Excerpts from Jeremiah Wright’s first interview with a broadcast journalist since the controversy over his remarks and his relationship with Barack Obama are posted below. The interview will air on Bill Moyers Journal on Friday, April 25 at 9 pm on PBS. (Check local listings at www.pbs.org/moyers.) Excerpt 1 REVEREND WRIGHT: The persons who have heard the entire sermon understand… return to article
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Reader Comments (25)Page 1 of 1 pagesHere is the url for an ABC News webpage containing the transcript of the original sermons.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4719157&page=1
Posted by Kuya on Apr 24, 2008 at 8:36 PM Best part of Obama’s candidacy? Hands down, for me, it was the parade of “friends” he has, the coddling by the media (until recently when the lid was blown off of Wright, Rezko, Ayers, Dohrn, Auchi etc.), and the empty rhetoric of Obama himself. Add Black Liberation Theology to this and I felt as if I had been handed a glass filled with a lethal cocktail. I started out as very impressed with Obama, seriously thinking about voting for him in spite of my long standing desire to see a woman finally take office as President. Seeing the press refuse, month after month, to challenge Obama while they mauled Clinton made me one angry white woman. Finding out that criticizing Obama left me open to charges of racism, well, that didn’t feel good either, but if I’m in Gerry Ferraro’s company then I’m in good company always. But what I really owe Barack Obama is my own intellectual freedom. Finally, after years of allowing myself to be held hostage by the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, I have decided to throw out the liberal trash. And it’s liberating, being able to really think about issues without feeling my knee jerk and checking to see if I fell into line with “the liberal line.” Feels so good, thanks Sen. Obama. And thank you, too, Bill Moyers. I’ve put over 30 years of respect for you into the same trash pile I dumped my respect for Ted Kennedy. This is women’s lib redux! Gentlemen, I salute you. I’m voting for the Babe. And if she’s not on the ballot, I’m voting against the Empty Suit! Free at last, free at last!
Posted by Mandelay on Apr 24, 2008 at 9:12 PM Seems to me that Wright has his roles all reversed. He doesn’t appear to be doing much bible preaching, but lots of political ranting. I remember having to bring a bible and a notebook and be constantly turning here and there and writing things down. That’s pretty boring.
On the other hand, Obama fits the role of preacher better. He’s been advocating working together, finding common ground, etc. etc.
However, I’m finding that Wright is at least genuine, and stands by his statements, albeit IMHO also being disgusting and toxic to the young brains in his audiences.
I don’t buy Obama’s evolving and evasive explanations for why he was so close to this guy for so long. I once considered voting for him, but now ..... no way. He’s striking me as less and less genuine every day.
I’m pretty sure Moyers has often complained about right-wing pastors injecting politics into their preaching and congregations. He seems to have no problem with Wright doing it. Nothing like a little bias to spice up and flavor your journalism. Plus, you only have to work half as hard.
Posted by Natalie on Apr 25, 2008 at 3:57 PM I am not an Obama backer. I was a John Edwards supporter. But this has nothing to do with the Jeremiah Wright controversy.
Reverend Wright said some very interesting things in the sermons that were excerpted by the media. I challenge everyone who reads this to find the YouTube videos that show the FULL sermons. If you do your research, it quickly becomes clear that what the media was portraying as “fanatical” and “hate speech” was TRUTH.
Part of the reason that middle class white people are so quick to buy into these sound bytes and turn against Obama is because Rev. Wright brought up the ugly, unvarnished, historically accurate truth of the way black Americans have been mistreated and white America hates to hear about it. Reverend Wright addresses the sad truth that black Americans have to live with every day; they are still being mistreated.
I don’t excuse Obama’s moving away from his friend and pastor. Wrong is wrong, even in politics. It would have been more gutsy to stick by him, though he refused to denounce him completely. HOWEVER, the political reality of the situation is that the media and our other “worthy” candidate, Ms. Clinton, are engaging in race-baiting. And the American people are, in large part, swallowing it whole. But Obama can’t say that; he has to perform his public penance and do damage control.
