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.
That’s funny, I don’t recall ever reading anything written by Martin Luther King that sounded even remotely like the feces that spews from this wright guys mouth.
In fact if King were alive I dare say he’d consider wright a part of the problem.
Ironic, this speech has nothing to do with peace. In any case, the phrase is speak our "piece".
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?
Yup, it's all our fault. Just sit there and marinate in your rage. It's the sure stepping stone to success.
Once again, the author speaks the truth and disqualifies the candidate.
The cry of racism keeps those groups and their leaders profitable. That's why the good Reverend lives in a $750,000 house.
“I also read his wife’s “thesis” from, I believe, Princeton.”
You did?!? I thought this had been buried until after the election...
How were you able to read it?
The great uniter will end up alienating the races like never before.
“But, then, in a fair world, there would be no racial divide to bridge. Of course, Obama’s detractors would never consider that”
Well Ms. Mathis(in the interest of full disclosure, no relation to me) it seems that most of Obamalot’s detractors are your fellow liberal Democrats as well as fans of the Clintonistas!
You’ve had about 40 years of government giveaways and racial preferences to get over that. That you haven’t says everything about you, not white people.
Exactly: The Ward Churchill types will open their wallets even wider, as Joe Sixpack and Suzy Homemaker stalk off in disgust!
Somebody’s tagline applies here. “If you don’t have the answer there’s good money in prolonging the problem”
Oh, I think some who have been asleep have awakened, and the blind have had their eyes opened!
Mattias and her ilk continue to "stir the pot" of racial division and "yank the chains" of rabid racists of all ethnicities. If she is racist enough to lump me in a category (short, fat, old white male) and shut out all who fit that profile, then that is HER problem, not mine. Likewise, if there are people who put her in a category based on external factors and shut her out, that is THEIR problem. She needs to let this go and get on with life as a HUMAN BEING, not as a member some "oppressed group".
People are people. Evaluate their CHARACTER and actions, don't get hung up on their physical characteristics and backgrounds.
“You whiteys are only just beginning to learn how pompous and hate-filled we race-baiters can be!”
ANGRY WHITE MALE!
As a division officer in the Navy, I found that 1. Blacks have a great deal of inborn talent and some of my best men were black. 2. If, however, they had the chip securely attached to their shoulder (Whitey has made a mess of my life) then they were pretty useless to the division. 3. The Democratic party is all about making sure the chip is attached and firmly in place so that they get their 90% of the Black vote and Blacks fail to emerge with their inborn gifts.
That basically sums up everything the socialists do, since they NEVER solve any problems.
No white preacher would still be in the pulpit if they preached hate like Mr. Wrong every week.
I guess I don’t know black people. I have been raised to believe that there is no difference between us. We all want the same things for ourselves and our families and only believe we should be treated fairly. We teach our children that you should be nice to everyone and treat all people equally and never say mean things about people that they can’t change.
If Most black people believe in hate such has Mr Wrong has spewed from his pulpit, then I guess I don’t want to know those black people anymore than I want to know white people like David Duke. Those people can take their hate and beat each other up with it.
I happen to believe that most white people and most black people do not believe the way David Duke and Mr. Wright feel and people such as this author are just hate enablers. It is people such as them that keep the race issue alive and well in Toon land.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.