Much has been said of Barack Obama’s relationship with his separatist Pastor Jeremiah Wright. Enough that Obama felt it necessary to get Clintonesque in such a manner that he seems to denounce Wright without actually denouncing him. He condemns the repeated words without acknowledging that the author utters them with a conviction and condemnation of the United States of America and her white population that is hard to deny. The words are anti-American, they are separatist, they are intolerant, and they are markedly political in nature.

Our media has a tendency to take snippets out of a speech, essay or statement and soundbite them in a manner that can distort their meaning. Many members of Wright’s (and Obama’s) congregation, the Trinity United Church of Christ as well as Obama apologists in general claim that this is what has happened in regards to the recent stories concerning the colorful Pastor’s controversial sermons.

In this morning’s edition, the Chicago Tribune attempts to address the issue of the “whole sermon” vs. the excerpt.

Rattling off a litany of injustices imposed on minorities throughout the nation’s history, Wright argued that God cannot be expected to bless America as the anthem requests unless it changes for the better. Until that day, he said, God will hold the nation accountable.

The above quotation and Wright’s rhetoric both seem to ignore the undeniable logic that we have changed and injustices have been corrected. This is never going to mean that we live in a society without injustice of any kind. This type of philosophy is intended to keep us apart and assure that racial divisions continue. It ignores America’s numerous contributions as a force for freedom and justice in the world and focuses on perceived imperialistic intercessions or meddling as the cause for The 9/11 attacks and other acts of terror against our country.

The Tribune offers an in depth look at the context surrounding some of the excerpts in question in a column in their online edition and it does little to expell the image that Wright is more of a hindrance to race relations than a help and his philosophy does little to unite America or Christians in general. The full context of many of his sermons still show an undeniable philosophy of separatism and wrongheaded charges of institutional racism. Further, his sermons delve into the political in a manner that goes beyond normal religious boundaries by diving headfirst into the waters of governmental critcism and political advocacy. One could arguably question their tax exempt status considering the manner of presentation and proponency for certain political viewpoints. One questionable point is the article would be the decison to exempt the sermon where Wright blames America for creating the AIDS virus as a means to keep the black community down. Apparently there was no way one could argue against the context of that one but it also shows the bankruptcy of the intellectual underpinnings behind the article. Context is context and Wright’s is inexcusably racist and anti-American in tone.

Obama’s recent speech on race relations addressed the issue by claiming we have to understand the environment and society in which Wright was raised and that works to an extent. We are all victims or beneficiaries of the environments in which we were raised. The problem is that he denies Wright’s (or others) abilities to grow and look beyond the inadequacies and inequities of our youth. The history of America denies that premise repeatedly. Injustices that led to slavery, and the second class status of women were overturned by constitutional amendment. We have moved beyond the Jim Crow era and corrected many injustices. His “God Damn America” sermon seems to address the ability of Government to change but never addresses the real and monumental progress this country has made in that area.

No, no, no, not ‘God Bless America,’ ‘God Damn America.’ That’s in the Bible, for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating its citizens as less than human, God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and she is supreme. The United States government has failed the vast majority of her citizens of African descent.”

In this instance the context does not refute the soundbite, it enhances the separatist message of the Reverend Wright. It clarifies the true meaning of Black Liberation theology and it shows that the Government is damned if they do or don’t in the eyes of many. Enough is never enough, even to those who had no connection to the wrongs of the past or those who cannot seem to move out of that same past and into the present. When people refuse to look beyond the inequities of previous generations and cannot quit blaming others for the inadequacies in their own life it is impossible to move forward. That is the reality of Reverend Wright’s message; remain angry, blame others and refuse to move on. This allows them to keep a large portion of their countrymen in a state of perpetual apology. One that never seems to be accepted, I might add. That is also the reality of Barack Obama’s defense of Wright as a product of his era and environment. It is not his fault and therefore it is acceptable for him to prolong the division by shouting it from the pulpit. I addressed judgment in a previous post and this is another indication of Obama’s lack of good use thereof; if he sat in Trinity for the last 20 years listening to this type of rhetoric then he either believes the message and agrees with it or is too dense to know the difference and in either case it make him unfit to be President of the United States. He claims to be a uniter but clings steadfastly to a Church and Pastor that is anything but. Why is it those who call themselves “progressive” refuse to move forward as the root word would indicate and instead would rather reopen old wounds?

We should never forget the injustices of the past but neither should we keep reliving them. That is Rev. Wright’s fatal flaw and Obama’s association lo these many years shows him to be knee deep in the same philosophy. One cannot offer change without moving beyond yesterday.