The Undeniable Virtue of Jeremiah Wright's Pro-Blackness (and the Problem with Pro-Whiteness)
Bill Moyers is broadcasting a siddown with Barack Obama's "controversial" pastor Jeremiah Wright this Friday evening, April 25th. By Saturday expect every utterance Pastor Wright makes to be as picked over as an episode of Lost at the San Diego Comicon.
Now, I'm not going to even try to defend everything that Pastor Wright has to say. At least not the four of five loopy sound bytes -- out of how many thousands of sermons he's given -- that have made him quite the YouTube sensation. But there is a particular aspect of the Wright mischaracterization I take exception with: the idea that his pro-black teachings make him some kind of radical separatist. Interviewing Pastor Wright in March of last year, for example, Fox's Sean Hannity had this to say about statements appearing on the website for Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ:
"It says, "Commitment to God." By the way, I'm with you, and I hope you'll pray for me, Reverend. Commitment to the black community, commitment to the black family, adherence to the black work ethic. It goes on, pledge, you know, acquired skills available to the black community, strengthening and supporting black institutions, pledging allegiance to all black leadership who have embraced the black value system, personal commitment to the embracement of the black value system. Now, Reverend, if every time we said black, if there was a church and those words were white, wouldn't we call that church racist?"
In answer to the question: yeah, probably. But that's 'cause there's a difference between being pro-black and pro-white and the difference is a bad one.
Adherence to pro-black values isn't code for "kill whitey." It's merely how blacks have managed to stay alive and viable in America all these many years since we were first graciously given a ride across the middle passage to get dropped off in Virginia.
"A commitment to the black community" is what got us collectively through slavery, through an abandoned reconstruction and the ensuing era of Jim Crow. As I'm sure some will recall, because of a pesky little thing called segregation there was nothing for the black community to rely on but the black community.
Ironically, the community values and focus on the family Wright preaches of are exactly the kind of "don't bother us, do it yourself"-isms conservatives are always hectoring people of color to observe. How convenient for the pundits they can both wish us off the perceived teat, then get riled by those who encourage us to be self-reliant.
To the contrary of pro-blackness, it's pro-whiteness which has unfortunately produced some awful to horrible results: white sheets and nooses and burning cross and Citizens Councils and red lining and guys nicknamed Brownie doing a "heck of a job."
That's not say there's anything wrong with being comfortable in white skin. If that's what God gave you, sure, be happy with it. However, the whole concept of having to be pro-white is redundant. It's not as if, in the normal course of events, white folks as a race really need that much encouragement. Do teachers really have to explain to white kids that in a more fair America they could perhaps grow up to be president?
So, yeah; based on its suspect history, if one were to preach the doctrine of pro-whiteness there could be due cause for concern.
Pro-blackness, on the other hand -- analogous to the Protestant work ethic -- is one of the most positive American values we have.
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Are you insane? The essence of separatism is to divide. That is what the Reverend was preaching, and you even admit to it. However, there have been several instances of race-related violence in the world. We need but turn on a television.
According to the DoJ, the most common instance of race-related and interracial crimes is with a black perpetrator and a white victim. It's true that not all interracial crimes have race as a motivator, however, instance for instance, these are the facts.
Now, back to the issue. Supporting all-black institutions is racist, because it judges people based on race. So does giving to the black community and all the other stuff you mentioned. Race is the determinant factor in racism, not certain races.
Perhaps you will realize the error of your ways. Everyone needs to be encouraged to do good things, not just some people.
Forty years ago you would have been arguing to jail civil rights workers. America is changing for the better despite people like you.
Where you get your ideas is ridiculous. Nowhere was jailing or punishment advocated. I simply advocated to treat racism as racism.
America is changing for the better because of people like me: people who believe in actual equality rather then preferential treatment. Equality is equal. Racism is judging based on race. No racism is okay, or acceptable, or anything like that. I'm not willing to give Rev. Wright the benefit of the doubt because he's black, because all people are equal. Even our host blogger admitted that reversing the races would be considered racist speech.
Making exceptions is what is truly racist.
Pro-Black.
PRO-AMERICAN???
I think Wright and the Obamas have done pretty damn good for themselves in "racist," America.
Imagine how much better they could have done in a non-racist culture.
