Inspiration Versus Degradation
Sometimes our degraded press prefers the prediction to the event itself. I'm talking about Jeremiah Wright's interview with Bill Moyers. It aired last Friday night and to my mind was one of Bill's best interviews. Rev. Wright was talking to someone in his own metier. Moyers is also ordained, is a great speaker and cares deeply about social justice. So it was an equal interviewing an equal -- so seldom the case on television.
Bill Moyers nevertheless pushed Wright hard, raised all the questions Wright's out-of-context sound bites have aroused and played lengthy excerpts from his sermons. I was inspired. This is a pastor I'd listen to on a Sunday instead of namby-pamby Tim Russert or the various screaming clubs on network TV.
Wright seems utterly sincere to me. He strikes me as having a true spiritual calling. When he says, "America's chickens have come home to roost," I can't fault his logic. Haven't we been squandering hard earned taxpayer money on overseas adventures while we starve poor children? Haven't we been supporting dictators while prating of democracy? Haven't we been enriching profiteers at the expense of health care and education? You betcha.
A week ago I told my audience in Rome that in the last several years, I've been ashamed to be an American. A cheer went up from the amphitheater. It was such a relief, audience members later told me, to hear an American speak the truth for a change.
The Italians may have voted for Silvio Berlusconi, but they don't think George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have been good for America or the planet. Like most Americans, they would love to see them gone. So would Italians. Italians love American and feel pain when we slide away from the great ideals our Constitution and Bill of Rights have given the world.
Italians feel they have a stake in America. It's interesting to hear how thrilled they are by New York. When I say "sono New Yorkese" (I'm a New Yorker), they are delighted. And they also love LA and Chicago and Miami. Many Italians commute between New York and Rome, LA and Milan, Miami and Florence. They can't vote in the US but you'd never know that by how interested they are in American politics. They love our great 18th century traditions -- sometimes more than we.
So where's the discussion of Jeremiah Wright's real calling? You can't find it. Our idiotic press prefers to play orphaned excerpts and force Barack Obama to apologize for words he never spoke. What is this apology stuff? Everyone has to apologize for their pastors, their doctors, their mothers, their fathers, their churches, their social affiliations. Why? Apologies are cheap. Inspiration is hard to find.
Just because a man is inspired by his pastor doesn't mean he agrees with every word his pastor says. Duh. Even a moron knows that. But inspiration remains important. And you will never be inspired by running stuff out of context and playing gotcha.
Our press has become a sea of triviality, meanness and irrelevant chatter.
God knows inspiration is always welcome. Moyers and Wright gave us that on Friday night.
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You are totally correct.
But remember, when a prophetic voice speaks truth to power, the Judeo-Christian tradition is to martyr that voice - think of the truth sayers from Jesus all the way to MLK. So long as Jeremiah Wright is alive and speaking truth, he will be condemned, ridiculed, shouted down. Were he to be martyred, like MLK, why, then he would be praised for the brilliance, insight, decency, sacrifice and nobility that a few people like you can recognize and applaud without feeling threatened.
Well said. I
Erica should have mentioned that Rev. Wright noted in his sermon that he was quoting retired US Ambassador Edward Peck. It seems silly to me to have to note that Peck is white, but he's a whitey.
To quote Rev. Wright:
"I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday. Did anybody else see him or hear him? He was on Fox news. This is a white man and he was upsetting the Fox news commentators to no end. He pointed out. You see him John? A white man he pointed out -an Ambassador!"
For folks who haven't read the following Huff Po article:
http://www
Meet The (White) Man Who Inspired Wright's Controversial Sermon
I have to admit that Rev Wright speaks beautifully, and he seems extremely smart, logical, and has a few good points. With that being said, I have to say that this man preaches to thousands every week spreading hatred and distrust about white american to his followers. I can only imagine how moved his followers must feel when they leave church every Sunday.
The only thing that surprises me more is that there aren't mass riots or shootings after his sermons.
Wow. Very nice.
So, you're surprised that black people don't riot on a weekly basis?
I guess you didn't listen to his interview with Moyers. Some of his church members are white. I never heard anything that suggested that he spread hatred or distrust of white Americans. He spoke of the government policies over the years. More of us should have spoke up and maybe our government elected officials would have been different. You need to listen more!
I can imagine how moved Wright's parishioners are when they leave church on Sunday because, unlike you, I hear the message of love and of overcoming differences between people, which you are apparently still deaf to. Have you actually LISTENED to any of his sermons in their entirety?
Nicely done! Start out reasonable and friendly and then slander the man and his church and all that they believe in! Bravo! (Are you really Karl Rove? I imagine he would enjoy a user name like "amerigirl" - See I just slandered both of you - thanks for the inspiration!).
