Here's another great post by one of my favorite bloggers:I've commented quite a bit on the Barack Obama's Wright scandal.
I have, for example, argued that Obama's statement repudiating Wright's sermons is not enough, that the Illinois Senator needs to cut all ties with a church that proselytizes hatred.
It turns out, as the New York Times reports, that despite some claims that Wright's controversial statements are aberrations in years of work promoting traditional Christian theology, members of the Trinity United Church in fact flock eat up Wright's hated-filled sermons:
Mr. Wright, 66, who last month fulfilled longstanding plans to retire, is a beloved figure in African-American Christian circles and a frequent guest in pulpits around the country. Since he arrived at Trinity in 1972, he has built a 6,000-member congregation through his blunt, charismatic preaching, which melds detailed scriptural analysis, black power, Afrocentrism and an emphasis on social justice; Mr. Obama praised the last quality in Friday's statement.You think?
His most powerful influence, said several ministers and scholars who have followed his career, is black liberation theology, which interprets the Bible as a guide to combating oppression of African-Americans.
He attracts audiences because of, not in spite of, his outspoken critiques of racism and inequality, said Dwight Hopkins, a professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, in an interview last year.
But Mr. Wright's blistering statements about American racism can shock white audiences.
"If you're black, it's hard to say what you truly think and not upset white people," said James Cone, a professor at Union Theological Seminary and the father of black liberation theology, who has known Mr. Wright since he was a seminary student.
I mean, what good natured, patriotic white person would be upset at hearing Wright's venomous and paranoid attacks on this country?
http://americanpowerblog.blogspot.com
Thanks again, Donald...I couldn't have said it better, myself!
12 comments:
"If you're black, it's hard to say what you truly think and not upset white people,"
Hmmmm, now what if this statement was reversed to "If you're white, it's hard to say what you truly think and not upset black people."
If one made that statement in public one would be labeled a racist and bigot of the worst kind...even if it is true. The fact remains no matter how much the media tries to spin it that Wright is a bigot of the worst kind..an America hating bigot who uses his freedom of speech to try to tear down one of the few countries that offers it.
Although I do support his right to say whatever he wants to say I support my right to call him an ignorant fool and kinda feel like ole Zell Miller..damn shame that duals are illegal..
guyk..it has been disgusting the way certain of the media have tried to smooth over his hateful words, and to justify, and excuse them.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: If a white presidential candidate's pastor had said what this pastor said, his political career would have been over in a very short time..if not tarred and feathered, and ridden out of town on a rail, so to speak.
I was going to say 'lynched' but that is now considered a racial word, and is not politically correct.
So let's just pretend that I didn't say it.
Folks...Why should Obama's political career be over because his pastor said horrible things?
If any of you were running for President and you KNEW that an influential person in your life had publicly made terribly offensive and devisive statements about the very people and the very country you want to trust and vote for you, would you make that person a prominent member of your spiritual advisory committee?
I hope you're all saying, "Of course not. That'd be stupid." Then how could this happen? YOU DIDN'T KNOW that this person was that crazy and extreme, that's how it could happen. Remember, you're not stupid; you must've not known.
So, now what do you do? Well, you reject the inflammatory statements, disassociate yourself from that person[he's off the staff], explain, explain, explain, and believe in the good sense and good hearts of the voters. What else can you do? Donald wants the Senator to "cut all ties with a church that proselytizes hatred". So, now it's the WHOLE church that thinks as pastor Wright does. If Barack were to do as Donald wants, would that be enough? Could we then get back to tackling some of the problems we're being left with by the departing administration? I suspect it wouldn't be enough; although, I would hope that would be.
If this was reversed and it was a white man or white woman candidate whose adviser spewed this kind of hate, I'd expect the same thing to happen. There would be a huge bruhaha. However, no one would call for that candidate's removal from political life unless he/she refused to repudiate the words of hate.
I may have missed the point. Correct me where I'm wrong....
Obama knew this guy for twenty years, and he is only now learning that he's a racist nut job? I find that somewhat difficult to believe.
"If any of you were running for President and you KNEW that an influential person in your life had publicly made terribly offensive and devisive statements about the very people and the very country you want to trust and vote for you, would you make that person a prominent member of your spiritual advisory committee?
I hope you're all saying, "Of course not. That'd be stupid." Then how could this happen? YOU DIDN'T KNOW that this person was that crazy and extreme, that's how it could happen. Remember, you're not stupid; you must've not known."
Richard..well, yes, I think that you are missing the point, or just refusing to see the truth.
There is no way that Senator Obama was not aware of the teaching, and the beliefs of this pastor. He was not only his pastor, but his close friend, and his mentor. They had a close, family-type relationship, and you would have to be a fool to think that in their private conversations, the pastor never talked about it.
He did make him a prominent member of his advisory committee, and removed him, only after those hateful videos became so public, and he began to feel the heat of it all.
Richard, you and I both know that such shenanigans would never be tolerated if this involved a white candidate and his pastor and church....but you believe what you believe, and nothing is going to sway you in any other direction.