I get so sick of the dumb notion that successful blacks are proof that racism doesn't exist. Blacks have achieved success thoughout the history of this country(look up Madam C.J. Walker, Robert Church, Biddy Mason to name a few). Does that prove that there has never been any racism in America? That those people never experienced racism? Of course not. Do blacks and other minorities who achieve despite racism lose the right to speak out against it? Again, of course not.
There are quite a few blacks, including Wright and Obama, who have done "pretty damn good for themselves in 'racist' America." Yet, unlike their white counterparts who have also done well in America, black Americans who have done well have also had to contend with the stubborn stumbling blocks of racism along their journey, and were able to succeed in spite of it. The fact that they succeeded does not negate the racism with which they were challenged, or the racism that still exists in America today. In fact, one need only look at the hurdles Senator Obama has had to leap over, and the hoops he's had to jump through, contrary to his opponents, throughout this primary. And even now, the one demographic that Senator Obama cannot penetrate are the older, traditional white Americans who will never vote for a black man simply because he is black! Yes, blacks have done well in America, not because there is no racism, but in spite of the racism that threatens to hold them back.
Obama and Wright do well because people before them fought racists and bigots and got the US government to do a better job protecting ALL of its citizens. As Blacks have advanced in this society through social and legal conflict -- not by some White consensus that African Americans should be treated equally. Winning CONFLICTS have carved out a space for African Americans to thrive. When African Americans were losing conflicts in this society - they were catching hell.
North, Central or South?
East or West?
We're all pro-American josephjsalas, otherwise we wouldn't be blogging and we wouldn't be taking the nomination and the election so seriously. You need to start thinking for yourself and dig a little deeper.
When people were pro-American - WWII - Blacks were still catching hell! Being "Pro- American" doesn't guarantee equal treatment under the law unless you are a true adherent to REAL American values such as Freedom, Justice and Equality. Far too often being "Pro-American" is another term for White Christian Nationalism.
Good points.
It is perfectly acceptable to march in a St Patrick's Day parade and proclaim Irish pride. There are tons of pride celebrations every year in America that celebrate a group or ethnicity. The point that is always overlooked when it comes to Black pride, is that slavery led to the destruction of tribal identification and ethnicity for Black Americans. The celebration of Black culture is no more "racist" than my Irish pride, there is just not a specific designation for Black Americans that doesn't bring out idiots that say being pro-Black is the same as being anti-White. Well, says the simplistic thinker, they are opposites right? It is an argument based in our faulty language and what the stain of slavery did to Black culture. The separation of race and ethnicity is something that white people take for granted. We have the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Orthodox, German churches, Cantonese churches, and we get cranky because the words Black or African, are used with pride? Check out statements from all of the churches who promote their ethnicities and cultures. Are they anti- American? When I celebrate St Patrick's' Day, am I saying that I hate and wish to destroy all non-Irish people? No, and no.
We stole ethnic designations from the people we enslaved, and then we condemn them for celebrating their survival because they are using the very language we forced on them. Shameful.
"We stole ethnic designations from the people we enslaved"
How many "African-Americans" did you enslave? To me thats the problem I watch this crap on T.V. and see these women saying that "Your america enslaved us" first of the America I stand for fought to free them many whites died in the civil war knowing that if they won blacks would be free that is my America secondly black African leaders enslaved them from a historical standpoint and allowed them to be brought to America as slaves from the history books I read and slavery is still gong on in Africa today. I have no problem with anyone taking pride in who they are but when I am generalized as someone who would be a slave owner, then yes I tend to get a little upset.
Actually, I recently discovered that my family was involved in the slave trade. But I didn't say anything that remotely implied that you were a slave owner. Again, you are not making much sense, Chuckd74. The fact is, we would not be here if this country had been not supported by slave labor. We have a history in this country that we cannot deny. The Civil War was fought to stop the SPREAD of slavery, not to end it. The Emancipation Proclamation only freed the Southern slaves, not the Union slaves. I love my country, but I love it as it is, not how I wish it to be. I love it despite it's imperfections.
Are you saying slavery was somehow consensual on the part of the slaves because African leaders profited from the slave trade? What does Africa's current slavery policy have to do with our behavior as a country? My point was about the fact that slavery ended the ability of enslaved African Americans to identify with ethnic designations other than the one we gave them. I'm glad that you agree that everyone has the right to be proud of their culture.
