‘Barack, I Didn’t Do It for This’: An Homage to Andrew Goodman
Bearster :
“In his “apology” speech, Obama used the term “America’s original sin.” I think he is a religious man; he didn’t use that as a clever and witty way to say slavery was legal at the time of the founding of America.
I think he meant it in the biblical sense: we all share the sin of Eve disobeying God. White people today all share the guilt of slavery, and we can never expiate this guilt.”
Very interesting observation. I also think that much of what he said did come from his heart. I would not have characterized Obama’s speech as an apology. I think that those who have observed that in order to gain elected office, it was necessary for Obama to be in the right church, to prove his “black credentials,” are probably correct.
As to the statement that “white people today all share the guilt of slavery, and we can never expiate this guilt,” Obama glossed over reality, which is that this particular original sin was punished and paid for in blood. White American blood, as well as the brave black soldiers who fought for the Union.
The Civil War left carnage greater than all other U.S. wars, combined. Abraham Lincoln was ultimately haunted by the belief that the scourge of the Civil War was God’s just expiation for the terrible stain of slavery. “He hath loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword,” once had actual meaning, crystal clear to people who paid in blood to end slavery.
Folks will not want to hear this, and most are more politically savvy than I am, but nonetheless: I think Obama does love America, and would try to serve according to his lights. Also, in an after-speech interview with FOX the man was sad, just genuinely sad.
