Need Help Replying To A Facebook Comment

[jmfleetwood]

I know you all will help me with a well-reasoned reply I want to make to a comment someone left on my wife's Facebook status. The commenter is a fundie lawyer "friend" of my wife's who went to University of Michigan Law School and thinks she's the cat's ass. In fact, she represents a lot of right to life and creationism as science groups here in Michigan. I have quoted my wife's status statement is first. The comment I want to answer is next. Thanks in advance.

Wife's status:

"Beth feels sorry for those who refuse to acknowledge today. So when your grandchildren ask, "where were you when history was made?" you'll tell them you ignored it?"

Comment for reply:

"Our family didn't ignore it, but I did explain to my children, especially my nine year old whose class watched it together -- because I was concerned about what I feel is the overemphasis on Obama's skin color. Because whether its the media or his teacher, everyone's been talking about it being a historical moment - way over and above other ... Read Moreinaugurations (sic). It was MLK who said that he wanted his children and grandchildren to live in world where people were not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. And so many people are saying stuff like "isn't it great, the first black president?" I want my children to judge the man by his character."

[babylonsister]

1. "I want my children to judge the man by his character."

That's very reasonable, and I think that's why Obama is so beloved, because of his character, which includes his calm demeanor and intelligence. I don't think race was emphasized, at least not by Obama, because it wasn't necessary. Pretty obvious, in fact.

I don't see anything wrong with the lawyer's statement. :shrug:

[jmfleetwood]

9. I guess you have to know her

Thank you for helping me clarify. On its face, I agree, she makes a reasonable statement. That's why I'm finding a response so difficult to word. But knowing her as I do, it's just the same code for what the fringe right is saying in general about this moment in history. She was also heavily involved in the affirmative action fight that was waged at U of M. a few years ago. She diminishes through minimization. I wish her Facebook page was public so you could get the full measure of her soft (and sometimes hard) bigotry. Thanks again.

[DrDan]

2. I see nothing wrong with the comment

What do you object to?

[shireen]

8. because the last 2 sentences have no relevant connections

And so many people are saying stuff like "isn't it great, the first black president?" I want my children to judge the man by his character."

It IS a great thing to have a black president, in a country with such a dark history of slavery and discrimination.

But the writer, in saying that last sentence, is implying that Obama was elected because he is black, just because some people said "isn't it great, the first black president?"

[jmfleetwood]

10. Exactly!

She has written before about Obama's "lack of character" because of that partial birth BS in Illinois. Everything she writes has that gloss of reasonableness the more educated right uses to conceal bigotry or, for example, make Intelligent Design a more innocuous idea. Read her comment in that context.

[DrDan]

12. I think you are trying to find fault with the comment because of

your bias toward the commenter.

Sorry - I see nothing wrong with it. A minor difference of opinion.

Much bigger things to get emotional about.

[shireen]

3. ok, judge him by his character ...

look at how much character it took for a black man, living in a country where whites hold most of the wealth and power, to become successful and reach the highest office in the land.

[Triana]

4. If Barack Obama was being judged by his skin color instead of his character..

...he'd have never have been elected.

While her fears are understandable, they are unfounded and based on her OWN reluctance to give credit where it is due, ostensibly because Obama is black.

In other words, it is she HERSELF who is judging the man by his skin color by not giving him his due credit for having been elected PRECISELY because of his character and not his skin color, and she is projecting that prejudice onto her children in reverse form.

The human mind is a tricky thing. Maybe she needs to look a bit closer at her own heart and mind instead of worrying about those of the children.

[treestar]

5. They aren't judging him by his skin color

They are emphasizing it because people with that skin color used to be judged negatively by it alone, and that has obviously gotten risen above in his case. And that's historic for this country.

[Donnachaidh]

6. So let her judge the man by his character.

Exactly what in that posting do you take as *wrong*?

[RTFirefly]

7. He was judged by his character...

... that's what happened November 4th. Today was about showing that a nation can change. At its founding, Barack Obama would have counted as 3/5ths of a person in this country. Up until 1865, he might have been a slave. Up until 1965, white people might have kept him from voting. But in 2009, he can be sworn in as the most powerful man in the country. That's progress, and it's noteworthy, despite how your your fundie friends may want to spin it.

[jmfleetwood]

11. By Jove, I think you got it, thanks!

[zipplewrath]

13. It's a nonsequitur

The statement is basically a nonsequitur. The historic nature of the day wasn't about Obama's character. It was about our nation's character. We could all stand proud, once again, of our nation. These steps we take are about our continuous process of becoming a "more perfect nation". Some thought they'd never see the day, some always thought the day would come, but much like any endeavor, there is the celebration when the accomplishment is realized. Athletes "know" they can win, or "believe" in themselves, but they rejoice when they actually accomplish their goals. We rejoice when we graduate school and get our degrees. There was little doubt we would, and much like anything else, it is a beginning as much as an end, but we rejoice none the less. Our nation took another large step forward. It was historic, and in an international sense, for not many other nations of the world can claim to be willing to elect leaders that "don't look like themselves". How long before one expects a black prime minister of France, or England, or Japan, or a host of other countries? We show our children our accomplishments, and those of our generation. We teach them of our ancestors accomplishments (and weaknesses). We do these things so that they may consider and anticipate what they will accomplish. We do this to "set the bar", knowing full well that as we do, they will raise it again, and celebrate again, and reset the bar, and do their part to make us a more perfect union.