Dumb question, I know...about Jeremiah Wright.

Boomygrrl · 10-22-2008, 01:25 PM

Since a thread was started about Ayers, I hope someone can give me info about Jeremiah Wright.

Here's what I know: Jeremiah WRight is a retired minister of Obama's church in Chicago. He said some controversial things that was played to death in the media. Perhaps taken out of context.

What do we know about Obama's knowledge about Jeremiah Wright's "racism." I put that in quotes because I will admit it could be taken out of context. If what Jeremiah Wright said wasn't really that bad, why did Obama denounce him? If what he did say was bad, why did Obama go to his services for 20+ years? Did Wright become more radical as time went on?

I tried to listen to more of the sermon than the clip that was shown on TV. I have mixed feelings about it. I don't have a problem with churches that are centered around their communities...it is a predominantly black congregant church and therefore they are going to address issues that are more in line with what many of their congregants may be dealing with. To me, that's not racist. I do think he had some extreme ideas in that sermon, but would that make me "disown" him if I was a member, probably not...unless it was a pattern of behavior maybe. Or maybe I'm missing something.

I'd like to hear views from both sides. Pro and con. Thanks!!

A_la_Nap-tural · 10-22-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomygrrl

What do we know about Obama's knowledge about Jeremiah Wright's "racism." I put that in quotes because I will admit it could be taken out of context. If what Jeremiah Wright said wasn't really that bad, why did Obama denounce him? If what he did say was bad, why did Obama go to his services for 20+ years?

I don't think Rev. Wright is racist, I do however think he is a bit radical. He just says what people are afraid to say. Not very tactful or couth... I'm sure it didn't become a problem until Obama announced his bid for presidency. Once he did that, everybody was fair game to pick apart. I think he distanced himself to save the church from further embarrassment by being ripped apart by the media. Rev. Wright is his own man. What he says and does are not the direct feelings of the sheep he leads. People don't go to church to hear his political rants anyway. They go to hear a word from God delivered through him. I don't think there's anything worth investigating here.

I was a member of quite a large church in my hometown. It came out that my pastor was cheating on his wife with the traffic lady from a local radio station. But that didn't cause the city to look at all the men of my church as if they were cheating too.

Boomygrrl · 10-22-2008, 02:08 PM

Oh, I agree. You can't judge the congregants by the preacher. However, if a preacher has several sermons that might be considered too radicial, I would feel very uncomfortable sitting in on those sermons. Maybe racist is too strong of a word...but judging white america for causing AIDs to infect black people is bordering on crazy to me. White America has done enough racist and horrible things...but that one seems far-fetched. I wouldn't even have an issue if that was said once or twice in his whole career. I know there have been other prominent white preachers who have said even more bizzare things...and I wouldn't associate myself with them either...Pat Robertson and Hagee come to mind.
I'm just curious how much Obama knew before hand, were these exerpts taken out of context or are they statements that got taken out of proportion from Jeremiah Wright?

It doesn't change my vote. I still like Obama better than McCain...but I don't think this issue got addressed. It was either a fringe right wing group making too big of a deal out of it or it was the left wing saying that it isn't a big deal at all. Me thinks the truth is somewhere in the middle...usually it is.

Obama seems like a rational man and doesn't strike me as a "hater." McCain is less rational and strikes me as a hater...so, even if the worst came out about this situation with Wright, it's still the lesser of two evils. I just want to know if something ever got concluded by this.

Thanks, A la Naptural!

YolyC · 10-22-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A_la_Nap-tural

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomygrrl

What do we know about Obama's knowledge about Jeremiah Wright's "racism." I put that in quotes because I will admit it could be taken out of context. If what Jeremiah Wright said wasn't really that bad, why did Obama denounce him? If what he did say was bad, why did Obama go to his services for 20+ years?

I don't think Rev. Wright is racist, I do however think he is a bit radical. He just says what people are afraid to say. Not very tactful or couth... I'm sure it didn't become a problem until Obama announced his bid for presidency. Once he did that, everybody was fair game to pick apart. I think he distanced himself to save the church from further embarrassment by being ripped apart by the media. Rev. Wright is his own man. What he says and does are not the direct feelings of the sheep he leads. People don't go to church to hear his political rants anyway. They go to hear a word from God delivered through him. I don't think there's anything worth investigating here.

I agree. He and Father Michael Pfleger have a really no bones way of getting their message across. Pfleger is a thorn on the side of the Chicago archdiocese.

mycolorfulheart · 10-22-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomygrrl

Oh, I agree. You can't judge the congregants by the preacher. However, if a preacher has several sermons that might be considered too radicial, I would feel very uncomfortable sitting in on those sermons. Maybe racist is too strong of a word...but judging white america for causing AIDs to infect black people is bordering on crazy to me. White America has done enough racist and horrible things...but that one seems far-fetched. I wouldn't even have an issue if that was said once or twice in his whole career. I know there have been other prominent white preachers who have said even more bizzare things...and I wouldn't associate myself with them either...Pat Robertson and Hagee come to mind.
I'm just curious how much Obama knew before hand, were these exerpts taken out of context or are they statements that got taken out of proportion from Jeremiah Wright?

It doesn't change my vote. I still like Obama better than McCain...but I don't think this issue got addressed. It was either a fringe right wing group making too big of a deal out of it or it was the left wing saying that it isn't a big deal at all. Me thinks the truth is somewhere in the middle...usually it is.

Obama seems like a rational man and doesn't strike me as a "hater." McCain is less rational and strikes me as a hater...so, even if the worst came out about this situation with Wright, it's still the lesser of two evils. I just want to know if something ever got concluded by this.

Thanks, A la Naptural!

It seems far-fetched to me as well, but I would like to hear the Reverend's reasoning behind that statement. Maybe he saw black folks being ignored or denied care in his neighborhood? I have no idea.
But, I think it is important to say that Obama did attend his church for 20 years; and what most people had a problem with was one or two sermons. I've taken issue with certain things a pastor has said, but that didn't make me leave the church. If you're involved with the church it should just spark some dialogue between you, the pastor, and other members.