I have heard a lot of talk about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments. Now, I am not one to judge others and I respect Wright's right to speak. I also recognize that Wright is a Pastor and is obligated to God, to speak prophetically when it is called for. I don't have anything against his specific comments, mostly because when put into context most of them have truth to them,* though perhaps in a broader context than the one Wright is talking of. My arguments lie in his hypocrisy. First let's talk about the context before we move on to the hypocrisy.
* I don't believe all of his comments. Saying that America introduced Aids to eliminate the black people is ignorant and false. First, what is this Austin Powers? Where's Dr. Evil and his demand for $100,000. Second, even if it were true what a stupid way to get rid of a "specific" group of people. Tons of white people die yearly of aids. That is very insensitive and irresponsible statement from Rev. Wright. AIDS has not become an epidemic in this country. Why is that? The whities got to soft to finish the job? Anyway, I could go on about this statement, but I won't belabor it.
THE CONTEXT OF REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT'S MESSAGE
In Black theology, the term black does not necessarily mean African American. Rather, "black" represents the oppressed people. Conversely, white doesn't necessarily mean a person of Anglo Saxon descent. Rather "white" means the institution, or peoples, or persons that are oppressing the oppressed people. So, theoretically, a white person who is oppressed is technically a black person. Is this confusing yet? Good.
This is evidenced by Rev. Wright's comments toward Barak Obama when he told Barack that if he makes it to the white house, "I'm coming after you." In other words, as President, Barack Obama would represent the system of oppression, thus making Barack the "White man."
Keep in mind I am not justifying the comments, just adding the context for my actual argument against Wright.
So, I don't necessarily argue against Wright's message. Has America upset the Middle-Eastern world by supporting Israel as a nation? Absolutely. That would explain Wright's comments concerning the "chickens coming home to roost." That doesn't justify the terrorists who flew planes into buildings, but states that America is not 100% innocent when it comes to enticing the anger of other groups of people. When Wright said God-Damn America, he didn't mean that literally in the sense that he wants all Americans to be damned. He was stating that God is not going to bless America while it, as an institution, continues to keep people pressed under it's boot heal. Wright is a socialist (not really, as you'll see below), Capitalism will always be the "white" man to Wright, and unless we want to spark neo-McCarthyism, he has a right to his political opinions. I don't agree with his social assessment, especially in regards to socialism, but I am aware of the context and see the truths in it, along with the errors.
MY ARGUMENT AGAINST THE HYPOCRISY OF JEREMIAH WRIGHT
If Jeremiah Wright is a socialist, is trying to tear down the "white" man who keeps oppressing the "black" man, and is supposedly the spokesperson for social justice, why is it that Rev. Wright is moving into a 10,000 sq. ft., $1.6 Million house, that is abutted to a golf course in Tinley Park in a rich white community. Now, in the context mentioned above, this is both a white community and a rich "white" community. This is so because of the adjective "rich." (Click here for the News Story)
Now, if Wright were sincerely caring for his fellow "black" people who are constantly getting oppressed, and truly despised capitalism, which promotes some to have much and others to have few (with the possibility, no matter how slim, for all to gain much), why is it that Rev. Wright is allowing his congregation to build such a house for him? Shouldn't he scold them and tell them to give it to those who need a way out of oppression? To give it to those who are financially and socially burdened? How can Wright live in such a "fat cat" house and seriously comment about "white" man as if he's not in the same boat with the "white men"?
Now some of you might say, well other pastors do it, so why single him out. Fair enough...but isn't it logically fallacious to justify bad behavior with bad behavior? (Tu quoque fallacy). Wright is also being singled out because while other Preachers do it, many of them preach that poisonous theology of Prosperity. Wright should know better. He preaches social and racial equality. Yet, on the social front, he is not equal with those whom he preaches to. Nope, he belongs to the few who can afford such homes. You might say that it isn't him who's affording it, but his church. I say, again, fair enough...but why is he accepting the fact that his church is building such a home for him (who's retired)? Shouldn't that money be put to some good use?
mulgere-hircum posted on May 11, 2008
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Comments
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secretlife said on May 11, 2008....
i just find wright to be a dangerous man.he's supposed to be a man of God....yet he speaks with hate in his heart.and yes, he profits personally and is about as far socially from his "flock" as a man can possibly be......nothing but a fraud and a hypocrite. -
mulgere-hircum said on May 11, 2008....
secretlife, it's the hypocrisy part that gets me. We as Americans have made some egregious mistakes and we need to own up to them; however, to preach against a system you affluently live in and enjoy is hypocritical! Either you hate, despise and reject the "system of oppression" or love, admire and embrace it...but, Jeremiah Wright, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot serve both God and mammon!
Thanks for the post secretlife.
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silverwhisper said on May 12, 2008....
mulgere-hircum: sadly, i've often found that prominent preachers tend to have lost their way. look at the history of televangelists in the past 2-3 decades. even billy graham, the boy scout of american pastors, had a very troubling conversation with then-president nixons about the dangers presented by jews! and apart from that several-decades old conversation, the man's been nothing but sincere in a way that impresses the heck out of me.
i mistrust socialists intrinsically. anybody who says they have a better idea what should be done with my money is in for some pretty vociferous disagreement from me. :>
i'm curious: you write as one who's familiar with black christian theology. how do you come by that familiarity?
ed -
mulgere-hircum said on May 12, 2008....
Hi silverwhisper:
I am have a passion for learning history, particularly church history and have read some books ranging from Christian History books that date to the present time, and I have also read some books by Rev. James Cone who is a huge Black Liberation Theologian. Some of his stuff is pretty radical sounding; however, in the historical context of Black Liberation and the use of prophetic preaching, it is understandable. That is not to say that I agree with all of the theology, but just that I understand it. So, iI don't look at Jeremiah Wright as a "hater of America" or "Anti-American," but rather as a Black Liberation Preacher who is prophetically preaching against what he perceives to be injustices (some of which are, in fact, injustices). He doesn't hate America (that can be seen by his service as a Marine), but has a different vision of what the Godly America would truly be. If he hated America, why even bother getting himself mixed up in all the controversy. Why try to change something you hate? No, he loves America...he just views the current America as being a shadow of the what the True America could be. Again, not necessarily agreeing with him in his vision...there are blind spots in his vision as I see it...but I totally understand it.
What I don't understand is why, contrary to the example set forth by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (who was also a Black Liberation Pastor), does Wright preach liberation only to keep his people enslaved and in need of his preaching. That is ultimately what he is doing. Why not take the money going into his house and give it to people and programs that can make a difference in helping his "oppressed" poor people rise up out of that oppression? Dr. King didn't just sit around in a 10,000 Sq. Ft., $1.6 Million home and write "I have a Dream Speeches" all day! He didn't take money that could go to the cause and blow it on exuberant living. Rather, he marched, walked hand-in-hand with other people, spoke in love, and lived among those whom he wished to serve and help. He spoke against Capitalism, sure, but he lived what he spoke. Now, I know Dr. Wright has done a bit around his community, but a person who is truly in support of a cause will back it with everything, not holding back for his own luxury. How can anyone take a stance against the rich, "white," oppressive system, how can anyone take the high moral ground, when they are comfortably enjoying the mire they are condemning. It's hypocrisy. Anyway, I hope I answered your question even though I ended up ranting some more. ;^)
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silverwhisper said on May 13, 2008....
i'll confess, you're certainly far more familiar with black christian theology than i am, which is certainly more than can be said for a lot of the commentary re: rev. wright's positions.
and please, don't apologize for rantyness--i'm a fan of passionate opinions. :>
ed
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