CrimsonPhantom
CUSA Curator
Posts: 41,344
Joined: Mar 2013
Reputation: 2371
I Root For: NM State
Location:
|
Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Quote:Former President Barack Obama delivered a forceful rejection of identity politics during a speech Tuesday, saying democracy doesn't work if people dismiss their opposing voices for reasons like they're "white" or "male."
Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in South Africa, Obama said to make democracy work that people had to follow the example of Mandela in engaging with people who look and think differently.
"This is hard," Obama said.
"Most of us prefer to surround ourselves with opinions that validate what we already believe," he added. "You notice, the people who you think are smart are the people who agree with you. Funny how that works."
Obama said perhaps one's mind could be changed by talking to someone who thinks differently.
"You can't do this if you just out-of-hand disregard what your opponents have to say from the start," he said. "You can't do it if you insist that those who aren't like you because they're white or because they're male, that somehow there's no way they can understand what I'm feeling, that somehow they lack standing to speak on certain matters."
Obama, referring to him by his Xhosa clan name "Madiba," recounted Mandela's study of white Afrikaans while serving 27 years in prison. He was elected president in 1994, four years after his release and shortly after he helped South Africa end its policy of racial separation and discrimination known as apartheid.
"When he got out of prison, he extended a hand to those who had jailed him, because he knew that they had to be a part of the democratic South Africa that he wanted to build," Obama said.
Link
|
|
07-17-2018 08:32 PM |
|
Jjoey52
All American
Posts: 4,035
Joined: Feb 2017
Reputation: 236
I Root For: ISU
Location:
|
Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Why didn’t say this in office while he was escalating racism?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
|
|
07-17-2018 09:02 PM |
|
450bench
Moderator
Posts: 30,771
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation: 2301
I Root For: Memphis
Location: Memphis
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
obama-the great divider
|
|
07-17-2018 09:04 PM |
|
HeartOfDixie
Hall of Famer
Posts: 24,689
Joined: Oct 2013
Reputation: 945
I Root For: Alabama
Location: Huntsville AL
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Good for him.
|
|
07-17-2018 10:40 PM |
|
UofMstateU
Legend
Posts: 39,084
Joined: Dec 2009
Reputation: 3551
I Root For: Memphis
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-17-2018 09:02 PM)Jjoey52 Wrote: Why didn’t say this in office while he was escalating racism?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Because now he's going to need a white male to offer him and his cronies up a pardon.
(This post was last modified: 07-17-2018 10:44 PM by UofMstateU.)
|
|
07-17-2018 10:43 PM |
|
bobdizole
All American
Posts: 3,468
Joined: Dec 2017
Reputation: 337
I Root For: MT
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-17-2018 09:02 PM)Jjoey52 Wrote: Why didn’t say this in office while he was escalating racism?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
He is an intellectual that didn't have the skillset or leadership to be president. How lofty his ideals were in principle can only be outmatched by how bad his Republican opponents were.
|
|
07-17-2018 10:44 PM |
|
Owl 69/70/75
Just an old rugby coach
Posts: 80,655
Joined: Sep 2005
Reputation: 3192
I Root For: RiceBathChelsea
Location: Montgomery, TX
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Obama was a leading example of in theory, theory works well in practice; in practice, it doesn't.
He had lots of academic theory, but no real idea how to get things done. Thank God!
|
|
07-17-2018 11:23 PM |
|
SuperFlyBCat
Banned
Posts: 49,583
Joined: Mar 2005
I Root For: America and UC
Location: Cincinnati
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Too late, killing white farmers in S. Africa is out of control.
|
|
07-18-2018 05:57 AM |
|
Crebman
Heisman
Posts: 9,407
Joined: Apr 2007
Reputation: 552
I Root For:
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-17-2018 10:44 PM)bobdizole Wrote: (07-17-2018 09:02 PM)Jjoey52 Wrote: Why didn’t say this in office while he was escalating racism?
