Today what extent can we be held accountable for what the people around us say? We must understand that our histories and relationships are far more complex than most people are willing to give us credit for. Living in an individualist country, we commonly look past the situation and place blame on the individual’s actions. During the 2008 Presidential Elections, President Obama was scrutinized for attending Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr., United Church of Christ in Chicago. When confronted at a press conference, Obama explains Rev. Wright’s attitude by exploring the history of the United States and emphasizes that there are aspects of our history that are respectable and there are aspects that are shameful. He highlights how Racism was once written into our nations laws, yet we never hold the white man standing next to us accountable for those actions. We cannot deny the complexity of American history. As much as we would like to deny it today, Racism is embedded in the deepest roots of this country. Also written into our constitution is Freedom of Speech, which allows us to speak our mind and explore our past attempting to make sense of our history. One man’s thoughts expressed, does not mean that every man who hears them believes them. The press attempted to hold Senator Obama accountable for Wrights words and tried to portray Obama as a black elitist.
Obama walked a thin line during his presidential candidacy. Declaring himself as a black man, he changed the nations views on race in the United States. People looked for flaws in Obama’s life and this is what they found. Handling the situation admirably, Obama did not deny his relationship with Reverend Wright, yet opened the eyes of many Americans by calling them out. Obama acknowledges that racial prejudice exists yet America is the only country that allows him as a black man to reap all the benefits he has gained as a citizen. Playing his cards delicately, Obama enlightens the public that he can not be held accountable for what his Reverend has said, he even goes as far to state that he has disagreed with a lot of things that Wright has preached about but it is his faith as a Christian that comes first. Although I agree that citizens had a right to be discouraged by Obama’s acts, if this is the only flaw they could truly find it appears shameful. Obama cannot be too black or be too white and instead has to bridge his past and his family’s heritage in order to find himself as a man fit for America. So I ask you, do you think it was right of the press to place blame on Obama for attending these sermons? Should Obama be held responsible for his Reverends actions?
I think that in all elections, the press likes to make a story out of whatever they can. In President Obama's case, this was one of many stories that he was faced with throughout his campaign. Respectively so, the American people should be allotted a well-rounded understanding of the candidate that is running for the highest position in the country. So, therefore I understand the press's persistence in pointing out each of the flaws in a candidate's lifestyle. I do however think that it is important to realize that this is exactly what the press is intending to do. As the public it is then our duty to take what the press feeds us cautiously. All this to say, that because of our Freedom of Speech the press is allowed to point out whatever information that they want in order to obtain viewers interests. So it is then up to us to form EDUCATED opinions on the candidates setting the press's skewed opinions aside. It is because of the lack of educated and informed opinions on the policy and positioning of a candidate that media stories are then able to be taken to the extreme. Therefore, it is important that a candidates motives, actions, and policies are made clear.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Obama should not be blamed for simply attending his own church and listening to his own Reverend speak. Not everyone that attends that church probably believes in everything Reverend Wright says. However, I do also think it is important that the public knows some background information about the candidates for presidency. The church Obama attends gives Americans insight into what kind of opinions he is exposed to. As a voter, it would be worrisome to see a candidate that is highly exposed to black or white nationalism, but I do not believe this to be a good enough reason on its own to not vote for a candidate whom on all other political views, one agrees with. Perhaps if Obama attended this church and was involved in an active black separatist movement or protest, then that would be a real reason to be concerned. For example, just because I attend a class and listen to my teacher speak, that does not mean that I agree with every thing the teacher says. I sit there, listen, and then form my own opinions about the material. While what the teacher says may influence my opinion, it does not shape it entirely. I believe that in order for it to really be a concern, Obama’s actions outside of church would have to match up with the extreme ideals his Reverend was preaching.
ReplyDeleteThe role of the media in our culture is to attempt to bring to light any information surrounding high profile figures, whether it is celebrities or presidential candidates. There have been far worse attacks on people, as there was nothing the media did to truly shame Obama and his family. The media absolutely had the right to publish this report, as this is all part of trying to paint a picture of the presidential candidates. I don’t think the media was truly “placing blame” on Obama for attending these sermons, but like I said, they were just trying to uncover any information that the public would be interested in. The media only attempts to bring to light important stories, and it is our job, as viewers, to take what they say and analyze it for validity. Was there anything wrong with Obama attending these sermons? No. Should he be held responsible for the Reverend’s actions? Absolutely not. But the media had the right to make public his relationship with Wright, and as in almost every case, the story became a bigger deal than it actually was.
ReplyDelete