it to mean.

To me that is the bedrock of President Obama’s success, his ability to reach everyone with a unique message that says something directly to them.

Good grief, could you imagine us having an intelligent discussion on the meaning of one of Bush’s speeches! LOL

This really is a new day

I’m hoping the roll call vote will make him look like the (what you said) he is… Hillary will be confirmed overwhelmingly I think and then she can get to work with the rest of the team.

Someone should tell the “chamber pot” (I’m being polite) Cornyn from Texas that he really is being an “assh..e” by stopping the voice vote on Hillary. How many times do these jerks have to shoot themselves in the foot before they get the message? This is infantile, immature and petty. Does Cornyn really think that no one is going to be monitoring what’s going on with WJC’s foundation? It’s going to be so monitored that we’re going to wish that the CIA could monitor the enemies of the US in the same way.

I woke up feeling a little better about the future at least we have a fighting chance.

Closing Gitmo is symbolic in a way but really significant as President Obama and SoS Clinton begin to reengage with the world. I hope we see the order to close Gitmo soon.