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.

Comments

[srijani]

After seeing Rev. Wright at the N.A.A.C.P.dinner yesterday I understand how Barack Obama as a young man
would want to join that church and by the way so do I.
No dirty deed there just political enemies with dirty minds, dirty tricks and a dumb media.

[onceler]

thanks for writing this. twice tonight I've watched Wright's speech to the NAACP in Detroit, and while I have would love to debate the guy, I gotta say it was a pretty amazing speech. he is an incredibly knowledgeable person with a great sense of humor. hell, if my church had a preacher like that I might have kept going.

[MetryJen]

I agree, the Rev undoubtedly knows a great deal about a lot of different things. As an atheist, I tend to think *all* pastors/preachers/priests are a little off the beaten path, but I would stay to watch this guy. Even his most "divisive" comments are still nowhere near as bad as what I've heard sitting in other churches.

[fignozzle]

the moyer's interview was WAY more comfortable than the cnn thingy.
where i heard alot of stuff that still made sense to me.
what a lil' day, huh?

[Bearangaria]

I believe Reverend Wright is sincere in his beliefs
and I believe his personal history and the history of blacks in America
entitles them to be frustrated, angry, and yes outraged.
What I don't understand is the reverend's need to present himself to this
obviously rabid, muckraking media at this juncture.
He's clearly an intelligent, savvy man. What did he think people
would take away from his statement "He [Obama] does what he needs
to do as a politician and I do what I need to do as a pastor."
Nudge nudge. Wink wink. is what they will think because they
don't think beyond the sound byte and he knows it.
What did he think the media would do with it?
It appears as if Reverend Wright is angry with Obama.
Could he be punishing the wrong person for the way in which
his own words were cut and served up?
His recent actions and statements certainly cannot help the man one
would think the reverend would want to see in the White House.
Obama will have to get there despite the pastor's preaching persona.

[carolinwoodstock]

Couldn't agree more with the comments on the press. I agreed with much of what Reverend Wright had to say, especially the chickens coming home to roost quote, but was kind of turned off by some of the other sound bites. After watching Moyers, I felt more sickened than usual about what the press managed to do to this intelligent man, since even I (an Obama supporter and a harsh critic of our government) had been influenced by the sensationalization of this inspirational man.

On the other hand, I wonder if it was important for Rev. Wright to say "Obama is a politician". The press is running with that and not with any thoughtful comment on how well spoken Wright was in the interview.

Thank you Erica for a great post.

[srijani]

Go to any African-American church in the country on any given Sunday and you will see a Rev.
Wright tending to his or her flock in just about the same way.
Black churches are different we are lively, we sing , dance, and clap.
Our ministers do the same and give rousting, social minded sermons
based on bible text.
Rev. Wright's words were taken out of context, ridiculed, and denounced by lazy reporters.
Not one word was said about Rev. Wright being a decorated Marine, and Lydon Johnson's nurse.
The bottom line is this nation has to have a dialogue on race as Barack said and we
can get back to real issues.

[devadasi]

Srijani, I so relate to what you're saying. As a white woman I prefer going to Black churches. I love the emotional energy. As a creative arts therapist, praising God through song and dance is beautific.

Wright certainly opened up Pandora's box. Living in NYC and hanging out with like minded people, I never, ever realized there was so much racisim STILL in America. I'm aghast and embarrassed from what I'm hearing from some white people on this blog.

[obamamania]

It's amazing that everytime that a black man is running as a President he has to talk about race and he is pushed so hard in that corner to be labeled as a racist but a white man won't be ask to talk about race.
.
The problem is that white people don't want to deal with the moral issue of racism and black people are so trapped in that issue that they hardly can move forward without being drag inside. Truly race does not matter, what matter is what who have in your brains, your ideas and how who can move forward embrassing all races in their differences. This Rev. Wright issue is a non sense just out there to distract people. The man is intelligent, smart and knows a lot more than the media is potraying him. Being smart and intelligent in united States now is a hard sell because pepole spend their times talking about pin label, flags, who is or who is not patroitic and all this non sense bouhaha. The media is taking the audience as a puppet dividing people on different categories from white to black to beer drinkers to phily chease eaters and nobody knows anymore who is who.