IMHO, this whole mess has not made me question Obama as much as shown Hillary Clinton’s true colors. Her behavior has cheapened Ms. Clinton in my eyes and is just another example, heaped onto an already large pile, of the lengths that she will go to in order to win the prize she so dearly covets.
Well, haven’t we had enough of these kinds of win-at-all costs politicians, yet? They show that they have no morals or standards because they repeatedly prove that, to them, the ends always justify the means. Then we vote for them because they are such fighters. This is bass-ackwards and that is why we get such horrible results.
Reverend Wright is being demonized for telling the truth. His words are being cut down to bite-sized clips for the appetite of a public with a short attention span and his meaning is being twisted for political gain. He was used to switch the momentum in this race and now his life is being threatened by ignorant people who don’t know the first thing about him.
This could happen to you. It can happen to anyone that comes up against the powerful in this country. If you don’t believe it, I feel sorry for you because someday you will SEE it, but by then it may be too late to turn things around…
Fight the power. NOW.
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 25, 2008 at 8:12 PM So much of the commentary concerning Rev. Wright avoids looking at the truth of his statements. He points at the sins committed by this country as says, God damns this behavior, at points at christian scripture as proof. The jingoistic rejection of those statements reveal an ignorance of scripture and the moral standards we claim to embrace as a nation. I heard his comments again tonight and they made sense in their painful revelations of the truth. He asks us to reject a government that holds to such ideals, to change out of our understanding of the truth, if not the historical fact.
Thank you Kansasliberal
Posted by Baraka on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:12 PM Barack Obama stayed with his minister because of his faith and respect for him as his pastor and I can’t see any reason why he should abandon him even when he disagrees.
The Rev. Wright spoke the truth and provided those young (and old) parishioners with an insight into what Christ expects of us as Christians.
Little of his sermons (pulled apart for political reasons) can be disputed or challenged. If they could Natalie would have provide a rational answer to his commentary. She doesn’t agree but neither does she make a case against what he has said. There must be something that she can call him on. The persecution and abuse of the American Indian, Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Granada, Panama, trading slaves and the awful 400 plus years of abuse and marginalization of Africans - which would she reject or argue with in his comments as acts against God’s law?Take your time and then let us know how you can defend your comments.
Posted by Baraka on Apr 25, 2008 at 10:26 PM As one who has once voted for Obama I feel remorse that I was gullible enough to think this guy was a “different” kind of politician.
The “Wright stuff” has sparked exactly the opposite kind of “change” which Obama so glibly promises in his standard speech. I can now see a lot of similarity in his emotion rousing style (although, wisely in a lower key and volume) and that of Rev. Wright.
Technique:
Repeat often and in sound bite chunks all the complaints and shortcomings the audience has in common. It is important though, to realize that when speaking to a different economic strata (Obama’s California bitter speech) that even “small towns” have TV, radio, newspapers (Yes, some of them can read.) and internet. Wright rants may get a standing ovation in Chicago, but it didn’t play too well in Peoria, did it?Do it as a responsive litany. Do you hear me? (A lot like the DI in Wright’s Marine boot camp.)
Wright’s current campaign to set the record straight is so transparent it is puzzling to think anyone can take him too seriously and sad to think of how perpetually divisive is the effect. It has obviously been of great personal benefit as evidenced by the contrast between his living conditions and those of his average parishioner.
Strategy:
Present enough “truth” with which people can identify that the fiction will be accepted… • gov. induced aids • long-term conspiracies • examples of the US’s worst behavior reaching way beyond responsibility of anyone alive • ignoring any positive action • identifying the (white) scape goatMoyers ( a soft spoken cream puff) is the perfect interrogator for someone to “set the record WRIGHT.”
I must say that with Rev. Wright on the road Obama’s opponents have a real ally.
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 26, 2008 at 9:23 AM People love to point a finger and call names at those who believe that our government is capable of evil deeds . It’s a lot of fun for people to laugh and pretend they know more. The problem is that those crazy folks have FACTS to back up their “theories.”
