"Finally, I suspect that it is by entering that deep place inside us where our secrets are kept that we come perhaps closer than we do anywhere else to the One who, whether we realize it or not, is of all our secrets the most telling and the most precious we have to tell." Frederick Buechner
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Obama on racism
When the media haven't been in an absolute frenzy over the sexual proclivities of the former governors of New York and New Jersey this past week, they've been playing snippets of a sermon given by the Rev'd Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ for thirty-six years and for over half those years, pastor to Senator Barack Obama and his family.
If you've been scratching your head and trying to understand what's going on, you must listen to Mr. Obama's speech here.
It will take about 37 minutes of your time, but it will be one of the best 37 minutes you've ever invested.
Make no mistake, this is a major speech on racism. Remarkably, in pulling no punches, he brings people together.
This just might cinch the nomination for him. And, I must say, while many of my concerns remain, I would not be as unhappy as I said I was a few weeks ago.
Go on. Give it a listen. You won't be disappointed.
4 comments:
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(With thanks to Sojourners)
Big speech.
ReplyDeleteBig moment ... for the campaign and the country.
I got several media calls on it here and 15 seconds of fame on the local news at 6pm ... it's clearly a story that has captured the attention of America ... as it should!
You are the first person to make this compelling for me to want to listen to in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteOff I go- as I frequently waste 37 times 37 minutes on the intertubes, I might as well use my time more wisely.
UCC President John H. Thomas's statement is also excellent.
ReplyDeleteI read an article a while back about 'why Obama matters.' the author posited that about every 80 years or so in the cycle of American politics, something new happens and wipes clean the cynicism, etc of politics as usual. FDR was the last one. When we tilted to Reagan/Bush I kept saying, 'the American people just are NOT that mean...' I still believe it, and Obama gives me hope. If nothing else, he speaks the truth to both sides of the racial divide and I do believe that in our hearts, we know we can do better than this past decade or two...
ReplyDelete