dictated into who to vote for and what issue is important to them. The reason that I bring this for consideration is much media
attention has been given to Senator Barack Obama. Not for the issues that are important to the voter but because of something
that increases Nielsen ratings and sells newspapers. This something is due to comments or should I say a sermon or wait a
clip by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. These sound bites have been played on most major television networks and radio talk
shows. Interesting to note is not the entire sermon in context but sound clips that could possibly be used to shape a Presidential
election. The sound bites that have been displayed portrayed Rev. Wright as a racist, one who is unpatriotic, and Un-American. It
could be said that some of the comments made by Wright are controversial and divisive but racist that is a far stretch.
One could spend time defending Wright’s credentials and his work as a Pastor but that speaks for itself. As one who has read
some of Rev. Wright’s works, listened to his lectures, and listened to his sermons, it would be fair to say that the man is being
misinterpreted. Does this mean that I agree with all of views? No. I don’t agree with any individual’s views entirely. Rev. Wright
served in the United States Marines, speaks five languages fluently, and has earned several degrees from prestigious
institutions. He has been the same pastor of the same church for 30 years. This does not exempt one from making mistakes
because of their impressive credentials. After thousands of sermons, if a minister has not said anything that’s controversial or
causes one to think, then they are not doing their job. Does this mean one can use the pulpit for their personal opinion and
personal commentary? One would hope not, but it happens. After all, as human beings we are flawed people. It should be
noted that the clips that were shown attempted to display Wright as one who is angry and divisive. It should be noted that Wright
is equally as hard on African Americans as he is on any other race of people. He is an equal opportunity critic when it comes to
this nation and its neglect of living up to its creed.
In regard to the sermon that spoke of the 911 tragedy (when Wright was speaking of chickens coming home to roost), one
should listen to the entire sermon and its context. Wright is speaking of Former U.S. Ambassador Edward Peck and his
comments on Fox News. No one has called Peck Un-American, Unpatriotic, or Racist. If they have, then I stand corrected. In the
conjecture of the sermon Wright continues to use the pronoun of We. This is inclusive, him included. He talks about how the
United States has perpetrated violence over the years and how peace should be the answer in relationship to the Gospel. One
can disagree with his analysis and viewpoint but to emphatically state that these comments were Un-American? Listen to it in its
entirety and the context. It often appears that when one speaks out of the mainstream then one is wrong in their analysis of
America. Wright is not a politician, he is a preacher. He does not have to worry about polls, approval ratings, or financial
supporters. Wright is a preacher. If only some of us could be so free in saying what we truly believe or what we truly think. Wright
deals with social critique of injustice as the prophets of old. Jeremiah, Amos, Isaiah…were some of the prophets who had
critiques of the poor being oppressed, injustices taking place, and wars that were rampant in the world. The prophets did not
benefit when the world was wrong, for their hope was to right side the world.
How does this relate to Senator Barack Obama? Sen. Obama is being blamed for the comments by Wright. Rev. Wright is
responsible for his own comments and Sen. Obama is no more responsible for Wright’s comments than Wright is for Obama’s
political views. Rev. Wright’s comments were made in 2001 and 2003, yet they were displayed as if they happened since Obama
announced his candidacy for Presidency. They were not an issue when Obama ran for Senate and won. They were not an issue
when Obama announced his candidacy in February 2007. So why are they an issue now? We focus on comments that were
made in 2001 and 2003, but yet an unjust war is still taking place. Thousands have died and been injured, yet we focus on
comments by a preacher. We are spending billions of dollars and incurring significant debt for the generation behind us, yet we
focus on comments by a preacher. The economy is on a downward spiral, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. Gas prices
are skyrocketing, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. Foreclosures are at an all time high, yet we focus on comments by a
preacher. Millions are without healthcare, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. We focus on comments by a preacher
because we hope that focusing on this will take our mind off that and the real problems will go away because we really don’t
want to deal with them.
The comments by a preacher did not create any of the problems that are presented today, yet the questionable policies that are
being practiced are getting a pass. It should not be the comments by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright that should be our focus because
they do not affect our daily lives. It should be the failed policies that have led us to the situation we are in, and no one needs a
sound bite or clip to know this. So what is needed is this fixation on Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright for he is not running for president.
Even over the last few weeks subtle comments have been about the issue of race in this election. It has been talked about in so
many subtle ways by all candidates and both parties. Race was not injected when Rev. Wright made his comments; they were
injected when Sen. Obama announced his candidacy for the Presidency. Our discomfort with race shows how far we have come
or should I say how far we have to go?
attention has been given to Senator Barack Obama. Not for the issues that are important to the voter but because of something
that increases Nielsen ratings and sells newspapers. This something is due to comments or should I say a sermon or wait a
clip by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. These sound bites have been played on most major television networks and radio talk
shows. Interesting to note is not the entire sermon in context but sound clips that could possibly be used to shape a Presidential
election. The sound bites that have been displayed portrayed Rev. Wright as a racist, one who is unpatriotic, and Un-American. It
could be said that some of the comments made by Wright are controversial and divisive but racist that is a far stretch.