Before you start calling Reverend Wright a conspiracy theorist, check some facts; do some research of your own. You may be surprised at what you will find. I have been. Try this website that lists the medical and scientific experiments that have been performed without consent (and sometimes without knowledge) on our military, mental patients, children in foster care, minority women, working poor, etc.
http://www.naturalnews.com/022383.html
Is there a possibility that our government had something to do with the creation of the aids virus? Open your mind for just a second and look into it yourself.
Recently, our government performed some experiments using wastewater sludge spread in the yards of poor, urban families in Baltimore and East St. Louis. Now there is some concern about possible health risks associated with this sludge. Is it just a coincidence that, if you check the census data, these are both predominantly African American communities? If you were black, wouldn’t you wonder why the government didn’t approach suburban white folks for this experiment?
Reverend Wright was giving sermons at his church. His constituency is mostly African American, as is he. They have a lot of things in common. They are more likely to get pulled over by the police and more likely to get shot and/or die a violent death than I am. They face discrimination in the workforce, lending, housing and even when they are shopping. If you don’t believe that, try befriending some black people and watch how things work for them. Why wouldn’t Reverend Wright address those common issues which plague the souls of African American and try to provide some consolation through religion? Isn’t that his job?
Walk into a “white” church. The priest,/pastor/minister is going to be addressing the congregation regarding their daily experiences and how their faith addresses that. Isn’t that what Reverend Wright was doing in his church? If you listen to the full sermons, I believe you will see that it is.
I believe that what most people are truly angry about is that they have had the truth forced on them again. Most people like to live in an ideal world where everything is equal and no discrimination exists. They don’t want to believe that there is a separate “white” experience or “black” experience.
If you believe there is still racial discrimination built in to the basic institutions of our society (law, justice, workplace, financial, housing, etc), then you would have to think about how to solve those problems. And who really wants to deal with that? Easier to believe that blacks are just lazy, complaining, under-performing, playing the race card.
One thing you may want to think about is this: if black people are being discriminated against, unfairly treated, abused by the government, experimented on, then maybe that could extend to you someday.
Maybe someday it will come down to you or your children driving down the street being pulled over for no reason, being followed in the store, not getting the job, not getting into the “good” schools, only being able to get a mortgage in certain neighborhoods, having to pay higher interest rates, etc, etc.
Whattheheck you gonna do then?
Fight the power. NOW.
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 26, 2008 at 1:03 PM Whattheheck is back,
Ah once more Whattheheck that converted Obama supporter surfaces to spew his hatred.
What did you see in Obama in the first place, or are you using that lie as a fig leaf for your racist views?
Are you comparing the Rev. Wright to the Pope, you know in the disparities between the wealth of Rev. Wright and the average parishioner? CAn you elaborate on this particular part of your rant.
Why should Rev. Wright offer consolation to his flock when he can encourage them to resist the oppression you so adequately illustrate is in our society. Would a few choruses of “woe is me” better suit your sensitivities.
Thank you Kansasliberal
Posted by Baraka on Apr 26, 2008 at 2:10 PM Wright’s approach is fundamentally flawed, fundamentally counter-productive, and fundamentally corrosive. It may have been just the prescription about 40-100 years ago, but today it just doesn’t work to anyone’s advantage.
He uses an extraordinarily broad brush to paint Americans, American policy and American corporations in a distorted and unfair light, as if every white American is racist and unfairly discriminative, every foreign policy move is based upon nefarious motives and every medical company wants to conduct experiments on blacks.
He doesn’t appear to have any appreciation for a country that adopted a constitution that in effect handed down a death sentence to slavery, although it took far too long to be carried out.
Barack Obama said essentially just this in his denouncing of Wright, although I personally think he should have gone further, and used the whole thing as a platform from which to encourage the moving away from this self-defeating victimhood mentality that Wright perpetuates.
There’s only a certain number of hundreds of years that average Americans (including many blacks) are willing to give a historically oppressed segment of society a pass. And I think we are fast approaching that point in time. White Americans (in fact all Americans) need to keep any tendency to judge on stereotypes and superficial characteristics in check. But gosh darn it, black Americans need to understand that most people aren’t racist, that nobody ever owned nor would ever consider owning slaves, and that you are judged on your attitude, performance and integrity. I think Obama understands this, but is unwilling to display the backbone necessary to pound it home. Bill Cosby would frankly make a far better candidate.
