Righteous Anger
Check out cnn.com/360 for full texts of Rev. Wright's sermons.
Rev. Wrights sermon is powerful and passionate. His sermon is also angry *BUT* it is righteous anger. How ironic this issue of race has occurred at Easter.
After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple in righteous anger. Was he a coo coo? Was it wrong for him to be angry because people in his country were using the name of God to extract money and make a profit from the poor? I see no difference when a pastor who has devoted his entire life to helping the poor, weak and undefended becomes angry about the way the poor are mistreated in this country and by corporate greed allowed by this country. Is it wrong to speak out against injustice? Maybe we need a little bit more passion in our churches. Maybe we need to be a bit more passionate about what is righteous and just. Or have we lost sight of what it means to be a true Christian?
It is not difficult to find a full text of Rev. Wright's sermons...and yet....those who WANT to hate will not even look for the truth but justify their hatred by intoning FOX entertainers' hateful mantras or by asserting they can judge a man's entire life and thought by a questionable 30 second sound bite.
Reading these blogs, it is apparent generations of hatred and fear have blinded many of my fellow white Americans. They are like sheep led by media wolves in sheep's clothing. I'm sure there is a corresponding degree of hatred and fear in the black community and among other minority peoples. When our selves or our personal worldview is threatened we tend to protect ourselves by reaching for what is familiar and safe. For some, hatred feels like safe ground. However, it is possible to rise above such a visceral response.
I admire Obama for rising above the usual political dialogue and reaching for the higher ground of mutual understanding and reconciliation. I am encouraged there is the possibility and the call for open dialogue. I am relieved many Americans have evolved to embrace a broader view of common humanity. I am inspired by Obama's courage to plainly state the truth even though he knows the American people are more used to the manipulative Soma of spin. He is telling the truth...and the truth is hard for some people to hear.
America...take a deep breath...then open your eyes and hearts to the Truth.
Rev. Wrights sermon is powerful and passionate. His sermon is also angry *BUT* it is righteous anger. How ironic this issue of race has occurred at Easter.
After his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple in righteous anger. Was he a coo coo? Was it wrong for him to be angry because people in his country were using the name of God to extract money and make a profit from the poor? I see no difference when a pastor who has devoted his entire life to helping the poor, weak and undefended becomes angry about the way the poor are mistreated in this country and by corporate greed allowed by this country. Is it wrong to speak out against injustice? Maybe we need a little bit more passion in our churches. Maybe we need to be a bit more passionate about what is righteous and just. Or have we lost sight of what it means to be a true Christian?
It is not difficult to find a full text of Rev. Wright's sermons...and yet....those who WANT to hate will not even look for the truth but justify their hatred by intoning FOX entertainers' hateful mantras or by asserting they can judge a man's entire life and thought by a questionable 30 second sound bite.
Reading these blogs, it is apparent generations of hatred and fear have blinded many of my fellow white Americans. They are like sheep led by media wolves in sheep's clothing. I'm sure there is a corresponding degree of hatred and fear in the black community and among other minority peoples. When our selves or our personal worldview is threatened we tend to protect ourselves by reaching for what is familiar and safe. For some, hatred feels like safe ground. However, it is possible to rise above such a visceral response.
I admire Obama for rising above the usual political dialogue and reaching for the higher ground of mutual understanding and reconciliation. I am encouraged there is the possibility and the call for open dialogue. I am relieved many Americans have evolved to embrace a broader view of common humanity. I am inspired by Obama's courage to plainly state the truth even though he knows the American people are more used to the manipulative Soma of spin. He is telling the truth...and the truth is hard for some people to hear.
America...take a deep breath...then open your eyes and hearts to the Truth.
posted by Michelle Coder | 10:08 PM
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