Seriously: You must have sat through dozens of his weekly sermons (I understand he gave several per day on Sundays, often all different) in order to come to the conclusions you did. I cannot imagine that you are saying this based on a few out-of-context Youtube clips you sort of watched or maybe heard about on Frakked News. Can't imagine that at all.
Sorry if that offended you, but I am really shocked at how okay his words are to you. I have never felt any racial feelings toward blacks, or any other race. I realize some white folks are evil, just as some blacks are evil, however Wright's comments are beyond racism. Anyone who agrees with it also has issues with race. I realize today that I am ignorant to how many blacks in america view whites. It's sad. Truly sad.
Rev. Wright is spiritually abusive. Instead of humble and kind, he is vicious, cruel, arrogant, conceited, total egotistical, lies, wants one set of ethical rules for himself and another set of ethical rules for everyone else.
He is deceitful and hateful. He has lumped all "Blacks" into one bucket and totally claims to know what each one thinks and feels, not allowing individuals to think for themselves or to question him. Once he has effective removed the Black brain but cutting it into half, one right brain and one left brain, the part of the human mind that questions is not allowed to his congregants. Talk about brainwashing. He is not allowing anyone to question his misguided beliefs that strip African Americans of their humanity and common bond with all persons.
This is classic cult behavior, and totally offensive to the sensibilities of anyone who listens and it doesn't take 20 years to figure this out.
Well, the truth, sir, appears that you are ....uncomf
I will take that back if you have been just as outraged at the statements of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Teg Haigee, Ron Parsley, etc,etc,etc.
Have you been?
If not, why is it OK when it's white preachers blaming liberals and gays for acts of god, but "cult like" IF IT'S A BLACK PREACHER BLAMING american foreign policy, NOT a group of Americans.
Keep working at it. Maybe in 20 years you will actually understand what Wright is saying.
My husband brought up a very good point after listening to the Moyers interview with Rev. Wright. His point - some people are looking for a reason to not vote for Obama because he is black and they are still uncomfortable with the idea of a black man holding the office of the president of the US. Rev Wright is their scapegoat! I believe he may be right. It's much easier to say they are suspicious of Obama's pastor than to admit the latter.
I pray Americans take a long and hard look at themselves and what is happening to our government. We need better leadership and I believe Obama is one of the best I have ever seen in my 60 years. Let's not let our fears or personal views of other races get in the way of all Americans winning this Fall.
Ok... one last thing here... After reading through all the comments on this article... I'm SHOCKED at the level of ignorance! What the hell is wrong with you people???? Open your eyes and LOOK at the truth of what the US is. Evil, disgusting racist excuse for a country.
Molte bene!
and Brava!
I don't speak Italian (though I've always dreamed of learning) and I LOVE to travel to Italy.
I'm happy to know people in Europe haven't written us off completely.
My hope is that the more everyone "uses" this Rev Wright brew-ha-ha (yeah, I'm misspellin
Thanks, Erica.
I always savor a gem from a great writer.
Oh dear Erica. You say that Reverend Wright has a true spiritual calling. Well I can understand his outbursts but no Christian preacher can ever have a true spiritual calling, the whole faith, which is the only one that asks us to treat its myths and fairy tales as literal history, is based on the lies of politically motivated men. Jeremiah Wright is as self interested as the rest and his sermons are excellent psychology in that they heap a few more shovelfuls of guilt onto the liberal middle classes.
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"God Damn America" indeed. It's because of the faux-patriotism and hyper-nationalism that is forced down the throats of all Americans that you can't seriously address some of the fundamental problems with the country without being ripped apart by the media. The US isn't the wonderful, shining city on the hill that most of you think it is. Rev. Wright is 100% correct in his assertions
There are two voices in every church, one that tells you God loves you and one that tells you that God doesn't love you. Rev. Wright has no right to preach in the name of an all loving God.
Tellmethetruth, maybe you should pick up that book and read it, you and a few others may learn something of value.
Because there is no God? If this is your take, I'm with you, then he is a hypocrite or at least deluded. But if you actually believe in this "God"-thing, and an "all loving" one at that, better wash your mouth out with soap and start over, Tellmethetruth.
Thank You Erica Jong!!! Choosing fair-mindedness over talking points is noteworthy in this primary by anybody on any side.....
I am so sick of hearing the far-left rant "I'm ashamed to be an American" . You never heard JFK or RFK or MLK, Jr say they were "ashamed to be American" and they lived the Civil Rights debacle that was the USA in the 50's and 60's. They may have been ashamed of some of the things that happened in America, but they NEVER said the were ashamed to be American.
I am not pleased with what has occurred in this country the last 16 years...Bi
Rev Wright is a loose cannon that may end up handing the Presidency to McBush in Novemeber and then you have 4 more years of the past 8.
