Lament: Wright Beats Wrong

Lament: Wright Beats Wrong: “Not God BLESS America, God DAMN America!” – Rev. Dr.  Jeremiah A. Wright Mr. Ricketts and other conservatives, hell bent on ...

Wright Beats Wrong

“Not God BLESS America, God DAMN America!”

– Rev. Dr.  Jeremiah A. Wright

Mr. Ricketts and other conservatives, hell bent on making President Obama a one term president, want to turn the clock back four years and essentially put the Black Church back on “front street” by reminding America (mostly white America) that evil continues to lurk in the hearts of all Black people as manifested in those 6000 people plus a president, that would dare follow the teachings of a distinguished Black theologian such as Jeremiah Wright. The only advice I have for him is this, “it did not work then and it will not work now!”

Certainly it comes as no surprise that the 2012 presidential campaign season has begun in earnest now that former Governor Mitt Romney has all but officially been declared the GOP endorsed candidate to face President Barak Obama in the November election. It should also be expected that the two sides will employ every possible tactic (both positive and negative) to expose their opponent’s shortcomings and character flaws in and effort to distract the public from seeing their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. 

But what has caught me and over a million other Americans from both sides of the divide, completely off-guard is the recent revelation that the most conservative wing of the GOP, via the super PAC Ending Spending Action Fund (ESAF), had planned to spend more than 10 million dollars on an advertising campaign that would resurrect the Rev. Jeremiah Wright reminding the voters of the relationship between the President and his former Pastor.

Then, to add insult to injury, the chief backer and 10 million dollar contributor of this proposed schemes turns out to be Chicago’s very own (by way of Nebraska) Joe  Ricketts, a major player with the Chicago Cubs organization and ultra-conservative billionaire businessman. Not only has this latest news destroyed any hope I might have had about not seeing my blood pressure rise daily with the political lobs and distorted records of two men I now respect, but given Mr. Ricketts relationship with my favorite baseball team, I can’t see how I can ever enter the “friendly confines of Wrigley Field” without thinking that my admission dollars could be supporting the race baiting, Black Theology hating, anti-Christian promoting, fear mongering politics of hatred being used to turn people against President Obama.

If it were possible to put politics aside, this issue raises several significant questions for me. As an African American Pastor, person of deep faith, former member of Trinity United Church of Christ, and as one that faced his own controversial scandal when I came out about my sexual orientation to my African-American Baptist congregation, I am left to wonder “Are we our Pastor’s Keeper?” 

President Obama did not create Black Theology, but rather it has emerged as an opportunity for Black people to reflect theologically about our day to day struggles of living in these yet to be called United States of America. Rev. Wright, like many Black preachers was articulating the view that America, with all of its blessings, gifts and liberties, is no more exempt from its role in creating world problems as it is in creating solutions to those problems. Can it be implied that the views of the Pastor represent the views of every member of the congregation every Sunday? The underlying issue in the Rev. Wright controversy is that White America actually became witness to what happens in many Black churches each Sunday. 

Black Theology is powerful and is best understood, not in the context of what White people want to hear, but as a means to empower, enlighten and energize those that have been historically downtrodden and excluded, providing a spiritual context for world events in language that Black people not only understand but can apply to our daily lives.

While I in no way purport to be a baseball expert, I have watched enough games to know that how a player starts the game sets the tone for the remaining nine innings. It is unfortunate that the political right, in their opening pitch, has chosen to put such a strong negative spin to the ball. Why start a new campaign season with the same divisive tactics that assisted you in a losing season four years ago? This is the reason why the starting pitcher cannot open two consecutive games. It’s good that Mr. Ricketts and his 10 million dollar bull pin are rethinking their game plan and realize that Americans, even the ones still struggling to accept the leadership of an African-American Commander-In-Chief, want to watch a fair game. Why not let those on the field play and leave the race baiting, hate provoking strategies in the Peanut Gallery.

Lament: Obama on the DL

Lament: Obama on the DL: "The only way to get equality is for two people to get the same thing at the same time at the same place.”        –   Thurgood Marshall   ...

Obama on the DL

"The only way to get equality is for two people to get the same thing at the same time at the same place.”      – Thurgood Marshall                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

As I think about the recent scuttle-butt surrounding comments Vice President Biden made regarding his position on same-sex marriage, I am reminded of the sassy retort that was often used on the streets and playgrounds growing up in my mostly African-American community in Colorado Springs “My mama didn’t raise no fool!” This line was used when someone tried to make you believe something that was obviously false or to thwart a plan that would set you up to make a fool of yourself in public.

This childhood scene immediately came to mind on the heels of Biden’s saying during a recent taping of Meet the Press, “I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same rights.” This simple statement created a political fire-storm regarding whether or not President Obama would soon come out in favor of same-sex marriage during the 2012 Presidential Campaign. There are some who believe that it was a vice presidential gaff that has put Obama in a precarious spot and will force his hand on a decision while others believe it was a well planned and executed move to prepare the public for Obama’s eventual “about-face” on the issue and his presidential endorsement of same-sex unions.

While this subject has once again captivated the media and all the pundits, I can end the debate with one simple assertion that “Mama Obama didn’t raise no fool!” Come on now people, someone as smart, tactical and articulate as President Obama would never allow any member of his team to make such a bold statement with out a bigger purpose at work.

 

It was also no coincidence that less than 24 hours after Biden’s statement, Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan, goes on television and makes a similar statement of support for gay marriage! Unless there has been a complete and utter breakdown in President Obama’s ability to manage his staff (which is highly unlikely) the only other conclusion is that our Commander-In-Chief is ready to “come out” and support marriage in all of its various configurations. 

Before celebrating his finding the pot of gold at the end of this political rainbow, the question has to be addressed why he was on the “down-low” (DL) in the first place?  I think the answer to that question is simple. The only way for “Candidate Obama” to become “Second Term President Obama” is to make good on his promise to one of his largest voting bases he has and that is the LGBTQ community. Everyone knows that once he is set for four more years, he will be free to “set the captives free” and come out on a number of issues but specifically, equal rights and same-sex marriage.

It is incomprehensible for me to believe that the same man who brought hope, vision and a “yes we can” attitude to the White House; the same man that ended “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” in the military; and the same man that everyday demonstrates the enormous weight of being the First African-American President, to now say “no we can’t” as a nation guarantees justice and equality for all. Biden and Duncan have only prepped the closet door to be flung open as our President comes out and does what he knows to be right for this one nation, under God. Congratulations, Mr. President!