Wright's rhetoric overwrought

This Web only Speakout has not been edited.

Michael J. Simmons

Friday, May 16, 2008

In these past several weeks, I have had the fortunate happenstance to reacquire my habit of listening to the news. It happens on occasion, when something strikes my interest or at least perks me out of my lethargic nine to five (9 to 5) existence. Rev Jeremy Wright has perked or stoked that interest. His step into the limelight of national attention and his efforts to “Help and/or Hinder” Barrack Obama’s path to the White House, strikes me as odd for lack of a better term. We stand at a time when someone who is not the standard White, Powerful, Elite powerbroker that we have all come to know. Instead now we have a Black, Powerful, Elite powerbroker who has a different take on things, this is not to say that Mr. Obama is not the usual crop of politician that we get, sure he will cover his butt when necessary he will distance himself from a person who has embarrassed him that is human and Political nature.

However Rev. Wright’s speeches have left the Obama campaign in a lurch and screaming for damage control or just for this guy to shut the hell up. Rev. Wright attributes the Tuskegee Experiments to the US Government and the AIDS epidemic, this sort of far fetched theory sounds nice in the X-Files along with those that disbelieve in the Apollo man to the moon landings. Now for those of you who do not know, Yes the experiments happened (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762136.html) and yes one of our sitting Presidents (currently stumping for his wife) has apologized for this Gross injustice to those that where afflicted.

*The United States government did something that was wrong—deeply, profoundly, morally wrong. It was an outrage to our commitment to integrity and equality for all our citizens. . . . Clearly racist. * *—President Clinton’s apology for the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment to the eight remaining survivors, May 16, 1997* So the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment has been dealt with, neatly?

In reality probably not, as in the case of this there where things did that where not acceptable. We now move on to yet another fact about a full out apology from the U.S. Government for Slavery (Specifically) African/American Slavery. This is still a deep wound for a very proud Nation; it is something that most of us Americans try to avoid thinking about much like those Germans in Germany who get ashamed about the Holocaust. Not so much pretend that it did not happen, but having no desire to bring up something that was ugly and in the end a horrific cost was paid. The Rev Wright would still have us believe that African/American slavery still exists in the Country.

To this I pause, living in a neighborhood that is predominately African/American with a fair mix of Mexican and then a sprinkle of every one else. I do not see any slave collars and/or chains, I see people who are going about their daily lives every day in a country that has opened the doors to them and others. Rev. Wright calls upon our Government Leaders to apologize, for the African/American Slavery that somehow a man whose congregation bought him a million dollar home in a White neighborhood among other things is a Slave?

Rev Wright, I have a question sir, if you are still a slave where is your collar? Where are your chains? If in deed you still think this for yourself and your congregation then they are a collar and chain of your own design. Neither mine nor any other American’s, history records of a war fought in this country. This war one of the precepts for it was the ending of Slavery and then end result was the Death’s of over 500,000 people (men, women, and children, white, black). An Apology I think is a forgone conclusion as it has been paid in the dearest currency of all. The statements made by the Rev. Wright and even some made by Rev. Sharpton now bring me to my current concern, being a Denverite and having lived in the State of Colorado. Though Rev. Wright has not promised trouble for Denver, he still does cause concern and issue. We stand poised to possibly have for once a Black President in the Oval Office, should this occur it makes the “Race” issue moot; it no longer empowers those angry at our Government because it is an all-whites inclusive only group. Rev Wright is on record as saying if Obama gets into the office he will attack Obama. So if the pillar of what is espoused to wanting to get to by the African/American movement to make change and now one of those who is screaming about the injustice of the system vows to continue attacking it, does this not sound more like entitlement and not compensation.

Sadly for Barrack Obama he is really left with only one choice and that is to distance himself from his former pastor and also Rev. Sharpton in such a manner that it leaves no doubt in most peoples mind that he has done so. Sadly for him to do this, he would have to denounce the whole African/American argument for an apology and that the whole issue on that is nothing about an apology being owed, but about Entitlement and recompense of money and/or damages owed. This would serve to effectively kill Obama’s campaign, leaving the path wide open to Hillary Clinton and/or John McCain. Ours is a nation of Ideals and Thoughts are some of these perfect? The answer is No. However they are what we have and what we continue to work with and continue to strive to perfect. The sad part is, when we have a clear set of Rights to follow as this country does even when the people and/or person feels it is their right to espouse a wrong, sometimes it is not right.

— The fears, prejudices and limitations that we impose on ourselves must someday pass, because they are not as real as hope, tolerance and possibility. - Gene Roddenberry, Creator of “Star Trek”

Michael J. Simmons is a resident of Denver.

• May 16, 2008

  8:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  vudumom writes:

  Star Trek? How profound.

• May 16, 2008

  8:41 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  SASQUATCH writes:

  And behinfd the Obama curtain...still concealed from everone's view...never even wispered...but part of the Obama agenda...and about to pounce on America if BO ever gets access to the Oval Office...is the ugly 3 Headed Dragon know as................

  R---E---P---A---R---A---T---I---O---N---S

  Whitey owes.