"Thanks, FR's resident Psychologist!"
It will be hard to make him a traitor or anything even close to it. He might sympathize and not confront some black rhetoric, but he seems honest and normal in all respects. His values are easily articulated and include a statement that should resonate with Evangelicals.
That statement is he credited in some way Reverend Wright with leading him to Christ. This, in my estimation, is the true test of a pastor--does he lead you to Christ or does he lead you to himself or something else.
Most assuredly, Reverend Wright has bizarre beliefs which are not congruent with reality. He has views that are antithetical to American values and attributes; however, it will be impossible to similarly paint Senator Obama as holding the same views.
This is a one week story. The big danger is the conservatives will overplay the nutty card. I truly hope and pray Senator McCain does not allow this.
A person's external identity is determined by: (1)What he looks like; (2)How others view him; (3)And, what he does for a living. There is also self judgment; however, this is harder to describe and is usually overwhelmed by the other three.
The problem for blacks is they get up in the morning and see a black face in the mirror. You see yourself as black with black social and economic accouterments. This is not easy to overcome and being an individual is fraught with difficulty because in this time and in the past being black would not be a chosen by most.
Some make it to become individuals. It takes intelligence, courage and determination above and beyond what most white people (including me)have to have to determine individuality.
Add to this the tendency of those less successful to harbor grievances (ressentiment) about past and present, real and imagined mistreatment and you have a difficult existential challenge.
Working class people usually resent those more successful. They do not express their ressentiment because it does not seem wise under most circumstances. Instead, they search for wrongdoing or mistakes in others and convert ressentiment to resentment with aggressive action of one kind or another. Usually, this will take the form of alleged or trivial injustice or error that is then unloaded on much to the consternation of outside observers.
Justice began as a form of revenge (Good King Dracon) and still has that quality for the everyday mind. What Reverend Wright seems to offer, but Senator Obama does not, is a reason to actualize this resentment and belittle and punish white America. Not smart. Not valid. But human nature is imperfect even in pastors.
I may be spelling ressentiment wrong. It is a pure feeling state that occurs automatically in those who see themselves as social and political inferiors. It is a French term and my ability to spell French words was never good and is now nonexistent. Existentialists are prone to use it and especially Nietzsche who was an existentialist before there was such a word.
ha-ha
The thing is the most hateful blacks are the ones who never experienced REAL ACTUAL racism. The older black people are some of the nicest kindest, real Christian people I’ve ever met. The young hatefilled bunch is altogether different. Taught to hate by the likes of phoney leaders with their own agenda, teaching this “entitlement” mentality.
It should be studied as to what has happened.
“I just watched Senator Obama on Fox News. He gave a direct, honest interview on this subject. He is an impressive person.”
I took a totally different view on the interview. I thought he was evasive, and he was parsing words. He had a direct tone, and an honest look on his face, but he was clearly obfuscating the issue in order to seem acceptable to everyone watching. I guess that he’s impressive if you hold high wire walking in high regard.
What flavor kool-aid were you drinking when you penned your comments????
In all my years on Freerepublic, you win the prize for being the most divorced from reality.
I just watched Senator Obama on Fox News. He gave a direct, honest interview on this subject. He is an impressive person.
I found him stumbling through it, and while he answered the questions, I found him UN-believable.
He struck me as rehearsed and practiced- I waited for the pain in his voice, the sorrow in his eyes, the disbelief that this man who has been his pastor could possibly harbor these ideas and beliefs.
I waited in vain- and truthfully- part of me hoped he would come out swinging- angry at the brush that has now tainted him and his candidacy with ugly racism.
And you’re correct- white people do no experience what it means to be black in America.
For many years I woke up with my own particular chip on my shoulder until it about broke me. I am acquainted with the difficulty in giving up long-standing and deeply held resentment.
I am thankfully also acquainted with the freedom in letting it go and waking UP.
Your view is interesting, but seems to me extremely detached from actual life.
I must have been watching a different Senator Obama - he was stumbling and evasive.
Were you smoking crack when you were watching these interviews? Or are you just a contrarian who likes to stir things up?
As for Wright’s leading Obama to Christ, one has to ask “what kind of Christ was he leading him to”? I’d never give Fred Phelps credit for bringing anyone to Christ.
Sure, if you accept that statement at face value, in the terms that YOU understand. But that's not the whole truth. The Christ that Wright worships is the oppressed black Christ, whipped and beaten down the centuries by the evil white race. It's not the same Christ we are thinking of, AT ALL.
Have you been reading their church’s website?
If Wright’s beliefs are not congruent with reality...why are the following issues of debate posted on the website that tithes pay for on the his church’s website? If his congregation were offended by them, didn’t support them, etc etc., don’t ya think they would have kicked him out? They obviously support them.....or they would publicly denounce their “black value system”.
THE BLACK VALUE SYSTEM
http://www.tucc.org/black_value_system.html
