Nov 17, 2008

Noah thinks the new president's name is A-Rock A-Bahma. He got a hold of the Newsweek with Obama on the cover and came racing in to ask if I knew who was on the cover? "A-rock A-Bahma", he's the president!" I watched President-elect Obama on 60 Minutes last night and I was favorably impressed. I especially liked it when Michelle Obama called him on some of the things he said. It made them seem like the real deal, and not some phonies posturing for the media. At one point the President-elect said that doing the dishes was soothing for him. Michelle asked him when doing the dishes was ever soothing for him? He stammered like the rest of us when we are caught by our spouses trying to peddle a line of BS. He said, while trying to explain how much his old routines, that he missed being able to take a simple walk. He said the he wanted to take Michelle for a walk and she said she wasn't going. Real life stuff. Unfortunately, there really is an underlying tone of racism in this country, despite the election of Obama. I actually heard someone use the n-word in a sentence today. I was shocked, but the speaker seemed completely at ease saying it. I'm always conflicted as to whether or not to say something at these times to indicate my disapproval. Some joker at bowling tonight was making a joke about the Obamas trashing up the White House. I did take that guy to task, but he just blew me off gave no mind whatever to my attempt at challenging him. Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. --Robert Frost I think Frost is saying that as much as we are tempted to stop and rest, the job is never quite done and obligation always calls. Obama's election might have closed the racial chasm in America a bit, but much is left undone. Things in this blog represented to be fact, may or may not actually be true. The writer is frequently wrong, sometimes just full of it, but always judgmental and cranky

12 comments:

a. said...

I can't count the number of times the hubs and I have said to the tv, "this doesn't mean there's no more racism!"
The receptionist at my office told me I had an n-word ass. I asked her not to use that word around me and she responded that I shouldn't get offended, she meant it as a compliment.
It is shocking, but not surprising.
Sometimes I can't believe people still think this way.
Sad. So sad.

Megan said...

I watched 60 Minutes too and enjoyed it very much. The little 'husband and wife' bits gave me a good feeling as well.

Squirrel said...

Nice Post Merle, I think the Obama Family is a very real family, a very loving & caring one. And I think there is still much hidden racism. A friend's beau said he would vote for a black pres, but not Obama, but he is lying, that's just BS on his part, he's being two-faced, finding a way to try and wiggle out of how hateful he actually is -- he is also very anti gay marriage. I don't understand where all this hate comes from, it makes no sense to me. (I have not heard him use the N word but other terms that are pretty shocking to me, and words he would never ever use in front of a black person) Before these issues came up, I would have thought he was an open hearted person, but no longer, I've sadly lost any respect I had for him and honesty wish my good friend would find a better man to be with (an honest one anyway)


And the poem... thank you very much

We may get a fairy dusting of snow tonight -- we're staying up looking for it...

Trey said...

I was planning to immigrate to Australia before the election---I'm staying now. I have hope for our country like I never had before. May we all take Obama's lead, and keep to the high ground in our struggles with the small minded and fearful. Compassion is never coerced.

Coffee Messiah said...

Racism is alive and well in indy-anna, let me tell you. Sad, and all the made up stories about obama continue to flame. What can you say to those who believe such nonsense?
; (

We have some snow too, and it's quite peaceful outside.

Nice Frost poem too ; )

Reya Mellicker said...

I think he is the real deal. I worry about what the job of being president will do to him. It doesn't tend to bring out the best in most of the men who end up in the Oval office. But one can hope.

Racism? It's a dinosaur, lumbering around on its last legs. My working theory is that our generation (I assume we're close to the same age) is the last of the serious racists, both white and black. We can remember segregation, but our kids and especially our grandkids, grew up in a very different culture.

My grand nephew calls the President Elect "Obamarama!" I doubt seriously that Noah looks at the pic on Time magazine and thinks, "Hey that's a black guy." Maybe, but maybe not.

You're great to take on the guy at bowling. I salute you!

Nan Patience said...

Racists are trash.

Jams said...

I missed the interview, but I found it online yesterday. I felt the same way when Michelle checked him on the spot. Just what a wife would do.

You're right about racism. No doubt.

Great choice of poem. Frost is great.

bitchlet said...

We learned this poem in school in the 6th or 7th grade. It used to be the favourite poem of our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a great freedom fighter.

I hope Obama can live up to expectations that the whole world has in him. I find that so many young people here in India are thrilled by Americas choice.

Steve Reed said...

I love that poem! I did a poster in middle school for extra credit with that poem in the center surrounded by a collage of wintry pictures. (It required some imagination from a Florida boy.)

I think racism, to some degree will always be with us -- at least, until we interbreed to the degree that there are no more races. (Oh happy day!)

I'm assuming the person who used the n-word wasn't black? I sometimes hear black people use it, but I haven't heard a white person use it in ages.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

anyone who feels that doing dishes is soothing is alright with me - it is...obviously the o-man understands the zen doing dishes...I believe this will help in the difficult days ahead.

I taped the 60 minute show, it comes on during dinner.....look forward to watching it.

tut-tut said...

Nice piece on the Obamas with Steve Kroft. I tend to agree with Reya, even here in the blood-red South. When I moved here, I noticed many more interracial couples here than anywhere else.

But one of our prolific letter writers got this one in, this morning:
"Obama is not the first black president, because he is biracial"!