Although opportunists will try to make much of Michelle Obama's sloppy and unfortunate language, it seems to me that her intention was clear.
Mrs. Obama meant that for the first time in her adult lifetime she is seeing an objectively measurable advancement in civil rights for black Americans.
Most of the key civil rights achievements of the last century occurred before her birth or during her very young childhood. Then, after the Johnson administration ended, black America made few, if any, advancements into mainstream America. To her, like me, America's great strides away from a racist past of slavery, Jim Crow and discrimination and towards a healed and united future were historical events -- they weren't part of her personal experience as an adult. There have been no great milestones in America's march towards racial equality since her childhood.
Until today.
Until 2008, when Americans of every color, creed, age and background are pinning their hopes for the nation on black man from Chicago -- a black man who stands on the very brink of becoming the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
Mrs. Obama's language was bungled -- she is the (exhausted) mother of two young girls -- and she should probably apologize and clarify her point.
But her intention was unmistakable: She is as proud of America as she has ever been and probably prouder than she ever expected to be.
Me too.
2 comments:
Her intent was clear.
Why should she apologize because the cable news shows clipped the quote and the wife of her husband's likely opponent is trying to make hay of a non-issue?
The one who should apologize is Cindy McCain for insinuating Michelle is somehow unpatriotic...
I saw a video on Marathon Pundit where she clearly said, "really proud" about her country. Of course, John Ruberry left "really" out of the printed quote to make his ridiculously partisan point that she has never been proud of her country.
Jeez, don't they teach english anymore?
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