The wingers are going to keep bringing up this Wright controversy, and I believe the only way to combat it is to educate people about what he said and the truth and appropriateness of it. I am a little upset that the wingers got to Obama, and that he felt he had to distance himself from this stuff. Thanks to this diary that pointed me to the actual offending sermon after 9/11.
After watching the video I am not offended at all. I'm convinced that those who are offended either didn't understand it/couldn't stomach some of the metaphors or are ignorant about America's history. His sermon is all true and good.
The Reverend begins by talking about the tragedy and the innocents lost and then moves toward a discussion of what America is about to do -- to get even. He uses bible quotes to illustrate a point about hating the enemy's army but not the innocents, the "babies." It is all very fiery and he uses strong language. I can see how it might be hard to follow what he is talking about but I tried and to my ears he is saying something that I really want my President Barack to hear.
The Reverend talks about what America is gearing up to do, to get even and what that means and he uses the image of babies being smashed on rocks which is grotesque obviously and he's trying to drive home the point that God does not want America to do something terrible. Then he talks about praying and asking God what America "should do."
Now he says he needs a little aside, something he refers to as a "faith footnote." When he repeats, "Turn to your neighbor and say 'faith footnote'," the listener is made aware that this is a rhetorical device the Reverend uses to step away from the main thrust of his sermon and paint a picture of what is going through his head-- pictures he's contemplating while the story is progressing, something like that. This is the point in his sermon that he talks about Hiroshima, Grenada, Native Americans, the offending part obviously. So the first thing to know before listening to this is that he is in a footnote to his sermon. He's saying something as background to his prayer, his feelings.
The footnote begins with a quote from one Ambassador Edward Peck speaking on FOX News. This is the quote, once uttered by Malcolm X, that "America's chickens are coming home to roost." He quotes a U.S. Ambassador who spoke on FOX News! How dare he! The Reverend talks about what those chickens are and basically condemns the killing of innocents that has transpired in the past by America. And says that in doing so "we never batted an eye." In that statement he condemns America which he is claiming as his own by the utterance of the word "we". He condemns us for the killing of innocent people. And he in so doing without saying so, implores us not do more killing of innocent people. He then exits the "faith note" and returns to the question of "what should we do?" "What should we Americans do?" That is a fine question and one that needs to be answered but after we realize that we don't want to do more damage to the world.
This is guidance I want my President Obama to hear. I do hope that the Reverend or someone of his like is at the President's side when the going is tough.