Who's spinning? People are quoting him and asking for clarification for some pretty off the wall statements. If he had worded it like you do and left out all the other garbage, I for one would have agreed with him because that is absolutely a good thing.

 

:thumb:

Scoutschoice, I see what your intent is and where your heart is at. I think that today, when the president talked to the kids (those that actually got to see it) that his selection as president became more relevant for many of them today. I am glad that your children can look at achieving the highest office in the land as a possibility now...as well as any other profession that they may choose. :thumb:

I plan on being the first Jewish President. . Not really. . But just because its never happened doesn't mean I don't think it can or will.

Blacks shouldn't have felt any different.

I plan on being the first Jewish President. . Not really. . But just because its never happened doesn't mean I don't think it can or will.

 

If you do become the first Jewish president, won't that office seem a little more attainable for young Jews throughout the country in the future?

I can't even begin to understand what it was/is like to be a black person in the US, or of any other ethnicity. I absolutely can see where you're coming from, though, scoutschoice. I feel the same way about Hillary being considered for President. Or when a woman achieves great things. But POTUS is probably the absolute hardest job to attain in the US, and it may be the job that is the absolute hardest. I think that considering the statistics, young black people especially should be inspired by Obama. But even bigger than that, people who aren't born of wealth, no matter their color, can find his story inspiring as well. As adults, we fight and argue and get ugly about the politics. But in the end, what he's accomplished is definitely something that should inspire many in this country who feel that the saying "You can be anything you want to be" doesn't apply to them.

Please tell me that is not what you really thought! That those were the only ways to attain status? If so, that is a bigger problem than previously not having a black person as president.

 

This is what I am telling you 75. You tell me some successful black men outside the world of sports and entertainment??? You will have to dig deep to find out because it will be hard for you or others to do so. The household names in this manner just don't stick out like a Jordan, Magic, or Lebron. These are the only figures young black kids see on the television. They don't show the African American man who just designed the new taurus. Heck it wasn't until I was in collge that I learned a lot about African Americans, outside of only being slaves.

 

You can state what you feel and I'm going to do the same because I'm speaking of the kids in the black neighborhoods, where on tv, they have to sell drugs or they have to play ball to make it out. That has to stop and this is the right direction. I don't care about stirring up a hornets nest, I didn't start that fire, but I will add fuel to it.

 

Can you believe there were problems with the President talking to kids??? That is amazing when a parent complains about listening to the President speak and never monitors what their kid watches on the television or computer. When I was in school there was no question what you were going to watch if the President was going to speak. Now people are going apes over this. Where is the respect for our President, meaning you don't have to like him, but he is what he is.

This is what I am telling you 75. You tell me some successful black men outside the world of sports and entertainment??? You will have to dig deep to find out because it will be hard for you or others to do so. The household names in this manner just don't stick out like a Jordan, Magic, or Lebron. These are the only figures young black kids see on the television. They don't show the African American man who just designed the new taurus. Heck it wasn't until I was in collge that I learned a lot about African Americans, outside of only being slaves.

 

You can state what you feel and I'm going to do the same because I'm speaking of the kids in the black neighborhoods, where on tv, they have to sell drugs or they have to play ball to make it out. That has to stop and this is the right direction. I don't care about stirring up a hornets nest, I didn't start that fire, but I will add fuel to it.

 

Can you believe there were problems with the President talking to kids??? That is amazing when a parent complains about listening to the President speak and never monitors what their kid watches on the television or computer. When I was in school there was no question what you were going to watch if the President was going to speak. Now people are going apes over this. Where is the respect for our President, meaning you don't have to like him, but he is what he is.

 

I know hundreds of successful black men & women and white men & women who own their own businesses or have high positions in companies. An education is the best way to sucess. Does your definition of sucess mean you have to be a household name? Most sucessful people are not celebrated, they simply go through life taking care of their families and loving each other.

I know hundreds of successful black men & women and white men & women who own their own businesses or have high positions in companies. An education is the best way to sucess. Does your definition of sucess mean you have to be a household name? Most sucessful people are not celebrated, they simply go through life taking care of their families and loving each other.

 

Before you get going Cold, I'm talking in terms of black kids having role models. Yeah you may know but you aren't dropping out of school, you aren't dodging bullets to go to school. I want the young black kids, really all, but right now I'm talking in general about young black kids. All I'm saying they other opportunities now than ever and what better goal than becoming President??

 

You know not to get off the point here but I read a lot of posts from the mishap in the Oregon and Boise game. After what happened the people posting called him this and that but the main thing that bothered me was that one said he was just going to college to play football and then off to the NFL. He wasn't going to school for an education. That is what is upsetting me.

 

Success isn't determined by what you have and don't have. All I', saying is that young black Americans have to set greater goals now and obtain them. To be able to take care of their own.

scoutschoice,

 

In the African-American community, are black celebrities that much of an influence? I felt no influence from a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet growing up. Does it have more to do with being fatherless than black?