“We cannot see how what we are doing is the same thing al-Qaeda is doing under a different color flag, calling on the name of a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem!”—Jeremiah Wright sermon, 4/13/03
Posted by Natalie on Apr 26, 2008 at 7:44 PM Baraka,
I guess you never bothered to read my last response to your angry exit.
Your reactions are exactly what I think Wright’s continued diatribe instills and perpetuates in his listeners and why I’ve scratched Obama from consideration in this election.
You see any opposing or alternative view as coming from a hateful, racial bias. By injecting the word “white” into all negative aspects of his sermons and teachings Wright may be reacting to his life experiences, but by dwelling on these he is prejudicing the next generation.
You say I am “spewing hatred. Where do you see hatred?
You infer that I am lying. Why? Based on what?
Isn’t Wright wealthier than his average church member? What has the Pope got to do with this discussion?
You refer to my views as racist. In what way? I was pointing out the “sales technique” which I see both Wright and Obama using.
Look at Wright’s opening comments to Moyers:
“When something is taken like a sound bite for a political purpose and put constantly over and over again, looped in the face of the public. That’s not a failure to communicate. Those who are doing that are communicating exactly what they want to do, which is to paint me as some sort of fanatic ...”
Wright used his sound bites repeatedly knowing full well he was communicating to his audience that all the problems (including totally unfounded ones like intentional spreading of aids) are due ONLY to WHITE men.
Is that not racist? Is that not painting a picture of fanatics?
Then he goes on…
“It’s to paint me as something: “Something’s wrong with me. There’s nothing wrong with this country…for its policies. We’re perfect. Our hands are free. Our hands have no blood on them.†That’s not a failure to communicate. The message that is being communicated by the sound bites is exactly what those pushing those sound bites want to communicate.”
Who has said there is nothing wrong with our country? Who says we have always done the right thing?
As for what’s wrong with Wright — as I’ve pointed out — what’s wrong is the prevention of nayone getting over the past to build a better future.
Be careful what you accept without question. Be careful what you assume as motive. Not to do so will only lead to continued disagreement and prevent any hope of healing.
Please go back and read our former discussion.
Sincerely,
WTH
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 27, 2008 at 6:59 AM Natalie,
What you pointed out here (Yes, out of context, but never the less enlightening in a way other than Wright intended.) is the way I suspect Barack Obama views the religion and gun clinging, small town average American.
We cannot see how what we are doing is the same thing al-Qaeda is doing under a different color flag, calling on the name of a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem!Jeremiah Wright sermon, 4/13/03
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 27, 2008 at 9:37 AM WTH
I read your previous postings, so let me respond in detail. Some of your comments in the last posting are garbled from character replacement errors. I’ll ignore those and focus on those that I understand or feel that I feel it might help to answer.Wright is wealthier than some of his parishioners, of course. But why have you inserted such an ad hominid? I only make note of the fact that the Pope is wealthier than almost all of his parishioners. I felt it was important to make the parallel incase you were continuing to castigate the good Rev. If you were then the Pope is equally guilty of that flaw, and I might add so is ever minister or rev. on the planet with few exceptions.
As for the contamination of succeeding generations; the schools perpetuate racism with a biased curriculum that denies that part of American history that includes racism, persecution, imperialism, slavery and genocide. A laundered and self-promoting historical view of America that is patently false and misleading but keeps every new generation ignorant of the behaviors that perpetuate these vile behaviors in our institutions. By demeaning collaboration and encouraging competition schools undo the natural benefits of cooperation that improve cognition.
That’s just for starts, of course.Finally, It is your written skewering of the facts and your association of Barack Obama with his minister because of carefully edited film clips by Fox News, and then with that deception abandon Obama as a candidate. That’s hypocritical. I know the behavior because those behaviors and the promotion of half truths are the instruments that the white population and their institutions have used to educate me in the ways of racism.
