Good Side To Rev. Wright?

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
[quote name='people magazine']The show's Elisabeth Hasselbeck also asks about controversial remarks delivered by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor of 20 years, who railed in a sermon that America is responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

"It was a snippet of a man," Obama replies. "I think he's saddened by what's happened, and I told him I feel badly that he has been characterized just in this one way – and people haven't seen this broader aspect of him."[/quote]

so saying things like that are okay because there's a better side to him?

[kujo]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1487459' date='Mar 29 2008, 01:34 AM']+J.M.J.+
so saying things like that are okay because there's a better side to him? [/quote]

No.

I think her point is valid. We've all (myself included) passed judgment on a man about whom we know nothing more than 20 seconds of a sermon. Do we know his life story? Do we know about his hardships, his hurts, his successes? Do we know about the good he has or hasn't done in his community?

No.

All we know is that he has said some terrible, fudged-up things in a few of his sermons.

It doesn't excuse his comments. But I think it casts light on the fact that the media and the country has condemned a man for a few seconds of his life. So let's take a breath and realize this simple fact.

[T-Bone _]

[quote name='kujo' post='1487547' date='Mar 29 2008, 01:17 AM']No.

I think her point is valid. We've all (myself included) passed judgment on a man about whom we know nothing more than 20 seconds of a sermon. Do we know his life story? Do we know about his hardships, his hurts, his successes? Do we know about the good he has or hasn't done in his community?

No.

All we know is that he has said some terrible, fudged-up things in a few of his sermons.

It doesn't excuse his comments. But I think it casts light on the fact that the media and the country has condemned a man for a few seconds of his life. So let's take a breath and realize this simple fact.[/quote]

These are sermons that he's so proud of that he sells DVDs of them. It's more serious than a "few snipits".

[kujo]

[quote name='T-Bone _' post='1487601' date='Mar 29 2008, 10:49 AM']These are sermons that he's so proud of that he sells DVDs of them. It's more serious than a "few snipits".[/quote]

It is of no difference.

I would hate for someone to take one belief that I have and sum up my entire existence by it.

[T-Bone _]

If he was proud enough of what he said to publish it and make it available to the general public, then he must have wanted it to define who he is.

This wasn't some video that got drudged up on youtube. He had it recorded and made into a DVD to be sold by his church.

There is a difference between that and someone taking one belief you have at random and using it to define you.

[kujo]

If I'm not mistaken, doesn't this guy tape and sell ALL, or at least MOST of his sermons?

Edited March 29, 2008 by kujo

[littleflower+JMJ]

[quote name='kujo' post='1487699' date='Mar 29 2008, 11:44 AM']If I'm not mistaken, doesn't this guy tape and sell ALL, or at least MOST of his sermons?[/quote]

He has one called God d*** America!

[Apotheoun]

No one has to agree with his comments, but the hatred being spewed out at him personally is itself wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right.

[kujo]

[quote name='littleflower+JMJ' post='1488400' date='Mar 29 2008, 10:09 PM']He has one called God d*** America! [/quote]

Yep. It smells of elderberries, if you ask me. Doesn't mean he's a bad person.

[quote name='Apotheoun' post='1488409' date='Mar 29 2008, 10:27 PM']No one has to agree with his comments, but the hatred being spewed out at him personally is itself wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right.[/quote]

Amen.

[-I---Love]

[quote name='kujo' post='1488723' date='Mar 30 2008, 12:18 PM']Yep. It smells of elderberries, if you ask me. Doesn't mean he's a bad person.
Amen.[/quote]

What is your definition of a bad person?

[Alycin]

[quote name='kujo' post='1487699' date='Mar 29 2008, 11:44 AM']If I'm not mistaken, doesn't this guy tape and sell ALL, or at least MOST of his sermons?[/quote]


yes.

tons of churches tape and sell their sermons.








People are being ignorant about this, that's all there is to it. Sorry that the truth hurts, to those of you that are still fuming over what he said... but seriously... if I had a nickel for ever crazy or offensive comment a preacher made....

[kujo]

[quote name='-I---Love' post='1513507' date='Apr 29 2008, 12:14 AM']What is your definition of a bad person?[/quote]

I don't know. But nothing a crazy preacher says would qualify.

[quote name='Alycin' post='1513645' date='Apr 29 2008, 01:08 AM']yes.

tons of churches tape and sell their sermons.
People are being ignorant about this, that's all there is to it. Sorry that the truth hurts, to those of you that are still fuming over what he said... but seriously... if I had a nickel for ever crazy or offensive comment a preacher made....[/quote]

Word. This guy has as much power and influence as we allow him to have. People listen and WANT to be offended so they can march down the streets, nose in the sky, fully-clothed in their moral indignation. Ignore this guy. Who cares what he has to say? He's some idiot who is spouting off at the mouth. In my neighborhood growing up, someone like him wouldn't even warrant a beating...we would've just called him "crazy" and ignored the dude.

[-I---Love]

[quote name='kujo' post='1513994' date='Apr 29 2008, 01:48 PM']I don't know. But nothing a crazy preacher says would qualify.
Word. This guy has as much power and influence as we allow him to have. People listen and WANT to be offended so they can march down the streets, nose in the sky, fully-clothed in their moral indignation. Ignore this guy. Who cares what he has to say? He's some idiot who is spouting off at the mouth. In my neighborhood growing up, someone like him wouldn't even warrant a beating...we would've just called him "crazy" and ignored the dude.[/quote]

That is the problem. People DO care what he has to say. His church is a packed-house. You can watch it each Sunday live streaming online. Obama aligned himself w/ him 20 yrs ago to ensure the black vote. For whatever reason that he picked Wright, that gives the man more power. So this isn't just say crazy bum on the street we should passingly shrug off. People give him credence and that should worry us all a bit as far as earthly concerns go.

