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Wright on Moyers

Posted by PAUL SILVER in Religion.
Apr 25th, 2008 | Comments

I watched the one hour Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright and came away impressed with the Reverend and disappointed that he has been so abused by the media.

To me, in context, the Reverend is passionate, articulate, reasonable and accurate. His comment about “God Dam America” makes sense to me as a condemnation of the selfish and vicious policies of our country that were often justified as with God’s blessing. He was expressing the startling conflict between the promise of America and our actions, and what God might conclude. In his comment that “the chickens came home to roost” on September 11, he said he was actually quoting a former US Ambassador. And the point he was making is that our nation has a history of perpetrating violence on on innocent bystanders who were in the way of America manifesting its destiny.

I am disappointed that Senator Obama felt he had to distance himself from this man to accommodate pervasive small mindedness.

It seems to me that every one of us can have something we said, or did, taken out of context and distorted in a way to make it into something it is not. I have owned a service business for over 25 years. Almost 20 years ago I stopped hugging my staff because one of them filed a legal complaint that my hugging others made her feel uncomfortable and sexually threatened. I was not prepared to spend thousands of dollars to somehow prove that my behavior was not abusive.

It is the nature of media to take items out of context in order to inflame a conflict. But that is handicapping our societies opportunities to progress towards mature discussion of issues.

It is the nature of amoral political operatives who believe that the ends justify the means just to get their candidate or party elected.

And it is the failure of good people to allow themselves to make conclusions based on the flimsiest of information.

I can only hope that the internet and bloggers can be a force to keep expanding responsible public dialog. And that political reforms can be made to create a level playing field for the truth.

  • Holly_in_Cincinnati
    I am grateful to be distanced from Rev. Wright. You might want to read his church bulletins - they are on the Internet.
  • kayfacefl
    Holly in Cincinnati, I don't know if you watched the interview but the man was intelligent and insightful and there was nothing hateful about him. He talked about the Lord and christianity and I was very impressed.
  • EEllis
    He gave a good interview so that make everything OK? Personaly I didn't think much of the interview. And did you read the his articles? Very revealing. I don't know that it matters as far as Obama goes this guy seems a little crazy and way to in love with the attention he's getting.
  • I met Minister Louis Farrakhan twice in Chicago (1994 and 1996). Both times I came away impressed at his knowledge and taken aback (pleasantly) by his warmth. Yet when I look back at some of his speeches, I wondered why he even has to "go there"? That's the way I felt like watching the Rev. Wright interview. Farrakhan and Wright are hardly dumb. Heck they come off as scholarly. But when the fiery speech leaves the congregation, people are going to judge and many are going to be upset. That's the road you have to travel...
  • runasim
    After the interview, I was heartbroken.
    i found Rev Wright to be a pastor to his congration first and foremost.. He was acknowledging and expressing the pain, suffering and sense of injustice felt by many of them,and offering them comfort and hope through faith. Though I am not religious in the traditional sense, I can appreciate the power of that dual mission.,

    I also felt that he woulddn't be understood and would continue to be vilified by many,, too many. and that's when my heartbreak took hold.

    People, and not only in America, are groomed to see things in black and white.
    Either you are a patriot (by my standards) or a traitor. If nature is beautifual, then you can't say it's cruel. We can't even talk about death as being a natural part of the life cycle; our loved ones 'pass away' or they are 'lost'. We dont' like unpleasant truths about life, nature or ourselves spoken about out loud. To do so is seen as traiterous, and we turn in anger and hate on anyone who does so.

    We can't cope with dualities. If you show any pity for for the suffering of my designated enemy, then you are my enemy, as well. We've never evne reconciled with what was done to Native Americans .
    So what chance does Rev. Wright have? Very little, I predict.

    It is so very sad to note that Rev. Wright has done better than many of his critics in accepting and living with the contradictions in the nature of individuals and nations. While keenly aware of the injustices, he served in the Marine Corps and maintains his faith that individuals and nations, our nation,, will continue to improve.

    I'm having a great deal of trouble maintaining as much hope in the future as Rev. Wright. has. .
    .
  • JSpencer
    I watched the interview too, and came away with the realization there are many folks who won't really care to know the truth about this man, nor will they care about the context or the actual message that is at the heart of his ministry. Their concern will consist of a determination to continue believing in the mischaracterization others have created for them. Apparently to them, a lie is no longer a lie if it strokes a cherished bias.
  • DLS
  • Thanks for the link DLS
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