As I watch President Obama walk down the airstairs from AF1 in Alabama...

[Cooley Hurd]

...the history is not lost on me. 50 years ago, they would've beaten him for merely crossing a public bridge.

THIS is historic!

[BlueCaliDem]

1. First Black president of the United States fifty years after Selma and "Bloody Sunday"

to speak from the bridge as the first black president - incredible and yes, absolutely historic.

And curiously, no posts and only eleven rec's? On a Democratic Party supporting site? Hm.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. The thread's fairly new...

I posted it as a response to another thread, but the profound nature of it inspired me to OP it.

[sheshe2]

38. I just got home from work and am KNR!

Last edited Sat Mar 7, 2015, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)

Historic indeed.

Thanks for your thread, Cooley. Now I have to play catch up and listen to his speech.

[Cooley Hurd]

39. It is TOTALLY worth it, my friend!!!

[sheshe2]

42. I just read the transcript, oh my.

A tear or two, but I am so proud of his words. Thank you Cooley.

Friends~

[Paka]

64. I so agree with you!

I just now listened to the speech and it was truly moving. I wasn't in Selma fifty years ago, but I was involved actively protesting in San Francisco and other locales on the West Coast. Like John Lewis, I would not have believed I would live to see an African-American President.

[freshwest]

16. I'm Rec # 56. May it get many more.

[BlueCaliDem]

45. As I type up this post, it stands at 133!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. 50 years ago it would be like Sheriff Bart arriving in Rock Ridge.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Excellent analogy!

Any Mel Brooks ref works for me!!!

[HappyMe]

5. I should say so.

[freshwest]

14. That's been the theme since 2008...

[calimary]

47. No kidding.

[ReRe]

6. K&R

It truly is a historic day. I watched too, as they descended the steps of AF1. Can't wait to hear his speech. So much going on today for me, but I will NOT miss the speech, plus going to DVD it for family's archives.

[livetohike]

7. To quote Senator Ted Kennedy, because I can't think of a more eloquent, applicable statement of my

own. "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die. "

[ashling]

8. Funny you should mention Teddy

Last edited Sat Mar 7, 2015, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Because when I read (above) about rhw president walking down the airstairs I got chills

my mind went to another president walking down the stairs from AF1 ... in Dallas.

I don't believe in the power of prayer - in the religion sense, but I fervently pray for Obama's safety.

[Logical]

9. Great comment! nt

[Cooley Hurd]

10. The Presidential Motorcade just crossed the EP Bridge!!!!!!!!!

Fuck yeah!!!!!!

[azmom]

11. Wow! Awesome

I wish I was there.

[Skidmore]

12. And I thought of what a short space of time that is...

not so awfully long ago. I was a child and about the same age as the girls killed in the church bombing. Old enough to understand the seriousness of what was happening and young enough to not understand the issues having grown up north of the Mason-Dixon line.

Not so awfully long ago and today's issues reflect how close in time it is.

[freshwest]

15. I was old enough to see it all on B&W television, plus a lot more that is etched in my memory.

[olegramps]

67. My future wife and I watched it on TV and we were horrified by police action.

I had just gotten out of the service after being drafted when I finished college. I was really disgusted that so many of the guys from the South were so damn prejudiced. I was in a small detachment and three of the nine other guys were Blacks. I was raised in Colorado and didn't have a lot of contact with Blacks. I am thankful that I was able to associate with them and we grew to be such good friends and we continued to communicate over the years. Sadly, they have all passed away.

[midnight]

68. An excellent example about how all our citizens can work together to help

each other out.

[brer cat]

13. Great day

for all Americans. Very historic and ripe with symbolism. K&R

[mountain grammy]

17. Great day..

[malaise]

18. It is unbelievable

Yes it is

[Cooley Hurd]

19. That's the thing...

... that it's STILL unbelievable, as opposed to the norm. Rep Lewis is speaking now, FIFTY FRIGGIN YEARS to the DAY after being beaten on the SAME bridge. Damn...

[awoke_in_2003]

31. and, unfortunately...

still having to fight the same fight thanks to asshole republicans. K&R, BTW.

[mountain grammy]

20. Congressman Lewis just introduced the President.

Obama is speaking now.

[George II]

53. That was a great introduction....I was hoping he wouldn't break down in tears (I think he did)

[mountain grammy]

54. I know I did.

[WestSeattle2]

21. Yep - goose bump moments. Good stuff. We are evolving. Painfully slowly, but it's progress.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

22. History will mark this day.

The GOP's ignorance of this day will bite them hard. And no group deserves their demise more.

[bigtree]

23. k&r

[MBS]

24. wonderful, wonderful speech

"we can afford neither complacency nor despair". .oh, yes.
linking Selma to all people and all social change, across the world, and to patriotism.
This speech is one for the ages, and for all of us.
Bravo.
Feeling proud of my country right now.

After first taking on voter suppression, now taking on the @#$% who can't be botheedr to vote, "We give away our power". . YES.
Bravo.
Taking on the hyper-patriots now (oh YES)


I will need to download the transcript, and keep it safe to re-read, often.
One of the best speeches I've ever heard.

Thank you, President Obama.

[Cooley Hurd]

25. I've had my gripes with President Obama, but THIS speech will go down in History

...and I'm PROFOUNDLY happy to say I voted for him twice.

[MBS]

26. YES! n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

32. I can't wait until it pops up online...

did not have the opportunity to see it in real time.

[calimary]

48. Me too, Cooley Hurd. And I'd do it again.

[freshwest]

46. And the GOP claim he doesn't love America? The very best of us went through the gauntlet...

Not just on that bridge, but for five days as they walked to Montgomery.

Obama gave voice to what we should and can be if we don't give our power away.

