Reverend Wright and The White (Media) Double Standard
- added May 8, 2008
- 16 responses
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- echoz
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"...This is crazy; this is wrong -- white preachers are given leeway in politics that others aren't.
Which means it is all about race, isn't it? Wright's offensive opinions and inflammatory appearances are judged differently. He doesn't fire a shot in anger, put a noose around anyone's neck, call for insurrection, or plant a bomb in a church with children in Sunday school. What he does is to speak his mind in a language and style that unsettle some people, and says some things so outlandish and ill-advised that he finally leaves Obama no choice but to end their friendship. We are often exposed to the corroding acid of the politics of personal destruction, but I've never seen anything like this--this wrenching break between pastor and parishioner before our very eyes. Both men no doubt will carry the grief to their graves. All the rest of us should hang our heads in shame for letting it come to this in America, where the gluttony of the non-stop media grinder consumes us all and prevents an honest conversation on race. It is the price we are paying for failing to heed the great historian Jacob Burckhardt, who said "beware the terrible simplifiers."
--Bill Moyers (Journal)
Which means it is all about race, isn't it? Wright's offensive opinions and inflammatory appearances are judged differently. He doesn't fire a shot in anger, put a noose around anyone's neck, call for insurrection, or plant a bomb in a church with children in Sunday school. What he does is to speak his mind in a language and style that unsettle some people, and says some things so outlandish and ill-advised that he finally leaves Obama no choice but to end their friendship. We are often exposed to the corroding acid of the politics of personal destruction, but I've never seen anything like this--this wrenching break between pastor and parishioner before our very eyes. Both men no doubt will carry the grief to their graves. All the rest of us should hang our heads in shame for letting it come to this in America, where the gluttony of the non-stop media grinder consumes us all and prevents an honest conversation on race. It is the price we are paying for failing to heed the great historian Jacob Burckhardt, who said "beware the terrible simplifiers."
--Bill Moyers (Journal)
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Notice how we haven't heard a peep more about Pastor Jeremiah Wright and God Damning AmeriKKKa since Hillary only squeaked by Obama in Indiana by 1% and lost by 15% in North Cackalacka!
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- 96thdayofrage
- 1 month ago
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Reverend Whright did not help himself. He could have raise the debate and the issue to a spiritual one so this country could have heal further.
I question the level of his spiritual depth.
I would expect more from a religious leader even if he feels that he was misquoted. When the press is just out there interested in their ratings, we can see through it too.
Obama is making a lot of promise to stop the politic of divisiveness. It's a tough one because every body will come with their list of wants for the futur and complaints from the past.
Unless he is ready not to be popular and crucified, he will not carry it through.
I do not really know what kind of man he really is. Same for his wife.
Historical figures are rare. Let's hope for the best
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Rev. Wright is just doing the same thing all of these other religious folk have been doing for years. And the funny thing is alot of what he is saying isn't wrong. Perhaps poorly presented, but he has some merits to his rants as opposed to the hateful rants of some of his compatriots. We can discuss till we are blue in the face how this affects B.Ob's campaign, but there is a distinct difference in how Wright is being treated in contrast to other TV preachers...
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I agree areoh and this was an excellent video.
It's a shame PBS has such a small viewership, -
Here's a really good Frank Rich column about the media's bias in ignoring similar comments by McCain's supporters from the religious right.-
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- fountaingoats
- 1 month ago
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Listen to this and see if you understand why many in communities of all colors who disagree with the Rev. Hagy and his ilk, are also uncomfortable, not, with much of what Rev. Wright said, but with the way he said it.
There is a difference between preaching anger and hate, and inspiring Americans to work together for peace with justice for all, and to work for a day when all "will be judged, not by the color or their skin,...but by the content of their character." -
TouchArt- Very well said.
Thank you -
"Listen to this and see if you understand why many...disagree...with the way he [Rev. Wright] said it."
...and I followed that link thinking I was going to hear Rev. Wright speak. that's a very famous speech. I remember we'd listened to it a few weeks ago watching some documentary I can't even remember anymore honestly =D but I do remember that speech. Powerful and as relevant today as it was in his. I feel disappointed now. and yet, you know, I think a lot of people (and probably to an equal/exceeding majority percentage) would be severely put to the test in comparison with such a great man. His voice continues to echo across many minds even today. How many can say that? so I'm not sure that's really a fair comparison. And of course he's dead. =D and we still have Rev. Wright in who's demeanor on a tv interview once did not appear to me to be any kind of a vindictive man.
so...I wonder, wtf is really up. what of Rev. Wright's tact or negative energy?? I know how easy it is to take things out of context. And I wouldn't pretend without some proof to know what he's had to walk through in his shoes. There has been a very interesting interview with another pastor (or whatever) who candidly and transparently defends this guy with more than a quick quote. And with the O'Reilly "Faux Noise" producer no less as his victim =P it's kinda fun to watch =D
Check it out for yourselves if you haven't already. -
There are several brilliant orators on issues of peace and justice that continue to speak out today and who can inspire youth and all people with the example of their actions to make justice real. I;ll post some speeches you may not have seen on the corporate media.
