Raising the Bar



Originally, wasn’t going to send out any comments because I thought it was pretty self-explanatory and I couldn’t really understand how anybody could mistake the message; but after listening to the talking heads, like Joe Scarborough, I thought I had to search out my notes .



Here’s what I had in my portfolio:



“Just listened to the full text of Obama’s speech.



Where do you file the superlatives?



My God, this guy is good!



First off, this was an intelligent speech. No pandering. No kowtowing to those who couldn’t grasp complex ideas. He didn’t make it easy. Why should he? And he reminded us whites that we have a few skeletons in our attic even if we didn’t come over on slave ships, got a good education and didn’t have to scratch around to find a job.



Yes, he was very, very good.



No shouting; no unnecessary hype. Just the facts, mam.



It was a sophisticated speech and demonstrated that he treated his listeners with respect.



And helped us to understand the mind of the black who had been subjected to all kinds of miseries and indignities that many of us had never been willing to acknowledge.



This speech used his religion to serve as an entree into all the issues that divide us and challenge us in ways that could not be missed.



As he said, if we don’t deal with them now, there will always be “other distractions” that will prevent us from dealing with them in the future. Wow! What a great thought that was; jarring in fact for those addicted to the status quo.



As he explained it, now is the opportunity to come together to solve more than black problems, an opportunity to bring us all together as a people to address the challenges of the day.



It took courage to make this speech. It was an all or nothing speech. He didn’t sugar coat the truth and no one who honestly listened to what he had to say could argue with his rationality, objectivity and willingness to face up to what lies ahead.



It was a speech that no white person could deliver.



And it raised the bar for all people.



It was honest and it laid all the cards on the table.



After Martin, I never thought any one would rise to the occasion as he had.



But Barack did.



And I also think Barack Obama laid to rest all of the doubts and issues that may have plagued some who may have felt that they did not know the character or the integrity of the man.



It was beyond doubt now.



It was in summing up, a victory not only for Obama, but a victory that sets the bar high for anyone to follow in his footsteps and helps to establish the tone for the rest of the Primaries and for the coming election.



And all without a pointing a finger or accusing anyone of unfair tactics or sniping.



Les Aaron