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
He is an intellectual that didn't have the skillset or leadership to be president. How lofty his ideals were in principle can only be outmatched by how bad his Republican opponents were.
Yep. As Owl said - Thank God. And as Joey said - when he had the chance to try and unite people, he chose to play politics and divide folks.......
(This post was last modified: 07-18-2018 09:52 AM by Crebman.)
|
|
07-18-2018 09:28 AM |
|
200yrs2late
Resident Parrothead
Posts: 15,328
Joined: Jan 2010
Reputation: 767
I Root For: East Carolina
Location: SE of disorder
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
So he's bashing his entire presidency?
|
|
07-18-2018 09:31 AM |
|
fsquid
Legend
Posts: 81,357
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation: 1835
I Root For: Memphis, Queens (NC)
Location: St Johns, FL
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Saying that in South Africa right now will not make him popular.
|
|
07-18-2018 09:38 AM |
|
Lord Stanley
L'Étoile du Nord
Posts: 19,103
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation: 994
I Root For: NIU
Location: Cold. So cold......
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Quote:"Most of us prefer to surround ourselves with opinions that validate what we already believe," he added. "You notice, the people who you think are smart are the people who agree with you. Funny how that works."
Either he is cleverly self-aware or remarkably clueless. I know which way I lean in my interpretation..........
|
|
07-18-2018 10:05 AM |
|
SuperFlyBCat
Banned
Posts: 49,583
Joined: Mar 2005
I Root For: America and UC
Location: Cincinnati
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-18-2018 09:38 AM)fsquid Wrote: Saying that in South Africa right now will not make him popular.
#LandExpropriation public hearings were held today in S. Africa.
|
|
07-18-2018 10:26 AM |
|
VA49er
Legend
Posts: 29,000
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation: 952
I Root For: Charlotte
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
I guess it's easier to come out against something if one is no longer dependent on that very thing for votes to win an election.
|
|
07-18-2018 10:31 AM |
|
fsquid
Legend
Posts: 81,357
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation: 1835
I Root For: Memphis, Queens (NC)
Location: St Johns, FL
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-18-2018 10:26 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote: (07-18-2018 09:38 AM)fsquid Wrote: Saying that in South Africa right now will not make him popular.
#LandExpropriation public hearings were held today in S. Africa.
yea, I've watched a few clips from these hearings, some frightening stuff.
|
|
07-18-2018 10:35 AM |
|
Crebman
Heisman
Posts: 9,407
Joined: Apr 2007
Reputation: 552
I Root For:
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-18-2018 10:35 AM)fsquid Wrote: (07-18-2018 10:26 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote: (07-18-2018 09:38 AM)fsquid Wrote: Saying that in South Africa right now will not make him popular.
#LandExpropriation public hearings were held today in S. Africa.
yea, I've watched a few clips from these hearings, some frightening stuff.
Zimbabwe here we come.
|
|
07-18-2018 10:37 AM |
|
SuperFlyBCat
Banned
Posts: 49,583
Joined: Mar 2005
I Root For: America and UC
Location: Cincinnati
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
(07-18-2018 10:35 AM)fsquid Wrote: (07-18-2018 10:26 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote: (07-18-2018 09:38 AM)fsquid Wrote: Saying that in South Africa right now will not make him popular.
#LandExpropriation public hearings were held today in S. Africa.
yea, I've watched a few clips from these hearings, some frightening stuff.
Yes it is.
|
|
07-18-2018 11:05 AM |
|
thespiritof1976
Ancient Alien Theorist
Posts: 5,067
Joined: Oct 2017
Reputation: 518
I Root For: Zeti Reticuli
Location:
|
RE: Obama Bashes Identity Politics
Obama is an intellectual without the intellect.
He was educated beyond his intelligence.
That is why I have always considered a car mechanic as being smarter than that of the naive college graduate who holds a worthless degree.
|
|
07-18-2018 11:19 AM |
|