Jeremiah Wright: the fight back
Three weeks ago, few outside his church in Chicago knew who he was. Now, Jeremiah Wright is one of the most famous public figures in America, and he could be the reason why American history books do not record the tenure of a President Obama. The character and policies of the American president have a remarkable influence on the rest of the world, more so than ever before. Which is why every citizen of the world has a vested interest in who replaces George W. Bush. A number of websites have now been established to counteract some of the alleged media misrepresentations of Jeremiah Wright. Here is an example:
Dr Wright is clearly an extraordinarily gifted public speaker. His pulpit is a stage for oratory, and he is not afraid to perform. Whatever you think of the content of the pastor's sermons, this is homiletic theatre at its best. One of the difficulties he faces, in terms of his public image, is that white Americans sometimes struggle to understand the black sermon as a form of theatrical exposition. The black preaching tradition unites passion with a kind of rap-oratory. It is earthy and gritty. It is as musical as it is logical. It is interactive in a way that can sometimes confuse white audiences. And, as the black sermon moves a black audience through stages of reflectiveness, excitement, exuberance, and exaltation, audiences rise to their feet at various moments during the performance (and I use that term carefully, not in any way disrespectfully). Audiences communicate their response during the sermon, sometimes visually, sometimes vocally. As an exponent of the black preaching tradition, Jeremiah Wright is undoubtedly in the first rank of orators.
Now, given the cultural context of the black preaching tradition, take a look at the following sermon. This is one of the sermons that has haunted the Obama campaign in recent days. Dr Wright is heard saying, repeatedly, "God damn America". One might conclude from this phrase that the pastor is anti-American. But is he? Listen to the context and bear in mind that Dr Jeremiah Wright is a decorated ex-Marine who volunteered to serve in Vietnam before entering the ministry, and holds four earned theological degrees (and eight honorary doctorates). Is he anti-American, or is he calling America to live up to its own moral ambitions as a nation?
Comments
Wright is not a racist and he is not anti-American. His heart is in the right place and his passion sometimes gets the better of him. Ultimately, he is concerned to make America better.
Too bad that the American media are not posting the full sermons on a wider scale. It is terrible what Fox news and others have done to this Pastor and his Church, all for the sake of swaying votes. Fox butchered the comments and played them over and over, day after day for 2 weeks straight. People were so brainwashed, you could tell by the blogs. Now that we are able to hear in context what was said, we will only hear it if we search sites. Unbelievable how Republicans are acting in order to stay in the White House. We all know the media outlets in the U.S. are owned by a Republican. They should be shamed.
Het:
Your absolutely right!
Jerimiah Wright is not racist or anti-American.
Ireland is............
Everyone knows that Ireland hates Americans and this proves it.
Mr. Crawley;
Even Obama was ashamed of Jerimiah Wright and the comments he spewed out in his venom.
You defend the curse word G__ Damn used before a congregation in a church worship service?
I am sure it was because America was the object of Wright's Damnation.
Ireland is filled with enough hatred for Americans without your dreaming up more outlandish ways to do so.
And yes, I watched all the context not just the excerpts of the videos.
It was still racist and anti-American no matter how you try and twist the truth.