On Obama's Philadelphia Speech

Episode VI of "Election '08," a series of spoken word works by Mike Varley covering the 2008 campaign. A new entry every Sunday with free mp3 downloads at mikevarley.com.

On Obama's Philadelphia Speech

God damn America
God damn America, the reverend Wright said, fiery and
measured to the workings of the world.
God damn America, his soul snared to a hate-taut tether,
shocking us with the fruits of black reality.

Did you think old men still heal?
Do you depend on reptilian regeneration?

The maimed and heart-sick elude redemption in times as these, dear friend.
Locked in absolutes,
trading soul's ascension
for 1's and 0's,
a Red Scare reissued in classic Black and White.

God damn America, what are you afraid of?
I know it can't be hatred, for I've seen your late night hobbies.
It's complexity that frightens --
the ship sailing free of its bottle.


But the world is a complex place, dear friend,
for those that wish to view it.
Some don their hate like wrestlers capes, while others in lottery drew it.
Some hum along lightly to Hate's handsome tune,
hypnotic in broad thoughtless flow.
Then retractions precisely as jingles still linger -- to quote, "Not as far as I know."

Some see hate strange-like, abstract and in hues.
In visions of dominoes lined up in pews.
Of rusty nailed boardwalks and tetanus feared beach bans,
robbing the nation of truths found in sun tans.
The burden of vision falls hard on the freckled.
They preach to land dwellers of sea treasures speckled.


America, the understanding I have is that we're lazy and fat.
We have no grasp of foreign languages
and our knowledge of the tabloids is unhealthy. I found myself in a debate today with a woman we'll call light switch. She told me that if anything,
the blacks were the racist one's in this country, then she turned to feed her mother pudding.

I can't spot the delta, dear friend,
but I know the river runs far.
Bottles bob forever downstream.
Ships move free with the stars.

Logo by Ramsey Ess, beatniksquad.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Barack
• Obama
• Philadelphia
• speech
• on
• race
• Reverend
• Wright
• God
• Damn
• Amercia
• election
• 2008
• commentary
• analysis

[MikeVarley]

I understand it's tempting to seek truth in boardgame answers, but this is life, not Life, and you're oversimplifying the black experience in America. Walking the line between Uncle Tom and Black Panther is not easy in a world that screams binary, but Obama is trying to do just that....

[lyscan]

could you drop a line on why "world screams binary" ?

I just dont believe(/understand that your way)

[MikeVarley]

Our world is increasingly controlled by logic and a craving for certainty. It is the heartbeat of our most powerful invention, the computer. Nothing is more definite than One's and Zero's. By its nature, nothing is less human.

In a wholly logical world, blind belief becomes abhorant. It has no rational founding, just the soul's resounding desire. But blind belief has brought us our greatest human triumphs to this point...

[MikeVarley]

Call me sentimental, but I don't want that to die, even in the face of computers and airplanes and all our electronic superpowers logical thought has afforded us and we've grown so fond of. Maybe I just don't like being fenced in.

[MikeVarley]

(cont.)

To change the world by solitary means is the endeavor of a madman. Obama's involvement in the TUCC was a resume builder, and unpaid internship to forge ties with Chicago's black community. The intern that brings the boss coffee doesn't question the company's mission statement.

Wright is a dinosaur, but a T-Rex of a bastard. He wields power only the patient can solve. As I see it, the only thing Obama is guilty of here is being a politician.

But then again, nobody's perfect.

[lyscan]

oh and thanks for replying

[lyscan]

lovely , lovely =]

someone to throw words around , you really exist?

you read under it , into it , but why dont you read it over , logics is a way of ordering life and thus death in itself , if we have created something beyond our desire then why are we still talking?

future is over here , let me shoot you together

getting hard to keep yourself in the frame ;)

[sergeantnorider]

Hey dipshit. Just happen to fun across this comment you dropped 8 months ago regarding Wright and Obama's race speech. Lol. You thought you had Obama's ass for sure didnt ya. Now you got a mouth full of shit. Lol. How'd you feel on Nov. 4th dumbass? Kiss his black ass now.

[Roonskii]

You are a dangerous man.

[Roonskii]

You are a dandgerous man.

[Buggleton]

Beautiful.