Holder: U.S. ‘nation of cowards’ on racial issues

The blogosphere is buzzing about comments made today by Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking to the Justice Department in commemoration of Black History Month. Here’s the address, with excerpts of the parts that are especially drawing attention and discussion:

“Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. Though race related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race. It is an issue we have never been at ease with and given our nation