Throughout the past 4 weeks in this course, I have approached each piece we have read looking for an answer or a quick fix to these cultural differences. After listening to Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech, I realized that there is not a single solution. As hard as one may try, we cannot completely knock down these walls that separate us. I think that this is a clear point that Obama’s speech highlights and, while obvious, we tend to overlook this.
Obama reminds us that we are not a perfect union, nor will we ever be perfect.However, if we don’t at least try to come together then division will persist. He affirms that our “racial wounds” are not an issue that can be solved “in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy”. This is something that America, as a whole, must work on together throughout time.
“The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through – a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.”
There is benefit in addressing the fact that borders exist. We cannot run from situations that bring up these contact zones in fear of an igniting a controversy. “Retreating to our respective corners” would be doing the country a disservice. While we cannot silence our differences, we also cannot allow controversy to evoke hatred. Obama notes that it was not the Reverend’s remarks that made the campaign take a “divisive turn” but our reaction to the remarks.
“A More Perfect Union” is a call to action for every individual in America. Obama has managed to cross the border lines and connect to every with a unifying mentality. He urges Americans to accept the imperfections of prejudice and find what unifies us: survival, freedom, and hope so that we, as a nation, can prosper. Obama exemplifies this in his dilemma over Reverend Wright’s offensive remarks. Taking the high road, he recognized the part of himself in his Reverend: “As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me”. There would be no good to come out of denouncing his reverend. Likewise, if Americans succumb to negativity, then we are essentially continuing the cycle and worsening the racial wounds.
E367: Writing and Diversity 