March 27, 2008Question of the day:For those (including Hillary Clinton) so steadfast in saying that if they were Barack Obama, they would have bolted Dr. Jeremiah Wright's church: How often have you sat mum as you heard friends and loved ones tell racist jokes? Michel Martin of NPR suggests "if the tables had been turned, if it had been their church, their family, their friends, their turf, they would have sat right there." s |
About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
.....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
Comments
[March 27, 2008 8:38 AM]
LisaIf I walked out of a church every time a pastor said something I disagreed with, I would be without a church.
However, for me, the issue is Senator Obama just waffled on his answers for a while.
I would have said, "Look, he is my pastor and I don't agree with what he says 100% of the time, but this is my church and I am not abandoning my church because of one issue and one man."
[March 27, 2008 9:45 AM]
Bobby Buck : →http://theroanoketribune.comMuch ado about nothing. If ministers had truly been delivering the message of "the Messiah" over the past two millenia, there would be no such thing as racial discord in Christianity. Being there still exists rampant racial disparities, what does that say about Christianity or yet, the jacklegs leading the Sunday Morning get togethers?
[March 27, 2008 9:49 AM]
BacklashPeople that tell racist jokes maintain that relationship with the individual because they see no harm in the joke because it's among friends...
Yet if someone is offended by it and lashes out causing one to lose their job or viciously with a punch to the mouth then they are acting typically of there race.
Why not dissect some of the Bill and Hillary Clinton's comments I'm sure he hasn't said anything "offensive"?
[March 27, 2008 11:50 AM]
SherryAnyone who sits through a sermon where a minister says
"G-d America" is either a racist or has no backbone.
This minister has bashed, anglos, Jews, you name. He is one sick puppy. The fact that Obama is sticking by him tells me Obama has extremely poor judgement in character.
[March 27, 2008 12:29 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2I do not maintain friendships with those who are seriously racist or make racist jokes that bring harm and hurt to other people! However, there are folks that I know that are great people such as Nikki Giovanni and over the years Nikki has changed greatly and so have I! I am thinking it would depend on if one was serious as to what they were saying...wow great question Shanna!
[March 27, 2008 12:42 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2Backlash, would you explain what you mean by your comment as to...(with a punch to the mouth then they are acting typically of there race.)...what race are you commenting about here??????? I am hoping that you mean all races which in all do reality, it is not worth hitting someone over something said by any person...ghees ole flip we are all grown-ups now I am thinking and our skin is a bit more thicker than when children! And no, I do not live in some unrealistic world and I know there is violence every-where! But, when one goes to hit another over spoken-words then that is asinine!
[March 28, 2008 9:10 AM]
BacklashBev Bishop
You missed my point, from politics to Jenna. People have expressed there opinions in negative and positive ways, from throwing water in ones face in Russia to brawls on the Senate floor in Taiwan and even as last Year to Democrats if my memory serves me correct to punches thrown over the word S.O.B. in Alabama last between congressmen. Which brings us full circle of Jenna which more than mere words was use to express a feeling.
Do it matter what creed I am too express thought, to evoke an emotion? It' shouldn't, yet you as many people find that people must explain their actions. In science it's explained "for every action there is reaction". So why is it shock or surprised when one group have to live with and just have to deal with it and get over it.
Sometimes facing the out come of poor judgment wakes the conscience of the sleeping to the venue of clarity. To what you see as asinine others have seen as repetitive, and even if the solution doesn't answer it in the way you see it. This may be only choice left to stir the thoughts of the future.
[March 28, 2008 2:30 PM]
JimSo, is that what Wright is to Obama? A 20-yr racist friend? Not sure Obama wants this kind of endorsement.
If spiritual, community, and political leaders endorse racism and anti-Americanism, then what message does that send to the citizens?
Obama has a 20-yr relationship with his racist friend,and he chose Wright to marry him and his wife. Can you say OOPS?!
[March 28, 2008 5:05 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2Interesting explaination Backlash and thank you! I agree with some of your explaination and well I am not sure what to think on the other...However, it is nice to agree to disagree with respect! Have a great weekend...Bev
[March 29, 2008 9:24 AM]
james beeverlyPeople act dumb when it come to race problems.HOW i dont know,this was as early as the 1960's.ANYONE in their 50s should remember the firehoses,beating,dogs,the remarks and if not ask your father or mother.Yes black people have a reason to be mad,to hate and not forget because it is still fresh in my mind,white people always saying why not drop this race thing it happen 200 years ago.Well i am here to say no it did not.....take a look at the 60.s if you did not believe rasism was bad where were you then to comdemn it.
