Relationships are funny things…
I was born to and raised by former members of the Black Panther Party. I also grew up around my parents’ friends (other former members). Throughout a childhood filled with love and support, the ideas of militant activism rubbed off on me. You could say I was an honorary member of the now-defunct Black Panthers. I fell in love with them. Their struggle. The strength of seeing those black people carry guns in unity. A Black Militia for social activism. But my parents weren’t starry-eyed militants. They were realists. For every romantic notion, I was fed caution. I was told to judge people not by skin color but by actions. I was told to follow the laws of the land and to protest peacefully. Many times they hammered their caution home with looks that would peel the armor off a tank. In the end, they created an independent thinker. A son that volunteers his time to help others. A son that is more optimistic than pessimistic. But they still wax poetic about their Black Panther and militant days. Some of their friends lay the black nationalism on thick over the BBQ. I call these people my friends also. They’ve helped me with homework (thanks Mr. G for your invaluable Calculus lessons), helped me with relationships, and just plain helped me with life. Even though some of things they say are on a par with Minister Louis Farrakhan and Reverend Jeremiah Wright and make me cringe many times.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright… Senator Barack Obama… Relationship. Mentoring. Friendship. All parts of the human experience. Not easily shaken off. Yet this is what running for the President of the United States is about: shaking off “damaged goods” even if you respect, care about, and/or love those “damaged goods”.
The whole Wright-Obama saga (and thanks to my fellow co-bloggers and commenters for their insightful thoughts on this subject) has made me take a look at my associations and friendships. I realize that those friends of mine who have said and continue to say disparaging, inflammatory, and hateful things about people are still my friends. Their impact on my life has been too great. I can’t just drop them. They mean too much to me. They are an integral part of my life, my wife’s life, my children’s life. Even though some of the words out of their mouths embarrass and sometimes repulse me.
Senator Barack Obama has made his choice. His friendship with Rev. Wright means too much to just cut off. He can’t destroy the man that impacted his life so much. Sure Rev. Wright has left his unofficial role with the Obama Campaign, but Senator Obama will not throw him under the bus. Obama must feel that Rev. Wright has not done enough “dirt” (positives outweigh the negatives) to cancel his friendship with him. I admire that since I feel the same way about some of my friends.
Relationships are funny things. We can be impacted by the strangest of characters. One person’s hero may be another person’s villain. Senator Obama’s emotional soft spot has been exposed for all to see. And in the uncaring, unflinching, and harsh world of American politics, a emotional soft spot is easy leverage; manna from heaven.
119 Responses to “Relationships are funny things…”
Great post T-Steel, as always.
Pacatrue,
Thanks for the hat/tip. I've been thinking this over the last few days and I feel increasingly that Obama's relationship with Wright is not troubling at all. I say this because I've researched Wright and TUCC more and I've come to the conclusion that the church is the home of THE black establishment in Chicago and not some radical nutjob haven. Should we question Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods' judgment for going to this church and, presumably, listening to this man? I bet Jordan met closely with Wright when Jordan's father was murdered. Is Jordan now some bigot – or at least a man with terrible judgment – because of this?
Also, the UCC is a mostly white denomination, but TUCC is THE flagship church. Rev. Wright has helped mostly white congregations get off their feet throughout the country, including especially in the Midwest. Wright is not defined solely by those sermons on display. And Obama shouldn't be defined by association with a pastor who gives them.
The notion of someone insisting repeatedly that we stay on topic makes me want to …wait for it…chuckle!!
The notion of someone insisting repeatedly that we stay on topic makes me want to …wait for it…chuckle!!
The notion of someone insisting repeatedly that we stay on topic makes me want to …wait for it…chuckle!!
T-Steel this was a great post and I think you might be surprised at what people can except in others past. I do think how you speak of your situation is different from the feel I get from the OB campain. If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me. Acting like it shouldn't be a problem, that it is just a smear…………..well that's a different thing.
T-Steel this was a great post and I think you might be surprised at what people can except in others past. I do think how you speak of your situation is different from the feel I get from the OB campain. If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me. Acting like it shouldn't be a problem, that it is just a smear…………..well that's a different thing.
T-Steel this was a great post and I think you might be surprised at what people can except in others past. I do think how you speak of your situation is different from the feel I get from the OB campain. If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me. Acting like it shouldn't be a problem, that it is just a smear…………..well that's a different thing.
If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me.
My father said pretty much the exact same thing when he read my post. He said Senator Obama went “too political” and should just be “real” with everyone on this issue. Very interesting.
I 'm SO upset that I wasn't able to participate more in this discussion yesterday (was extremely busy). Their has been so many great comments that you all deserve a round of applause!
If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me.
My father said pretty much the exact same thing when he read my post. He said Senator Obama went “too political” and should just be “real” with everyone on this issue. Very interesting.
I 'm SO upset that I wasn't able to participate more in this discussion yesterday (was extremely busy). Their has been so many great comments that you all deserve a round of applause!
If he were to speak and explain himself with the same eloquence then it would be much less of an issue for me.
My father said pretty much the exact same thing when he read my post. He said Senator Obama went “too political” and should just be “real” with everyone on this issue. Very interesting.
I 'm SO upset that I wasn't able to participate more in this discussion yesterday (was extremely busy). Their has been so many great comments that you all deserve a round of applause!
It's not simply knowing Wright that is the issue. It's that Obama has viewed him as his spiritual advisor for pretty much his entire adult life. Wright married the Obamas, baptized their children, and the Obamas have attended his church regularly. That's not true for the McCain-Hagee relationship or any of the other parallels people have suggested. When Obama went to law school, he apparently took lectures on tape by Wright with him as inspiration. That's an enormous influence.
It's not simply knowing Wright that is the issue. It's that Obama has viewed him as his spiritual advisor for pretty much his entire adult life. Wright married the Obamas, baptized their children, and the Obamas have attended his church regularly. That's not true for the McCain-Hagee relationship or any of the other parallels people have suggested. When Obama went to law school, he apparently took lectures on tape by Wright with him as inspiration. That's an enormous influence.
It's not simply knowing Wright that is the issue. It's that Obama has viewed him as his spiritual advisor for pretty much his entire adult life. Wright married the Obamas, baptized their children, and the Obamas have attended his church regularly. That's not true for the McCain-Hagee relationship or any of the other parallels people have suggested. When Obama went to law school, he apparently took lectures on tape by Wright with him as inspiration. That's an enormous influence.
Indeed, it is a big influence, fuzzyface. Have you seen any evidence in Obama yet that he thinks God should damn America?
Indeed, it is a big influence, fuzzyface. Have you seen any evidence in Obama yet that he thinks God should damn America?
Indeed, it is a big influence, fuzzyface. Have you seen any evidence in Obama yet that he thinks God should damn America?
I don't know. I don't feel like taking the chance. This is hardly his only troublesome association, although it is among the worst. I'm not crazy about people like Zbigniew Brzezinski getting back into power, either. Obama now is on my 'to vote against' list. I expect to be part of a strong majority of Pennsylvania primary voters who push Hillary back up.
I don't know. I don't feel like taking the chance. This is hardly his only troublesome association, although it is among the worst. I'm not crazy about people like Zbigniew Brzezinski getting back into power, either. Obama now is on my 'to vote against' list. I expect to be part of a strong majority of Pennsylvania primary voters who push Hillary back up.
I don't know. I don't feel like taking the chance. This is hardly his only troublesome association, although it is among the worst. I'm not crazy about people like Zbigniew Brzezinski getting back into power, either. Obama now is on my 'to vote against' list. I expect to be part of a strong majority of Pennsylvania primary voters who push Hillary back up.