Originally Posted by BigBrodieFan
You seem like a very smart person, and you are probably have the ability to interpret comments made by POTUS rationally. I am too, and I know what you are trying to say- you believe I am misinterpreting Obama's comments to be racist comments against white people, and that I perceive that he is stating that our justice system wasn't effective.
Just FYI, I have read Obama's comments several times. Whatever his final comments are, he starts out with talking about how people get nervous around black men/lock doors/hold purses tighter/this situation may not have happened to a white kid. Then he goes on to say that law enforcement has to work to end this racial profiling, etc, but things are 'getting better.'
Let me tell you what Americans heard. And hey, I am just being honest, and I am judging this by the people I associate and work with every day. I can give you countless examples.
They heard this: 'President Obama thinks Zimmerman should have been guilty and therefore he loves black people and hates white people.'
You and I might be able to rationally conclude that Obama didn't mean to express this opinion, but in fact- that's what the PERCEPTION was. And, quite frankly, I've lived here for over 15 years and when I was here for the first 3, 4 years I probably would have been making your same arguments. However, I KNOW that it's not WHAT political figures say, it's how what they say is perceived. It's my opinion, that Obama has directly stirred the pot- and that opinion is based on exactly what I hear from the people I associate with daily. He knows what he's doing, and he counts on people like you, (rational people), to defend his statements and interpret them literally. However, politicians rely on the fact that they are more articulate and much more intelligent than the 'general public.' He knew damn well how his comments would be perceived. I mean, Jesus Christ, he knew about the violent riots in LA and other protests and incidents all across the States. His comments added fuel to the fire, regardless how they were 'meant.'
I don't have any suggestions on how to solve the racial tensions in the US, but I do know that they aren't going to get better by the President of the United States talking about Trayvon Martin being a victim- when the person who was found innocent of all charges against him was deemed not guilty by a jury.
Sad but true. I am not trying to be at all disrespectful nor sarcastic, I am simply telling it like it is here in the US.
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