Okay in today’s assignment, you are (using any available computer) to log on to the Internets. Then see if you can locate the song called Barack Obama by Reggae artist Cocoa Tea. Hint: you might want to check for it on Apple’s iTunes.
For extra points (and great enjoyment) you should download it and listen to it in its funkified entirety.
That is all.
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Thanks for the well-wishes, Mike.
I don’t think that Barack Obama is some sort of political savior, or ‘agent of change’ as you put it. He’s a politician, and that’s the thing about him that troubles me most. But that’s because I have an inherent distrust of anyone who seeks political office. Even if he does possess a strong desire to reform the political process, it’s not likely that he’d do it by himself. And, since the political system is inhabited by people who gained advantage under the current system, it’s not likely that a majority of those people will agree to real meaningful change.
I like Obama, and I think he’s bright and has a very different world view than most people. He’s lived outside the United States while growing up, which is something that I can relate to. So maybe that makes me less inclined to scrutinize him than I would be otherwise. But I know this: no one is completely corrupt or evil, just as no one is completely righteous.
I’m not glorifying Obama, but I do have a strong preference for him over Hillary Clinton. I don’t like political dynasties, and that’s the most disturbing trend I see in politics right now (in the Republican camp and the Democratic camp). As for the reggae song, which is why I posted this blurb in the first place, I think it’s cool. Even if I had no idea who Barack Obama is I’d find it quirky in an endearing way. Plus I like reggae music. The fact that the song is about a major political contender makes it even funnier.
People say that this campaign is one of ‘firsts’: First major black candidate, first major woman candidate. And now first reggae song about a major political candidate.
I try not to get caught up in the furrowed brow of politics, because I don’t think politics ever changes much. But if a politician can inspire people and do some good then I think that’s great. I hope that Obama is what he appears to be. But if he’s not then you can be assured that I won’t be crestfallen. There are people who think that I’m a bad person too, and I’m sure that they can supply what sound like good reasons. Doesn’t bother me.
Most people know too much, or at least think they do. Those are the ones who tend to get disappointed. Me? I don’t know hardly anything at all. And it feels great not having to pretend that I do.
I realize that he is a product of State Senator Emil Jones. He did next to nothing as an Illinois State Senator. He is involved with Tony Rezko…. one of the slimiest people ever to walk the earth. I realize that he belonged (up to a few days ago) to a church that has been well known for years around these parts to have a “blame the white people for everything” message. So much so, that Oprah Winfrey left it years ago. Obama only quit because it was the politically expedient thing to do. I am not gifted with the writing skills that you and your contributors possess. I also do not have the smarts you folks have. However, I am smart enough to know that if people believe that Barrack Obama is a true agent of “change” then there are going to be some very disappointed people out there. Enjoy your summer. Keeping my fingers crossed for a quiet tropical storm season.
Okay, Mike let me see if I can answer that question. First, I don’t personally know Barack Obama, nor do I have complete knowledge about his true nature. I make judgments about him like I do about most people, i.e. based on incomplete knowledge. I make assumptions, which is typical behavior.
If I make assumptions that he is unqualified because he is black that’s probably not a good assumption. If I make the assumption that he is not qualified because he is not sufficiently experienced then that may be a good judgment. Assumptions are, after all, judgments.
You want to voice your judgment that Barack Obama is not qualified, and that’s fine. But what additional information do you offer? You’re a life-long Chicagoan? Okay, so what? Do all life-long Chicagoans have some automatically elevated understanding of Barack Obama? You say he’s politically connected. Okay, that was kind of obvious. So, I guess what I’m saying is that I’m not sure why the rest of America is going to universally conclude that Barack Obama is what you say he is. First of all, you have simply labelled him. It’s a pejorative label. It’s based on the idea that if you are (1) connected, (2) from the Southside, and (3) a political hack then that’s bad.
Well, being a hack of any sort is not good. But I don’t know what that term really means. I think of a hack as someone who doesn’t do a good job at something, mostly because they put little effort into it. But that’s my definition. What’s your definition of a ‘political hack?’ Are all connected politicians from the Southside hacks? Or is it something more about Obama that is troubling?
In short, you make a pretty sweeping statement and then pose the question “I wonder when the rest of America will realize what I realize?” Even when faced with indisputable truths (i.e. the Earth revolves around the Sun and not the opposite) people don’t simply accept that truth. So assuming your statement is that kind of absolute truth (which it clearly is not) then I’d say the answer to your question is: never. The rest of America will not (as a whole) realize what you realize about Obama.
Another question to ask, if you are inclined, is whether what you realize is actually true. But then you’ve got some vague words in there (like ‘political hack’) that you can use to define things however it suits you best. Of course, it doesn’t really matter what the rest of America thinks. If you’re right then that should be satisfying enough. Why do you need anyone else to realize what you realize?
Ernie. Love your blog and agree with many points but being a life-long Chicagoan, I wonder when the rest of America is going to realize that Obama is nothing more then a southside, connected political hack?
extra credit if you track down and listen to Barack the Magnificent by The Mighty Sparrow –
Just tweeted about this one. Excellent! https://is.gd/oQu