[March 29, 2008 10:08 PM]
TrishGo to you tube and listen to the entire speech(es). They have about 5 on there now and I actually thought they were good. He is quoting scripture directly from the bible. (I looked it up) This is a church remember. Rev. Wright is very graphic in his sermons but, he's only telling the truth. I hope we're finally moving on. It looks like Senator Obama has and Rev. Wright definitely has.
[March 30, 2008 8:06 AM]
William LeeI would strongly urge all who judge Jeremiah Wright by what was aired recently to take the time to read his book of sermons entitled "Black Man What Makes You Strong." Jeremiah has given his life like many of us to follow the ideology of William B DuBois of uplifting the race. I have known Jeremiah for thirty years and have had the privilege of mind-stretching lunches and dinners. Jeremiah Wright introduced me to the late Asa Hillard who helped me personally to be unashamedly Black and unapologetically Christian.
[March 30, 2008 9:11 AM]
Flo SielaffI do volunteer work at a local agency. Recently a young child (7 or 8) informed me that blacks are smarter than whites. And that, "you need to go home and take care of your own".
Racisim is alive and well today because folks of all races desire for it to be!
At this same agency I've heard blacks call other blacks THE n word. And, management call a little oriental girl chink eyes or something similar. This later being shared because it doesn't matter if you're black or white here in America when it comes to racist behavior.
As long as folks go around putting hypens in front of "American" others are going to separate US all into groups.
Should I go around saying I'm a "French-Irish-Scot-Indian-American"? I think not. And, it always bothers me when I read that one is "African-American".
I don't give a darned what excuse folks choose to use to continually divide US regarding our ethnic backgrounds. ALL excuses are detrimental to uniting our nation as we go forward into a better tomorrow.
It's time that so called adults grow up, and start teaching our children that being one within the group called "American Citizens" matters more.
[March 30, 2008 4:38 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO Flo...I agree for sure!
[March 30, 2008 7:47 PM]
JamesFlo,first you have to feel like an american.Black people have never been made to feel like human being so how can they be an american.Obama is 50% white 50% black,black accept him as black,what does white people accept him as?Will they vote for him because of that 50% white i think not.You have to be black to know what it is like or even talk about it.SORRY
[March 31, 2008 10:42 AM]
Flo SielaffTo James, Mr. Obama's skin color means zilch to me. And, I don't believe that one needs to be of the same ethnic background of another to understand what that individual may or may not have gone through.
I have always treated others the way I desire to be treated. I fully believe that what goes around comes around.
I do know what 'some' blacks have endured in their lifetimes. I also know what a lot of whites have endured. Taking into consideration the many issues we all face in life, many of US have been victimized in some way or other. The telling difference is that most victims have gone on with life and put the past into history's archives.
I was in Louisiana in 1970. If you weren't white you weren't allowed to go in the same door nor use the same bathrooms or drinking fountains. It didn't seem to bother those that weren't white, but it bothered the heck out of me.
BTW, this is the United States of America. You do not have to apologize for expressing your opinion in a polite manner. However, to state to others that "Black people have never been made to feel like human being" is blatantly false. And, you should apologize to all of US who have walked along side of others of different skin colors and treated them as equals.
Racism is a learned behavior, and one that can and should be changed.
Have a nice day. And, may our God be with you (all).
[March 31, 2008 12:22 PM]
Bev Bishop : →http://www.myspace.com/secondseason2who cares what race he is as long as his work speaks and show for his accomplishments thus far...where is the gray...the in between? lets see I am russian, polish, cherokee, and was white poor trash...now what does that make me and does it make me who I am today...no it does not! if Hilary Clinton was a man then become a woman would you as well say she was 50% this and 50% that and try being her/him! will they vote for her being 50% woman or 50% man...yes just a point to make here and really it is asinine but a major point to say race should not even be considered in this election or in anything really! it is who we are as a person and what we have accomplished thus far in life and who it has helped and if we can accomplish more to benefit all people and not just a few!