Pity Obama did not stand up for Rev. Wright instead of distancing himself from him. As I watched I became very proud of him and his church . I was also proud of President Clinton for having him over to the White House for the Prayer Breakfast. As the Rev.said politicians do what they do and preachers likewise. Where were all the black politicians and ministers in the Rev.'s hour of need?Seems like they followed Barak to the door.They make Judas look like the good guy.
I'm not sure it's quite fair to say that Obama hasn't stood up for Rev. Wright. This piece on the Root explains how Obama's very complicated relationship with what the man represents:
http://www
I'm greman irish scottish and english, so I'm very freaking confused should I stand by my german roots and hate jews or maybe my scotch and irish roots and hate england or maybe go with my english roots and drink tea and conquer lands other than mine to colonize???
Maybe since I was born in America I will love my American roots and realize that evil comes in all colors of people and good comes in all colors of people and hope to god I have sense enough to distinguish between the two instead of saying all english are scum for the atrocities they have commited agaist the world, or all germans are nazi's, or all blacks hate whites like Rev. Wright, or all irish are drunking pigs, or that all scotts wear skirts, or all oriental people are geniuses.
People of all color really need to stop generalizing each other at all thats what is showing the most ignorance to me.
Liberals claim to have it all figured out. to you it's ok to hate yourself and loathe in self pity, while handing out welfare checks and backing affirmative action, helping those less fortunate than you as you sit on your pedistool feeling supeior that you are helping someone you feel cannot help themselves. Yet you want to call me as a republican rightwinger a racist because I believe all men are created equal. You people really are sad you twist and play the race card constantly just because I would not vote for Obama does not mean I am racist, I love Condi I love her attitude, Clarence Thomas to me is an outstanding man, I have nothing but respect for Gen. Colin Powell... but because I don't see eye to eye with you I am a rascist I have not seen one valid argument from you people all propoganda Liberalism is the true problem America faces.
chuckd74, you may not be a racist, but you are not terribly open-minded or reflective. Sorry, but anyone who says they love Condi or Clarence Thomas should be blogging somewhere else. You're just going to get a lot of shit here. Obviously you're bored with those that think like you...I don't blame you. Look I don't believe in handouts either, and as a white woman over 40 I find Obama very compelling and I don't agree with him on all of the issues either. I think he's more patriotic than any of the three candidates. As for Liberalsim, there's good and bad liberalsim. But Liberals are basically humanists and that's a good thing. Capitalism has to work side to side with social programs. It works in Europe and it can work here. When you've got CEO's in America making 100 x more money than CEO's in Europe, something is very wrong. Something is very wrong with paying $4.00 a gallon at the pump. Get real and get a heart while you're at it.
I don't think you are a racist but I do know if you love Condi, Clarence, and Colin you are most probably not into thinking for yourself. Colin "not so much' but the other two definately have tunnel vision as do most Republicans. I know I grew up in a family of Republicans which is why I moved over to the other side. The kind side!!!!
White women get more WELFARE CHECKS and AFFIRMATIVE ACTION than anyone. They must be self-loating and pitiful. You are a racist if you think only Blacks or all Blacks are on welfare or need Affirmative Action. Are all white men coke heads and child molesters?
Liberals believe that all men are created equal, but that some of those people need help and assistance.
Many of the current crop that label themselves Conservative or Republican believe that all men are created equal, but some are more equal than others and the rest of the lesser equals need to get over it.
I don't think anyone would call you racist because you wouldn't not vote for Obama based on a disagreement with his viewpoint. I haven't seen many people actually do that.
Chuckd74, were you replying to my comment? It had so little to do with anything that I wrote I couldn't tell. I do not hate myself or "loathe" in self pity. I just think that it's alright for people to be proud of and support their heritage or culture, and that includes African Americans. What does that have to do with welfare or affirmative action, Chuckd74? How does my opinion that people have a right to feel proud of themselves make me feel superior? Don't you believe that "all men are created equal?" You are not making any sense.
There are Irish social clubs, Ukranian social clubs, Italian-American social clubs and scholarships, but white people shitthemselves over Black-anything. Funny that.
