Quick Post Today
Sorry, no rants or political whining…just this.
I wasn’t a big fan of Obama’s Philadelphia speech on race. He certainly could have been much more succinct…but that’s never been my forte either. More than that, I think he just acknowledged what most of us know is already true. There are a lot of assholes among us and a lot of very good people. Sometimes his pastor is one, sometimes he’s the other…and so is his white grandmother.
In my mind, he spent a lot of time saying a lot of nothing.
I think that man could do amazing things to forward race relations in this country, but I still don’t think he’d make a better president than Hillary Clinton.
I was quite impressed by his ability to garner all the press for the day…or perhaps significantly unimpressed by the press’ inability to ferret out true news.
Current Knitting
I finished up through round 78 of the Promenade dans le Foret lace by Ichida.
It’s getting quite complex, and each new round requires an enormous amount of my attention.
Current Spinning
With the recent dispatch of my secret spinning project, I’ve been able to start with my first installment of Black Bunny Fibers monthly fiber club roving.
This is a 90% merino/10% kid mohair blend in a lot of different hues of blue. I’m spinning it as finely as I can, hoping to get a boatload of two-ply laceweight out of it.
It will take me forever.
Readers’ Comments/Questions
Cara asks, “Are those felted hats and bowls done in the Patons Merino? Did you ever try it, and how did you like it?”
The hats are and the multi-color bowls are as well. I like the Patons Merino. It’s enjoyable enough to knit, and it felts quite nicely. The red bucket hat is also the Patons.
I love the idea of spinning my own lace weight. How long do you think it will take you to spin it up (just the spinning part)? I mean, other than forever.
I agree with you on the politics. Racism is indeed bad. Obama sat in that pew for twenty years while the most vile racism was spewed and continued to call the man a father figure. I am appalled. That the man has great virtues I assume, and Obama could have told us so and said he valued that. Instead he told us everyone is racist and equated totally different levels of it. The betrayal of his grandmother’s privacy and trust does not make me respect him more. My opinion of Obama has gone down considerably. He’s still a far better choice than McCain in my view, and if he’s the candidate I’ll vote for him. I may have to hold my nose while doing so. I really would rather vote for Clinton (and yes, I know she has faults too).
I don’t know. I liked his speech. He was being candid and honest.
I think Obama said what we may all know but don’t ever want to talk about, which takes a lot of courage. I also think he has indirectly addressed the Clintons’ continued use of racism as a political tool by speaking of it as a force that we all need to reckon with in ourselves and our communities, not for personal gain, but for the general good. And, kitmf, the pastor may be prejudiced, but as a member of the most oppressed minority, he, by definition, can’t be racist.
For what it’s worth, I was raised Catholic, and all my family is Catholic. I disavow practically all of the teachings of the Catholic church but still will sometimes go to mass and be uplifted spiritually. How can this be? I like to think that I can accept and work through that quite large part of my life, without denouncing myself, my family or a huge part of the world population, finding what good is to be offered. I don’t see Obama doing anything different.
These are hard issues and for them to be addressed honestly *is* true news, Joe.
I heard the speech and was impressed too. Prejudice is everywhere and it covers all religions, all colors, all lifestyle choices. If he were more blunt, he would have come off as strident. I think we have enough of that in the WH now.
Odd, when a black man is running for prez. and his black preacher says harsh things, there is a stink. Yet, there are many, many churches that spew hate and violence against a minority, but nothing is said.
His choice of church is his personal decision. To stick with or to leave. Same with a spouse staying and toughing it out with an unfaithful partner.
I am sick of the media dogs howling and demanding that he remove himself from the church. Faith and loyalty is a very personal matter and is very deeply felt. Why weren’t the families hounded to leave their churches when their children were/are molested by the preachers/priests?
Your spinning is stunning! I am a bit envious…sigh… How much predrafting do you do? Worsted? From the fold?
It is real news. It may not be the only story of the day, but the coverage was not out of line.
I liked the speech. Yes, he said things we already know, but few people speak publicly of these things.
As for listening to a person make racist comments–I suspect every person in America has had to endure that. I know I do–my brother is racist. I can not stand that, but I also can not turn my back on a man who is also so much more, especially to his ‘little’ sister. It is easy to say he should have left the church, but it is not easy to do.
I was raised a Catholic, and like rosesmama it is not easy to walk away despite all the big issues I have with the church. Religion and race are far to complex for simple answers such as walk away.
I have heard several different Catholic priests (always old white men) say things during the homily that made me cringe with embarrassment. It would sound even worse if you took all those soundbites and played them on national news.
I thought Obama’s speech could have been better, but it was a point that needed to be made.I will support Obama if he gets the nomination, but I prefer Clinton.
I disagree with Mamatulip, just because someone is black is not an automatic “he can’t be a racist” call. If not a racist, what do you call someone who hates white people because they are white? I have known racists on both sides of the color line, have examined those feelings in myself (I have more prejudice based on class than race, not that that’s any better).
My husband and I were both raised Catholic, and leaving was easier than I thought. I’m raising my children as Unitarian Universalists, in a church with black and white and asian, gay straight and transgendered, young and old, wealthy and poor. No church is perfect, but you can choose to make the world you want.
The lace is gorgeous, Joe.
sorry, I said mamatulip when I meant rosemama.
Hi Joe,
I just wanted to tell you that this piece you are working is absolutely beautiful! I think I’d like to test it out, so I’ve been searching on google for the book you mentioned, but with no luck so far.
You and I are in complete agreement on Obama’s speech. I’m also a Hillary supporter. I find think he has had few opportunities to demonstrate where his politics actually lie, and has dodged votes when possible. While it may be nice to present himself as a candidate without any controversial stances in his record, it doesn’t give me much to work with as I try to evaluate his judgment. Just my opinion.