As a former pastor who, on more than one occasion in moments of irrational exuberance, said things from the pulpit that got me into trouble, I have some sympathy for Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the mess his words have created. Words do matter and, once spoken, can never be retrieved. They often ricochet around and produce all sorts of unintended consequences. Especially is this true when they are spoken in anger and fierce critique. Jeremiah Wright and those associated with him, such as Barak Obama, will not be able to escape the fallout of his inflammatory rhetoric; certainly not when the words provide juicy fodder for partisan politics.
Barak Obama, who I'm sure would have preferred that no one had paid attention to Pastor Wright's controversial commentary, has been smoked out by the media as to where he stands on the seemingly anti-American views of his former pastor. I take Obama at his word that he does not agree with everything Pastor Wright said. After serving in the Illinois legislature and as a U. S. senator, which have put him in the public eye for several years, not to mention his year long run for the presidency, there has been zero evidence in his words and demeanor that he agrees with Jeremiah Wright. It would be as unfair to hold Obama responsible for Jeremiah Wright's bombast as it would to hold Mitt Romney responsible for the racist recent past of Mormonism. Or, to make John McCain responsible for every goofy thing his supporter, Pastor John Hagee has said. Although, it should be noted that the Obama campaign has repudiated and distanced itself from Jeremiah Wright while McCain recently accepted Hagee's endorsement with a hug in full view of the press. President Bush once said he had looked into the soul of former KGB agent Vladimir Putin and considered him to be a friend. Shall we run an endless loop on cable news of all the anti-American things Putin has said and use them to question Bush's patriotism?
If one rejects the Obama candidacy over political philosophy or political party affiliation that is fair. But, if one ignores 400 years of racial history in America and refuses to recognize the reasons behind Pastor Wright's angry rhetoric, and deliberately exploits the controversy for political reasons, that is mean spirited and racist.
1 comment:
Stevo:
Let me say upfront, I cannot profess to understand what it is to be an African American. I have not faced racial prejudice. I have not been passed over because of my ethnicity. My views are tinted by what some would see as rose colored glasses. And, I am saddened by what the “fair and balanced” media has done with this story.
You say if one ignores 400 years of racial history in America and refuses to recognize the reasons behind Pastor Wright's angry rhetoric, and deliberately exploits the controversy for political reasons, that is mean spirited and racist. Yet isn’t that what Pastor Wright has done from his platform?
I am not old enough to have witnessed an African American being denied service in a restaurant, water from a public fountain, or open seating on a bus. I would venture to say the majority of the congregants of Rev. Wright’s church have not experienced the regrettable oppression their ancestors endured.
Yet generations of Africa Americans have not been allowed to rise above the sins of our nation. This story highlights the reasons as not simply the blame of those who still want to fly Confederate flags; but also because of pastors and leaders who continue to pick a forty or, to your point, four hundred year old scab – often for their own financial gain. Do these words make me mean spirited and a racist? I pray not.
For me the issue is deeper than a presidential campaign. I have found myself frustrated by what seems like a widening cultural gap. This story seems to answer the why.
As a nation, the polls have indicated we can accept, embrace, and even be exuberant to elect an African American as our leader. However, there are underlying currents that have been stirred by this story. I believe we do an injustice if we allow the light shown on this festering wound, to be dismissed as just another countless act of mean spirited racism by whites against blacks.
I hope to one day see an African American President; a person who can breakdown the walls of racism and hatred. I'll be the first to stand in line to pull the lever if we are aligned in our political views. Now, as far as my vote this year - I would find it difficult to vote for any person who believes it is better to give a man a fish rather than to teach him to fish - a personal philosophy irrespective of race or gender. Love ya Bro. DRN
Post a Comment