Letters to the Editor
MaddieP
Published Letters: 706 Editor's Choice: 9
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@Alice AN
[Read the article: The difference between Jeremiah Wright and radical, white evangelical ministers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank you for your post.
I am hoping that this "Wright" issue can begin an honest dialog in our country. One that has never been engaged in - in truth. I hope we can choose to speak honestly with each other in an effort to understand each other without labeling each other racists or elitists...It's SO necessary right now. And it is the only way we can really begin to get past this race issue once and for all.
Similarly to Barak, I was born AFTER the proverbial shit hit the fan in this country, but my parents told me all about the 'struggle'. Not as angry people, but as a historical fact they related to me the milder stories of their involvement in the civil rights movement.
I'm college degreed, successful...but to this day I cannot watch footage from the 60's with the dogs and the water hoses.
It makes me cry. Literally. Then I get angry. That anger (for me) is not healthy so I avoid the triggers. Its hard for me to believe that this was happening not so long ago in my own country. The sadness, resurfaces so easily. I have come to understand that my sadness about this comes from the conflict about what i believe this country is supposed to be about vs what i see in those videos. And more deeply, my own ideas about the basic decency of human beings seems trashed by the footage in those videos. That's why i avoid them as much as possible.
Simply put the sadness, pain and anger come from:
- I love this country but maybe it doesn't love me
- People are basically good and decent but how can these people treat other human beings in this way?
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Anger is one way of processing emotions. I grew up middle- upper-middle class, had a nanny, attended university, have a successful business... and still experience these feeling from time to time.
The anger and sadness that people without the advantages I had must be exponentially more great.
We must begin a dialog on this. There is deep pain among many american blacks. Rather than dismissing Wright and what he's said we need to examine it. And conversely, black need to be willing to understand and examine their own attitudes as well.
I hope Barak's speech today will be the start of that.
Frankly if nothing else comes out of his run for office...if he loses but can be the catalyst for this type of discourse...i think he couldn't do much better than that in 1000 years on earth.
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@AKA
[Read the article: Clinton's nondenial on Obama pastor]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Black Liberation Theology is NOT the same thing as what was being said by Wright. I have been watching the conservative shows and this comparison is becoming more prevalent - unfortunately the people making the comparison have no idea what they are talking about.
@ Uncle Fester
I agree wholeheartedly. I am an Obama supporter and I also understand everything he said during that speech. BUT I do think perception is reality. This creates huge problems. They are not going to go away. No sane person believes Obama is a racist or espouses those views anymore than any sane person believed Bill Clinton or Ferraro were racists. Absurd.
I believe his pastor has deep race issues originating from pain and resentment that need to be worked through (especially if he is in charge of a 'flock').
Furthermore, just because I understand him and his position doesn't create a conflict for me (I was involved in a church where every now and again my pastor said something crazy)doesn't mean it can be overcome in the general election and that others will be able to look past it - especially if its spun properly - which it appears that it is, at present.
As an exercise, everyone should spend at least 1/2 hour a day watching Fox and/or Glenn Beck et al if you don't already. The spin is that Wright's theology is the same as the New Black Panther Party ergo Obama is a new black panther. (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP). The spin is that there will be riots a la 1968 if Obama is not nominated (this idea causes anger and anxiety which breeds that white resentment Obama spoke so eloquently about in his address).
I do respect Obama for not simply throwing his pastor under the bus and attempting to be forthright about it. Would have been easier and more expedient (more politician-ly) for him to 'disown' him. I think he has strength of character in obviously being prepared to let the chips fall where they might.
MY question is: Here's this pastor who's supposed to be such a 'family' to him - where the heck is he? He seems quite content to allow Barak to take the fall for him. Interesting.
I'd venture to say that for Wright, its all about Wright. And when the student seems to get to a point where he is getting bigger than the teacher...well, you know the rest. Hey I guess we're all human.
Sometimes these 'charismatic center-of-attention' types don't like to be overshadowed. They do destructive things - sometimes intentionally, sometimes subconsciously to regain attention and reestablish the balance.
The biggest hindrance Barak in this campaign has been Reverend Wright - someone who should be defending Barak's politics RIGHT NOW since he knows him so well.
Interestingly, IMO Hillary has experienced a similar kind of passive aggressive 'help' for her very own husband during this same campaign. She makes progress, he said something stupid. She makes progress, he says something stupid.
As I said these charismatic types can be a real pill. Barak should've left Wright and...
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Ethics
[Read the article: Clinton's nondenial on Obama pastor]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Its not easy... i use it to instead of aerobics to get my heart rate up ;)