Obama's Statement at Cape Coast Castle
The president and his family toured Cape Coast Castle Saturday, an historic departure point in Ghana for untold numbers of slaves bound for America and the Caribbean. After, Barack Obama gave a statement. Here is an excerpt:
As Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there's a special sense that on the one hand this place was a place of profound sadness; on the other hand, it is here where the journey of much of the African American experience began. And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome.
Full statement after the jump.
Michelle, the children, as well as other members of my family, just got an extraordinary tour of this castle. It is reminiscent of the trip I took to Buchenwald because it reminds us of the capacity of human beings to commit great evil. One of the most striking things that I heard was that right above the dungeons in which male captives were kept was a church, and that reminds us that sometimes we can tolerate and stand by great evil even as we think that we're doing good.
You know, I think it was particularly important for Malia and Sasha, who are growing up in such a blessed way, to be reminded that history can take very cruel turns, and hopefully one of the things that was imparted to them during this trip is their sense of obligation to fight oppression and cruelty wherever it appears, and that any group of people who are degrading another group of people have to be fought against with whatever tools we have available to us.
So obviously it's a moving experience, a moving moment. We want to thank those who arranged for the tour and the people of Ghana for preserving this history. As painful as it is, I think that it helps to teach all of us that we have to do what we can to fight against the kinds of evils that, sadly, still exist in our world, not just on this continent but in every corner of the globe.
And I think, as Americans, and as African Americans, obviously there's a special sense that on the one hand this place was a place of profound sadness; on the other hand, it is here where the journey of much of the African American experience began. And symbolically, to be able to come back with my family, with Michelle and our children, and see the portal through which the diaspora began, but also to be able to come back here in celebration with the people of Ghana of the extraordinary progress that we've made because of the courage of so many, black and white, to abolish slavery and ultimately win civil rights for all people, I think is a source of hope. It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it's also possible to overcome.
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1
I think that this in particular needs to be said in order to grasp the context of Obama's statements:
Black Americans have suffered through trials in every respect, similar in size and scope as the Jewish Holocaust
The fact that it wasn't "assembly line killing" was made up for by it's duration
Most GOPers and "real" Americans refuse to grasp these facts...
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2
I've enjoyed your reporting on the presidential trip abroad, Michael. I know it must be grueling to follow the entourage and be made to sit and stand around for hours on end with nothing happening, but having no free time see anything for yourself. You wisely chose to play it straight without a lot of phony snark or ginning up of controversy or ridicule, and I appreciate that. I learned a few things, too. This was the end of the line?
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Also Michael, can you say hi to Suzanne Malveaux for me? Those eyes....whew.
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I'll second James. Good work, MS. More reality and less GOP spin is always a good thing!
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MS were you there at the castle? Somehow this post is missing the personal touch that has been defining your travel posting lately. Perhaps you've noticed that many of us have not been as critical of your writing lately and much of that from my perspective has to do with the personal behind the scenes perspective that you've allowed us to share, making me anyway feel that I have been part of the press corp trailing the President on his travels. Somehow, I haven't felt like I am witnessing history in Ghana, frankly, its felt more like you've just been phoning it in. Now, if for some reason you weren't there its okay but you should say so otherwise I'm left with the impression that you didn't see this trip as important enough to merit your personal attention. And frankly MS I don't really want to think that about you, I'd rather think you were in your hotel room still nursing a hangover from the european leg of the trip.
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Just to emphasize my point, this is Black America's Auschwitz...
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6.1
Clearly, I get it, which is why I'm surprised this aspect is not being explored more posters or commenters, 53 You are not alone.
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6.2
I know you do, Dee, and most of the other Swampcritters get it too, but obscurity of this fact is really a shame.
I think rightfully, though, the shame belongs to the GOP for the thirty plus years they've spent trying to either revise or stigmatize the recalling of Black American history.
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7
One of the things that i find interesting is that I get older, events in history seem closer. When I was in my teens and learning about history in school it all seemed abstract and distant but now that I've reached the half-century mark myself, it's easy for me to see how our current situation is the direct result of events which in the grand scheme of things occured an eyeblink ago.
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7.1
Paul, I've reflected on this for myself over the years, too. I was a child in the mid-fifties, and it's hard to imagine that the end of world war II was a mere 10 years before I beginning to be aware of it. It was a world apart and behind me.
On the other hand, it's hard to believe that the first gulf war was nearly 20 years ago. Occasionally someone in their twenties makes their age known here on the blog, and I'm surprised to realize how much history we don't have in common.
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7.2
I think about this frequently also. My stepson is in college now and during the last campaign he didn't think that it was a big deal that we had a woman and an African American running for President. He couldn't understand why I was so excited when Obama won.
I really thought I'd be worm food before that ever happened. The rioting in 68' with tanks in our streets and whole city blocks on fire are no more real to him than video games are to me.
The republican party meltdown and the takeover by the evangelicals mean nothing to him. He's coming of age during a truly historic period and is oblivious to it's importance. When I told him that when I was his age it was still illegal for blacks and whites to marry in some states he told me "That was back then. It doesn't matter now.".
