vision for america: watching obama's speech

I am doing that right now. While I can't comment on the details of the speech -- beyond having a reaction to references about bank bailouts and CEO excessive pay -- I am still affected by his presence as a leader unlike what we've had in a long time. I found myself clapping during his introduction as he made his way down the aisle, shaking hands. The genuineness and the genius in in his details is how he interacts with people on "both sides of the aisle," the connections he intends and strives to make.

So far, his flow is smooth and consistent; he is speaking concretely, his voice is full and grounded. But what does this speech mean for us as as social change activists?

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But it is Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's self-hating speech on behalf of a racist Republican party that takes the prize for me. I suppose it should be no surprise that Jindal was chosen to deliver the Republican's party response to Obama's speech: racism sounds more acceptable and tolerable from a person of color directed at another person of color. The very first thing out his mouth was a reference to Obama being African-American; what has that got to do with anything about the speech tonite? This is how many of us in positions of power have internalized our racism.