For the past few days, Barack Obama’s former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright has dominated in the news. While Reverend Wright has made some outrageous remarks, I personally find his speech to be no more shocking than some of the other recent scandals involving the Catholic church or the actions of Bob Jones University, which has a history of being anti-Catholic and intolerant of inter-racial dating. Bob Jones U has been a popular campaign stop for many Republicans running for office, including President Bush back in 2000. And we shouldn’t forget that Hillary Clinton belongs to a conservative prayer group, The Family, which is reported to engage in a spiritual war on behalf of Christ. And I don’t know how many politicos lined up to see The Pope (a man who is considered to be a spiritual mentor and leader for many Catholics) a few weeks ago, who some may argue is not doing enough to alleviate the pain of victims of sex abuse via its clergy. Yet, the media doesn’t focus in on these associations as closely as they have been with Barack Obama and Rev. Wright.
I hope that we can turn off the TV when we see another Rev. Wright soundbite or that we can write a letter to the editor of whatever publication when we read another article about something he said in a sermon or speech that was given years ago or yesterday and demand that we know more about what is going on in Iraq or why college tuition is still unaffordable. Issues like the war, college affordability, rising food prices, and access to health care should dominate the airwaves instead of soundbites of Rev. Wright.
We also should remember that we have a separation of church and state in this country. Barack Obama, being a constitutional law professor, should be very well of this and strive to maintain it. Dragging his pastor into the presidential campaign discourse isn’t healthy or helpful for anyone and serves no real purpose other than to inflame passions.
For those who do want to learn more about Reverend Wright, I would suggest that you research black liberation theology and read some of his sermons beyond what is quoted in mainstream publications. I think that when his remarks are put into context, they make more sense.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Michaelr // May 1, 2008 at 2:02 pm
This is just more duplicitous reporting from the mainstream media focusing exclusively on the misdeeds of people of color. I am sure you’re not surprised how they handled Geraldine Ferraro’s racist comments, and she was a paid consultant of HRC before she was forced to resign. Based on HRC’s ethnicity, she will always get a free pass. Look at the racist things BYU gets away with, and your tax dollars are still used to fund the education of more racist small minded white people. Double standards based on ethnicity are a way of life in U.S. culture. It is one of those diseases that is confronted periodically by prominent social activists, and usually quelled by violence and assassination. Welcome to the Land of the Free.
2 BettyM // May 7, 2008 at 3:27 pm
You make some interesting statements about the media and I tend to agree. However, Rev. Wright appears to me to be a very smart and articulate individual. He used the media……Mr. Obama didn’t distance himself from him fast enough!
3 Wendy Carrillo // May 12, 2008 at 11:57 am
It seems to me that America likes to live in this state of denial. If you walk into any Black church in America whose pastors are of the MLK Generation, who grew up in segregation, there is a sense of resentment, anger and mistrust. This reason is why Rev. Al Sharpton has in many ways, stayed away from Obama’s campaign. SNL did a pretty good cartoon about this! I agree with you, I think Rev. Sharpton’s rhetoric brings nothing to the campaign other than make Obama a scary black man! You should check out John Stewart’s clip on this! Hillarious!
But maybe… as a political strategy… I’m glad this conversation is taking place w/ HRC.
There is NO WAY that McCain can rehash this.
4 Irma // Jun 18, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Sorry, but there lots of churches out there.
Obama picked one run by a racist, white hating,
Jew hating , psycho. He sat there for 20 years and at some point subjected his children to that place.
I want NO part of a man who takes his children
to a place like that for political gain. Yes, I dont believe Obama believes in that crap but he didnt have huevos to walk away from it. He thought he needed it politically. I guess he did – but he lost my vote.
5 Irma // Jul 31, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Where is the outrage on the non Hispanic blogs
about the murder of Luis Ramirez? Yes, Ruben
Navarette wrote a piece but this was expected.
I will monitoring the political blogs over the next few weeks to see anybody besides Mexicans care
about the senseless violence directed an immigrant.
Leave a Comment