I also have learned to use racist rationales and behaviors to survive in this society, and am probably a racist in many ways but I’m not proud of my racism. I reject it and try with all my heart and intelligence to overcome my own racism. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t tell one when I see one. Racism is not just a personal flaw it is a societal defect in this country and you are as volatile and rapid proponent of racism as I have ever read. Selectively choosing what serves your rant and asking the victim to just get over it. Well I’m trying but I’m not getting any help from you.
Posted by Baraka on Apr 27, 2008 at 1:31 PM One way that the powerful in this nation stay in power is by dividing those of us who are not in power. They divide us by race, religion, educational background and economic background. They divide us and they conquer.
What I am hearing here is a lot of people who have bought into those divisive strategies lock, stock and barrel. We need to question why we all have to differentiate ourselves when we are fighting to advance our collective situation.
Some see Rev. Wright as divisive because they have bought into the base theory that black people and white people are so different that we have different agendas. Therefore, because Rev. Wright speaks to the black experience, they believe he supports a black agenda that is somehow in opposition to the white agenda. That is a fundamental flaw. The truth is we are all in the same economic situation and we can’t change it unless we fight together.
The more we argue about whether the Pope lives a more lavish lifestyle than his Catholic followers or whether America is “ready” to vote for a black President, the less likely it is that we will ever wrest power from those who have stolen our government and are leading our society down a path to wage slavery and lack of opportunity and hope.
To the assertion that we are doing the same thing that the Muslim fundamentalists are trying to do, under a different flag and with a different God, there is basis in fact for this. The Bush Administration chose faith-based ministries and fundamentalist-Christian college graduates to lead the rebuilding process in Iraq. There was a clear directive that they were to bring Christianity to the Muslim people of Iraq. Some believed that if we could convert Muslims to Christianity that would solve the differences we are having with fundamentalist Muslims. The same strategy is being employed in Afghanistan.
This is condescending to Muslims, it is in opposition to the freedoms declared in our Constitution so it is also hypocritical, and it causes others to despise us and join the radical Muslims so is not constructive. It’s another blunder that Rev. Wright pointed out to his congregation. Is there some reason why he is not allowed to differ with government policy? Why does that make him a radical?
H.L. Mencken said, “The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is nave and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair. “
Edward R. Murrow said, “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”
George William Curtis said, “A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.”
Under these definitions, Rev. Wright is a true patriot and a true fighter for the ideals of the Constitution. When he addresses his congregation in despair over the injustices that they see daily, using Christian faith and love of God to help them rise above that despair to go out and face the world, how is he preaching hate or racism? How is that a racially divisive ministry?
Again, have you watched the sermons in full and have you done any research? Can you open your minds to the possibility that we are ALL being played by the powers that be in order to keep us busy fighting each other so we can’t fight them???
Fight the power. NOW.
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 27, 2008 at 4:05 PM “Theres only a certain number of hundreds of years that average Americans (including many blacks) are willing to give a historically oppressed segment of society a pass. And I think we are fast approaching that point in time. White Americans (in fact all Americans) need to keep any tendency to judge on stereotypes and superficial characteristics in check. “
Natalie, please explain this “pass” that you believe that any oppressed segment of society has ever received. I would like to hear the details of this theory that anyone but rich white people get a pass because I have not seen that.
Did you see my previous post and research the experiments that have been performed without knowledge or consent on poor and minority segments of our society? Does that not provide a basis in fact for the assertion that it could happen again?
Are black folks supposed to ignore that it happened or be so naive as to believe that it could never happen again? Don’t you believe that it could then happen to you too? And if so, why are we fighting against these statements and not supporting them?
And did you not see Rev Wright’s full sermon wherein he qualified that ALL governments do wrong, but God is always right? Have no faith in governments, put your faith in God; that was the message. What is so divisive about that?
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 27, 2008 at 4:07 PM “Wright used his sound bites repeatedly knowing full well he was communicating to his audience that all the problems (including totally unfounded ones like intentional spreading of aids) are due ONLY to WHITE men.”