This is what I am telling you 75. You tell me some successful black men outside the world of sports and entertainment??? You will have to dig deep to find out because it will be hard for you or others to do so. The household names in this manner just don't stick out like a Jordan, Magic, or Lebron. These are the only figures young black kids see on the television. They don't show the African American man who just designed the new taurus. Heck it wasn't until I was in collge that I learned a lot about African Americans, outside of only being slaves.

 

Really, I listed multiple examples and it only took about 30 seconds to find their names. I would think that an educated man such as yourself, would be able to come up with these names and use them and the stories of their success to provide a positive black role models for your children to demonstrate that dreams can come true. This way you wouldn't have had to lie to them.

Really, I listed multiple examples and it only took about 30 seconds to find their names. I would think that an educated man such as yourself, would be able to come up with these names and use them and the stories of their success to provide a positive black role models for your children to demonstrate that dreams can come true. This way you wouldn't have had to lie to them.

 

Hey Irish, you had to look them up didn't you. That is exactly what I am talking about. You proved my point, how many young black kids know or better yet what if they don't have the means as you did to do it in thirty seconds. Tell you what though they would know who Lebron and Jordan are though and wouldn't need you or me to tell them. by the way I'm not saying what Lebron and Jordan did and are doing are wrong but not all can be them.

 

Well for a black man being in the most powerful position perhaps in the world and definitely in the U.S. speaks volumes doesn't it. I mean who better to have as a role model but he's being broken down like and old shotgun by some pathetic people. I'm glad he is holding his head up and taking on all and any. Yeah he's going to have his ups and downs but he will hang in there and be alright. By the way it won't take thirty seconds for black kids to know him???

 

Peer pressure is a beast. What I'm afraid of is that young blacks will say that Barack is the President of the U.S. and he is black but look at all the stuff he has to take from others. Why should I bother because I can get that without being in that position. I don't want them to give up because of all this craziness. Or is that a message behind the scenes???

scoutschoice,

 

In the African-American community, are black celebrities that much of an influence? I felt no influence from a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet growing up. Does it have more to do with being fatherless than black?

 

I'm not sure where you are going here cc. Being fatherless than black. I'm going to stab at it though.

 

Does not having a father in the house hurt black kids, you better believe it. There has to be major stepping up in that category and I will be the first to tell you that. But with all the sleeping around in Hollywood is there a difference. It is more acceptable these days than it was in the past. Black men were major forces in the family back in the days that is when they weren't being taken away from their families by their masters to be, as I will say, a stud on another farm.

 

Now when it comes to being black, well didn't Colin Powell say he was a victim of racism. I mean it doesn't matter what a black man knows or portrays himself he will always be seen as a black man until further notice.

Edited September 9, 200917 yr by bugatti
Rule 2

I'm not sure where you are going here cc. Being fatherless than black. I'm going to stab at it though.

 

Does not having a father in the house hurt black kids, you better believe it. There has to be major stepping up in that category and I will be the first to tell you that. But with all the sleeping around in Hollywood is there a difference. It is more acceptable these days than it was in the past. Black men were major forces in the family back in the days that is when they weren't being taken away from their families by their masters to be, as I will say, a stud on another farm.

 

Now when it comes to being black, well didn't Colin Powell say he was a victim of racism. I mean it doesn't matter what a black man knows or portrays himself he will always be seen as a black man until further notice.

 

Don't jump to attack here. Cch5432 is just asking to understand different perspectives.

Edited September 9, 200917 yr by bugatti

How many others ran for president? If the system would never allow it then how did Obama become president? Maybe a lot of those kids rather grow up and dream of signing 100 million dollar contracts instead of making 400k being under scrutiny 24/7. There no different from white kids, I never once thought of being the president.

I'm not sure where you are going here cc. Being fatherless than black. I'm going to stab at it though.

 

Does not having a father in the house hurt black kids, you better believe it. There has to be major stepping up in that category and I will be the first to tell you that. But with all the sleeping around in Hollywood is there a difference. It is more acceptable these days than it was in the past. Black men were major forces in the family back in the days that is when they weren't being taken away from their families by their masters to be, as I will say, a stud on another farm.

 

Now when it comes to being black, well didn't Colin Powell say he was a victim of racism. I mean it doesn't matter what a black man knows or portrays himself he will always be seen as a black man until further notice.

I'm not going anywhere with it, I'm just trying to understand.

 

Is there a reason that non-rapper, non-sports star, non-actor black celebrities serve as a role model more for African-American children than for Caucasian-Americans? I never looked up to or was influenced by a Bill Gates or Warren Buffet; rather, it was my father and other men in my life that really had any effect on me.

 

I'm not claiming anything about your message to your children, about racism, or about how outstanding of a feat our President has done; I'm just wondering why it is that African-American children look up to famous people more than anyone else.