Comments on: Reverend Jeremiah Wright: Religious Freedom Versus State Religion, Ethics, Politics and Strategy

By: Marty White

Marty White — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:41:09 +0000

“and those who realize Rev W’s description of reality is much closer to their own experience and knowledge than anything Obummer ever said.”

I couldn’t believe my ears when Wright was talking. I thought he was brilliant! The first thing I’ve heard on the news in a long time that sounded real and made sense! I hope Obama DID learn something from him! Where can I read more about it???

By: Hue Longer

Hue Longer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:58:03 +0000

Personal responsibility never seems to be a two way street. I of course admire anyone who can swim through the created shit flood and survive—My problem is that when reaching the other side, some of these folks mock or blame the ones who are drowning instead of the ones laughing as they blow the dam.

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:14:49 +0000

Ah shucks boss, is I bein’ an uppity negro?

By: Hue Longer

Hue Longer — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:03:22 +0000

Isn’t there an old Bill Cosby thread to pull up at this point?

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:48:19 +0000

TS
We are not chickens locked in a cage. Hamsters will eat their young if the cage is too crowded, but we are not hamsters. Spiders will eat their mates while copulating but we are not spiders. Michael Vick could train his dogs to fight to the death too but we are not dogs.

Although bigotry and ignorance are alive and well, there is also more opportunity for blacks today than ever before in America’s history. The problems – lack of education, extreme poverty, crime, drugs, fatherless children – are often self-inflicted.

Long before “progressives” labeled blacks as victims and in need of handouts (funds usually controlled and administered by whites), black men and women developed capital, created banks, businesses, owned property worth millions, and established schools and colleges. Of course, sometimes white folks would burn the town down but we built them …

You might try the documentaryWhat Black Men Think. If it is to be it’s up to me. No one can say what is from us but us.

By: TS Draegeth

TS Draegeth — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:20:21 +0000

If you put three chickens in a tiny cage, they will fight to the death. Two of the chickens will survive, and one will die. I believe they have studied this and found it is a near mathematical certainty. In a situation of inadequate resources, struggling beings will abandon forms of morality more suited to better climes.

Nonetheless, I would not blame the terrified, trapped chickens fighting for their lives to have enough space to survive. I would blame the evil creatures that put them in the cages.

Similarly, when subgroups of humans are packed into ghettos, starved and shot and beaten and harassed and enticed and denied, I do not judge their behavior as critically as I would for people in different situations.

This is also why I perceive a difference between, say, an Iriquois who killed a settler, and a settler who killed an Iriquois. They both may have been in error, but the situations merit different analysis.

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:07:37 +0000

So, what are the causes of our “social problems”? I suppose we would first have to define the problems.

How about: Poverty, illiteracy, low wages, immorality, drugs, prison industry, apathy, pointless consumerism?

The difference between Rev. Wright and Hon. Manning is Wright points a finger at white men and Manning says look in the mirror.

By: Josh Miles

Josh Miles — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:57:25 +0000

Evie,

In the video you posted, Wright says the country is run by rich white men, which is something quite different from something to the effect of “rich white men and rich white men ONLY are to blame for all of society’s problems.”

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:42:20 +0000

Have you heard more than a few sound bytes from Honorable Manning? He’s quite a character and not fond of Obama.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Op5or_vkcc&feature=related

Manning also says black people have no honor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7diAnTSn9o&feature=related

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:19:44 +0000

I do like Paris’ Sonic Jihad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-ov6fhpGYA

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:17:49 +0000

Josh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMvS5Ny2E4&feature=related

“rich white folk run everything” s/l blaming rich white folks to me.

By: Max Shields

Max Shields — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:53:56 +0000

If, in fact (and as seems all to plausible), Rev. Wright leads a life of luxury, that has much more profound coloring of his diatribes.

The line between speaking the truth and co-opting it can be found by following the money. Motives when they are greased undermine the statements however they occasion to be true.

