Jerimiah Wright's only sin is that he has black skin. Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, and even Zbignew Zabriskie have said similar or exactly the same thing, and there was no firestorm of criticism. But let a "black" man speak his mind, and even the so-called left can't wait to lynch him.

In her article, Ms. Walsh mentions America's "fundamental principles." Care to elaborate? She also states that she is on "the left." Gore Vidal recently said that he had not found the left in this country in 82 years.

The chickens are coming home to roost, but they are more like vultures. The same vultures that have been following the Trail Of The Dead from Jamestown to Baghdad.

for explaining the lack of red stars. And here I thought you had just gotten all pissed off with us, taken your red stars and gone home to pout. Good for you that you didn't.

I'm African American and I through all of this I've realized that the pain and suffering of African Americans does not count for too much in this society. Rev. Wright has done nothing wrong. The sum and substance of his comments during his recent three appearances has been truthful. He has advocated for reconciliation among the races, which is obviously not of too much interest. And there is certainly scholarly documentation that supports the fact that specific health conditions were intentionally introduced into the black community; however, this is nothing that Rev. Wright has ever heavily promoted. There is so much more to the man than the statements that are being discussed. Although in the majority of aspects this is a great nation, your head is in the sand if you feel that this nation in all aspects has clean hands. To suggest the muzzling of someone who does not agree with some of this nation's practices is indeed very anti-American. This nation was founded upon dissent. Our founding fathers have to be turning over in their graves. NO ONE agrees with every comment their pastor, rabbi, imam, etc. makes. Moreover, no other candidates' "wacky" pastors or spiritual advisors have been scrutinized nor have the other candidates been scrutinized by these associations. It's shameful for Obama to be attacked because of some of his Pastor's views. It's also shameful that Rev. Wright has become the modern day Willie Horton for this presidential election. If there had been the same level of outrage regarding this current illegal war, it would probably be over by now and countless lives would have been spared. It’s utterly amazing that Obama’s Pastor and his association with him has become the key issue in this campaign. Shameful!

re: "America would seem to be all about dispossessing the Indians, enslaving blacks, interning the Japanese and now killing Iraqis."

Of course, we're not all about that. You forgot the millions of Southeast Asians we killed during the Vietnam War, the various coups we have engineered of democratically elected governments, the repressive dictatorships we've installed and armed and the death squads we've trained... shall I continue?

Rev. Jeremiah Wright has every right to respond to his critics, whether it be at the National Press Club or in the pulpit. But if the media and “ignorant is bliss” thinking folks are going to blast the pastor for talking the truth, then let’s talk about the late Jerry Falwell, the fundamentalist preacher who transformed American politics by rallying the religious right into an electoral force and helping Ronald Reagan into the presidency. With his outspoken pronouncements on matters moral, political and religious, the Rev. Falwell became not only one of the most polarizing religious-political figures in America but also one of the most powerful.

In fact, Rev. Falwell told Christians it was their duty to jump into the political fray. Like Rev. Wright said of his relationship to Senator Obama, Falwell said "I'm well aware of the pragmatism of politics. There are times when [the president] has to step back, purely for survival reasons."

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a pastor, not a politician. He is the head of a congregation, not the head of state. Yet it seems the media is determined to treat Reverend Wright and Barack Obama as one body and one mind, even after Obama has distanced himself from his former pastor. The media is fascinated with the pastor from Illinois for either two reasons - to boost their cable and network ratings, or boost the candidate they are in favor of, Hillary Clinton or John McCain. They go further to invite Rev. Wright to the National Press Club where knowing well that anyone who is invited to speak there inevitably sparks a national dialogue, hence gets people talking and the media reporting.

When asked why he chose to speak out now, Rev. Wright said: “On November the 5th and on January 21st, I’ll still be a pastor. As I’ve said, this is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright. It has nothing to do with Senator Obama. This is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African- American religious tradition.”

This line of questioning sounds historically familiar. In a speech delivered on April 4, 1967 at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City Martin Luther King Jr. said he was asked, "Why are you speaking about the [Vietnam] war?," "Aren't you hurting the cause of your people?" King replied “I often understand the source of their concern.” “Such questions mean that the inquirers have not really known me, my commitment or my calling. Indeed, their questions suggest that they do not know the world in which they live.”

In 2006, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) delivered a commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University. He said "Relativism in this contest is most certainly not a sign of our humility or ecumenism. It is a mask for arrogance and selfishness. It is, and I mean this sincerely and with all humility, not worthy of us. We are a better people than that."

Is it the “Wright” time if Senator Barack Obama wins the Democratic nomination, but the issue of race and Reverend Wright keeps rolling up on the campaign trail asking “Is it time yet?” Yet political pundits and campaign strategists like African-American radio talk show host, Roland Wright, keeps saying “stay in your lane.”

So when is the “Wright” time for Sen. Obama’s former pastor to defend himself against character assassinations in the court of public opinion judged by the mainstream media? According to the book of Matthew, “be about settling matters quickly with the one complaining against you.”

“A time comes when silence is betrayal,” said Rev. Martin Luther King. “The time is always right to do what is right.”