Hi. I’m Steve Booher, and I approved this column.

Like most Caucasians, I read with interest as the dust-up between Barack Obama and the Rev. Jesse Jackson unfolded recently. The episode began when the Rev. Jackson’s microphone was left on as he was taping a television interview.

Mr. Obama has angered some black people by calling on them to show greater responsibility for their lives. The Rev. Jackson said that Mr. Obama has “talked down” to black people and that he (the Rev. Jackson) would like to (and I’m paraphrasing here) surgically disconnect Obama’s testicles.

Well, OK.

The Rev. Jackson later apologized, but the remarks highlight some friction between Mr. Obama and some older black leaders.

I’m not taking sides here, but I do want to call your attention to a speech made by Mr. Obama a few days later to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. While the speech was presented before a black audience and likely aimed at black voters, Mr. Obama’s remarks are extremely applicable to audiences and voters of all races and nationalities.

Basically, Mr. Obama said it’s the job of government to provide opportunities, but it’s up to individuals to take advantage of them.

Here’s an excerpt from his speech:

“That’s why if we’re serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities. That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games, attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework and setting a good example. It starts with teaching our daughters to never allow images on television to tell them what they are worth, and teaching our sons to treat women with respect, and to realize that responsibility does not end at conception, that what makes them men is not the ability to have a child, but the courage to raise one.”

What a great message! It’s one that needs to be heard, and heeded, by everyone, regardless of ancestry or income. If you want to read the entire speech, here’s a link: blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/07/obamas_naacp_speech_cincinnati.html.

Now, I don’t know if Mr. Obama will be a good president — or if he’ll even get the chance. Recent polls have shown him leading Republican opponent John McCain by a few percentage points. I’m not even sure I’ll vote for Mr. Obama. Like many people, I’m undecided.

But I applaud his words and the sentiment he expressed. And it must have been exceedingly difficult to deliver that message to an NAACP audience. Imagine standing up in front of a crowd of people and telling them that their problems are their own fault and they need to start taking responsibility for their lives. That had to take some backbone.

In fact, the ironic thing here is that Mr. Obama showed he’s got what the Rev. Jackson said he wanted to cut off.

Le bomb dropped on Kansas City

As you probably read last week, Canadian aircraft builder Bombardier decided to build a new $375 million plant in a suburb of Montreal rather than a Kansas City suburb. Since French is the official language of Montreal (it’s in the city charter), I consider this a direct defeat at the hands of the French.

Cripes! Beaten by the French!

I toyed with writing a column expressing outrage against the Canadians in general and the French-speaking Montreal in particular. But the Canadians are such nice people. I just can’t bring myself to do that. So as a substitute, here’s a quick joke about the French:

Most people know of the French gifts to the world in fashion, the arts and cooking. Lesser known perhaps is a notable contribution made to the business community. The French actually invented those business meetings whereby company officials travel to a remote location, lock themselves in meeting rooms and formulate strategy.

After all, those sessions are called “retreats.”

Steve Booher’s column runs on Monday.