Politic means policies not a way of life. You can't not ask any candidates about policies and try to linked to their entire life. It's easy to sit behind a computer and question people patriotism while we don't have to prove ours.

[bentenrai]

In the US, intelligent = elitist. You have to dumb yourself down to become president.

[DownwithFearMongers]

"Apologies are cheap. Inspiration is hard to find." That says it all Erica!

[stoneworks]

I thought Jeremiah's interview was the most honest and substantial content I've ever seen on TV in all my 39 years of being enslaved by this heavily corporatized medium. I only wish the people who most need to hear it would take the time to actually watch it and listen with an open mind. Instead, I'm quite certain they'll see it as an opportunity to gather more grist for their mill of untruths. I've been forwarding the link to the broadcast to everyone I know.

[sebocd]

Lincoln's version "When The Chickens Came Home To Roost",

The Almighty has His own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

Second Inaugural


About the speech Lincoln said, "... I believe it is not immediately popular. Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them."

Take heart Rev.Wright. You are in good company!

[FJRinLA]

Whew LORD....thank you for that, sebocd, whoever and wherever you are.

I am fumbling to google that entire 2nd Inaugural right now!!!

And I should also add Kudos to Ms Jong here with this piece. Just credit it to giving credit when it is due; but I have long derided her kneejerk support of Sen. Clinton and correspondingly pseudo-feminist critiques of Sen. Obama. She was falling in with that familiar Huffington cabal of angy anti-Obama white women; but if this piece marks her walk back to sanity and the sanctity of loyal DEMS then I am welcoming it with open arms.

[sebocd]

Ditto. I'm feeling guity for all the mean things I thought and said about Erica. What a joy to find that we have been rash and threatened by people who usually have more in common with us, than differences.. i think this is all part of the "Obama Doctrine"
God bless. Sebastian.

[ResidentChimp]

Another Blame America First thinks the racist Wright is okay. No surprise there. We'll see how it plays in the rest of America where jong has never been.

[DBracewell]

Would that be the rest of America where an honest assessment of US foreign policy has never been?

[FogBelter]

I'm guessing, RC, that someone gave you the misconception that you were anointed with the right to judge the Patriotic Quality of other Americans ... that, somehow, you have been granted the right to apply a litmus test to parsed comments by the Reverend Wright and judge his quality as an American or a Patriot ...

I hate to break your heart, Resident Chimp, but you're no one to judge anyone. Americans have the right to their views and opinions ... that is the key principle of being a US Citizen. The days of a Joe McCarthy judging the quality of his fellow Americans are over ... no one is looking for an auditor of American Patriotism.

Keep that in mind.

[Davwbaird]

You are so right. What in the hell is going on? This land is very strange now days.

[kirksong]

I finally agree with Erica this time. I found the interview with Reverend Wright brilliant, inspirational, and authentic. It is clear why anyone with an independent mind would be impressed by Reverend Wright's understanding of the bible and history. He speaks his truth with clarity, passion, and wisdom. He is not so concerned with the judgement of men. I see a bit of the revolutionary in Senator Obama's eyes on rare occassion - it doesn't trouble me, we need a non-violent revolution, and soon.

[durant]

I watched the Moyers interview with Reverend Wright and was greatly impressed by the man. I believe Rev. Wright is scheduled for a press conference at the National Press Club tomorrow, and it will be interesting to see what comes of that.

[margi]

The right wing would have wanted Rev Wright to be silenced, this would have left a doubt in white america's mind. (the news media said Rev Wright is divisive and hateful) but his interview on PBS and his speech in detroit tonight , gave us a real and true appreciation of the man behind the sound bites. Only stupid and ignorants, would say after listen to him, that what he said does not make sense.

If you've noticed, he was quoting a lot from researchers in terms of education and linguistic. We are "different but not deficient". Now when you see your fellow human beings , you will always keep in mind that you are neither superior , nor inferior, you are simply different and that's alright.
Thank you Rev Wright.

[ResidentChimp]

You're absolutely wrong. We want Wright's hatred exposed. His Afro Centric church where blame the white man for all the problems in the world should be view by all the public. Obama sat through twenty years of hate and never once spoke out, because he sees himself as a black first and an American second.

[prof92506]

The only hate I see here is yours. You're so full of hate and venom that you want to poison those around you.

