Mr. Cohen makes an important comparison when he references Deborah Tannen's work(s). Just as men and women understand the same words and concepts differently, the same is also true, in even greater measure, between blacks and whites. Perhaps, if nothing else, Sen. Obama, whether or not he is elected, his campaign has openned a way for some long-needed dialogue between whites and blacks where each listens, really listens (active listening, as counselors call it) to the other, without defensiveness and with the intent to understand and be understood, to ask the difficult questions and take responsibility for the difficult answers. Black America is all too aware that their perception of reality is not the only one. It is time for White America to recognize this too.

aren't we all supposed to be equal? Obama should'nt be judged on color and Hillary should'nt be judged on gender. yet I hear them making fun of Hillary and saying stuff if she shows any emotion, then bashing her for no emotion. she can't please anyone it seems. no matter what she does or says they bash her for it. Obama gets free advertisments on shows such as Hardball and Countdown but Hillary gets negative commentary on her activitys. now women can't even get justice for unequal pay!!

I was once talking to a [negro/colored] friend and he said not to ever call him colored as he wasn't several different colors, nor was he to be called a negro. He told me he was a 'black' man and wanted to be called just That!. But his skin was as brown as the boots I was wearing, but I said nothing. Are we all really different from the eyes that look upon us and see ourselves in a different light. What switch do we flip to change what is thought to be seen? I only speak of race but so many more aspects of humanity are encompassed about us that books could be written to cover them all. Truth and morals speak out as conscience allows revealing whats inside these flesh and bones. We become what we feed upon--be it filth, corruption and lies or honesty and goodness and it shows up sooner or later in words and actions--usually Sooner. This is how we pick candidates and leaders, not age, association, sex or nationality, or have times changed?

It seems that some quite readily put a spin on comments made, and eagerly play the maligned martyr and whipping boy. This is unhealthy, and I think whites are flabbergasted when they see their benign comments twisted out of context. Can we stop trying to play the race card here? This gets to be so old and so prosaic.

I don't understand why they call themselves African Americans. The name itself is separatist. Whitw Americans are just Americans. Why isn't everybody else? Is we start with the continent or country of origin, Can you even imagine the name calling? And for the color of the skin we are all somo different shade of tan. Remember that we are allHUMANS.

PLEASE CAN YOY TELL US MORE,IN RELIGIONS BEALIVES IS IT NOT A POINT TO BE CONSIDERED IN AMERICAN CAMPAIGNS

"Speech is the gift of all but the thought of few."