"I hope you're all saying, "Of course not. That'd be stupid." Then how could this happen? YOU DIDN'T KNOW that this person was that crazy and extreme, that's how it could happen. Remember, you're not stupid; you must've not known."
Well, all I can say is that if Obama really is that stupid, then we're really in trouble if he is elected...because there is NO WAY that he could not have known that his pastor was that extreme, devisive, and offensive!
His teaching, and his statements were made publicly for years and years, in his church, if nowhere else, and the congregation, obviously does approve and agree, and Obama would have had to be deaf and blind not to be aware of it!
And Richard, I can't believe that you are naive enough to believe that Obama didn't know!
Hermit..you and I were posting our comments at the same time.
You're right..it is extremely difficult to believe!
Well, one thing I do know for sure; Sen.Obama is not stupid. He wouldn't have gotten any place near where he is if he were.[plus his resume is very good] So,if he's not stupid but shared the same beliefs as the pastor, wouldn't the smart thing be to keep this guy under wraps, don't mention him , don't be seen in public with him, and play down how much contact he may hjave had with his family? Until this all came out, Obama had no qualms about talking about this pastor and how he brought him to Jesus. If he knew that this guy was a snake, he wouldn't have introduced him to the voting American public. That'd be nuts.
Obama has been universally applauded [mostly] for the "smartness" of his campaign and competence of his staff. I mean if you believe O is a shifty, crafty guy, Pastor Wright never would have been brought on board.....he's too much of a liability.
How could Obama NOT have known about this after all the years of contact? The contact may not have been as close or as frequent as suggested, for one thing. It's not unthinkable for a politician to "pad" his religious experience. For another, the pastor's racial prejudices may not have been discussed; and, if brought up, may not have been discussed at any length because that topic was not the reason Obama was seeing him....conversion, rebirth was the reason. I don't believe the Senator was in the pew every Sunday for two decades. He's never said he was. If these 2 or 3 videos are all that are out there [ no audio tapes of offensive sermons have surfaced] from the last 17-20 years of preaching, it's easy to see how one could have been missed.
One quick example then I'll stop [the horse is down, Jan, but not quite dead]. I know nothing about the racial feelings of the man who guided me to conversion. I mean, looking back on it, I could guess if I had to. For the 3 years [I was a hard case] we were in weekly contact, I don't recall it ever coming up. There was too much that was more important to talk and pray about.
"One quick example then I'll stop [the horse is down, Jan, but not quite dead]. I know nothing about the racial feelings of the man who guided me to conversion. I mean, looking back on it, I could guess if I had to. For the 3 years [I was a hard case] we were in weekly contact, I don't recall it ever coming up. There was too much that was more important to talk and pray about."
Richard, Richard, Richard..speaking of horses, you are talking about a horse of different color here! It is not the same thing, and you know it. It is entirely different.
Obama was not seeing him for "converson, rebirth" for nearly twenty years!
" It's not unthinkable for a politician to "pad" his religious experience."
There you go, justifying his behavior, again, if indeed that is what he did.
Which it isn't.
Jan,
My comment on Sen.Obama possibly padding his religious experience wasn't meant to justify anything. I was suggesting that maybe he was being pragmatic. I was speculating. Sen.McCain went from being an Episcopalian to a Baptist late in '07 when it was pretty apparent that he was losing the religious right to Huckabee. That can be described as pragmatism on his part. Obama perhaps felt he needed to demonstrate [not to me] a lengthy, fervent religious experience in the Christian faith to counteract the aversion some would feel towards his name, his color, his early upbringing, and early life in a Muslim country. To some those are all liabilities.
We'll see what he says.....
True. True. I am corrected. Obama did not see Wright for conversion and rebirth for 20years. I personally don't believe he saw him all that often; that's why the "padding" suggestion; and that would explain how the Senator would not know the dark side of this guy and put him on as an adviser.
Tomorrow the Senator has scheduled a speech answering questions folks have about his relationship with the pastor. I hope it will answer most, if not all, the questions.
"Obama perhaps felt he needed to demonstrate [not to me] a lengthy, fervent religious experience in the Christian faith to counteract the aversion some would feel towards his name, his color, his early upbringing, and early life in a Muslim country."
Richard..so you're saying that pretending to be something you're not, which is what that would be, is supposed show people how honest and forthright you are?
I don't think so.
I hope that tomorrow's speech will answer most, if not all, of the questions, too.
The things is, who can believe him now?
Even today, Obama won't disassociate himself from this lunatic. He says that Wright is really a good guy, other than his views on America and Race. Sort of like saying Hitler was really a fine fellow aside from that gas chamber thing.
Hermit..you're right.
I just watched his speech, and as far as I'm concerned, all it will serve to do is stir up more trouble.
The speech was a 'something for everyone' kind of speech, and still blaming all the ills of society on slavery, and the resentment of whites, at the advantages offered to blacks through affirmative action.
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