The Old Wound

It's a problem as old as the Republic. We don't do a very good job of talking about it. And the issue that's been buzzing like cosmic background radiation finally came to the surface today. Barack Obama noted that America remains stuck in "a racial stalemate" and enumerated all the possible ways in which the current racial bean counting is currently being parsed. He doesn't disown the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., though he disagrees with his remarks.

But the important thing is the full and even-handed way in which his speech on Tuesday addressed the problem of race. This is a case in which relying on coverage of the speech will simply be inadequate. It's about more than "Criticizing Pastor" or " Obama urges Americans to help heal racial divide" and at least the Washington Post seems to have gotten that.

Wright engaged in fist-pounding and shouting. If we the people really aspire to a more perfect union, it's time that we moved beyond that. And Obama took the first step in healing the old wound by speaking authentically and comprehensively about race in modern America. Let's hope an honest dialogue can be sustained.