American problem

Two score years ago on April 4th 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. He who sacrificed his life to make his famous dream come true died when he was only 39. Just a day before he delivered his remarkable speech "I've been to the mountaintop" when he said at the end following words:

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

These words inexplicably foreshadowed his death. And delivering this speech he really sounded like a prophet. But not all his prophecies were realised.
People still aren't nowhere near the promised land. All discrimination laws were repealed and anti-discrimination statutes are implemented. There is no place for segregation in education, transport and other public services. One can see black people in all areas of human endeavour from entertainment to politics to academy. All these achievements over the past forty years mark the transformation that American society underwent.
However this transformation is not completed. America is still bitterly divided along the old racial lines. Many African-Americans see Mr. Obama as fellow black guy and vote for him because of colour of his skin while many white Americans vote for him hoping to prove (at least, to themselves) that they torn apart their racist past. The issue of race was raised during this campaign only to make louder voices demanding the solution of this issue. It gives away a deep trouble in American society.
Solution can't be found during one electoral campaign. Serious decisions can't be made during political fight because in political fight one who shouts louder gets more attention. Now this attention is grasped by populist orators and hateful preachers. And so those people who want to make a difference should shift away from populist message and come down to earth, to lay men with all their anxieties, grievances and prejudice.
There is only one solution - changing the mindset. It means something that can't be done by politicians no matter how skilled they are, by academicians no matter how smart they are, by civil rights advocates no matter how assiduous they are. It should be done by people, by ordinary Americans. When we will stop taking into account colour of skin of our neighbours, friends, partners, people around us and beyond, then we will come to the solution. When we will get rid of our subjective assumptions and fears, then we will come to the solution. When we will understand that we all are brothers in battle with barbarism, inhumanity and prejudice, then we will come to the solution. And when we will come to the solution, we will be a little step closer to the promised land.

Race matters

Last Tuesday Democratic front-runner Barack Obama delivered a brilliant speech on race issue. It was the first time when he addressed this issue in such an eloquent, insightful and personal manner. I am not a supporter of Obama nor do I think he will make a good president but the words were so professionally chosen that one just couldn't disagree with his message.
At first I read his speech in full and after that I watched it on YouTube.

Yes, his oratory skills somehow struck even me, non-American. And it is absolutely clear why so many people consider him the best candidate in their lifetime. He perfectly mastered the words to make his point understandable and at the same time to inspire the people he addressed to.
But there is something that you will see only after scrupulous analysis of what he actually said. He properly described black anger and white resentment, he properly underscored remaining inequalities. But he still didn't say substance. The most certain policy-oriented passage that I have found was:

Not just with words, but with deeds - by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations.

Here he wants to talk about deeds but still he refers to uncertain ladders of opportunity that obviously represent an absolute good but don't transform to detailed policy proposals.
Another point of his speech that struck me in his choice of words was:

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.

This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life.

This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job; it's that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag.

We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.

Do you notice what "we" want in his opinion? "We" want to talk about this, talk about that - but what about doing this or that?
We don't want to talk, we want to do. If Mr. Obama doesn't understand it, then he isn't the person who we need as President of the United States. His rhetoric can not save us from a looming economic crisis. Now we need not words but deeds, policy proposals, contingency plans and strategic vision.
All generations want change. Americans are tired of Washington politics and Mr. Obama represents novelty in American politics. But speeches and words can't steer country from the dangerous situation with two wars and an economic crisis at hand. Mr. Obama is right when he talks about unity of black and white middle-class and working people in face of mighty corporations and credit crunch. But this unity should express itself in form of policy blueprints and reform proposals and not in form of fanatic rallying around one man who hadn't yet proved his political efficiency.
Mr. Obama considers his campaign as change but if this is all the change he offers voters should turn away from him and turn to more reasonable candidates. We want change but we will not accept as change inexperienced President running the world's leading economic and military power. Mr. Obama didn't repudiate his pastor who in his sermons said "God Damn America" and even compared Rev. Wright with his grandmother. Thus he supports the man who hates America and while he explicitly rejected Wright's views he still didn't answer the question why he hadn't challenged his minister on these issues before.
And here we come to the conclusion. Race issue is very complicated and Mr. Obama showed a considerable bravery addressing this issue. But complexity of this theme forced him to use abstract words not leading to any reasonable policy proposals. The analysis of his speech led me to the point that undermines his perceived bravery. What is more admirable: to address a complex issue but do it in a way that doesn't give away any concrete thoughts or not to address this issue at all?
So if you want to see some real change in the way of doing things and not in the way of pronouncing them, turn away from Mr. Obama. He still hasn't proved his ability to conjure reasonable policy proposals and to make them real. Maybe, he is too young for it. But if you want to see an experienced seasoned man in the White House, you should turn to John McCain.