One could spend time defending Wright’s credentials and his work as a Pastor but that speaks for itself. As one who has read
some of Rev. Wright’s works, listened to his lectures, and listened to his sermons, it would be fair to say that the man is being
misinterpreted. Does this mean that I agree with all of views? No. I don’t agree with any individual’s views entirely. Rev. Wright
served in the United States Marines, speaks five languages fluently, and has earned several degrees from prestigious
institutions. He has been the same pastor of the same church for 30 years. This does not exempt one from making mistakes
because of their impressive credentials. After thousands of sermons, if a minister has not said anything that’s controversial or
causes one to think, then they are not doing their job. Does this mean one can use the pulpit for their personal opinion and
personal commentary? One would hope not, but it happens. After all, as human beings we are flawed people. It should be
noted that the clips that were shown attempted to display Wright as one who is angry and divisive. It should be noted that Wright
is equally as hard on African Americans as he is on any other race of people. He is an equal opportunity critic when it comes to
this nation and its neglect of living up to its creed.
In regard to the sermon that spoke of the 911 tragedy (when Wright was speaking of chickens coming home to roost), one
should listen to the entire sermon and its context. Wright is speaking of Former U.S. Ambassador Edward Peck and his
comments on Fox News. No one has called Peck Un-American, Unpatriotic, or Racist. If they have, then I stand corrected. In the
conjecture of the sermon Wright continues to use the pronoun of We. This is inclusive, him included. He talks about how the
United States has perpetrated violence over the years and how peace should be the answer in relationship to the Gospel. One
can disagree with his analysis and viewpoint but to emphatically state that these comments were Un-American? Listen to it in its
entirety and the context. It often appears that when one speaks out of the mainstream then one is wrong in their analysis of
America. Wright is not a politician, he is a preacher. He does not have to worry about polls, approval ratings, or financial
supporters. Wright is a preacher. If only some of us could be so free in saying what we truly believe or what we truly think. Wright
deals with social critique of injustice as the prophets of old. Jeremiah, Amos, Isaiah…were some of the prophets who had
critiques of the poor being oppressed, injustices taking place, and wars that were rampant in the world. The prophets did not
benefit when the world was wrong, for their hope was to right side the world.
How does this relate to Senator Barack Obama? Sen. Obama is being blamed for the comments by Wright. Rev. Wright is
responsible for his own comments and Sen. Obama is no more responsible for Wright’s comments than Wright is for Obama’s
political views. Rev. Wright’s comments were made in 2001 and 2003, yet they were displayed as if they happened since Obama
announced his candidacy for Presidency. They were not an issue when Obama ran for Senate and won. They were not an issue
when Obama announced his candidacy in February 2007. So why are they an issue now? We focus on comments that were
made in 2001 and 2003, but yet an unjust war is still taking place. Thousands have died and been injured, yet we focus on
comments by a preacher. We are spending billions of dollars and incurring significant debt for the generation behind us, yet we
focus on comments by a preacher. The economy is on a downward spiral, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. Gas prices
are skyrocketing, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. Foreclosures are at an all time high, yet we focus on comments by a
preacher. Millions are without healthcare, yet we focus on comments by a preacher. We focus on comments by a preacher
because we hope that focusing on this will take our mind off that and the real problems will go away because we really don’t
want to deal with them.
The comments by a preacher did not create any of the problems that are presented today, yet the questionable policies that are
being practiced are getting a pass. It should not be the comments by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright that should be our focus because
they do not affect our daily lives. It should be the failed policies that have led us to the situation we are in, and no one needs a
sound bite or clip to know this. So what is needed is this fixation on Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright for he is not running for president.
Even over the last few weeks subtle comments have been about the issue of race in this election. It has been talked about in so
many subtle ways by all candidates and both parties. Race was not injected when Rev. Wright made his comments; they were
injected when Sen. Obama announced his candidacy for the Presidency. Our discomfort with race shows how far we have come
or should I say how far we have to go?
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Just How Far?
Contributed by Rev. Derek Shackelford,
BlackFrederick.com Political Corner Editor
Published April 1, 2008
Contributed by Rev. Derek Shackelford,
BlackFrederick.com Political Corner Editor
Published April 1, 2008
So far this upcoming Presidential election has apparently developed many subplots. These
subplots, if we are not careful as voters, will throw us off of the important issues that affect this
nation. The media has a way of dictating to the masses what the important issues are and should
be. What happens in these instances is the voters take the media as the source for what candidate
is the “flavor of the month” and what issues should be the focus. And, if not careful, the voter will be
subplots, if we are not careful as voters, will throw us off of the important issues that affect this
nation. The media has a way of dictating to the masses what the important issues are and should
be. What happens in these instances is the voters take the media as the source for what candidate
is the “flavor of the month” and what issues should be the focus. And, if not careful, the voter will be
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to find the businesses and merchants that catered to
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BlackFrederick.com!"
- B Patterson
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