For those of us who watched Bill Moyers[ interview with Reverend Wright, and agree that the MSM, beginning with Fox News and Sean Hannity, purposely and very strategically promoted a LIE to discredit Senator Obama by slandering his Pastor and Trinity United Church of Chrrist, PLEASE:
EMAILL, CALL, WRITE LETTERS ... over and over again!!
Fox News, Sean Hannity, and the MSM in general must be held accountable for the grave disservice thay have done to Reverend Wright, to Senator Obama, and to the American people. We can be not be silent on this matter. It was a deliberate attempt to manipulate this election, and they have overstepped their boundaries BIG TIME!
I have a wonderful brother and as a brother he is the BEST!
Yet, he is an A-Hole as a husband and father. Do I disown him or what?
Do you like anyone and has anyone you know done something you did not agree with?
If so, what did you do?
Email, call, or write letters! That don't work, clean his clock.
Are you asking this of me, or is this a rhetorical question? I think we both agree with each other about Senator Obama's relationship with Pastor Wright. Like most of us, Pastor Wright is not perfect, but neither is he who Sean Hannity attempted to portray him to be. To the contrary, he is an honorable man and an extraordinary minister of the church, who sometimes gets so caught up in his passion for truth and justice and for God's will and word to be heard, that his words become abrasive and shocking, but no less truthful. I commend Senator Obama for standing by Pastor Wright, and for not yielding to the political games of either the MSM or Senator Clinton who have used inflammatory soundbites to cast a shadow over their relationship.
If your question is directed to me: Yes, I do know people with whom I disagree, people I nonetheless love unconditionally, recognizing their flaws, but loving them for the whole person they are, beyond their flaws, and for the meaning they have given to my life. I would never, ever disown them, not even if someone else who neither knows nor understands them, tells me to do so!
A "LIE" that so many of the ignorant in this country "cling to."
Before jumping to conclusions view the entire interview between Bill Moyers and Reverend Wright. Moyers is an excellent interviewe
Wright is more of a patriot than many of the RW idiots and certainly more so than Hannity and his ilk.
Eighty-three percent of Americans polled think that the country is headed in the wrong direction and yet probably about fifty percent would vote for status quo. Think!
Please don't allow Hannity, Fox et al., to decide for you. Read, research and make decisions based upon what gray matter exists betwixt your ears and not by snippets fed you by the MSM.
I watched Rev. Wright last night and was glad to really hear what was said in his sermon. Every word was the truth. Now why did Sean A. Hannity turn it around so much?
Now is the time for all the good people of America to come to the aid of this country.
E-Mail, wright, call Fox News and demand that Sean A. Hannity be fired for lieing to the American people. Don't stop there either. Go after Rush A. Limbaugh, Michael A. Savage, Laura A. ingram,and all of these so called conservative talk show host. While you are at it hit the Main Stream Media too. Act now people because this is the best chance ever.
I saw on C-Span that Reverend Wright will speak at the Press Club luncheon on Monday,in D.C. It will in all probability be televised on C-Span.
Wow a TV Program!!! that would be good. I want Wright to be my pastor too. this guy just shut down the MSM for all those lies they been feeding us.
I had initially decided not to watch the Bill Moyers show, but out of I boredom I did. As a result I saw the full Wright interview and extended portions of the sermons with the "controversial remarks" in full context, and I have to say after seeing it, my whole opinion of Wright changed for the better, and for the worse regarding the media. Jeremiah Wright came off as an intelligent, caring, and thoughtful man who was exercising his well earned and guaranteed right to dissent from and comment on the government policies of this country. And while I don't agree with his conspiracy theories, or conclusions of his sermons, after getting the full picture, I certainly wouldn't label him crazy, unpatriotic or dangerous.
It's not only unethical, but should be illegal for the media to quote snippets of a person's speech or sermon, and spin it for a totally different meaning just to ramp up controversy. It demeans out political process, and insults the electorate. The media is squandering it's fourth amendment rights, and needs to take its share of responsibility for cheapening, and demeaning our political process with its "selective quotation" methods. The main stream media has a responsibility and duty to give us the full story please to help us make an informed decision, not just something to induce a demonstrably misleading controversy. They are a very big part of the problem, not the solution.
