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Monday, March 24, 2008
Let’s put the Obama/Wright flap in context
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let’s talk about Barack Obama. He’s been in the news a lot lately, concerning comments made by his minister, Jeremiah Wright.
A few caveats. I am not an Obama apologist. Nor is my intention here to make Obama your candidate, or to say why he shouldn’t be your candidate.
That said, I’m wondering why Wright’s comments are having such a big impact on Obama’s campaign.
Fact: for 87 years, African-Americans weren’t even considered to be citizens of the United States.
Fact: for the next 100 years, African-Americans were considered to be citizens, but without the rights of citizenship. It took massive civil rights legislation to make sure that all men were created equal.
Fact: in the ensuing 40 plus years, all US citizens have been adjusting to this “new” relationship. Granted, one that should never have been “new.” You can do some research on it if you want to know why.
Soundbites from You Tube about Reverend Wright’s comments has been the center of media attention lately. What’s lost in the comments is the context under which they were made. Talk show hosts won’t talk about that. It cuts into their “moneymaking” time. They are, after all, entertainers. Much in the same way that professional wrestlers are entertainers.
In wrestling, a little physical activity and a lot of manipulating the audience’s emotions make for a successful multimillion dollar enterprise.
Same with talk shows. A little political fact, and a lot of manipulating the audience’s emotions make for a multibillion-dollar enterprise.
My point is that if you’re going to base your opinion about the viability of the candidate because you accept as gospel, what a reasonably intelligent entertainer says, be he a talk show host or a charismatic preacher, then shame on you.
Friends and neighbors, you have a mind. Use it. If you do your own research and you come up with your own conclusions, pro or con, then you have done your job as a citizen. If you premise your argument by saying, “Hannity says this,” or, “Boortz says that,” or, “Reverend Wright said this,” then you are doing your country a disservice by not actively participating in the election process. Instead, premise your argument by saying, “this is what I found.”
I have questions for Obama that are far more in depth than his minister’s preaching. I say the same thing for Hillary, and for McCain. In the meantime, I’m going to do something different.
I’m going to turn off the TV and the radio, and I’m going to do some reading.
What do you think?
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