Rev. Wright in a different light -- Racism, Philadelphia County...

By William A. Von Hoene Jr. D uring the last two weeks, excerpts from sermons of the Rev.

[Lucky dog]

Well stated. Thanks You

[OnTheMoney]

The national media should pick up on this article and spread its word.

[Mark Jeffery Koch]

I found Pastor Wright's comment's distasteful and his embrace of Louis Farrakhan abhorrent. That said, trying to belittle the anger of black Americans is not only misguided, it is wrong. The worst evil the world has faced was the Nazis in World War II. Black soldiers fought and gave their lives but were not allowed to stay in the same barracks with white soldiers and were treated like third-class citizens at best. Yet, when they died, their blood was no different from their white counterparts'. They returned home to water fountains they were not allowed to drink from, restaurants they were not allowed to eat in, and had to sit in the back of the bus.

The Tuskegee episode had the American government using blacks as experimental guinea pigs. While I, too, find accusations of the government manufacturing the HIV virus to murder blacks outrageous, any black American that was taught about the Tuskegee disgrace has reason to doubt their government. Voter suppression of blacks was rampant and even as recently as the 2000 election for President there were allegations of attempts to turn away black voters. The entire world saw black bodies floating down the flooded streets of New Orleans as the federal government stood by and did nothing while the Black neighborhoods of New Orleans were destroyed. Today, in 2008, black men are still stopped at random by policemen for the sole reason they are black. A black man trying to catch a taxi in most major cities in America has a less than 50 percent chance the taxi will stop for him.

Yes, I abhor what Reverend Wright says. I am white and I am Jewish, but I still can understand his anger and the anger and doubts of most black Americans. We can criticize him all we want for hating us, but history shows his animosity is most definitely not make believe. There were wrongs that were righted and wrongs and injustice that still must be righted, but we do our country a great disservice by dismissing everything the man said as ranting and raving. We cannot move forward if we cannot understand our past, and we must embrace one another as equals and treat one another as we would like others to treat us.

[John]

I agree with the author's thoughts on Wright. And, the comments on this blog bring new joy to my heart. Perhaps the U.S. is ready to heal.

[Lee]

Thank you William. I am a white woman of a "certain age and a Barack supporter. I have been praying that people from Trinity would come forward and broaden the picture of Rev. Wright. We need to hear the whole truth, even if some of us choose to ignore it.

[KayZee]

Thank you, William Van Hoene Jr. We needed your voice of both direct experience and reason. I am tired of Clinton and her campaign associates raising Rev. Wright's name every time they are in trouble, and thereby encouraging divisiveness. This harms the country, not just the Democratic party. I wish the national news networks would interview you and stop replaying the same video clips.

[jlp]

You know, I wonder if any of the people criticizing Sen. Obama's failure to "disown" Wright ever asked Nixon/Carter/Reagan/Ford/Bush/ Clinton to stop inviting the notoriously anti-Semitic Billy Graham to the White House, or criticized GOP candidates for courting homophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, misogynistic fundamentalist Christian ministers.

[Hamilton]

Can this person's testimony be put on the air via TV or radio? I believe ,more people need to hear this before making up their minds for good regarding Obama's patriotism and sincere message of unity

[Our Future is NOW]

I 'm a Black Man raised all my Life in All White neighborhoods, and pioneered my education in all white schools.., I am mainstream suburban black progressive now in my 50's .
And I ask this question to all...,
"What does the world see of Americans, asking them to join the War on Terror yet cannot accept the pain of America's own past racial divide."
I asked my White buddy about this issue and why so few Whites are willing to attend services at a black church and i was told, "White America does not want to see the pain exhibited from past & current racism." So this denial further perpetuates the Racial Divide ,
We need more people to stand up and say, " We are the United States of America"

[Sally in TX]

If a person spends most of his/her life doing good deeds but one day decides to rob a bank, we don't go to the jury and say that's just one bad thing and let's just ignore it because of these good deeds. Rev. Wright may do wonders for many people but he lost me when he asked God to damn the US, said that whites gave AIDS to blacks and 9/11 was retribution for American injustice. If you want to believe this man is great, that's your choice. I believe he's very angry with white people and hates the US. I can't interpret his statements any other way. Don't tell me it's out of context - I listened to the whole sermon. I can't vote for Obama if he chooses to support this kind of hate speech.

[edo]

now we see that letters were printed in the church pamphlet claiming that Israel was working on a "ethnic" bomb aimed at blacks and arabs in conjunction with South Africa. In your exquisite sensitivity to the plight of african americans, did this escape your notice as well? what else did you ignore from the pulpit to fit in?

[TJP]

I guess the fundamental question is, "Can one's character be justly perceived based on the company one keeps?" I think that over the years we have seen that it can. So, that begs another question, "If one can associate with those who would be the radical edges of society, then can they truly represent those that choose a more moderate path?" I don't understand how that can happen.