The media is owned and operated by the big corporations. The so-called journalists that work for them are nothing more than actors who know or care nothing about true journalism which is supposed to be a search for truth. If they weren't "performing" on these talking head shows, they would be advertsing shampoo and hairspray on TV. The corporations use the media and our public airways to lie and deceive their way toward taking away the American democracy and in it's place establish (and this always raises hackles of the uninformed) a fascist state. Mussolini once said that fascism is a misnomer. What it is, is corporatism. A state that is owned and operated by the elites and well connected who will feed us bread and circuses to keep us mollified while they grab it all for themselves. The media is nothing more than a propaganda organ for our emerging fascism. Of course we can be thankful for the likes of Bill Moyers and Keith Obermann but they are like the little Dutch Boy with their finger in the hole in the dyke. Thomas Jefferson once said that the Tree of Liberty needs to be periodically watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots. The Tree of Liberty is wilting.
MSM was the real villain in the Rev. Wright story. They had all the facts that Bill Moyers brought out, but chose instead to use the right wing sound bites. Thank God for Moyers and Wright, two true patriots.
What's most ironic about Hillary Clinton's statements regarding Rev. Wright is that her husband, then-President Bill Clinton, delivered very wise words at former President Richard Nixon's funeral. Bill said that a person's life must be judged in its entirety, not on individual events (words that probably became personally meaningful for Bill after Monica Lewinsky, the deposition definition of "is," the Lincoln Bedroom, the pardons of Marc Rich, et al, and, more recently, Obama as Jesse Jackson in SC, his wife's Tuzla memories, the race card, etc.). However, like NAFTA, I suppose Hillary covertly disagreed with her husbands words about Nixon...
One more noble Clinton gesture down the toilet.
Rev. Wright's words, in their entirety, describe a man who has been positively active in his community and his nation. Rev. Wright's life attests to the same things. Unfortunately for him, he tapped a vein that this country is still not ready to repair. For that, all of his positive works were attacked for political and media expediency. Given the person that he is, I'm sure that Rev. Wright will continue to do good works in his community and nation. That makes him better than his persecutors and gives us a fine example to aspire to. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "right (pun intended), temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant
I got some previews, more snippets, on CNN on Thursday night that made me dread what was coming the following evening on Moyers. That preview was a group of three "respected opionators", one of whom was indignant and shocked that Rev. Wright would choose this time, of all times, to speak out in his own defense, and how that could only hurt Obama. That little portion of the interview they were commenting on Wright answering the question, Has Obama ever repeated anything that Wright preached, and his answer was to the effect that, no, Obama is a "politician" doing his job as a politician and he (Wright) was doing his as a pastor. At that point, I was prepared to not watch Moyers, someone I greatly admire and have watched and listened to for years because I too was angry at Wright for what he said. I should have known better, it was CNN after all. I watch entire interview and was relieved to hear Wright speak of his history as well as his church. Unfortunately, it was just a bit of his history. He will continue to be villified by people who choose to perceive him in the tiny pidgeon-holed YouTubed picture and not the larger, much larger man who has been a postive leader in the community, a true Christian being slandered and hated by many who call themselves Christians. They will never get it, a loss for them as well as our country.
I agree with you, any true Christian after watching Moyers last night would agree with Mike Huckabee, and the many white ministers that are standing by Wright - if you do not see what this man is saying, you live in a perpetual state of denial and God help you all.
How convenient. Just dismiss outright, anybody who disagrees. Huckabee??? He's another religious charlatan.
Another issue raised by the Revrend Wright situation is the issue of activism in the church. Reverend Wright has issues he is concerned about, and the pastors of most other churches have issues they avoid. Like war. Pre-emptive war. Some pastors have become adept at never saying anything significant about that issue, and it is easy to see why when you see what a mess the others who don't avoid the issue are causing for themselves. Life in America would have been so much simpler if the churches hadn't given us the war president, but now that they have molded their congregations into a groupthink collective, facing the consequences would be too difficult so they become non-political, at least in their owh minds. It saves a lot of trouble.
Revrend Wright should be given a national weekly TV program so that all Americans can hear more of what he has to say.
Do you think Wright is some kind of Martin Luther King??? He's not. His "views," are not new. I have been hearing this black victimhood garbage for over 50 years now. Blacks have the same rights as white people do. In America, everybody is equal under the law. Do people break the law? Of course they do. They should be dealt with on an individual basis. Not lumped in together with every other, law abiding citizen.
