Obama's Speech on Race and Rev. Wright

I have been reading and thinking about Obama's speech on race. The speech does provoke thought which is unusual for political speeches today. The speech is worth reading. Mr. Obama is careful to denounce what must be denounced but in many ways he is as clumsey and any of us are when discussing race. I think the speech is too linked to current events to be elevated to that of a truely great speech that will move the country. It may very well be a good start toward changing the tone of discourse on race but Mr. Obama played it safe and stopped short of saying what he thought was possible for America. Perhaps no politician can really say what they think is possible for America because today's media expect them to deliver a reality as soon as the vision is uttered. Truly great, elevating speaches are delivered by people who tells what they or anyone must do but by people focused on what they see. They are less interested in when the vision will become real than in helping people see and believe the vision can become real. They realize that the vision and sharing the vision is more important than getting credit for achieving the vision. FDR did not live to see the end of World War II, Kenedy did not see a man land on the moon and Reagan did not see the Berlin Wall fall. Yet everyone knows the phrases "a day that will live in infamy", "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country", and "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall".

I think Mr. Obama delivered a good speech, eloquently. But the speech was too bound by political need and expediency to be a great, uplifting speech that will truly change the American discourse on race.