Mr. Obama's dealings with Tony Rezko harken back to the Clintons' Whitewater Scandal. Mr. Obama's association with Trinity and Rev. Wright (ironic name) remind us of Billy Graham's many associations with many presidents. It would appear that a degree of evil is a quality needed to run for office.

[spikewebbe]

Sally in TX wrote:

If a person spends most of his/her life doing good deeds but one day decides to rob a bank, we don't go to the jury and say that's just one bad thing and let's just ignore it because of these good deeds. Rev. Wright may do wonders for many people but he lost me when he asked God to damn the US, said that whites gave AIDS to blacks and 9/11 was retribution for American injustice. If you want to believe this man is great, that's your choice. I believe he's very angry with white people and hates the US. I can't interpret his statements any other way. Don't tell me it's out of context - I listened to the whole sermon. I can't vote for Obama if he chooses to support this kind of hate speech.

Your argument doesn't hold up regarding the the person robbing a bank one day--Rev. Wright didn't commit a crime; maybe he's guilty of being very very blunt and a loud mouth; maybe you've listen to his entire sermon but how many other sermons of his have you listened to? I find it hard to believe he hates America. I've heard Rev Hagge and Rev Falwell condemn the US for various reason--gay rights, porno; and nobody calls them un-American. Not voting for someone because of their loud mouth minister--come on, that's dumb.

[James Klimaski]

The distortion of Rev. Wright's statements (and actions) by the political commentators reflects very badly on them. So much of what they have said in this elction campaign is drivel. The Rev. Wright controversy is just one example of their poor efforts to make themselves relevant - and they are failing badly.

[James Mohr]

Thank you! Your words need to be read and heard in more places than Chicago. I only know Jeremiah Wright through a couple sermons heard at church meetings and the kind things he has done for people in Wisconsin, but it fits with what you have written.

[Dedicated Trinitarian]

This story brings tears to my eyes! Thanks for sharing w/ the world the fact that OUR pastor truly is committed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and be a voice for the voiceless in the wilderness. Little 30 second sound bites to demonize Pastor Wright is so unfair, slanderous, and magnifies that we truly are not fighting flesh and blood but evil spirits and principalities; rulers of darkness in HIGH places! Nevertheless, being a community of believers we are assured that weapons formed against us WILL NOT PROSPER! We must keep our eyes on November...

[sharpinchitown]

Sally in Texas,
Are you aware of American foreign policy? How many thousands if not millions have died because the stated department and CIA operate(d) at the behest of corporations against any foreign government that restricts business and access to cheap labor in their respective countries?
Do you know how many democratically elected leaders the US has financed and provided arms to have overthrown?
Did you know that after slavery was officially abolished it still occurred through kidnapped slavery where blacks would be abducted off the streets and thrown into work camps? Their family members didn't even know where they'd gone.
There is a lot to be angry about and your blindness to all things wicked is deplorable.
In particular our government of the last 40 years does not represent the America that is Constitutional and just that we all hope to cherish and love.
I don't blame anyone for having hostile feelings toward a government that props up and protects dictators of countries who commit the most heinous of human rights violations (Saudi Arabia), while overthrowing others (Iraq) as well as over a million additional Iraqis for human rights violations. Why the contradiction?
Why do YOU support a government that would do that? Those actions are far worse than any words that a black man at a pulpit could spew.
This is the truth sweetie and this is what Reverand Wright was talking about...and you are defending it.

[Lived All Over]

WOW. As an American I will not deny this man his opinion or experience. It is not good that people who have not sat in this church Sunday after Sunday are so filled with blame and are so quick to point the finger and claim to be Christians. All christians know what the Bible says about planks. If you don't look it up. That is why I stayed away from church for so long. Most churches do not offer a fair and balanced view. I have viewed the ENTIRE sermons by Reverend Wright. I was taught not to ever make a conclusion without doing the research - that said in total he made his argument more effectively than most. Again it shows that things are so racial that people will eat their own (as I can see by the other posts here) if they don't agree with what they feel. That is not Democracy in America (read Alexis de Toqueville if you are up to it) or Rugged Individualism and we are not sheep.

[Lived All Over]

I meant to say some of the other posts - not all.

[david spears]

I don't agree with everything my priests say. There have been times I did not attend church because a particular one was saying mass. The problem here is the appearance of of a close relationship with the rather caustic reverend. Can what your close circle of relationships affect your opinions. Maybe yes, maybe no. That is when the appearance of things must be immediately. In all fairness, Clinton states rather emphatically that she dodged bullets. You remember, trust me, if you dodge bullets. It is a unnerving sound. She has many times proved to be less than trustworthy. He on the other hand, is not the choir boy he is being made out to be.