Reparations and "A More Perfect Union" - Pt. 2

Again, I want to take the opportunity to applaud Senator Barack Obama for the stance he took in his speech yesterday. As the coverage continues, the importance of this speech continues to grow. On C-Span radio this morning, a lady (against Obama's speech) - after stating that Blacks need to learn to mix with Whites - mentioned that we need to "get along." I say, there can be no "getting along" without this discussion.

Reparations means pushing for a more perfect union. Perfecting this Country is the duty of every patriotic American. That being said, Senator Barack Obama must be a patriotic American.

As a Black man, I recognize this to be a much needed discussion. It is one that should have been had decades ago. Yet, as they say: better late than never.

As a Republican, I am thrilled to hear this discussion. It is a discussion that should have been led by the Republicans - had we been true to our history. It was the Republican Party that was born as the anti-slavery party and pro-Civil Rights Party. It was the Radical Republicans who pushed Reconstruction, and pushed for passage of the 13th and 14th Amendments. I do not say that to tout the Party, but to call it to account - to remember its foundations. The Republican Party had started that national dialogue, but with Lincoln's assassination and society's fatigue in dealing with the tough issues of race the dialogue ended.

But, reparations mean pushing for a more perfect union. Herein lies an opportunity for the Republican Party to reclaim its legacy. For those of us, Black conservatives, it behooves us to follow the lead of Senator Obama and push the Party to reach for a more perfect union and engage in this dialogue. This is not a dialogue only for Democrats or Republicans; it's not only for Blacks or Whites. This is a discussion for America.

Come and Get Your Reparations!