Speaking at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches last month, President Obama posed a question that captured why many continue to view him as hope personified, while others seem to see him as an existential threat. “What greater form of patriotism is there than the belief that America is not yet finished?” he asked.
“Not yet finished”: That’s the line that separates worship of the founders from belief in the unrealized potential of what they began; it divides those who are nostalgic for freedoms supposedly lost which now must be restored, from those who recognize that the freedoms enjoyed by some have always been partial, while the struggle continues to guarantee them for all.
In case anyone missed that first “not yet,” Obama offered it four more times before the Selma speech was done: “We know the march is not yet over. We know the race is not yet won … Fifty years from Bloody Sunday, our march is not yet finished, but we’re getting closer. Two hundred and thirty-nine years after this nation’s founding our union is not yet perfect, but we are getting closer.”
More than merely a well-crafted string of phrases on a significant occasion, the notion that the United States is “not yet perfect” may be the single most enduring theme of Obama’s political life.
The speech largely credited with saving his candidacy in 2008—itself called “A More Perfect Union”—relied on the rhetorical interplay of “perfect” as an adjective and “perfect” as a verb. “This union may never be perfect,” he said, “but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected.”
Given in response to the controversy surrounding his longtime pastor Jeremiah Wright, the speech addressed race especially as “a part of our union that we have yet to perfect.”
This was for him not only an assessment of history, but a profession of faith. “I have asserted a firm conviction—a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people,” he said, “that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”
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This is a post we can be especially proud of. It's one of hope and one of clarity for the idea that we may not be where we ought to be, but we're not what we used to be. It's difficult sometimes to find the positive in some situations - especially when the media focuses so much attention on horrifically intentional black death. But, we must at all times keep our faith and hope that while we may not see the fruit of our labor, the race is just not yet over.
ReplyDeleteA wounded city upon a wounded hill...I think the author's assessment of Reagan's vision of America juxtaposed through the lens of Obama's dream for a more perfect future is a beautiful amalgam, and I appreciate, also, the keen attention to presidential rhetoric in the instances of both men. The more articles I read along these lines, the more I'm interested in taking a course like the presidential rhetoric class Dr. Johnson mentioned taking during his doctoral program. The correlation between religious and political rhetoric is remarkable!
ReplyDeleteI never considered comparing these two presidents in this way. But as I study the geneology of my ancestors this article reminds me that I too am part of the story that is still being written. I cannot change what went before, but I am compelled to take action and pray that I will fall on the right side of history.
ReplyDeleteIn Ferguson driving while black is a problem but the real crime in Ferguson is walking while black. 95% of the arrests for walking violations were against blacks, how frustrating that had to be when young men could change there routes but not change the color of their skin. There is no wonder the atmosphere was charged and set to explode.the wich which would ignite the explosion for change is an encounter between officer Wilson and Mike Brown, how ironic just for walking while black!
ReplyDeleteThe way these two presidents are compared is interesting. Likewise the relationship of a wounded city upon a wounded hill I thought was a great analogy. It is also interesting that both presidents wanted a “perfect” future for America. That in my opinion is impossible. Lastly as with most change it is our responsibility to start change. We have to see the problems within each of us and then start to change ourselves before real change can occur.
ReplyDeleteI was really interested to read about this speech that Obama gave to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches. The idea of "not yet" finished and the way that this strikes up a feeling of patriotism is really inspiring. I'm looking forward to watching this speech after reading this article.
ReplyDeleteThis article is really well-written. It provides a good reminder that America's progress should be valued, but that it should also be understood as incomplete. The idea of a "more perfect union," which we hear all the time, should remind us that perfection is something we should work toward even if we know it is unattainable.
ReplyDeleteObama's speech on the hope for a more perfect union is in line with his campaign theme of hope. It is a more honest campaign when the president recognizes the faults of the country while acknowledging the hope that it can move forward.
ReplyDeleteI find Obama's assertion that America has not yet reached its full potential refreshing and hopeful. I like that he appealed to patriotism as her commemorated Selma.
ReplyDelete"The march is not yet over" those words spoken by President Obama. I can see the point he is making the work of so man is a continuous job. Because we see similar things from our past that are still happening in our future. I can see that we still have a lot of work to do. thankful for all the work thus far.
ReplyDeleteI had never before compared these two Presidents in any way. But the comparison here is intriguing and does make a lot of sense. I think our county needs some positive encouragement right now and this article provides that for us.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand President Obama and this idea that we are getting close to being a nation that's beyond racism. I think we have gone backwards since his presidency. His lack of directly addressing racial issues that are targeted to African Americans has given America a free pass to kill us.
ReplyDeleteObama did a good job in letting the people know that we are not a perfect country but our struggles have not gone unnoticed. We always have to stride ourselves to a goal to become a work in progress. Obama let everyone know that he is not perfect and will never be. He let America know that through all of their struggles, or goals have to take one step at a time. You can not expect a president to go into office and change the character of a country within 2 terms of presidency. A country has to want to change for the better.
ReplyDeleteLinda
I also think that President Obama’s idea that we are getting close to being a nation that’s beyond racism is hard to understand. We are going back times of civil war where people were discriminated against, segregated based on their skin color. Not only the Ferguson event, but recently there was riot in Baltimore and I found it very upsetting how people are busy blaming either White polices or Black students instead of trying to solve the issue and underlying reasons. Are we really changing for better?
ReplyDeleteI loved how The president say he isn't perfect and how we all having some work to do. Know of days it seems as though they have made it a little harder on him
ReplyDeleteThis provides a good view on what needs to be done and shows that their is in fact progress that has been made. Although times get hard and things happen in our country that is not always pleasing we have to keep in mind that our nation nor we are perfect. In fact we are far from perfect. But I definitely feel that settling for what we currently have available in our country is not an option and I'm sure others believe so as well. That's why there has been the instances with what happened in Ferguson as well as what is going on in Baltimore.
ReplyDeleteObama's approach refreshing. his patriotism speaks a thousand words. The work his doing to build a strong nation has gone unappreciated. His words say that we came along way but we aren't finish yet rings loudly because the nation is far more productive then it was a few years ago and his dedication and ambition has help yield a much stronger foundation
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