You have no idea what Obama heard for 20 years, you have only heard those soundbites that Obama has repudiated.
But repudiated only after he was called on it.
As to what he may or may not have heard, It's just extremely difficult for me to believe that Wright just all of a sudden started his hate speak after 9/11.
Went to work on trying to find good things to say about their candidate.
I no longer have a candidate.
Isn't that the truth!
How do you know this? Can you tell me that a minority can walk into an all white church in an all white town and be embraced by the congregation. I seriously think not!
You don't know if churches preach hate or not because you don't know what go on in "all" churches across america. People are basing your judgments on a video and running with it.
As I said before, if any of you can honestly say you attended Obama's church and heard racist preaching for 20 years or more at every sermon, please do tell! I want to hear concrete evidence you have!
It does not have to be every sermon!
Does it make it any less wrong for hate to be advocated just once?
Preaching hate even just once is wrong. But more than once is...I don't know what's more wrong than wrong.
If I only once said here "All blacks/hispanics, etc are what keeps me down" and then never said anything else about it, does that make it any less wrong?
Would any of you ever have much respect for me after reading that?
1. Does anyone have any references as to when the extreme, offensive sermons from Rev. Wright started? Were they scattered throughout the (at least) last 20 years? I'm not looking for opinions on this, but actual references to when these offensive sermons were delivered.
2. If these sermons started after Obama had an established relationship with Rev. Wright, do critics of Obama truly believe that "one hateful sermon and I'd be out of there" if that sermon came from a close friend and confidant? If so, how is that a positive character trait in someone running for president. Doesn't loyalty and compassion for another person, even with their flaws, count for something?
Thanks,
Ted
#1: I don't think anyone, unless they were attending members during all of those years, could truly answer that question. But, it's a little difficult to believe that Wright all of a sudden hated America and hated white people and preached that only after 9/11.
#2: I will admit that if it were a truly close friend, I would probably be sitting there in shock. Then I would be talking to my friend. If it did ever happen again, I would definitely be out of there. While some of my friends might have a prejudice, they do not talk hatefully about groups of people. And I cannot be friends with anyone who would preach hate to thousands of people.
I thought I heard a clip of Wright call USA the USKKK or something to that effect. Can anyone confirm that?
This one I heard on GMA. It's the one that truly disturbs me.
And the GD America quote. If wishes God to damn America, then he's really wishing Him to damn himself, Obama, every single person he so-called ministers to and every black person in this country.
No matter what, America is made of of people of different races and he just damned every single one of us. Including every person voting for Obama.
I only read the speech. I did not hear it delivered.
I thought it was a decent speech - but what I found missing was the "how" to make the change happen.........
I've got great work friends who are African American. A group of us goes out for dinner on a monthly basis - and let our "hair down." We talk about everything under the sun - our family, work gossip, and our differences. Its done in a loving respectful way.
Some one will say "why do black (they prefer that term over african american) people do this...." some one else will ask "why do white people do this...."
IMHO - this is what is missing in the race discussion over all - its like the media, some pols, religious leaders are all saying discrimination is over and we're all supposed to treat each other as equal. Well that is NOT happening. We all come from different experience, and have different histories. Some have been discriminated against - some have done the discriminating.......
My one friend belongs to a minority woman's organization. I tease her that she's so important because she belongs to "an organization." This is a group that I can not join. And that is ok. What needs to be there between the races is RESPECT. A mutual agreement that we are all EQUAL - but we can be different.....
One of these ladies was recently stopped DWB (driving while black). The officer gave her a ticket for some minor traffic infraction - and then asked her "what brought her to that neighborhood." It was a predominantly white upper middle class neighborhood. Would I have been asked that question? Probably not.
The moral of this long diatribe? There is still a lot of work needed with race relations. There ARE differences between the ethnic groups. This is not a homogenous country. Our government - though very well integrated (really only in the house) is not leading the way.
Obama's speech? A good first step - forced due to his pastor making some racist comments. I'd like to see his actual plans for uniting this country once he becomes president. I feel that before now - he was ignoring race.
Ignoring it is not the answer.......
Very nice post.
Ignoring the real problem is what I've come to believe he is doing.
Most of us already know there is a racial divide that we still haven't overcome. We don't need that reiterated. We need solutions to this problem.
At the risk of seeming naive, unAmerican, unpatriotic--I'm going to throw this out there...
Am I the only one who isn't terribly disturbed by Rev. Wright's comments? (Heck, I even agree with some of them.)
Similar comments were made about the US after 9/11 by Revs. Robertson and Falwell--didn't bother me--I wasn't going to elect them to anything.
History shows that the American government
has been responsible for some horrendous human rights offenses (atomic bomb, internment camps, slavery, testing drugs on minorities, forced lobotomies etc.) What's that saying--those who choose to ignore history are doomed to repeat it?
I've heard similar strong language from Catholic priests in (my former) church regarding abortion/homosexuality. Really nothing unusual or shocking to have pastors make us feel uncomfortable, even offended by their sermons. Read the Bible. Jesus wasn't all honey and sugar.
Regardless, I'm not voting for Rev. Wright. It's America. He's allowed freedom of speech.
What bothers me mostly is the hatred with which he speaks.
I've always been critical of the country I love. Especially since I do know history. But I've never spoken with such hate about it. There is the real difference. Not to mention that the actual racist comments are appalling. I don't care that Wright isn't running for president. I do care that the man actually running claims this person as a guide and close friend.
And that for us, it is hard to imagine a person who wants our vote for POTUS not being the kind of person who would also stand up, walk out and not go back....whether he heard it in person or found out about it through the grapevine. Perhaps we envision a POTUS made of the stuff that would take an uncomfortable stand ASAP, even against a longtime friend, over something so disturbing as the sermons he delivered. Because doing the right thing is HARD. And I want a POTUS who can and will do the right thing, and do it before his back is up against a wall. .
Thats lovely. So do you think Hilary is this person, or McCain? I just dont see it.
Nope. Unfortunately. Which is one of the reasons why I now have no idea who to vote for.
