Obama vs. Rev. Wright: The Wrongness of Righteousness

I found myself riveted by Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.'s speech at the National Press Club yesterday and even more so by the immediate effect it had on Barack Obama's polls. I feel heart sick and appalled.

Like most of America, no matter what side of the political spectrum you're on, I was profoundly impressed by Obama's speech on race as well as the dignity of this man's refusal to slide his friend under the bus for political expediency. In my lifetime, I can count on one hand the number of times I've witnessed a politician behave with that type of loyalty and integrity.

No matter how Rev. Wright has justified it in his mind, either for his own career or for some personal idea about righteousness, this man has opened his mouth at the most inopportune moment and has produced immediate damage to someone who behaved with great class toward him. To say nothing of the fact that he is hurting the front-running candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination which would, as we can all appreciate, be an historic occasion for his race.

As I went to bed last night shaking my head, wondering what could this man could be thinking, I was once again struck by the potent force of pride and sheer ego in our lives. Perhaps on some personal level the good reverend felt that Obama did not stand up for him enough and this is payback, or perhaps he feels that his cause is so righteous that devil damn the consequences. Either way, I see what happened as a variation on a theme that links this Black Christian minister with a White Jewish governor (Spitzer).

One of the real contributions of Relational Life Therapy is the focus on what is technically called "grandiosity" or what is known in the vernacular as pride or ego, which is a state of contemptuousness, feeling better-than, superior or above the rules. Whether it's a public figure caught with his underpants down or a public figure betraying a man who stood up for him, there are whole history books to be written about pride in politics. Whether it's launching a thousand ships for payback over a lost woman or sending 100,000 troops for payback for your daddy's incomplete war, a lot of blood has been spilled over the centuries, literally and figuratively, due to misspent pride and in particular men's pride.

Women are not as overtly grandiose as men, or at least it manifests itself in different ways. Certainly no one can say that Hilary Clinton is devoid of grandiosity and pride. As more women become leaders we will know if there really is a difference or if there has just been a historic perception due to access. Either way, pride, hubris or a knee-jerk sense of self-righteousness is that damaging sense that "I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do, damn the consequences."

Readers, here is your challenge: While we may not be able to do anything about foreign wars, mischievous governors or egotistical preachers, I challenge you for the week to stand up against ego and pride in your personal relationships -- that is against your OWN pride, not your partner's. The bottom line is that you can be right or your can be married, what's more important to you?

In honor of Rev. Wright, I'm inviting you to be wrong. I'm inviting you readers to notice yourself about to be "right" despite the consequences and to do something unusual -- just shut up. I would like for you to step away from that point that seems so important. I would like for you to step away from self-righteous indignation, no matter how justified you feel. I would like for you to choose friendship and love over ego.

Try it at least once this week and write in and share the experience with us. Let us know how it goes.

Comments

[Tylester]

This is all bull. Obama has heard all these crazy hateful statements before.
Wright's appearances of late are a pre-concieved political move by Obama.
Wright's threatening and insulting Barack. and acting very crazy far beyond his usual insanity.....c'mon, he not stupid and niether is Barack
Now the senator can disavow him and not alienate any black voters and keep his white ones.
I've seen to many con games to fall for this one.

[Almeda]

Senator Obama's autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," makes it clear that the reason The Rev. Wright appealed to him was Wright's tremendous efforts to help blacks find some pride and to believe in their capabilities. His church was a center of a wide-variety of empowering programs. At the time, Obama was a community organizer in south-Chicago with a history of a lot of effort and modest progress who admired Wright's efforts and successes. Now, The Rev. Wright is retired, but suddenly finds himself with a much wider and potentially lucrative public podium for his message. In this context, his taking this opportunity is not hard to understand.

[ebbtide]

Yes, a lot of blood has been spilled for ego and the lust for empire by those, usually millionaires, with the same egotistic qualities of this man, Wright. He thinks he has reached the pinnacle.I see a man eager for fame , jealous that another younger has begun to take over his self vaunted role as a leader where church politics reigns, not simple humbleness. He is well on his way to becoming another Falwell, or Robertson. They all suffer the same disease---pride.

