Laugh at Liberals Archive for March, 2008
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY IN OBAMA’S SPEECH ON RACE
The following was sent to me in an email. I do not know Rev. Wayne Perryman or the origin of this commentary, but I felt it was certainly worthy of posting on this web site.
A Missed Opportunity In Obama’s Speech on Race
By Rev. Wayne Perryman
March 22, 2008
I was asked to review and analyze Obama’s inspirational and fascinating speech on Race. Many believe it is one of the best speeches we have heard on the subject since the I have A Dream speech. I agree. But I have one problem - he missed the opportunity to set the record straight
on two issues that he brought up.
1. His first missed opportunity came one minute and thirty-four seconds into his speech, when he refers to the Declaration of Independence and how it was “stained by “this nation’s original sin of slavery…”
Although he follows up and talks about how slavery “divided the Colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate,” he failed to point out that as a nation we were always divided over the issue of slavery from the time the first slave ship arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619, to the end of the Civil War 246 years later.
He should have told the audience, that there has never been a universal endorsement of slavery by the white citizens of this country and that white America has always been split over the issue of slavery. He could have mentioned that 175 years before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the Mennonite Quakers (white folks) of Germantown, Pennsylvania passed an anti-slavery resolution in 1688. It was the first formal protest against slavery in the Western Hemisphere.
Under this resolution, Quakers who participated in the slave trade were threatened with expulsion.
He should have mentioned that in 1711, 65 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, that our white founding fathers passed colonial legislation to outlaw slavery, but their law was overturned by the British Crown.
He should have said the issue of slavery was so divisive that white churches split, white families splits (some fighting for the Union and other for the Confederacy) and eventually our nation split, which resulted in the Civil War.
He should have told his audience that the greatest obstacle in finalizing our Constitution was the issue of slavery. Pro-slavery members (who eventually became the Democratic Party) wanted to count slaves as full citizens (of their state) for the sole purpose of gaining more seats in the House, but they had no interest in giving their slaves the same rights afforded their white citizens of their
(southern) states. The anti-slavery members (who eventually became the Republican Party) strongly opposed this racist proposal. To finalize the Constitution and not give in totally to the pro-slavery members, they reached a compromise with the three-fifths clause. Stating that since the pro-slavery members did not offer their slaves citizenship (under “State’s Rights”) they could only count the slaves as 3/5 of a person when determining how many seats they could have in Congress.
In proving that our “nation” (meaning all of white America) never really endorsed slavery, he should have told his listening audience that in 1835 the anti-slavery movement had over 435,000 members and these white abolitionists fought and gave their lives to express their opposition to slavery and the mistreatment of African Americans.
He should have said that Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown weren’t the only whites that opposed slavery, there were countless of other individuals such as Republican Senator, Charles Sumner, who was nearly beaten to death on the Senate floor by Democrats for his speech
opposing slavery. There was Levi Coffin, the originator or the conductor of the Underground Railroad and several thousand other whites who eventually left the Democratic Party and formed the Republican Party to put an end to slavery.
By failing to point out the massive number of whites who not only opposed slavery but literally gave their lives to end it and racism, he merely perpetuated the myth and lie that our nation (implying that
every white in America) endorsed or approved of slavery and Jim Crow. He should have made it clear, that is wasn’t every white - it was primarily the white members of the Democratic Party - the party that became known as the Party of White Supremacy.
2. His second missed opportunity came 21 minutes and 14 seconds into his speech when he made the following reference to slavery, Jim Crow and the anger of his pastor:
• ‘We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow….’
• ‘…The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exist between the races….”
In order to foster a better understanding of the roots of racism Obama should have told his audience that the roots of racism rested in the soil of the Democratic Party, not in our nation as a whole. As a Harvard law scholar, Obama should have cited Case No. 06-1107, a case that was before the United States Supreme Court in 2007 where the Plaintiffs argued that:
“It was the Supreme Court’s decisions in key Civil Rights Cases that gave the Democratic Party the legal authority to inflict the alleged injuries on those whom the Federal District Court referred to as “the entire African American community. Those cases include, but are not limited to: The Dred Scott Decision, the Slaughterhouse Cases, Plessy v. Ferguson and the Civil Rights Cases of 1881, which convinced the Court that the 1875 Civil Rights Act was unconstitutional (Civil Rights
Cases 109 U.S. 3 (1881)….’
[All of the landmark Civil Rights cases cited above were designed to deny blacks their rights as citizens and all were the legal actions of Democrats]
[The Plaintiff went on to argue] ‘In the Slaughterhouse cases and other subsequent cases including Plessy v. Ferguson, it was the court’s narrow interpretation of the 14th Amendment that allowed many racist practices to go unchallenged and unpunished under what the Democrats claimed as “States Rights,” including their right to own slaves and treat them as property and not as people….”