Some kind of Martin Luther King. What, exactly, would that be? It cannot be repeated too often that when Dr. King was murdered, he was likely the most hated man in America. Rev. Wright, if one just goes by the posts that have appeared here since the incident, that if Rev. Wright is not the most hated man in America today, he has got to be in the top 3 and I have no idea who the other 2 are.
So, in that sense, he would be a Dr, King, you dig?
The nation can have disagreements about issues, but is the pulpit a place for this discussion? We start an unnecessary war, and pastors across the nation feel it is not their place to question. Why? Is God leading them to that conclusion, or are they being driven by human political pressures? For me the question is not why does Rev. Wright say what he does. The question is why are the others silent.
"I have been hearing...
No, apparently not. If you had stopped to hear, you would have recognized the antithesis of victimhood in Rev. Wright's sermons. It was all about taking responsibility. As he said, some people want to go to church once a week as be told they are great and go home to their normal life. He has made it a point to stir people out of passivity and complacency.
That may not fit the rant, however, so have at it. This is clearly not about Rev. Wright for you; it appears to be about a pre-judgment you want to vent.
And this is a major issue in American culture, people do not learn the difference between hearing and listening! You hear what you want to hear, but fail to listen to what is being shared. Martin Luther King was equally as radical in his day, but he's been whitewashed for general consumption by the media. He was avidly against the war in Vietnam, and yet we don't hear snippets of that on Martin Luther King Day! So all that you've managed to do here is prove Rev Wrights point about the mis-education of our nation.
I feel that if the only wayChurches would gain (or keep) tax exemption would be to mandate that the youth oftheir congregation serve in the military-the face of religion would get quite an overhaul..
Requiring churches to give their children to the military would be like killing the golden goose. The churches already give many of them, and they have voluntarily not opposed the war, and been happy to repeat pro-war talking points. I guess it is the churches repeating the talking points because the people in their congregations certainly are. They have chosen the wars they wish to fight, and the nation has been divided. So now we fight.
Thank you so much for your post. I have been defending Reverend Wright for the last two months! When I heard the soundbites, I knew, as did many others, that it was a malicious attempt by Sean Hannity and Fox News to slander a great man solely to dismantle Senator Obama's candidacy. When the rest of the MSM bought into it and repeated the soundbites and the slander, I knew then that this was now a concerted effort, including CNN and MSNBC to destroy Senator Obama. I too was concerned after hearing the snippets on Thursday evening. But when I watched the interview, I felt confident that Reverend Wright had finally succeeded in putting these rumors to rest. I realize that some people will still find a way to twist his words and take from them what they want to hear to fit their narrative of who he is, and therein of who Senator Obama is. But I was assured that intelligent, thoughtful, and honest Americans would recognize and embrace the truth. I am so thankful to Bill Moyers and PBS for revealing this truth and for exposing the lies of the media. .
The only thing is that I assume few will listen to the actual Rev. Wright interview with Moyers. Many more will get their snippets and disinformation of it from Fox news. Sadly, people these days need a filter to tell them what to think.
years ago I was watching an episode on Montel about racism. There was a little redhead (16) that claimed to be Christian, but was taught to hate blacks and jews.
When Montel told her that Jesus was a jew, she exclaimed, "No, he's not! He's white!" That's always stuck with me. White people seems to feel that they are the authority and gospel on everything - news flash - you are NOT the only color in God's rainbow, nor are you the only view point. Ugly American comes to mind.
You are judging all white people by what a very confused "little redhead," was taught by bigoted parents??? Racism is a two-way street.
racism is a superior attitude
racism
Main Entry:
rac·ism Listen to the pronunciation of racism
Pronunciation:
\ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
prejudice on the other hand is a whole different matter - Blacks do not feel superior to whites.
That's a little like trying to explain to an abused wife that marriage is a perfect union! It takes more than your opinion to make the case of what can be, if the right people come together! LOL.....
Racism and stereotypes are ugly. You should read your post again and see how it comes off...
ugly american is a view of the arrogant american that feels they are right about everything and that everyone should follow in their footsteps. I am white and I know a lot of arrogant white americans who think that America is perfect. It is not, it is a young country in comparison to the rest of the world, that stole the lands of the native americans, and enslaved the blacks, and treated the chinese and japanese and other minorities, including the hawaiians like second class people. They stole Hawaii from the Hawaiians. Need I give you all a lesson in history should all know already? You can pretend to live in a perfect country - you don't but you can choose to improve and learn from your mistakes or lie to yourselves like the little girl was by her parents.