Also, he is selling his book.

As you say, a lot of blood has been spilled. Today, does anyone know the number of American soldiers who have died ? Does anyone care? Do you know their names? We will never know what these some 4050 plus Americans would have contributed to our society in a postive way should they have lived. Stop romantisizing the military. Mothers ,do not grow up your babies to die for old millionaires and corporations ever so eager to make billions off your babies lives. Do not romantisize the military as true and noble and teach your children there is nothing noble at all about killing others to get stuff the millionaire leaders of this country want to grab. Leaders include corporate lobbyists who push this country toward that goal.


Reject any candidate that advocates insane nuclear attack on Iran to protect Israel, like the great warmonger Hillary Clinton, (who should get a medal for dodging sniper fire in Bosnia)

[meanguy]

what do we give the great warmonger obama, who has threatened to invade our ally, pakistan, and who has said he'd be willing to send troops back into iraq should al-queda use it as a base-as if THAT would ever happen, right?????

[katefranklin]

We can only hope Rev. Wright takes a good look in the mirror (i.e.., watches a video recording of his shameless display in front of the National Press Club), and doesn't like what he sees. I guess hope springs eternal. If he manages to sink Obama's campaign, Rev. Wright will be more than just a pariah in the black community; he will likely receive threatening messages from numerous Obama zealots. He is a man drunk off his own anger. So sad.

[TXfemmom]

Obama went to this man's church for TWENTY years, author, thus endorsing this man's spiritual and moral leadership. Whatever the Reverend Wright's motives for making an ass out of himself at this moment, it has to speak to Obama's judgement. It is correct to do so.

I reject Wright as I reject Hagee, and other right wing white Evangelicals who spouted that 9/11 was brought on by America's permitting gays, abortion, etc. They were and are egomaniacs who are destructive and so is the Reverend Wright.

[Violist]

But church is more than just the pastor. His church, as a commenter noted further up, had wide ranging programs that empowered and lifted up the community in Chicago. A church is bigger than any pastor, one's spirituality and faith is bigger than any one pastor. I certainly don't agree with Wright however and don't agree with his words. To me he represents a hurt generation, understandably so, who has not been able to move away from the injustices of the past. I see him and I see a man who has let his pride and ego outshine the G-d in him. He may not have been as destructive as we see him now in the past, since his church did so much good, but as fame and infamy will do, it can corrupt.

[clevelandchick]

Stop talking about this already. I cannot take it anymore.

Who gives a shit about Reverend Wright? The North Pole is going to freaking melt this year! The Joint Chiefs are gearing up to attack Iran. Gas is hitting 4 bucks a gallon. Housing values are plummetting for a nation full of people whose entire worth is tied up in their home value! Food prices are skyrocketing. There are global food shortages.

I challenge you, a someone who believes you have something important enough to write for public view to actually write about something of value to this nation as a whole instead of glomming onto the Mediacracy's faux issue du jour that is meant to distract the people from actually helping themselves.

[Subtle]

I'm with you clevelandchick.

The Titanic is going down and the passengers are having a debate about the correct color of socks to wear. How can people not see the lunacy of this?

This is Theatre of the Absurd and I'd like to know where the exit is.

[OtayPanky]

Terry Real: The bottom line is that you can be right or your can be married, what's more important to you?

===

What a great example of how therapy culture reduces complex issues to trivialities.

If you watched Barack's news conference today, he wasn't drinking your particular brand of kool-aid. He chose to be right - and divorce his pastor.

Or consider Socrates: the worthy elders told him that he could be right (and drink the hemlock) or be wrong, and live.

And then, for those who roll that way, there's Jesus: You can be right, and get crucified for sharing your views - or you can STFU.

Bottom line: Terry Real is conflating two very different things: BEING RIGHT (ie thinking and acting out of PRINCIPLE) versus EGOTISTICAL SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.