The Right Thing

President Obama did the right thing.

He had the guts to speak the truth about the racial tensions and unfairness in this country.

He probably felt an obligation to do so as The United States of America's First Black President. He probably felt a moral obligation to do so as well.

Of course the backlash is intense.

Americans are comfortable expressing their racial prejudices openly, especially after President Obama's election in 2008. They are not comfortable being called on it.

He did it in an offhand way, no script, with emotion and carefully chosen words because he respects the power his office holds.

He was criticized for that. For the halting way he spoke. When he reads from a teleprompter he is criticized for not being genuine. When he speaks off the cuff he is criticized for speaking haltingly.

That is one tiny and petty example of how this man cannot win. I can offer up 300 more.

He speaks carefully when the words are unscripted because he is intelligent. He chooses his words carefully. In a case like this he checks his emotions. You could see him reigning them in a couple of times during his comments.

He exposed what everybody already knows. Justice is unfair in this country. Warped by racial prejudice.

He referenced the history of black people in this country as well as their current reality, and delicately made the point that black people might just see a case like this differently than white people.

His words might carry more weight because it is difficult to imagine The President of The United States at any time in his life being followed in a department store, having women clutch their purses in fear around him, having people lock their car doors as he crosses the street.

I want to believe his words have more impact and can spark change.

I don't.

What is cool is The President of The United States saying out loud what black people deal with every day. Making that connection with them. Giving them a voice at the highest level. The most powerful man in the free world unafraid to address poisoned truths.

He is a big enough man to point out that things are changing. That he sees less prejudice, more open mindedness, in the minds and in the actions of his daughters' generation and in youth in general. That that generation is better than we are, better than we were. He introduced hope into a dark and honest commentary on America.

That reflects the intelligence and the integrity of this man.

He also made the point that we have a long way to go. A long way to go.

He had to do that, had to make that point, because the way things are "progressing" in this country, the day we get to a post racial America will be the day after The Apocalypse.

President Obama's presidency will go down in history as the biggest squandered opportunity for the betterment of America ever experienced.

Congressman who fought him at every turn for immoral reasons, regardless of the dire consequences to the voters they supposedly represent. Congressman who were willing to jeopardize the survival of this country for political and racially prejudiced reasons.

A man of principle, a genius, who is resented for his intelligence and thwarted because of the color of his skin.

That may be what is most powerful about his statement on the Trayvon Martin case. Not even the President of The United States can escape the backlash, the viciousness, the small minded and destructive result of racial prejudice in America.