in my country...

...these words ignite a firestorm of political controversy:

"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." - Barack Obama, on the campaign trail

Some context: This was spoken at a San Francisco fund-raiser, in an attempt to explain why people's economic frustrations have resulted in his difficulty getting the some of the working-class vote, especially in small town America.

Politicians and pundits Left and Right are roasting him for saying this. People are offended, upset, appalled, aghast.

Explain to me how a word he said is not true. An uncomfortable truth, but a poignant one. Explain to me how speaking a clear and present truth about a specific and highly relevant issue could cause all this trou...oh, wait, I forgot two things: the nature of this country, and the nature of its people (maybe all people, but my experience lies primarily within the continental US, so I'll stick with that). On both the larger societal scale, and on the scale of the individual, if the truth is not delivered in the most perfect, emotionally and intellectually non-offensive way, it is rejected outright, along with the messenger. And on both a societal and personal scale, I am sick and tired of this. Frustrated how people are more concerned with what the truth is dressed up as and not so much what's underneath. The well-dressed lie gets the glory, while the shabby simple truth begs for coins on the corner.

And you know what? Maybe his statement isn't the whole truth...actually, it most certainly is NOT the whole truth. There are more factors at play, I think. However, rather than attempt to see the point and begin to discern the truth, we either lash out or run away. I wonder how many swing voters Obama will lose because of this. If it's as many friends as I've lost under similar circumstances, I fear for his candidacy.

Now, here's a piece of his response:

"If I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that."

Couldn't have said it better myself. Note, he does not regret making the point, he regrets that his delivery offended. My respect for this man rose a full notch after I read that. We'll have to see if any back-pedaling occurs in the face of Party pressure. It may. He has a campaign to run. But for my part, I feel the same about this country. I feel the same about most people. The people who lead us must not be afraid to offend us. Same with the people who love us. More and more, I'm seeing the full truth of that.

Some parts of this country are worth fighting for, though, just like some people are worth fighting for. I'm learning more about picking the right battles and the right people to fight them with. I'll learn even more from this man and this experience of his.

This is still my country. These are still my people.

I'm not done.