I'm sure you've all heard or read "The Speech" by now. I'm talking about Obama's speech on race, of course. And no matter what you think about Obama, this was a nuanced, adult, challenging speech. Obama looked America in the eye and asked it to look at an issue soberly and like a grown up.
That, of course, was a mistake.
Nice try, but America isn't up to those standards. I know America. I grew up here. I've lived here my whole life. We're infants. We just are. America is not ready to confront race in any meaningful way. America is not ready to talk about the war in any real way. America is not ready to talk about sexism. We don't talk about anything except "American Idol" and "Lost".
But thanks for thinking we're grown ups, Mr. Obama. It was really nice of you.
Now we'll go back to judging our presidential candidates by who says, "America is the super-duper greatest country ever!" the most. As we should.
That, of course, was a mistake.
Nice try, but America isn't up to those standards. I know America. I grew up here. I've lived here my whole life. We're infants. We just are. America is not ready to confront race in any meaningful way. America is not ready to talk about the war in any real way. America is not ready to talk about sexism. We don't talk about anything except "American Idol" and "Lost".
But thanks for thinking we're grown ups, Mr. Obama. It was really nice of you.
Now we'll go back to judging our presidential candidates by who says, "America is the super-duper greatest country ever!" the most. As we should.