Wright did not employ “soundbites” the media did. The media did it to pander to a fearful white audience in order to cast a negative light on Barack Obama. Obama has never sanctified any of this and the only reason you ever heard any of it is because the media was trying to put Obama on the defensive. And it is working. Thanks to people like you.
Wright used his pulpit to preach to his congregation regarding things that were pertinent to them. He does not blame all white people for all the bad things that happen in the world; not even in his sermons. I’ve listened to them, have you?
What do you know about the possibility that aids was intentionally spread? Have you done any research, or was your mind so closed to the possibility of this idea that you immediately rejected it? Can you even have an open mind on any of the things that you are so angry about?
Look at the bigger picture; consider the possibility that you are being played- not by Reverend Wright but by those in power. It is in their best interest to turn us all against each other and have us so busy fighting amongst ourselves that we don’t have the time or energy to fight against them.
They have stolen our democracy and turned it into a corporatocracy. The corporations rule. They have bought and paid for our politicians and they now create policy. This policy takes away those rights that are granted to us in the Constitution and those inalienable rights that are bestowed to us by our creator including Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
STOP and think about that possibility. We have to work together to change and we can’t if we keep fighting with each other about who is right and who is righteous.
Fight the power. NOW.
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 27, 2008 at 4:25 PM Baraka,
Look again. There is no criticism in my comments which refer in any way to either Wright’s or Obama’s statements or motives as relating to their race. The only time race is mentioned is in referring to Wright’s inserting color in his complaints of US short comings.
Mentioned his wealthy living conditions because it could be a motive for him to continue his anti-white sermons. As for the Pope that is an for Catholics. As far as I know Catholic priests are not paid by the parrish, but I’m not sure how their pay is determined. Since I once was a member of a United Church of Christ congregation I do know that IS decided by each congregation. I would tend to agree that many Protestant clergy are over paid.
It looks as though you and I are not going to come to any point of agreement on which to build. I have had black friends, have black neighbors (as well as Asian and Pakistani) and we get along just fine. No name calling and no apparent residual racial blame for past generations.
You might give a little thought to the many thousands who died in the war which ended slavery. My great grandfather fought four years in the Union Army. In trying to track my family history I have not come across any
evidence any of them ever had slaves even though he was born in what is now West Virginia before coming to Illinois. In the same way I feel no responsibility for the drug problems in our country, I feel no responsibility for racial prejudice.You can go though life carrying your anger and trying to place guilt if you choose to, but it is is too bad because this will solve nothing for anyone.
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 27, 2008 at 5:29 PM WTH
Its your rejection of Barack Obama because of his religious preferences. That the church he attends is sufficient to condemn him. s a previous Obama supporter it would be wonderful hear why you originally supported him? And why do you now withdraw that support?It seems from you recent posting that you were fully aware of the racist behavior of, not only individual, but of institutional inequities that are perpetuated by the larger society.
I am trying to convince you that these inequities continue and you should put your considerable intelligence to ending all forms of racism, if that is your interest and concern.
Posted by Baraka on Apr 28, 2008 at 7:36 AM Baraka,
I voted for Obama for the same reason I have voted in nearly every election. He looked less bad than the alternative candidate. In this case it was Alan Keyes an ultra conservative whose ideas I saw as almost totally detremental.
It looks as if at least part of our conflict is in our differing definitions. I don’t think I’m rejecting Obama because of his religious preferences.
My disenchantment stems from his comments, his wife’s and those of his pastor. It seems apparent his personal assessment of white Americans has been negatively influenced by theirs.
Of course I’m aware of racist behavior. Who could not be?My criticisms of Wright are not generally what I would consider religious views either. I see his continued repetition of the conditions which every black person must already be familiar with as simply raising the emotional level negatively which can only increase the national racial division by interjecting WHITE with each complaint. It would be the same as a white person putting BLACK in with each problem - black crime, black unwed mothers, black school truancy, black drug dealers, black gangs - not a fair or helpful practice.
I do disagree that God will or should damn the country (assuming Wright means sell all of us to hell) however, many the problems of today are without a doubt a result of faulty or outright cruel policies of our past.
