Senator Barack Obama’s speech on race argued that as a nation talking about race issues and relations has been

a taboo. Do you agree or disagree with his views on race in the U.S.? Not his political views as a candidate but this speech on race in the U.S.

Public Comments

1. I do disagree with his views. I live in an extremely multi-cultural place and no one here has any problems talking about race relationships.
2. He is a liar, didn't listen to his tale of woe
3. Absolutely not.
4. If talking about race relations is "taboo", how did the civil rights acts get passed? Why has there been affirmative action? He is full of crap.
5. no. i think a lot of americans thought that blacks were going about life taking advantage of the opportunities they had been given and that the racial divide was closing. guess blacks were busy hating instead of working...that's what it sounded like to me
6. If you talked about what you as a white person thought of what was going on with the black community The blacks would call you racist.
7. Definitely agree and what better man to voice these issues on race but a WHITE AND BLACK man. He can say it all and he doesn't have to feel like he's being one-sided. He speaks the truth on these matters and so does his wife. Many people are weak and whiners though and don't want to accept the truth. Truth hurts, but nonetheless is necessary for reproving, for setting matters straight so we can all move past the significant race issues in America anyway. Obama for Change 2008!
8. Anyone who is not in a coma knows that discussions on race are taboo. This is a given. I can't even post a legitimate question here without being called a racist for doing so. It's like some paranoid delusional guilt that pops out of White people like they did something wrong and are angry that they got caught. It's weird. I think Obama hit the nail on the head. The paranoids will disagree loudly and strongly..
9. The talk can only be one sided, as white people have restrictions on what they can and can not say whereas, black people can say anything they want without repercussions. me=typical white guy (non Prejudiced-supporter of MLK)(against Obama/Wright/Farrakhan)
10. I believe he ,like his esteemed pastor, is living in the past. Continuing to bring up past grievances as an excuse. It is time to move on. Stop having a double standard regarding race. How will we ever heal as a country if whites are continually blamed for something that happened a long time ago ? Something they had nothing to do with, something I might add the younger blacks were never affected by, but wear it like a ribbon. He is an apologist for bad behavior, plain and simple.
11. It has been proven many times that the argument opens and then falls by the wayside...JFK tried, RFK tried, Martin Luther King, the list goes on...it does not stick...maybe for once everyone will be on the same page to at least listen and move forward.
12. agree and it is taboo its like u aren't supposed to acknowledge that in 2008 there are still towns in this country that treat race like it is 1958.
13. I think when he says 'as a nation talking about race issues' he is referring more to the thousands of people in public positions like mayors, city council members, etc. The reason its so taboo for people in the public eye is because anytime they mention anything about race, it's very scrutinized and often taken out of context by the media. Thus, talking about race is like walking on egg shells.
14. I think he exposed himself as a racist by making racially offensive statements. With Rev. Wright as his mentor I firmly believe Obama to be racist.
15. the truth White ppl often times believe everything is all roses and butterflies when it comes to race relations and blacks are simply harping on the past and ignoring all of the "freebies" blacks get today. Whites generally refuse to acknowledge that blacks are paid less than any other race in America. Whites often refuse to acknowledge that there are legitimate racist laws, legitimate discrimmination practices happening across America. Whites often hate the fact that although discrimmination happens in every form or "isms" blacks are the most vocal thus deemed less apprieciative. Whites ignore the cruelest form of a racially driven crime was committed in 1999. Blacks generally refuse to acknowledge there has been legitimate progress made in 40yrs. Blacks often times cry racism when in fact they simply were not the best option for whatever they were competing for. Blacks often put themselves in postions that would encourage discrimmination/racial profiling...ie hanging out with ppl u know are or have been criminals, being late all the time to various appointments (cpt). he was right...it is taboo to honestly and candidly talk about race relations in this country. It is as tho ppl believe if we don't talk about it it will somehow correct itself. Those who believe the Civil Rights act passed 40 yrs ago cleaned up a 400yr mess are sorely mistaken. It takes centuries to clean up centuries old mistakes. My parents are older than 40 so obviously those issues cannot possibly be healed. When whites say "get over it" or "let it go" it's like telling a family of women that wer raped everyday for multiple years to get over it since the rapes stopped 40 yrs ago. It's unbelievably inhumane to expect that of ppl. edit: U CANNOT possibly be a supporter of MLK Jr and believe the generations of today are completely unaffected by events that happended to their parents and grandparents. That would also assume that no one born after 1965 has experienced blatant racism first hand. That is naive. It is not ok for the dog to get beaten continuously and then be expected to never bite back.