By: Josh Miles

Josh Miles — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:46:42 +0000

Ack! That first sentence should read “the sole cause of all the societal ills in this country.”

By: Josh Miles

Josh Miles — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:45:19 +0000

Evie, where did Jeremiah Wright say that rich white men were the sole cause of the all the societal ills in this country? He didn’t. This is a strawman put forth by the talking heads that dominate what passes for journalism and commentary in this country, and you’re more than happy to accept it.

Hue and TS made good points concerning your charge of hypocrisy. You’ve yet to address them.

As an atheist myself, I happen to agree with you on religion, but the fact that Wright is a religious leader does not invalidate what he’s saying.

By: evie

evie — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:46:42 +0000

As a life-long practicing heathen I find no ideological kin with the crazy uncle that even Obama threw under the bus. I think religion divides more than it unites, even if some of the rhetoric is truth.

At least Wright has lived up to one of TUCC’s tenets : Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness” – nothing middle class about gated millionaires in Tinley Park – let us pray that his parishners get there with him.

By: TS Draegeth

TS Draegeth — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:42:56 +0000

I don’t find it hypocrisy when someone who disagrees with the structure of our society manages to live better than the mean, even much better. We are all subject to the (un?)spoken threat of the avaricious society: labor by the strictures, or be starved to death. Impoverishing ourself to avoid being accused of treason only kills off those of more humane dispositions. Even those with mansions may lack the power to do much (and sermons to large congregations are much more than most of us do accomplish). If we begin savaging our ideological kin for perceived similarities to the greater powerbrokers, our ideology itself is harmed.

By: Luisa

Luisa — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:12:14 +0000

I think what people fail to realize is: only in this country do you have the freedom of speech! Now, I’m a foreigner, living here for 20 years, raised in this society and culture, while raised in my parent’s home with their countries cultures. Same principles: different because this society is different. I had a long, exhausting conversation with a friend/associate of mine who was extremely upset with Rev. Wright’s remarks and it even more drove her to NOT want to vote for Obama. I personally found nothing wrong with the message or the messenger… maybe because of my thick skin (being exposed to foreign discrimination in this country to also having two “biracial” children (that’s how America wants to LABEL them), that even his tone did not affect me. He did speak truth, no lies. Maybe she didn’t hear his message because while she considers herself “non-racist” which by all means she could be, maybe it’s because she can not “relate” to that experience. Of course you’re teased when you’re a kid, but can you compare it to what a minority child would endure? Not even just today but lets say 40-50 years? Of course not and no one is looking for a pity party but simple understanding!! When you can understand why something is said as it is and understands the logistics and facts, then there is shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes growing up here and one fact that many will disagree with me is, America breeds racism! From every corner with its stereotypes and the media is used to ensure it continues… When you get down to the basics, I think we can all agree on the fundamentals and making a mountain out of a mole hill will not lift up the human race to the next level. Peace!

By: evie

evie — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:46:26 +0000

I think some public windbag pundits ragged on the Wright b/c it was “sensational” and upped ratings for about a week. Most people know Wright’s message is the way a lot of Americans feel. The white Joe Blows I know here in the heartland weren’t upset – just surprised that a preacher would use the words “god” and damn” side by side, without words in between.

MLK said much the same thing but w/o all the gimmick and gripe of Jeremiah. King a leader, Wright just another televangelist type.

By: Hue Longer

Hue Longer — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:15:33 +0000

lol…quit it

I still run into people who have no idea what MLK was saying because history bastardised and cleansed his message…That’s really what I see this thing about but instead of doing that, they’re calling it racist….either way, the message is important and I don’t care if Charlie Manson or Dick Cheney are the ones saying it

So now we at least are back to the message…If so many were upset by it, it’s proof that it needs to be said for its own reward

By: evie

evie — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:57:35 +0000

Hue,
What exactly is Wright saying? That our nation’s and/or black America’s problems are all the fault of rich white men? Well, that let’s 299,000,000 of us off the hook for anything.

I guess we’s won’t never git any power.