Sunday, May 17, 2009

What the Notre Dame Speech showed us about Obama


First, as to my rather nasty 5/7/09 post about Notre Dame--I'm vindicated. The so-called "concerned alumni" looked like the wingnut fools they are...and didn't I illustrate how the Pope warned them not to take the crap this far? Proving that this had shit to do with the lives of unborn children and all to do with racism, loss-of-power delirium.
Second, it now cements the wisdom of this cartoon...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

The ear dimensions are actually pretty realistic.

ch555x said...

LOL!

...but it does makes sense.

Anonymous said...

SoCal 82Tiger Says -

Professor the Vatican Nation can easily afford to be gracious and magnanimous in dealing with a new US Prez who happens to be out of step with the core beliefs of the church. Never forget that the Vatican is both a political nation and the HQ of one of the world’s major religious states. The Pope is staying low-key about challenging the positions of our new president because he can...

Watch how over time the Vatican will permit their Cardinals and Bishops to do the heavy lifting of knocking the new president and his positions. Positions that are clearly out of line with Catholic church doctrine and teaching.

Boston Mike said...

I disagree SoCal. The essays in L'Observeterre (sp?) are pretty clear. They called for reasonable debate and civilized discussion--which Obama clearly echoed in the address, and warned against extremism. There was also a reminder about stances which also do not reflect a love for human life: including the death penalty, gun use, respect for the environment for example. I am thinking there's only minimal overlap.
Even the Bendectine president of Trinity College, who is definitely not a liberal or "typical American" Catholic stated in the address's aftermath that people who'd keep the nation in a perpetual culture war, one which often as you stated, as little basis in religion but all in domestic power politics. It's sad that he and others waited until after the appearance at Notre Dame to praise Obama, but that is politics as well. Now that, as EJ Dionne said, the right wing and Catholics who fronted them "rolled the dice and lost" what will be next? The crowds of yougn students at Notre Dame shouted "Yes we can!" to Obama's words. His words carried none of the bitterness of the very protesters or the websites. The true impact was on Catholics of color, be they from Africa or especially Latin Americans, who looked more at the disrespect shown a non-white leader that was unprecedented. These very people are very conservative usually, and yet abandoned this debate, and are Obama supporters. When you look at polls or interviews, what they saw was a non white leader being attacked. Though I have no hard evidence, I have a feeling that this other aspect entered into the Vatican's thinking. When you note the leaders of this now fizzled protest are largely middle aged white males, is it any wonder?

I appreciate you're trying to find a positive outcome, but if you think about, the outcome was positive for the right reasons. Extremists were shown to be overrated and louts, a positive move to common ground rather than all or nothing began, and young people made us all look bad, as they should do! The ultimate statement is that this harsh and negative campaign should not have begun in the first place.
Finally, I enjoyed Prof. Chambers's rant against Catholic U. and in amusing promo of Jesuit education (as a product od Jesuit priniciples and service myself).

Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, aka Ochyming said...
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Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, aka Ochyming said...

@Anonymous Those are Mr Spock ears!
Not the first time O is portrayed as Mr S., tho.

Reason why WNuts paint him arrogant.
Actually G. W. Bush has same ears but lacks brain (due to booze?).

Anonymous said...

Is that a racial statement as well--both Spock and Obama have, well, similiar backgrounds and both were closer to their white round earred mothers.

Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, aka Ochyming said...
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Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, aka Ochyming said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rikyrah said...

Boston Mike, excellent response.

I believe The President showed class to the classless. grace to the graceless. And made them look like fools.

His speech was thoughtful and superb.

As a Black Domer, you damn straight about them never treating nobody White like they did THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Anonymous said...

SoCal 82Tiger Says:

To Boston Mike & Rikyrah: Re - "They never treated a white President the way they treat President B”.

By “They “ do you mean -
White people?
Right Wing Nuts?
Everyday people who has a rational disagreement with President B and what he stands for?
Or ALL OF THE ABOVE?

How can you deliver that line with a strait face??? EVERY President has had to deal with not always being treated in a Presidential manner? The best example is the entire 8 years of W!!!

I beg you to please stop looking for devils among every person who disagrees with your beloved President B.

If you don't you'll mearly cheapen your voice end up sounding like emotive shrills...

PPR_Scribe said...

Anon @ 3:15--

Yes, every US president--especially in modern times--has been treated at some point by some groups in a non-presidential manner. That does not mean that the way in which this current president is being treated may often have racial overtones.

I find most of these discussions interesting, though I may not agree with all of the conclusions. If you listen and open your mind, perhaps you may learn something interesting and useful as well.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it just 'ducky' that those whiny protester a-holes can cry for unborn children yet not give a RAT'S ASS about b-o-r-n children being sacrificed to the unholy and sick lust of Catholic priest pedophiles! Where was all the damn 'outrage' and protesting about THAT?!! And Chris sorry this has nothing to do with this post but I agree 100 percent with your comment on Racialicious about the 'Avatar' movie. It's like when Montel Williams told some Asian guest that he has a hard time feeling sorry for Asian people when they cry racism because they try so damn hard to assimilate into white society. And he's absolutely right.