The recent uproar over the association between Barak Obama and his pastor of twenty years compels me to break my silence. \u00c2\u00a0Whether you want to hear from me or not I must speak out.<\/p>\n
Two thoughts come to mind when one is considering how to evaluate this upstart candidate: 1.) One is known by the company one keeps, and 2.) Actions speak louder than words.<\/p>\n
Sorry, Senator Obama – you are largely an unknown quantity, recently thrust upon the national stage. \u00c2\u00a0We want to know you. \u00c2\u00a0We watch you and are impressed with your poise, your charisma, your fine words. \u00c2\u00a0But we want to know more before we are willing to give you the highest honor and the ultimate power the citizens of this country can bestow. \u00c2\u00a0So now the spotlight shines on the darker corners of your life – and suddenly we are not so impressed. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the past twenty years you have been a faithful follower and regular congregant of Pastor Jeremiah Wright. \u00c2\u00a0In your bestselling book, you refer to him as “an inspiration”; he performed your wedding ceremony and baptized your children. \u00c2\u00a0He is an unapologetic racist at best. \u00c2\u00a0He preaches a message of hatred for white men, for America. \u00c2\u00a0That is not the mindset that most Americans wish for their President. \u00c2\u00a0The company you keep is not acceptable to an America wanting something better.<\/p>\n
As the story grew legs over the last couple of days, you tried to distance yourself from the disgusting pronouncements of your pastor by telling us that you weren’t there when he said those things. \u00c2\u00a0Sorry again. \u00c2\u00a0For twenty years you continued to attend services and put your money in the collection plate. \u00c2\u00a0It’s not about the specific comments – it’s about the attitude – the culture – the mission of the church that you are a member of. \u00c2\u00a0You cannot make twenty years of actions go away with a few press releases or a couple of stumbling, inarticulate interviews. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
So many were excited about the choice you seemingly offered – the change from that which we have found so distasteful. \u00c2\u00a0Your youth and rhetoric offered the promise of so much that this country fell in love with in 1960 when another Senator – John F. Kennedy – burst onto the scene. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
But, alas, Senator Obama – you are no JFK. \u00c2\u00a0His vision was a positive one for all Americans. \u00c2\u00a0His vision was for a better American for all of us – a color-blind America. \u00c2\u00a0We have now learned from your pastor, your inspiration, that your vision of and for America is a negative one, a vision of yours against ours, of black racism against non-blacks.<\/p>\n
No, thank you, sir. \u00c2\u00a0Now that we’re getting to know you – the real you – we really don’t like you as much as we thought we did when we didn’t know who you really are.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The recent uproar over the association between Barak Obama and his pastor of twenty years compels me to break my silence. \u00c2\u00a0Whether you want to hear from me or not I must speak out. Two thoughts come to mind when … Continue reading