[devadasi]

ResidentChimp, where in the world do you come from? 'he sees himself as a black first and an American second.' Wbat the hell is this, are you saying that we're living in the Soviet Union now? Is that what you're saying? Cause that what it sounds like to me. So as a white woman if I say I'm white first and American second, I'm what then? Or if I say I'm a woman first, and an American second, what does that mean to you? Get a grip!

I don't feel threatend by Rev. Wright. You do. You feel threatened...you feel threatened because you're ignorant. You are one miserable human being.

[MinneapolisBob]

ResidentChimp:

Black Americans see themselves as Black first and Americans second, because White American governmental leadership has written laws to shape their thinking to be exactly that. Go back and read history books, and the Constitution. Until you have lived as an African American you should keep quite. Would you swap places with the average Black American? Oh I forgot, Black Americans are now living Elitist lives.

By the way, have you called all of your Catholic friends to leave their churches because Priest raped and molested boys in their parishes?

[ResidentChimp]

Any one who has watch Farrakhan or Afrafat is on to Wright's game. Hatred against whites and Jews in front of the congregation and all soft and respectful in front of a white audience.

[prof92506]

What a hateful, spiteful little man you are. You use yourself as a standard for measuring those around you. You can't recognize honesty and sincerity because you have none yourself.

[elbzee]

As opposed to your Hatred agains blacks and your obvious fear? I'm sorry white boy, but you've not got too many buyers here.

[jagoneely]

Bravo. I totally agree. I too watched the interview and I really get Rev. Wright. During the Bush "with us or against us" depressing years, we are not allowed to call American government out on their blunders. That is why I believe Bush and co. are the real anti-americans here. They have begun to distroy a 200-plus-year-old democracy for the most selfish reasons, at great expense to our beloved country. "Anti-American" needs to be redefined. Those with absolute power that cause suffering in their own homeland, unapologetically, and without correction - those who dismantle our constitution and encroach on civil liberties and TORTURE and lie for the benefit of a wealthy few are the America-haters. War profiteers stained with the blood our OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS are the America-haters. Those who pay generals to lie us into an immoral war are ani-American. Reverend Wright is a church man, who answers to God first. God doesn't torture. God doesn't hate. God isn't rich. And God doesn't war. Leave the spin to the pundits and politicians. If you answer to God first, there's no doubt that America has erred repetitively, and done evil. If we don't admit it, we can't fix it. This country is wonderful, and sometimes awful. Why not admit it?

[Stevelagain]

Then why did Obama say what Wright said was wrong? When you work so hard to SPIN Wright from bigoted racist to "enlightened" you make your own candidate look like a fool.

[jagoneely]

Obama had his reasons. I'm only telling you what I think. I notice you didn't comment on the substantial WAR CRIMES Bush has committed. Like most Neo-cons you like smoke and mirrors rather than see the truth. I agree with another post I saw here - people like you will continue to vote for those that do absolutly nothing to make America, or your own life better. You will be asleep at the wheel til you hit that tree.

[MidwestMomma]

I just can't imagine being so afraid of moving forward, onward and upward. Did you see the interview?

[stoneworks]

Apparently you can't run for office without everyone and their cousin trying to pin some kind of false scandal on you. I don't blame Barack for trying to somewhat distance himself from ideology which, obviously judging by your remarks, is considered "extremist" by a large portion of Amerikkka's TV-lovin' majority. Jeremiah speaks the truth, false patriotism be damned.

[Balloonman]

Yes jagoneely. BUSH & Company are the anti-americans. Like anti-christs as parallel. Considering the value of that alleged myth applied to anybody claims they, these 'messengers' eh, are the word of AMERICA like they are true AMERICA. As they destroy from the inside out it in the name of AMERICA for their own sake, amen. 'They' convince us to follow them, these look-a-like AMERICANS as if their bloody selfish causes are in the name of AMERICA In our best interests. Anti-Americans in American disguise. Devils in otherwords, so to speak. These are wicked people considering they invoke AMERICA and order and claim our AMERICA SOUL as their own while 'they' manipulate it/us to denounce, abandon justice, compassion, and common sense to serve their greedy heartless anti-American schemes. These anti-Americans walk amongst us and look just like us. Rule us. Ho.