[March 31, 2008 7:03 PM]
JamesFLO,APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO WALKED ALONG SIDE OF BLACKS,IF ALL THING EQUAL WHY WOULD YOU HAVE TOO.DID YOU HAVE TO WALK ALONG BESIDE OF WHITES FOR THEM TO BE EQUAL?DO YOU THINK BLACK ARE EQUAL NOW? LOOKING AT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING....BLACK NEED HELP.I AM SORRY,SORRY THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS AN ISSUE.PLS LET ME KNOW
[April 1, 2008 6:38 AM]
paul hudsonyou all think the reverands comments were joke ?
i think he's just anothe biggot !
imus told a joke , not so funny ?
jimmy the greek told a joke , again not so funny.
jesus would never told a joke !
our pastor uses that language once he can look for a new job, and pray for the lord to forgive his sinful sole !
[April 1, 2008 9:20 PM]
jamespaul, i think it was no joke,it was the trust.Obama has nothing to do with it.Time magazine had article on the us and aids,london times had article on aids and us.maybe the man looks at these articles as i did and believed it.Should we be in iraq or black people should have had to go through slavery,and are equal now.there really are some april fools out there.
[April 2, 2008 7:49 AM]
BacklashBill Clinton in a speech in South Carolina turn this election into a racial issue, and slowly the race for the White House has became just that a "racial issue.
That within it self should have open any rational person eyes, yet we still walk around the darken room looking for the light switch of common sense.
The issue of White and black should be translucent, but why must "White America" prove "Black American" wrong. Can it be in a name designed by Let's say "upper class" people during earlier times to distinguish between "house and field".
Flo you are correct about racism is a learned behavior which is perpetuated at the dinner table.
And the only person getting a kick out of it is the Clinton's between HRC fake coughs and giggles when the questions gets tough to answer she gets another pass and another American question gets swept under the rug.
There we have it race issues are here to stay regardless what we may feel. We should address our behavior so that our ignorance doesn't infect our future.
Go figure....
[April 10, 2008 7:10 PM]
TerryB..Clinton Pastor charged with touching 7 yr old child.
Is It Hillary's Turn to 'Denounce and Reject' a Problematic Pastor?
UTICA -- When the Rev. William Procanick put his hand on the Bible during his sex-abuse trial in Oneida County Court earlier this year, he swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
But as the former Clinton pastor was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home last March, Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day he testified.
"As a minister of God, you got on the stand and you lied," Dwyer told Procanick, the 54-year-old former pastor of Resurrection Assembly of God church on Kirkland Avenue.
A jury found Procanick guilty Jan. 22 of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Were is the Media about this story?
[April 30, 2008 12:01 PM]
BacklashNational Press Club "who organized Jeremiah Wright" event - is an enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporter
It also turns out that Barbara Reynolds - introduced Monday as a member of the National Press Club "who organized" the event - is an enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporter.
On a blog linked to Barbara Reynolds Web site- www.reynoldsnews.com- Reynolds said in a February post: "My vote for Hillary in the Maryland primary was my way of saying thank you" to Clinton and her husband for the successes of Bill Clinton's presidency.
Jeremiah Wright has been out to destroy Barrack Obama chances all along.
The Ojay's said it best: they smile in your face--back stabbers.
[April 30, 2008 9:33 PM]
JimWhere is the discussion from your corner regarding Obama's denouncing Wright? So if Obama finally rejects Wright, then he must have felt as if Wright was inappropriate, which is what we've been saying all along. Or is he playing politics to ready himself for conservative NC? Or maybe he's just addressing a possible future debate?
The point is it looks as if he's been coerced to reject Wright rather than to react in a reasonable time frame. Either way, it's a step in the right direction. Now about those taxes and gun control.....
[May 1, 2008 7:54 AM]
Terry B.Clinton criticizes former Obama pastor on O'Reilly broadcast
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Her campaign says Hillary Rodham Clinton is hoping to win over working-class, independent white men in Indiana with an appearance on Fox News' most popular program.
Jim HRC has said everything about Reverend Wright but yet to say anything about her pastor being sentenced to prison for the molestation of a 7 yr old child.
As she said "Everything goes to creditability".