[MBS]

49. Yes, I loved that part, too, about giving our power away.

and his related, more specific point about wasting our power when we don't vote.

[freshwest]

56. FDR said similar things:

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

A Democratic majority would not have gone the route that the GOP has. The smears against the Democrats for wanting voting to be easier and more inclusive shows the GOP despises our people and democracy. It's their philosophy.

For them, government should be the agent of the few, and most of all, they resist government that will rule them. They feel they are entitled to make all the rules.

Anything else is tyranny!

Let us not be afraid to help each other - let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and
Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country.

~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

This is the reason there is so much disinformation and outrage peddled to get people to quit voting. But the same voices still encourage rightwingers to vote, why is that?

Because they get what they want from both kinds of voters, using different methods. For Democrats only, they employ what has been called Dirty Tricks.

A form of that has been used since the start of the USA when it was called slander, but not with the money and methodical nature it has been since Tricky Dick. Plus they have the media to drive in their deceptions, and create an echo people often repeat with no clue of the purpose behind the words.

I've been asked to make an OP about the method, which if one knows the authors of it, can easily be found out.

It has been used to drive Democratic voters from the polls for 40 years.

[MBS]

59. thank you for this

and please do make an OP on the method--
we will need this as 2016 approaches.

[asiliveandbreathe]

27. What a remarkable speech today

In Selma Alabama by our President Barack H Obama - I am so proud//

Thank you Mr. President for all you do against all odds...god speed....

[DocMac]

28. K & R

[kelliekat44]

29. That was the best speech by the President ever!! nt

[Cooley Hurd]

30. I was standing during it, and pumping my fist in the air...

...haven't done that in years. Yes, an historic speech. And, WE WERE THERE (in my case, via TV).

[mfcorey1]

35. Jessie Jackson had the nerve to criticize it and said it lacked the kind of

passion that was needed for the occasion. Jackson said the President did not talk enough about the voting rights challenge that we are facing with congress. Shut up Jessie!

[hifiguy]

33. Is there a link on which the speech can be seen?

[Cooley Hurd]

34. Looking for links...

Still nothing up on YT.

[Cha]

36. Not lost on me either, Cooley..

The First Family arriving at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/07/the-president-speaks-at-selma-part-2/

[Cooley Hurd]

37. Excellent pic, My Friend!!!

[Cha]

40. I knew you'd like the visual of your excellent OP, CH!

[BumRushDaShow]

41. Here is a video of the speech from CSPAN

I was at the Philly Flower Show this afternoon so missed this live. The President is introduced at about the 9 minute mark.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?324607-3/president-obama-representative-john-lewis-selma-50th-anniversary

[tclambert]

43. Edmund Pettus, for whom the bridge was named, was a Confederate general

who fought to preserve the institution of slavery.

(Just thought that historical factoid ought to be out there.)

[Cooley Hurd]

44. ...an important factoid!

There has been resistance to changing the name, but I feel it should remain the same for the sole purpose of reminding everyone was was fought for.

[George II]

55. I posted a thread in General Discussion on that very subject - I do NOT want the name....

...of the bridge changed. It is too ingrained in history, and it smacks at the KKK and Pettus every time the name of the bridge is invoked.

Don't rewrite history, those beatings took place on the EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE, nowhere else.

[lastlib]

69. I think it should be renamed the Edmund Pettus-John Lewis Freedom Bridge.

Keep the Pettus for the reminder of what happened there, but add John Lewis' as a tribute to what was achieved.

Just an idea, FWIW..........

[Cooley Hurd]

70. John Lewis Bridge...

I LOVE it!!! Hopefully, that will come to pass.

[northoftheborder]

50. Absolutely Pres. Obama's best speech of all. A rhetorical masterpiece for the ages.

[love_katz]

51. I can't kick and rec. this thread often enough.

Powerful, powerful speech. Gave me chills and tears. I don't have words powerful enough to describe my feelings.

Earlier today, I saw old black and white newspaper pics of the marchers on the bridge being beaten by the helmeted police. They tore at my heart in ways that I can't describe. I remember the horridness of those who hated social change and violently opposed the efforts of those who had the incredible courage to move forward anyway.

We just CAN'T let those who would drag us all back into evil by destroying our rights to vote, we can't let them win.

May his speech today, and the reminder of the examples of those who fought against unbelievable odds be an unending source of fuel to keep us moving forward with fairness and justice for ALL!

[George II]

52. What I thought was the best sight of the day was Obama's PRESIDENTIAL limousine....

....with Presidential banners waving in the wind, racing across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Knowing that he was inside that limousine, figuratively giving the finger to all those racists from the sixties, gave me chills and made me cry.

[Cha]

57. Today our African American First Family drove over KKK's Edmund Pettus bridge

TheObamaDiary.com @TheObamaDiary
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Life can sometimes be sweet: Today our African American First Family drove over KKK's Edmund Pettus bridge

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2:35 PM - 7 Mar 2015
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http://theobamadiary.com/2015/03/07/the-presidents-selma-speech/

[George II]

60. That picture is exactly why I don't want to see the name of that bridge changed....

....Sure, he was a racist SOB, but those people were beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, history books detail what happened on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and changing its name will not change what happened on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

That picture is probably my favorite off all from yesterday. It was even more dramatic in the video, when the cars came up from nowhere over the crest of the bridge, flags flapping in the wind!

[Cooley Hurd]

66. Yep... that got to me.

[marym625]

58. It is a changed world

And I hope that the setback we are seeing is just an anomaly. I hope that the best speech President Obama ever gave is not lost 9th those that are trying to push us backward.

[sheshe2]

61. Kick~

[Cooley Hurd]

62. Thank you sheshe2!

[sheshe2]

63. Good Morning CH!

You are welcome~

[Duval]

65. A hearty K&R nt