---------------------------------------------------As an aside: My religious beliefs have gone from a mainline Protestant denomination (Presbyterian) to a more fundamental and basic Bible one (Swedish Evangelical Covenant) to a quite theologically liberal one (Congregational/UCC) to a somewhat agnostic one where organized or doctrinal structures have no appeal or credibility. I see virtually all religions as telling far more about the universal nature of mankind than about the reality of God.
I think religions form a concept of a God who we believe will do what we think should be done (our desire for what we see as justice) thus creating a god in our preferred image rather than our conforming to the image of God.
---------------------------------------------------Even prior to the Civil War a significant percentage of the total population saw slavery as wrong and there have been both government and non-government attempts to do away with the unfair treatment of people based on race.
In my opinion much of the legislation was counter productive, but well meaning.
What I see as the single most destructive policy now, effecting most average Americans regardless of color, is the evaporation of our manufacturing jobs. Some loss is due to new technology, but most is due to corporate and individual greed. It was the growth of manufacturing jobs which made economic growth possible for thousands people during my lifetime, but the loss will be even more difficult for black people.
Every group has had some sort of inequity, but it is more easily identified and labeled when related to color. I think the best way to end racism is to treat people as individuals. Some are good, some are not . The same is true of their opinions and ideas.
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:40 AM After 30+ years in the marines, General Smedley Butler (two medals of honor) was so much more critical of the U.S. government’s foreign policy than Sergeant (??)Wright. I’m late for work. If you don’t know who General Butler is, simply “google” his name.
PS I don’t know what flag that is, but I’m from the U.S. and a veteran.
Posted by drobe on Apr 29, 2008 at 5:22 AM If Smedley Butler was alive today preaching in a church, inciting resentment of the country using improper analogies, nutty conspiracy theories, and an outdated mindset, he would be rightfully vilified as is Wright.
From what’s happened in the past couple days with Wright confirming for us that his clips were NOT taken out of context, and Obama getting reportedly very angry and denouncing him in even stronger terms, it would appear that my instincts were correct, when a month ago on another thread I said this:
.....I think Obama would have been better served politically, and would have better served the black population, had he used this opportunity to point out just why this kind of divisive, hateful and just plain out-dated preaching/teaching is so counterproductive, and poisonous to one’s outlook and chances for success.
He should have admitted being human like Hillary and having a lapse in judgement in staying associated with this church for so long. He should have announced his leaving the church, and spelled out why. I really don’t think there would have been much fall-out within his black constituency, in fact he can say pretty much anything, and his supporters, of whatever color, nod their heads in approval. He could have gained even more supporters.
What a valuable teachable moment this could have been for the “great uniter”. He missed it......
Posted by Natalie on Apr 29, 2008 at 3:09 PM Natalie,
If you go to the Obama website you can watch/listen to today’s press conference and read some of the comments. ...better late than never?
I’d appreciate it if someone would tell me how to get rid of the flag.
U.S.
U.S.
Posted by drobe on Apr 29, 2008 at 5:42 PM That’s a German flag, drobe. You aren’t overseas, are you? The flag just shows up when I post and I don’t see a setting anywhere that changes it (or even a place that might ask what country you are from).
Posted by Kansasliberal on Apr 29, 2008 at 6:27 PM Kansas, I’m right here in the U.S., but thanks for the response. I’ll just have to switch from Bud to Beck beer when I write my comments. Gotta hand it to the Germans they do brew better beer.
Hoping I’m wrong, but corporate America will not allow Senator Obama to become president.
Posted by drobe on Apr 30, 2008 at 4:59 AM Well, Obama finally did and said what he would have been wise to do initially dispute the Wright rant. I have a nagging feeling he would be just as hesitant as president.
We’ve seen how Bush’s delay in dumping Rumsfeld has become extremely costly to the nation and to him. Rumsfeld’s OK of redition (torture), pushing for “useful” intel rather than truthful and lack of post combat planning is now Bush’s legacy.
People are known by the company they keep. Often this is a valid measure.
This morning I noticed a neighbor removed his OBAMA 2008 yard sign, so Wright’s divisive behavior had an affect on at least one other person.
You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em.
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 30, 2008 at 12:41 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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