Years ago I came up with a name for those folks... IBV's... Stands for Ignorant But Vocal.
They're usually the loudest in any crowd. ;o) It's been a pleasure to read marc antony's and JimReeds posts. Thanks for having good sense. The IBV's don't get you.
Enough with the so-called spiritual leaders. I am sick to death of pie-in-the-sky politics. Wright is a bigot. No amount of spin is going to change that. Obama is not helping himself , his party, or his country by tearing open old wounds recieved in the days before civil rights bill.
I am sick of this whole black victimhood.
I think racist America has been pretty damn good to Obama and Wright. And neither shows even a shred of gratitude.
C D----I don't know about you,but I'd rather have a pie in the sky,than a pie in the face-which is what the Republican's have done to this country's middle class for the last quarter century or so,starting with Ronald Reagan.... aided and abetted the acquiscent accomplices in the MSM and the televangelical prostitutes in the pulpits.
Right On.
You're sounding more and more like Hillary civildis! 'Enough with the so-called spiritual leaders' ?Hillary said: 'enough with the speeches, enough with the big rallies'. I say enough with you. You're more angry than Rev. Wright is.
America has been good? What is this juvenille personification of a land mass? This is just too Disney for my tastes! In case you hadn't noticed this trend, many people today use nationalism in the same fashion as many people do religion! In fact, nationalism comes with weapons of mass destruction!
get so sick of the dumb notion that successful blacks are proof that racism doesn't exist?
What the hell are you talking about. These are facts sweetie, not opinions. You aren't talking to some kid here.
thanks for responding - I am white and will not even attempt to explain that which I could never presume to feel or understand - he makes the statement again at the top that reminds me of Pat Buchanan's take on blacks and how they should have gratitude for being brought over - I am ashamed to be white at times when I read/hear these type of flippant attitudes and arrogance. There is no excuse for it... and yet, we seem to make progress in spite of the few that try to put a stranglehold on the progress of our society.
Oops, I meant this comment for here and posted it elsewhere. Anywho...
What if I told my daughter that simply because I think she's the smartest, prettiest and funniest 5 year old I know, she's better than everyone else in her kindergarten class. And what if she had African Americans in her class. Does that teach her that because I think she is all that, that others in her class are less than she is? If you teach a child pride in herself, does that mean you're teaching intolerance towards others. Where do you draw the line?
In 50 years, if there is still an America, blacks and whites will be having this same argument in spanish right about the time president Mohamud and vice president Chang are taking office.
America is a mexican making sushi in a restaurant owned by a gay couple from Senegal in Texas. It is a Russian guy and a Cambodian woman selling fine Italian shoes. Everybody has a story and a past. Everyone has tears and triumphs. Everyone is looking to the future and just trying to give their children more than they had.Its not a question of moving on, its just a question of moving. There is a big world out there with a myriad of different people in it. Black and white Americans need to remember its not all about them.
Simple! Teach your daughter about something called self worth, instead of teaching her to lean on self esteem! That she learns that each of us is of value, unique and one of a kind on this planet!
Pride and self worth are not the same thing. Pride can lead to quarreling. It can set up an heir of superiority. You raise a good question, though. I think self-respect is a good thing to instill in our children. We must also teach them to love the world as we love ourselves.
Don't call her the best frequently. Support her and reward her yes, but the best attitude is not really a healthy one. In my humble opinion.
After watching Rev. Wright on Moyers I understand that he is trying to lift blacks up through his works an messages.
He does not have to bash America to do that.
This is a great country but he never aknowleged that to Moyers.
His hateful words are not out of context. He does not love this country .
So long as the stolen country is white? What happens should you be left behind? What will you then love?
I never said I was white
This entire half of the world is stolen but only the U.S.A. gets bashed for that, you liberals need to start blaming the rest of the world (europe) which you love so much what the hell, do you think those of us here should be ashamed of that fact? You speak of the constitution yet those who wrote it are the same who stole this country you hate, so should the consitution even apply to someone such as yourself? I think you need to go to Canada (mostly white) and start bitching at them for stealing that country. Then maybe South America start complaining there about the injustices that happened centuries ago. Give me a F@#$ing Break.