Congressman John Lewis speaks out in 2008 with eloquence and passion against the Iraq War.
As a youth, John Lewis led the march across the bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965, where he was beat so badly, there are still scars on his skull. John Lewis with Dr. King, Jr. back in the day on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement.
Last year, Congressman John Lewis gave a rousing speech on the shame of 38 million Americans living in poverty, and introduced Dr. King's son Martin Luther King III and the Realizing the Dream Poverty Initiative in America Network for our report to Congress on October 25, 2007.
Inspiring voices like Congressman John Lewis' remind us that Dr. King's dream of the beloved community committed to working for peace with justice is still strong in the hearts of Americans just waiting to be re-ignited by leaders who appeal to the best in us and insist that we leave the path of hate and destruction and know that "only light and love" can achieve the peace for which we yearn. -
Martin Luther King the III, son of Nobel Laureate the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King junior, was the keynote speaker at a Monday symposium at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. King spoke of his father's philosophy of non-violence, laid out his vision of transformation through peaceful conflict, spoke of the importance of teaching those tenants to the world's children and called on Jews and Arabs to live in peace. 08/28/07
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"Congresswoman Lee speaks about the recent report released from the Center for American Progress, entitled "From Poverty to Prosperity." This report examines the state of poverty in American and outlines 12 recommendations to alleviate it."
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a member of the congressional Out of Poverty Caucus. She gave another inspiring speech about the urgency of eradicating poverty in American and addressing the struggle of 45 million more working poor who are increasingly in risk of falling into poverty.
www.lee.house.gov -
Congresswoman Barbara Lee speaks on the floor of the US House of Representatives in support of legislation she authored, H.Con.Res. 198, which expresses the sense of Congress that the United States has a moral responsibility to meet the needs of those in poverty, and sets a national goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years using a strategy that promotes good jobs at livable wages. This legislation was passed unanimously by the House on 1/22/08. -
You know Touch, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, so let me preface what I'm about to say. I agree with what you are trying to do; bring light to the beauty and verve of some great people talking about peace. That's cool and I'm always with that. But I gotta say I don't think Wright belongs in the same category with cats like Hagy. We all know Hagy is a [censored] piece of [censored]. But even as Huckabee pointed out, Wright does have some very valid reasons for feeling like he does. Agreed, some folks, including myself, are a bit taken a back with his presentation, and honestly, I don't agree with everything he says, but his interjections in the national political scene have ignited once again the race debate, and, to be frank, how a lot of people in this country want to glaze over what happened in the name of peace. I think it is very important that we do not disavow the content of what he is saying and re-categorize it as hate speech. Angry? Very. Divisive? Sure, in a fashion. However, part of this process of attaining peace is acknowledging and accepting that there are very real and, unfortunately, everyday occurrences of the very things he was talking about. Until we, as a country, take an active stand against and change our racist everyday practices, we are going to more Rev. Wright incidents. And they will be just as relevant. So yes, lets all work towards peace and equality for all, but lets not forget the scars, bruises and lives lost in the process.
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The "Appeal for Redress" held a press conference, on Oct. 17, 2007, on Capitol Hill, in the Rayburn Building. The group of 2,050 active duty military members is calling on the U.S. Congress "to end the occupation of Iraq." It is also warning the Bush-Cheney Gang from "repeating the same mistake in Iran." For background on the "Appeal for Redress," check out: www.appealforredress.org. Sharing her views in support of the group's goals was Rep. Bob Sheila Lee-Jackson (D-TX). Sponsoring the event was the "Institute for Policy Studies," of which John Cavanagh is the Director. See for more info: www.ips-dc.org.
Also, go to this link - http://youtube.com/watch?v=EAQK8rjTBVs
for a 1 minute speech by Congresswoman Sheila Jacson Lee about sexual abuse and harrassment of women soldiers in the military today.
Check out this link - http://youtube.com/watch?v=OtWF-fOjBWQ
for a powerful speech by Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee (Dem, Texas) on FISA and the shame of gutting the Constitution. -
whoa TouchArt! Not sure I've got quite that amount of time or inclination =P Y'know, I think Bill mentioned in this piece that in his day there was a difference between the podium and the pulpit; a difference too often discarded for the indifference of secularist thinking these days. I agree with Mr. Moyers.
AreOh, about that "glossing over"...thank you.
I believe that's exactly the kind of frank and candid conversation Bill is advocating for in his Journal as well. Continued/inadvertant avoidance or denial is only continued/inadvertant "shame" (as Bill Moyers justly calls it). I'd ask that Wright be taken in some context with respect to his own experience, but I guess it's still tempting to give the issue of his fervor more "convenient" if stereotypical treatment. I'll admit, I'm tempted to give Rev. Wright the benefit of the doubt in that he'd create controversy in the expression of his passions to raise the level of awareness and attention to things that are more easily "glossed over" or otherwise generally swept under the rug.
...fine "speeches" (although they serve a nobler purpose as well) or not. -
Oh how easily the american people are distracted!
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