And your stmt that people want to be offended doesn't ring true to my ears, or to many other ears I know. Suspending judgment would be wiser.

[kujo]

[quote name='-I---Love' post='1514162' date='Apr 29 2008, 04:59 PM']That is the problem. People DO care what he has to say. His church is a packed-house. You can watch it each Sunday live streaming online. Obama aligned himself w/ him 20 yrs ago to ensure the black vote. For whatever reason that he picked Wright, that gives the man more power. So this isn't just say crazy bum on the street we should passingly shrug off. People give him credence and that should worry us all a bit as far as earthly concerns go.

And your stmt that people want to be offended doesn't ring true to my ears, or to many other ears I know. Suspending judgment would be wiser.[/quote]

I'm saying that we shouldn't care. We shouldn't even listen to this guy. Up until a few months ago, this guy's influence was virtually-limited to 10 or 12 blocks around the building he worked at. Now that the media has seized on his words, he's doing tours, speaking engagements, talking to the press core!?!?!?! Honesty, it's like this guy is Frankenstein and is being fed and strengthened by the controversy he's provoked.

What smells of elderberries is that Obama is the one who is bearing the brunt of this guy's croutons. No matter what Obama says or does, the stink eminating from this guy's craw is gonna follow him!

[kamiller42]

[quote name='kujo' post='1514470' date='Apr 29 2008, 07:42 PM']I'm saying that we shouldn't care. We shouldn't even listen to this guy. Up until a few months ago, this guy's influence was virtually-limited to 10 or 12 blocks around the building he worked at. Now that the media has seized on his words, he's doing tours, speaking engagements, talking to the press core!?!?!?! Honesty, it's like this guy is Frankenstein and is being fed and strengthened by the controversy he's provoked.[/quote]
Limited to 10 or 12 blocks? You should get a better understanding of his sphere of influence.

[quote]What smells of elderberries is that Obama is the one who is bearing the brunt of this guy's croutons. No matter what Obama says or does, the stink eminating from this guy's craw is gonna follow him![/quote]
Mr. Wrong is going to stick to Obama as long as Obama continues to fail to admit what he can't, a failure in judgment. "Oops. I should have left his church sooner." If he shows a lapse in judgment about the pastor of the church in his own neighborhood, a church he has been attending for 20+ years, how is going to be able to make the right decisions about international policy? Or other decisions where the variables are not so obvious as a ranting lunatic "pastor" whose antics can be seen at his convenience on DVD over and over?

[CatherineM]

On the news tonight, they were describing him as Obama's "former pastor." When did he quit this church? Was it when he started to campaign, or was it after his comments began to be made more public.

[kujo]

[quote name='kamiller42' post='1514809' date='Apr 30 2008, 02:10 AM']Limited to 10 or 12 blocks? You should get a better understanding of his sphere of influence.

Mr. Wrong is going to stick to Obama as long as Obama continues to fail to admit what he can't, a failure in judgment. "Oops. I should have left his church sooner." If he shows a lapse in judgment about the pastor of the church in his own neighborhood, a church he has been attending for 20+ years, how is going to be able to make the right decisions about international policy? Or other decisions where the variables are not so obvious as a ranting lunatic "pastor" whose antics can be seen at his convenience on DVD over and over?[/quote]

First off, if I need a "better understanding" of this idiot's influence, why not provide it instead of throwing a condescending remark out there like a 12 year old.

Secondly, you will find no disagreement here--Obama should've left this guy's congregation long ago. I think he has strong ties to this guy, whose work brought him to Jesus, though without providing him with the proper guidance to instill in him proper moral views. I would venture to say that his loyalty to him is similar to my loyalty to my former Youth Minister, a man who has been incredibly instrumental in my faith life. There were times when he was the only male figure in my life man enough to tell me the truth and love me through my errors. He was like a father to me. And, if for some reason, he bonked his head and started saying crazy things about black people, I would be offended, but I would have a hard time "denouncing" or "rebuking" him. It wouldn't make my decision [i]right[/i], but it would put it in context. That's what I think we all need to do--place Obama's relationship with this guy in context.

[kujo]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1514813' date='Apr 30 2008, 02:16 AM']On the news tonight, they were describing him as Obama's "former pastor." When did he quit this church? Was it when he started to campaign, or was it after his comments began to be made more public.[/quote]

To the best of my knowledge, Obama still attends the church; however, Wright has since retired from his "ministry." That's probably what they were alluding to.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='kujo' post='1513994' date='Apr 29 2008, 12:48 PM']I don't know. But nothing a crazy preacher says would qualify.
Word. This guy has as much power and influence as we allow him to have. People listen and WANT to be offended so they can march down the streets, nose in the sky, fully-clothed in their moral indignation. Ignore this guy. Who cares what he has to say? He's some idiot who is spouting off at the mouth. In my neighborhood growing up, someone like him wouldn't even warrant a beating...we would've just called him "crazy" and ignored the dude.[/quote]
Do you believe that who your friends are defines who you are?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='notardillacid' post='1514857' date='Apr 30 2008, 01:09 AM']Do you believe that who your friends are defines who you are?[/quote]
No.