In Defense of Rev. Wright

Thanks to the rancor of Sen. Clinton, there seems to be no end to the controversy surrounding Rev. Jeremiah Wright. And, thanks to the media coverage of this issue, there seems to be no one in this country who doesn't think that they have seen this sermon. But how many have seen the actual sermon, as opposed to tightly control snippets? Below is a ten-minute clip from that sermon. It is worth your time to listen to it. What I am most struck by is the fact that it sounds no different than anything I have written on this blog countless times. I welcome your thoughts:

Comments

[sonja]

I blogged about it, not very well, the other day. My thoughts are that:

1. It's good for the conservatives (media and politicians) that the Democrats are still slugging it out, yet the Republicans have an heir apparent at this point. Stirring the pot and creating more controversy simply makes that race continue on longer. This makes for a two-pronged race in both the Clinton and Obama camps. Not good for the Democratic party no matter how you slice it. Funny how that's happened ... I write that with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.

2. I wonder when this country is going to wake up to the fact that sound bite is not the whole story? That quote (chickens come home to roost) was taken so far out of context it was laughable. Dr. Wright was quoting a white ambassador, who in turn was quoting either Malcomb X or Elijah Mohammed ... but it was not his thought and he was fairly clear about it. He agreed with it ... but then so do I. So do a lot of people who think deeply about killing and war and how we treat people who are different from us. Hearing it taken out of context is hard and makes me feel kind of gulpy at first, but when I heard the whole thing last week, I thought, "well ... I've said the same thing myself."

3. I'm angry at the manipulation and deception on all sides. I'm sick of it. There oughta be a law ...

[John D. Palmer]

First let me just say I didn't need to listen to Rev. Wright's sermon to know it was taken out of context. In fact, when being queried by my father about the "evil that Rev. Wright was spewing", I had to try to calm my father down and ask him to consider the whole context of what Rev. Wright may have been saying. This didn't go over well with my father,(of course he still wants to hang onto the notion that Obama is a Moslem and/or Arab, I grant him this phobia since he was hijacked in 1985 and held hostage for 3 weeks in Beruit.)

Interestingly though, you don't seem to be taking Obama's lead on this at all by "repudiating" the remarks by Rev. Wright and distancing himself from the contreversy by patronizing his "Old Uncle" Wright and saying we don't always agree with each other.

On the surface this seems like the right political move on Obama's part. Down the road this may come back to haunt him.

I'm not sure I've ever read anything on this blog that has the same kind of inflamatory nature as some of the cliplets from Rev. Wright, aside from the HIGHLY provocative Beef Industry U tube video that you posted that was taken out of context as equally as Rev. Wrights sermon:-)

Rev. Wright is obviously well educated and honored pastor and has no need of anyone defending him. After all we do still live in the land of the free, which includes our speech. Power to the People. Vote Independently and reclaim our Freedom from the corrupt Parties of personal interests!

Peace

[Rich Osbourne]

I've been curious about the Emergent Church. I understand they are very active in social causes which is great, but are abortion issues not considered important? Also, if they are important is there a responsibility not to vote for one of the most pro-abortion candidates in history? Last question...is abortion too controversial for the EC? It seems protecting life does glorify God and should remain an important topic. Not that other issues become unimportant, like mountain top removal, but it just seems that abortion is ignored within the EC. Appreciate your thoughts...

[BroKen]

Came over here by way of Brutally Honest.

Mr. Samson, your attempt to put Rev. Wright's comments into context is appreciated. His call for self-examination is much needed. But a prophet should not merely wag the angry finger. He should also reveal a broken heart. There is far too much joy expressed in Rev. Wright's later condemnations of America. And he seems too pleased that "the chickens are coming home to roost."

Here is a letter from a Hollywood filmmaker that Rev. Wright, Obama and you too, I hope, can read with profit. It shows the proper use of "context."

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/open-letter-to-senator-obama/

[Julie Clawson]

amen. I listen to most of these clips even and wonder what is the big deal. Why is standing up for justice (even when it means questioning the rich and powerful) so taboo?

I understand why Obama distanced himself... can't win unless you ooze love for empire. But I wonder what he really thinks. I for one applaud the prophetic voice in the church.

Rich - speaking for myself as a part of the EC, I do think abortion is a very important issue and speak up about it often. And a lot of my friends have as well. It just isn't the only issue we see as important.

[James]

It's a pretty good sermon when you listen to the whole thing. But if you needed this to prove the media spins thing differently.

The only problem is that the more you look at Obama the more you see that he plays the sames games as everyone else. Distance when you have to or speak out against something whnen you won't do anything to stop it (NAFTA). Probably has to to win. But it reminds me that it's a game I care little for.

[Morgan K Freeberg]

I see the essence of hypocrisy. A man cheering, gleefully, about innocent people being hurt while accusing others of doing exactly that.

Thank you for showing me the "context."

[xtnyoda]

I think Hollywood has done a great disservice in the way "prophets" are portrayed in general. The visual image we have is of Charlton Heston sternly demanding that Egypt let God's people go. We seldom ever see nor suspect that Yahweh's prophets were usually broken hearted and filled with crushing anxiety.

Jeremiah confessed that his eyes ran rivers of tears. Isaiah, seeing the coming judgment in chapter six, wailed, "Lord...how long!" Moses reminded Yahweh that judgment would be a blight on the reputation of His name.

Jesus cried over Jerusalem, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how I would have gathered you..."

I don't remember reading in the scripture where the people jumped in glee and celebrated the vindictive announcement that a nation's chickens were coming home to roost.

Jonah was SOUNDLY REBUKED by Yahweh for having the desire to see damning judgment fall on Nineveh. Abraham plead with Yahweh over Sodom. Habakkuk dared even to challenge Yahweh's judgment on his people.

Jesus died to prevent Yahweh's judgment falling on people. Jesus, the great prophet, died for the sins of people instead of announcing with satisfaction that people were getting...and going to get...their dues.

[Will]

Rich: The "Emergent Church" is a fairly broad umbrella that covers a wide swatch of Jesus followers. However, with a few exceptions, I am hard-pressed to think of someone in this conversation that I would not consider pro-life. But, without exception, I cannot think of anyone that doesn't define "pro-life" as broader than what Sr. Joan Chittister calls being "pro-birth."

For many years I called myself pro-life, but I was, in fact, merely pro-birth. By this I mean that I cared if children were aborted, but not if they died from malnutrition. I cared if fetuses were defined as persons, but not if those persons grew up and died on battlefields in unjust wars.

I now gladly call myself pro-life, with the realization that life begins at conception and ends when the heart stops beating. In between those two events, there is a significant amount of life for which I am "pro."

[Ariah Fine]

thanks for sending that link

[Eddie Twardoz]

I watched it and the man still makes me sick to my stomach. I think he is a terrible excuse for a pastor.

[Eddie Twardoz]

I watched it and the man still makes me sick to my stomach. I think he is a terrible excuse for a pastor.

[s.o]

thank you for sharing this. I'll be honest, I hadn't look for the context and I've got a new perspective now. thanks will.