Speech Report Practice:Obama in Philadelphia,2008
Obama calls for healing racial divide
By Chen, Sin-Rou
“What we have already achieved gives us hope — for what we can and must achieve tomorrow. “ Senator Barack Obama said yesterday in Philadelphia, PA.
Responding to recent critical comment regarding a video clip of his pastor Wright changing the words of “God Bless America” from the patriotic song to “Goddamn America”, Obama made a defining speech on Tuesday in Philadelphia- where the declaration of independence of United States was signed. He responded to these recent fusses by condemning Wright’s controversial statements, “Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely — just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.” But he didn’t walk away from the man who strengthened his faith, officiated his wedding, and baptized his children. He explained the intimate relation between pastors and local residents in black community, “As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me.”
Senator Barack Obama’s speech yesterday focused on racial issues in the United States, which are rarely spoken by politicians or candidates, and he expressed strong desire to heal racial divide:” Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now.”
He said that “anger” of black men like Wright “may not get expressed in public……But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table…… to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.” He also talked about the same kind of anger which exists in white community,” They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away……when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time. “
The Democratic front runner emphasized that the US should move beyond these racial divisions. He urged African-Americans to “embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past”, and “all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper. “ He called for people working together to move beyond old racial wounds, “and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”
His fiery speech agitated the crowd. With a huge round of applause, Obama said that truth has proved that America can change. “This union may never be perfect,” he said. “But generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.”