I sometimes think we don't even share the same planet.
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8
Hmmm....
http://www.newsweek.com/id/206300-
8.1
Hmmm indeed – partially for the unique District geography lesson: " fireworks burst over the Mall, the monuments to Lincoln and Washington aglow at either end."
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Fascinating link Some. It should be rather interesting to see what happens now if Obama moves to stop Holder or if he lets things proceed.
And for those of you who pay attention to such things: yes I'm supposed to be lost in the wilds of Wyoming, but circumstances ate that idea up. Oh well, I have a $398 flight credit on Delta now I might end up using to go somewhere else exotic and interesting.
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I agree yutsano, this should be interesting indeed. I had always thought that Obama was leaving the door open for Holder.
.
From the piece:
There were startling indications that some interrogators had gone far beyond what had been authorized in the legal opinions issued by the Justice Department, which were themselves controversial. He told one intimate that what he saw "turned my stomach."
.
He was "shocked and saddened," he told a friend, by what government servants were alleged to have done in America's name.
.
Could this really go down?!! -
11
What a beautiful statement, especially the second last sentence. It seems like it was written by Obama himself.
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12
Andrew Sullivan on "David Brooks' Inner Thigh"
"Mercifully, I avoid dinners with Republican senators. It's usually far too gay a scene for me."
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12.1
It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't insist on serving sausage and meatballs all the time.
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13
Dee was not in the pool in Ghana. Only thing I saw first hand was the Obama speech.
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13.1
I think that your coverage of the events in Africa are very well done.
I wonder if you care to comment on my leading comment. I would like to see what your views on this issue. I would also like to see you stay away from GOP talking points in doing so because the events and issues attending are no more controversial (let alone political) than any other event in American history.
This issue relates strongly to Obama's conduct.
Again, as on your older post, this isn't "racial discourse", it's American history as it should be...
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13.2
Well done Michael. I gathered you were not in the pool this time, as I am sure you would do a wonderful job of actually describing the scene inside the 'castle'. I hope you take your first opportunity to revisit, and to write about what you learn. Thanks for the great reports from this road trip.
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Bleah. WordPress is not being my friend today.
Slightly OT, nice article on Obama's fo-po today Michael.
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Indeed a good article. Surprised it isn't linked as yet:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1910057,00.html
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[...] Obama’s Statement at Cape Coast Castle The president and his family toured Cape Coast Castle Saturday, an historic departure point in Ghana for untold numbers [...] [...]
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17
[...] Obama — a statesman in Africa. Conservative opponents, however, continue to use hateful racial stereotypes to paint [...]
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Yes, interesting. But the Newsweek article (somepeople @ 4:24) does not highlight the most interesting aspect of Holder's possible investigation. Per WAPO (link):
"Any criminal inquiry could face challenges, including potent legal defenses by CIA employees who could argue that attorneys in the Bush Justice Department authorized a wide range of harsh conduct. But the sources said an inquiry would apply only to activities by interrogators, working in bad faith, that fell outside the "four corners" of the legal memos…
Among the unauthorized techniques allegedly used, as described in the report and Red Cross accounts, were shackling, punching and beating of suspects, as well as the waterboarding of at least two detainees using more liquid and for longer periods than the Justice Department had approved."
(Not to derail MS's contribution, this topic deserves it's own post. Swamp-keepers?).
The crucial aspect is that Holder would investigate if CIA interrogators went beyond Bush administration guidelines, not the legality of the opinions on which those guidelines are based. IOW, this would lead to the possible indictment of lower-level CIA agents who are deemed to have exceeded the boundaries of “acceptable” interrogation techniques as defined by Bush's legal team, and NOT whether Administration officials approved the illegal torture of detainees.
In fact, if Holder's investigations proceed as described by WAPO, he will essentially validate the legal opinions offered by the Bush admin.
Please read Glenn Greenwald for more details:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/07/12/holder/index.html
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So you're saying that interrogators, having been given clear guidlines over precisely how thoroughly they were allowed to pummel prisoners actually crossed the line and engaged in unauthorized pummeling?
Imagine my surprise.
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20
Yes, PD. And Holder is considering actions that give the illusion of challenging the authorized pummeling- but actually punish the grunts and shield the elites. Only commoners break the law, right? Duplicity? Nahh (kind of like when other countries torture- gasp!, we must condemn; when the US tortures- acceptable, they're protecting the good guys). Surprise, surprise!
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20.1
PD, I think I may have accidentally glossed-over your point, which I believe to be: when the gov't authorizes questionable activities (detainee abuse, spying, “state-secrets”, rendition, preventive detention, executive privilege…) abuses are likely to follow.
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21
abuses are likely to follow
I'd modify that to read 'abuses are guaranteed to follow'
Not to put too fine a point on it but if you've got the right personality, abusing prisoners is fun. Without accountability, the worst is inevitable.
- michaelscherer A colleague points out: This may be the new Afghan strategy--the Kenny G strategy. Soothe them into submission. - 47 minutes ago
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