Posted on 03/17/2008 11:41:36 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The eruption of outrage, shock and fear that is flowing over Barack Obama’s campaign like hot lava because his pastor has preached some strident sermons tells us one thing for certain: Many white people don’t know black people at all.
If they did, they would know that Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago is hardly the only black minister who uses the pulpit to rant against racial duplicity and injustice. The black church has always been the place for letting our hair down and speaking our peace -- a safe haven from the criminations outside. It’s how and why the black church became the nursery for the freedom and civil rights movements. Not every minister seasons his or her sermons with political commentary, and not every one who does is as fiercely spoken as Rev. Wright, but there is nothing unusual about the black clergy as social agitator. Guess the shockees didn’t know that.
It seems they were also clueless that, when race, racism and discrimination do invade the pulpit, it is not always in the context of forgiveness and humility. Much of black America is resentful, angry and distrustful -- rightly so, some of us would say. Did the uninitiated honestly believe that slavery, lynching, Jim Crow, white resistance and flight, economic and educational duality, hyper-incarceration and yawning disparities in wealth, health and longevity have had no lasting effects; that all of that is really no big deal -- something we can kick off as easily as our Sunday shoes?
Surprise.
This could be a teaching moment for the society at large, which would do well to pay closer attention to 35 million of its members and to give heed to their accounts of their own experiences. Unfortunately, and typically, the alarmists are threatening to make it a Waterloo for Obama.
The candidate has denounced Rev. Wright’s statements about America’s treachery, honest as they were.
Obama has even removed his Wright from his ministerial council. That had to be painful for Obama, who has otherwise spoken devotedly of the preacher who “brought me to Jesus,” performed his marriage ceremony and baptized his daughters.
Those pounds of flesh are not enough for the alarmists, however. They and frothing pundit after frothing pundit want the candidate to rebuke Wright categorically -- mind, body and soul.
Obama is in the unenviable position of having to court a large and diverse audience -- the American electorate generally and Democratic voters particularly -- that includes a good number of people who have no knowledge of, curiosity about, nor sympathy for the black experience, while, at the same time, remaining true to what he knows about Rev. Wright specifically and the black church generally.
It’s a delicate balance, and Obama has tried to strike it, explaining to journalists that the anger and disdain expressed by Rev. Wright reflect common themes in “the black memory,” albeit not sentiments he shares.
In a fair world, Obama would be able to elaborate about the black perspective and thereby give some context to Wright’s comments and the facts of black expression.
But, then, in a fair world, there would be no racial divide to bridge. Of course, Obama’s detractors would never consider that.
...” Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago is hardly the only black minister who uses the pulpit to rant against racial duplicity and injustice.”
Some would say, he is not the only black minister to spread hate and lies to a congregation with itching ears.
No facts to back up the assertion that many black preachers are bigoted as Mr. Wright.
No exculpation for Mr. Wright’s “God Damn America” statement nor the statement that we deserved the attack on 9/11.
Rather, she says he is attacking white bigotry.
It seems a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
I see people keep sayiing it, but I see that Obama himself very carefully does not. He describes what I would classify as an altar call—which is good enough for membership in some “born again” denominations, and good enough for the UCC—but would not classify him as a Christian in the eyes of more liturgically oriented churches.
I posit, in the absence of evidence, the strong likelihood that no baptism ever occurred.
From what I've read about Stanley Obama, nee Dunham, she'd love it.
Your rant is so typical of the left. Republican presidents and politicians are responsible for every word said by every right-wing minister, but Barack Husain Obama is not responsible for spending 20 years listening to and financially supporting a hate-monger. And it is a flat out lie that "Barack Hussein Obama’s pastor makes an ill-considered remark". He has preached hatred in sermon after sermon.
Well well, Debbie Matthis, you seem unaware that Obama has repudiated the racist ranting of his favorite preacher even though he claims never to have heard any of it.
You, Debbie, claim that this kind of rabid ranting is somehow typical of black ministry.
So, you are saying by implication that Obama is lying when he says he had no idea Jeremiah Wright harbored such ideas or uttered such words. There is no way that Obambi could have no idea of what is “typical” in black churches everywhere in this country.
Funny, this ‘defense’ of Obambi puts him in even worse shape, for now he is both a liar and part of the ‘typical’ racist fury of black churches everywhere (as depicted by this author). Great job, Debbie!
blah blah blah...... YAWN.
you love racists, you embrace racists, you worship racists
just don’t imagine that your leftist du jour has much hope of winning the presidency anymore....... the truth about Obama is coming out, thanks to the Clintonista media whores who suddenly decided to take him down.
Ah, it’s fun to watch the civil war among vicious Demagogues.
The Civil War was over many issues including the issues of states rights and yes slavery. Few wars are about only one issue. The one thing that is indisputable is that as a result of the North winning the Civil War, slaves were freed.
BTW, when the South considered the slave issue a matter of states rights they were completely wrong. Just as they were wrong concerning the states rights issues of Jim Crow south. When any American has their civil liberties deprived of them, if local government will not protect them, then the federal government has the right if not the duty to defend those civil liberties. Look at what Jefferson wrote in our Declaration of Independence:
“WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed”
I doubt that my great great grandfather was fighting simply for freeing slaves. However, what I was pointing out is that as a result of his actions and risking his life (along with many others) the black man’s ancestors were freed. They were even given the choice of going back to Africa if that is what they desired. The former slaves that made that choice have ancestors now that live in modern day Liberia. This was done while some of my ancestors were over in Ireland living under British oppression.
My point was that I have no guilty conscience of being white. My ancestors never owned slaves or benefitted from the slave trade in any way. Even more importantly, any sins of my ancestor cannot fall on me. I’m sick and tired of hearing this hate whitey crap from some members in the black community.
One thing about Obama and his books. How many people at 46 already have two memoirs published? Has this guy accomplished so much in his life at such a young age that it required two memoirs? Or was it just another way like other politicians of getting money by writing a book and then have your “supporters” buy up a bunch of copies. Something worth investigating....
bttt!...
Obama seems not to give Wright credit for his own baptism:
“And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children...”
“They’re saying now that if the superdelegates choose hillary, there will be “riots in the streets”. Well, isn’t how Chavez and other dictators get their positions?”
America is going to get blackmailed into having a black president.
“I know that 150 years after the end of slavery too many blacks are still blaming whitey for keeping them down, rather than taking responsibility for themselves. I’m just sayin,,,,”
My therapist once told me that if a person holds past situations as the reason for their present problems, then that person has a personality disorder or is borderlining one. I think the black race has a pretty severe personality disorder and I don’t think they want to be cured.
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