The feminist community is understandably divided in their support for Democratic presidential candidates Obama and Clinton. I respect the many perspectives and passionate reasons behind support for each candidate.
Myself, I’m an Obama fan. This was confirmed for me again listening to his speech about race in America yesterday in Philadelphia. As Nation writer John Nichols notes, Obama took the more difficult and ultimately high road of using controversy over Obama’s pastor’s inflammatory remarks as a “teachable moment.”
Because Obama challenges us to come together – men and women of all races and ages – to discuss who we are as Americans and how we are knit together, because of this he is my feminist candidate. Because ultimately, feminism shares the same mission, holds high the same goals: to bring about justice and peace in our country and in the world.
Barack Obama recognizes that true justice, true peace, will come ONLY if we engage in dialogue, a dialogue that requires us to listen deeply to one another and not get caught up in reactionary bias. What I hear consistently in Obama’s speeches is the message that ending injustice is a journey. Similarly feminism is a journey, not a static doctrine nor a fixed identity. Unlearning racism is also a journey, and that is where hope lies. Because we can learn from speeches like Obama’s Philadelphia, because, as he says, “we have seen that America can change,” we too can join the journey of becoming better, more just, more fully realized human beings.
If that’s not a feminist goal, I don’t know what is.
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