The discussion of Rev. Wright's sermon clips (not his sermons; just a few soundbites, remember) has highlighted for me how one-sided our so-called "discussions" of race often are.  We would be so much better off if we had more black representation in the media, in the commentariat, in the blogosphere (not to mention, in other positions of power).  The whole Rev. Wright issue is being presented from the perspective of isolated white folk -- shocked, shocked to find such anger in the black community! 

Rev. Wright's sermons play very differently in the black community.  Particularly for the older generation.  There is a lot to be angry about.  It's way better to express it than to bottle it up.  Then you can start to deal with it, to take constructive action.  Hell, if I was black, I think I'd be at least that angry.  Being white, I have the luxury of being philosophical and judgmental if I want to.

Meanwhile, as a Chicagoan, I know that Trinity UCC is a church with an excellent reputation for constructive work in its community -- the black south side of Chicago.  It is full of smart, constructive, social-justice minded folks, leaders in the black community in Chicago and beyond, leaders in business and politics and entertainment.  Trinity builds strong, community minded leaders.

Let's look at what Obama has become, after 20 years in that church: an amazingly unifying leader, bringing people together across racial, ethnic, age, and political divisions.  From his earliest public life, as an organizer, as a state senator, in the Democratic convention speech, in his first book, written before his political career, as well as in his second book, written as a part of his political career, Obama is clear about his approach:  he wants to unify us as Americans and help us live up to our highest ideals.

My favorite example of his unifying spirit at the moment is the old white working class, small town Wisconsin man who was asked by NPR who he was going to vote for in the primary.  He said, "I think I'm going to vote for that black boy.  He makes a lot of sense." (or words to that effect)

As a white woman who can recall being chewed out years ago as a camp counselor for referring to a ten year old black kid as a boy, I cringed when I heard that -- and then I smiled, because I suspect Barack smiled when he heard it too.  He is helping us transcend a whole era in race relations, move into a new period where we can have a new level of conversation about what we want our society to be.

Not an era that will be post-racial politics-- let's not kid ourselves.  But one in which the conversation will have progressed from the anger of Rev. Wright's generation.  Perhaps if we are lucky to a place where we can discuss substance rather than just react and react and react from places of mutual ignorance and pain.

I felt excruciating pain watching Barack denounce his pastor on CNN last night, and overwhelming admiration at his ability to remain calm and true to his high ideals, even when attacked in a very personal way.  When Anderson Cooper asked at the end whether Obama could sing God Bless America or not, I was so offended for Barack I would have happily throttled Cooper.  But Barack only smiled and said that he didn't think Anderson would want to hear him singing, defusing the tension with what looked like an easy smile (although it couldn't have been easy).

This is my defnition of a leader, guys.  He's taking us to a new place, a place we didn't even quite know was there before he pointed it out, a place some of us haven't quite been able to believe in yet.  He's calling forth the best in everyone-- including the black community.  I can't imagine watching Anderson Cooper's self-righteous arrogance last night if I was a young African-American and not wanting to smash the TV (I'm a middle-aged white woman, and I wanted to smash the TV)-- but Barack is showing us all a different path, leading us from the angry path (quite literally, in the case of Rev. Wright) to higher ground.

So, after much agony over this whole episode, here is what I think.  Anyone who thought we would get through this campaign without some excruciating discussion of race was naive.  And this is it.  The question is, how will Obama handle it, and how will we, his supporters and potential supporters, handle it.

Obama, I think, is coming through well in his response.  I do not think anyone can ask ever again if he is tough enough.  The question then is, are we tough enough?  Will we let the white media crucify him?  Will we run in fear to another candidate so that we never have to discuss race this frankly again?  Will we tsk, tsk, and watch silently to see what happens next? 

Or will we stand up for the man who has spent his whole public career defining a new approach the things that divide us, a new way to move us toward the vision of an America that tries to live up to its ideals, rather than make excuses for why it isn't possible.  Yes we can.