At King’s Church, Obama Speaks of Unity

[babylonsister]

At King’s Church, Obama Speaks of Unity

By Jeff Zeleny


Senator Barack Obama, with Coretta Scott King, laid a wreath at the tomb of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.Senator Barack Obama, with Coretta Scott King, laid a wreath at the tomb of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after speaking at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. (Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times)


ATLANTA – Speaking from the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Senator Barack Obama paid tribute here today to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reprised his call from four decades ago, “Unity is the great need of the hour.”

“It’s the great need of this hour as well,” Mr. Obama said, addressing hundreds of worshipers during an overflowing service. “Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it’s the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.”

The deficit, he said, is one of morality and of empathy.

On the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Mr. Obama was on his way to South Carolina to spend a week campaigning for the state’s Democratic presidential primary on Saturday. He was invited to speak at Ebenezer, the historic church where Dr. King once preached before leading the civil rights movement across the South.

In his 30-minute address, which came near the end of a service that drew a capacity crowd with congregants spilling outside the church in unusually frigid weather here, Mr. Obama presented his candidacy as an opportunity to extend the racial unity Dr. King spoke about.

“None of our hands are clean,” Mr. Obama said. “Each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds.”

“The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame the plight of ourselves on others -– all of that distracts us from the common challenges we face, war and poverty; injustice and inequality,” he added, drawing applause from the crowd. “We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing each other down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.”

more...

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/at-kings-church-obama-speaks-of-unity/#more-3914

[K Gardner]

1. I'm watching it now. Yet another powerful and moving message for all of America, by Obama.

[trashcanistanista]

2. This is on CSPAN now (on west coast)

It is a very good speech. He's very moving. He seems to be getting a good reception.

Disclosure: Edwards supporter

[Maven]

3. Wait, Coretta Scott King?

Someone at the NYT is not paying attention.

[babylonsister]

4. I thought she looked remarkable!

I caught that, too. Am trying to find out who the lady is.

[boston bean]

5. Well John McCain came back from the Dead. nt

[babylonsister]

6. The woman with Obama who's laying the wreath is Christine King Farris, MLK's

sister.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/01/20/politics/fromtheroad/entry3732958.shtml

After the church service, Obama laid a wreath at the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. He was accompanied by King’s sister, Christine King Farris and her family.

[trashcanistanista]

7. Oh God, now they are singing We shall overcome!

I am crying. This is a DO NOT MISS people. ON CSPAN rotating throughout the day. Very powerful.

[MadBadger]

8. Im crying....but i think thats mostly my bad cold

One the most moving speeches I have ever witnessed.

[defendandprotect]

9. Good place for any candidate to be --- LOVE the non-violence stressed by King family ---

“None of our hands are clean,” Mr. Obama said. “Each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds.”
“The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame the plight of ourselves on others -– all of that distracts us from the common challenges we face, war and poverty; injustice and inequality,” he added, drawing applause from the crowd. “We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing each other down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.”

The common challenge is violence:war and how it impoverishes us financially and spiritually.
Injustice and inequality -- ever more so today.

Other than that, it seems another overly general comment by Obama ---
I need more specifics --

[TankLV]

10. Too bad he doesn't practice it...sounds just like bush*

he always speaks of "compromise" as long as everyone does EXACTLY as he wants while he never compromises ANYTHING...

Yeah - unity - behind "ME" and against "THEM" - is hardly "unity"...

[madrchsod]

11. "people get ready

there is a train a com`n
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels humming.....
...Faith is the key, open the doors and board all
There's hope for all among who love the most"



i have heard the voices of emptiness but they are afraid to reach out
i have heard voices wanting to change but only hear in their voices that they are afraid.
i have heard voices reject the messenger with out understanding the message


who will fulfill kings message? the answer lies within ourselves

[rox63]

12. Video of the speech here

I'm watching it right now - Beautiful speech! K&R!

http://www.cspan.org/VideoArchives.asp?z1=&PopupMenu_Name=Politics/Elections&CatCodePairs=Issue,PE;

[babylonsister]

14. Thank you! I haven't seen it yet. nt

[KennedyGuy]

13. the only thing worse than seeing that speech the first time

was seeing it the second...