I see you have never heard the term "walk a mile in another's shoes" you are one of the whites he's referring to. There are none so blind as them who will not see... I'm white and Wright's right!
How is Wright correct?? Enough of this black victimhood garbage. He should have his tax status revoked for dabbling in politics behind the pulpit. The IRS frowns on that sort of thing. NO MORE RELIGION IN GOVERNMENT!!!
He was a fuckin' Marine, for crying out loud. He went to war for this country. How dare you even begin to suggest that he does not love America. His heritage in this country goes back much further than yours, I'll bet. It is no wonder that this nation cannot support and care for its troops sent to die for their "freedom" today, you cannot support those who fought for you in the past. That is why you are losing your much vaunted "freedom", the same thing that led you to believe that you are greater than anyone in the world today.
The current president is a cocaine sucking deserter. The president before him is a sex fiendin' draft dodger. Rev. Wright put on the uniform and went into combat. How much fuckin' love is that all about?
Three Cheers to your post! I hate the idea that *especially* someone who's paid his dues to this country, like Jeremiah Wright has, has to refrain from criticism or risk having his patriotism called into question. It's un-American.
He did NOT go to war for this country. He never left the states. Actually the Marines get their corpmen from the Navy. Who are then infused into the marines. Stop trying to fool folks like me who ARE war veterans. We know there is a big difference.
I seem to recall Rev Wright mentioning that there's a difference between God and country. You just proved that country is the god you chose to worship. That's fine... its a free nation. Whatever..
That makes no sense. So if someone loves their country, they don't love God?? How silly. Many people just don't believe in a supreme being. So what? Religious freedom also means freedom from religion.
My only concern with this argument is that as a child 2 years old my mother left my father and moved to the only place she could afford at the time, back then we called them "projects" today they are reffered to as the "ghetto". As one of two white kids at the time living in a predomintly black neighborhood I can say that life wasn't always easy and I was not accepted with open arms in the community I grew up in. But my mother worked her a$$ off to get us into a decent home in a decent neighbor hood, and I grew up with the same work ethic and I know people of color with the same work ethic, without any special needs as a community. I find that honorable whats wrong with a black man going at life without special needs, it kinda reminds me of the Will Smith movie "The Pursuit of Happiness", there is a common misconception that white people have the world handed to them on a silver platter and maybe some do but as a majority no we do not.
I work with some Brazilians and the way they view race in America is kinda funny they are foriegn exchange students here on a basketball scholarship both white and black but in Brazil they say it's not seen that way, that they are all Brazilians and there is always a strong bond between them no matter the color of thier skin.
I'll let others argue with nearly everything you said preceding the last paragraph. Blacks from any other country but ours do not have the shared origin of slavery in their psyche, a profound difference. The advantage for them is obvious to me (a white).
From what I have read on slavery your wrong http://en.
This country is a bit maddened in it's effective relations between various races. People will wear a jersey and swear by a person of color if he helps "their team". They will then vote for george bush or some such so long as he isn't a person of color. Many of these same people are the electorate of 2008. They are willing to kill your children to no purpose outside of "I believe what I was told".
While we're on the subject of religious affiliation,here's a snippet off the net. (I've only heard Shrillary's mentors mentioned once in MSM.)_____
Hillary’s Nasty Pastorate
There’s a reason why Hillary Clinton has remained relatively silent during the flap over intemperate remarks by Barack Obama’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. When it comes to unsavory religious affiliations, she’s a lot more vulnerable than Obama.
You can find all about it in a widely under-read article in the September 2007 issue of Mother Jones, in which Kathryn Joyce and Jeff Sharlet reported that “through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the “Fellowship,” aka The Family. But it won’t be a secret much longer. Jeff Sharlet’s shocking exposé, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power will be published in May.
Sean Hannity has called Obama’s church a “cult,” but that term applies far more aptly to Clinton’s “Family,” which is organized into “cells” – their term – and operates sex-segregated group homes for young people in northern Virginia. In 2002, writer Jeff Sharlet joined the Family’s home for young men, foreswearing sex, drugs, and alcohol, and participating in endless discussions of Jesus and power. He wasn’t undercover; he used his own name and admitted to being a writer. .
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