I have followed the Rev Jeremiah Wright story a little bit. I don’t watch much in the way of network news so I’ve missed *some* of the flurry of sound bytes. I spent some time on YouTube watching some of Rev Wright’s speeches in full. Not just the ten second bytes. I am no expert on this man but I have felt very sympathetic toward him, thrust as he has been, into a spotlight he didn’t ask for. Well, he doesn’t seem to mind it really, now does he?!
I’ve heard his recent comments quoted on NPR. A few interesting tidbits include references to the tragic Tuskegee Syphilis Study. And something about AIDS being caused by the US government. And a few other things that I’ve also heard from economically challenged members of the black community. Considered opinions as to the injustice of the US government toward her own people. Are these opinions widely held? It would seem so. And I sympathize. When something is widely perceived as truth, the actual truth is of little consequence. But when these things are said in the light of day with a white audience, people get a little shocked. And perhaps rightly so. I’ve been very surprised the whole time this story ran, wondering how it ever got to the air waves.
Here’s the thing I find most unsettling. Obama has denounced Rev Wright in the strongest possible terms. Yet the good Rev has only articulated what many Afro-American’s believe. And here is a charming black pastor, who seems to be saying in effect “Come on Obama, fess up! We all know you agree with me.” It’s almost as if Rev Wright is defining what it means to be a Black, Christian, and Democrat in America. It’s as if Obama has crossed the line and there is the good Reverend calling him back into the fold. No thanks! I didn’t like it when the Republicans told us what it meant to be White and Christian (backed by Reverands Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell) and I don’t like it now. (There is more to leadership than being AGAINST some things.)
The good Rev Wright is Wrong. If there is a possibility that a good man, who happens to be Christian and Democrat can make a difference in the future of this country and begin to be a positive change against that injustice that angers those with a conscience… If someone could take the power in Washington out of the hands of the wealthy few and put it into the hands of the people… If decency and compassion could be seen as signs of integrity rather than weakness… If the blood-letting of the Iraq war could come to a close… If one man has the audacity to hope, and more than a million contributors share this audacity... If any of these things could be seen on the horizon in American politics, wouldn’t it just be time to take your wounded pride, sit down and shut up?!
No, this is the land of free speech. We don’t keep silence here. Hate speech, inappropriate speech, stupid speech, lewd language, not to mention propaganda and spin. Our speech may be free but amongst all the babble the truth is increasingly difficult to find.
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