Readers Corner: The Obama Discussion/Debate – From Adoration to Revulsion

Brother Pinkney-Once again, an inaccurate assessment of Senator Obama’s remarks regarding Ronald Reagan. Senator Obama never ‘heaped praise” on Ronald Reagan. He made the factual but painful point that Reagan was successful in pushing the conservative agenda in America while at the same time stating his disagreement with that agenda. Your assessment fails to account for the full remarks of Senator Obama regarding Reagan. If you really desire to keep a Clarence Thomas from chairing the EEOC, perhaps you may consider advocating that our community support Brother Obama for President – a brother with a real chance to become President of the U.S. – rather than allow another conservative like Senator McCain to become President whereby you will definitely get another Clarence Thomas at EEOC. Such fine but real details matter, my brother.

Pinkney had this response to TVC:

Having lived in Palestine, I have seen the Israeli U.S.-backed Zionists mercilessly and bloodily attack Palestinian refugee camps and murder Palestinian children, women, old men, and youth on land that is (to this day) illegally and militarily occupied by the state of Israel; supported by the U.S. Clearly, Obama supports these Zionists. I do not. It reminds me of what I witnessed first-hand in what was then apartheid South Africa.

Moreover, I do not consider a person to be a “Brother” or Sister based upon their skin tone. Blackness and/or being a “Brother” means a great deal more than complexion. Having also lived in Africa, I saw with my own eyes the massive brutality by people of the same skin tone, against one another. No indeed. Being a brother (or sister), means so much more than skin tone.

As to what I “really desire:” I certainly do not depend on you to inform me of what I “really desire” and/or have politically struggled for, on behalf of Black and other oppressed peoples for over 40 years; just as I don’t presume to tell you what you “really desire.” I give you the benefit of doubt by, among other things, not presuming to tell you what you do or do not “really desire.” Only you can determine that. The most I can do is put forth my observations based upon my long years of past & ongoing experiences, my political activities, and my study. I do not presume to tell you what you would do if you “really desire[d]” this or that. That is your individual decision. I must insist upon the same benefit of the doubt from you.

Ultimately, and notwithstanding Barack Obama, there is virtually no substantive systemic difference between the Democrat and Republican parties. “Fine but real details” do indeed matter, which is precisely why I do not support Barack Obama. Black people, other people of color, and even white people in America need real systemic change, not superficial feel-good rhetoric. And neither Obama, Clinton, or McCain will bring about systemic change as they all have a vested interest in maintaining the system intact.

I support former Congresswoman Sister Cynthia McKinney’s Presidential Campaign. You apparently do not. We obviously disagree and I suggest it be left at that. Let us simply agree to disagree.

Larry Pinkney
The Black Commentator