Well Holt, if you have ANY sense of decency at all, you should be DAMN ASHAMED of what your country is doing, and what it represents. If you're not Ashamed, then either you don't have any understanding of the true nature of the US, or you do know but don't care.
Ok Holt... You Say : "but I am so proud of all this country is and stands for.""
What is it that you think the country is and what it stands for??? Really. Answer me honestly. If you have these feelings of pride, what exactly is it that you're proud of?
Are you suggesting that Erica Jong is on the "far-left", Holt?
It is the height of patriotism to feel shame at your country's wrongdoing.
Look, I love and respect my uncle Will. He's done a lot of good in his life, from raising a family, holding down a job, getting a house, and just being a generally good man to his family, friends, and community.
BUT, am I the bad guy for telling him that his drinking problem, credit card debt, and racist jokes aren't good?
Do I love him any less?
Does it mean he can't be a "good person" in the future?
Doesn't it really mean I love him enough to try to make him the good person he's capable of being?
They didn't have to live with 8 years of the Bush WH and all of his nasty cohorts. I have been heartbroken and heartsick over what has happened to our country. I have been ashamed with how the American people have and continue to behave.
Even a moron knows that? Beware of such assumption
I enjoyed the interview and liked getting a more truthful look at Pastor Wright.
But Moyers blew it in my opinion, he opened with blasting Wright's comments about the Government creating AIDS, before Wright came out.
Then once he was with the Pastor, he never asked him why he would make such statements.
As a Pastor, one should be familiar with the commandment, Thou shalt not bear false witness.
If Wright believes in this conspiracy, then supply some evidence..
This election is about Obama NOT Rev. Wright. Obama is a corporate, centrist Democrat to the left of Hillary. Rev. Wright is a progressive like Ralph Nader and the Greens. Fox and Hannity are doing everything they can to turn Barack Obama into a left progressive and not the mainstream candidate he is.
Why are progressives trying to turn Obama into a progressive when he is not. Let Obama be who he is. He is the most receptive of the primary candidates to progressives but he is also receptive to Republicans. My values are with Ralph Nader and the policies he supports but I am voting for Obama like many other progressives are. Ralph in this race is a distraction like Rev. Wright.
You are SO out of touch with the man- and woman-on-the-street in America. This Reverend Wright character has cost Senator Obama the chance to be elected President and has cost our country any hope for a restoration of Constitutional government.
For saying "God Damn America" there is no political come back. IF Mr. Wright had made an abject apology to Senator Obama, and to the American electorate, it MIGHT have taken the sting out of it.
But the Reverend's conceit won't let him do that. He'll stand his ground. It's like the protestant pastor who cost James Blaine the election in 1884 with his remark about "rum, Romanism, and rebellion.
SO what if it is true, for the most part? Some of the other things that Mr. Wright has said are pretty off the wall, aren't they? For the sake of a greater cause than his own egotistical vindication, the Reverend should have eaten his words. Mr. Wright, whose ill-chosen words ignited it, should have absorbed the controversy himself, like a soldier who falls on a live hand grenade to save his comrades.
Good lord man! Obama is a different person from Rev. Wright... or have you not noticed that? Go ahead and throw the first stone if you like to judge others, but at least judge Obama on his OWN statements, not the statements of others.
THAT IS THE POINT!!! Oh man... WHY is it so hard to get this across on HP!?
Listen2me isnt saying that THEY cant separate Wright from Obama, Listen2me is saying that PEOPLE wont. And the MSM, GOP and HRC will make SURE they dont.
Do none of you realize that Obama hasnt been elected yet?! Listen2me hit it right on the head. It doesnt MATTER if Wright is speaking some kind of UNIVERSAL TRUTH... His message will hurt Obama once it is parsed, sliced and diced.
The fact that Erica, and you, and so many others are angered by it and answer by saying "WELL PEOPLE ARE IDIOTS!" doesnt change the fact that this is reality!
Im glad we can all agree here on HUFFINGTON POST that all of this is just a big non-issue. Great. That will REALLY help get Barack elected. The problem is that THIS here is the choir that Wright is preaching to. Barack needs BROAD support to get elected.
What a tragedy if all of this BS causes him his chance b/c it could have all been avoided if only ego and tempers could have been kept in check in service of the bigger picture. Wright is certainly saavy enough to know this well, but his ego won't allow him to care.
Very true. Middle-America won't support Obama in the numbers he needs if they think he is a radical like his Pastor Rev Wright. Middle America wants a "normal" person to vote for.
I am (was?) an Obama supporter but it is making me rethink my choice.
Holt - You are as small minded as the other racist bigots out there. Those were Rev.Wright
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