[The Plaintiffs cited Professor Bernard Schwartz of New York University School of Law who said] “Upon Plessy was built the whole structure of segregation that has been at the heart of the Democrat’s southern system of racial discrimination…”
[In their final arguments the Plaintiffs said]
“The court must understand that racism in America was politically driven. Without the political backing of those who made up and formed the powerful Democratic Party, a Party that gave their lives and spent billions to preserve the institution of slavery and the system of Jim Crow, slavery would have ended 100 years earlier, and Jim Crow would have died in the womb of those who conceived it. Contrary to public opinion, racism was not something that the entire white race engaged in. Racism was the political agenda of a powerful political party – made up of individuals who chose to use the deadly disease of racism to cover their own insecurities, in their relentless quest for wealth and power.’ [The entire brief of this case can be found in Rev. Perryman’s
latest book entitled: Unveiling the Whole Truth]
Had Obama seized the opportunity to emphasize that our nation as a whole never endorsed slavery and that the roots of racism rested in the soil of his party, he would have narrowed what he called: the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.
It is most unfortunate that Obama took the time to publicly denounce Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s “wrong” statements, but he has never taken the time to publicly denounce his party’s racist past which was far more devastating and divisive than his pastor’s sermons or his grandmother’s
fears.
Rev. Wayne Perryman
P.O. Box 256
Mercer Island, WA 98040
(206) 860-6880
Rev. Wayne Perryman is a scholar, author, historian and minister who is African American and leads an inner city ministry in Washington state
REV. WRIGHT’S MISSION STATEMENT
The Rev. Wright’s unabashed racism, delivered as a firey sermon from the pulpit were his own words. Not someone’s opinion.
Below is the Statement of Faith for the Trinity United Church of Christ. Go to their web site and see for yourself. Read On!
United Church of Christ Statement of Faith in the form of a doxology
We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian… Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain “true to our native land,” the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision:
A congregation committed to ADORATION.
A congregation preaching SALVATION.
A congregation actively seeking RECONCILIATION.
A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA.
A congregation committed to BIBLICAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to CULTURAL EDUCATION.
A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF AFRICAN PEOPLE IN DIASPORA.
A congregation committed to LIBERATION.
A congregation committed to RESTORATION.
A congregation working towards ECONOMIC PARITY.
Well two of their 10 “vision points” seem to address the Christian faith. The other 8 are all about politics and blackness. You also won’t find one word about America. Of course, Rev. Wright has made it abundantly clear how he feels about America. How is congregation should feel about America…
I wonder what a 20 year member of this church would do if he were able to control the highest office in America?
BY COMPARISON, HERE IS THE STATEMENT OF FAITH FROM MY CHURCH.
Church of Acts Statement of Faith
We Believe the Holy Bible to be the infallible word of God.
We Believe there is only One True God – revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
We Believe in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. As God’s son, Jesus was both human and divine.
We Believe, though originally good, man willingly fell into sin – ushering into the world- evil and death, both physical and spiritual.
We Believe every person can have restored fellowship with God through salvation by entering into a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.
We Believe and practice two ordinances – 1) Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and 2) Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
We Believe the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a uniquely personal experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing, discerning and serving, just as it did in New Testament times.
We Believe in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God as recorded in the Book of Acts, following the Feast of Pentecost. We believe that God is the same yesterday, today and forever; therefore the gifts of the Spirit are still available to all who believe.
We Believe “justification” occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also begins a progressive, lifelong process of “sanctification” (separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christ-like.)
We Believe the Church has a mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe the Church is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we believe that the church is responsible for looking after orphans and widows.
We Believe a divinely called and scripturally ordained leadership serves the church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, and to build up or edify the body of believers - the Church.
We Believe in the Second Coming – when Jesus will rapture His Church.
We Believe a final judgment will take place for those who do not have a personal, intimate relationship with Christ. They will be judged for their sin.
WHO ARE THE REAL RACIST IN AMERICA?
I’ve been enthralled at the comments posted about Barak Obama’s speech regarding racism in America. They’ve ranged from apathetic to complete denial of the issue at hand.
I thought the speech was profound and significant in a number of ways. First and foremost, Obama must be applauded for the truth he spoke. It’s not easy for a politician, any politician, to speak candidly about any subject, let alone one as explosive as racism and I think Obama spoke candidly about SOME of the important aspects racism in America today. The problem is the dialogue has to go much deeper and be much more honest and candid if true racial healing can begin.
Racism is perpetuated by modern society. It is learned. We are not born racist. Have you ever seen little babies play together? They might recognize that something is different, but they don’t look at each other as inherently better or worse, just different, until they are taught to do so! Until their parents or family members teaches them to hate the difference. Until they start watching TV or reading books that teach them to hate.
You see racism comes down to people. That phrase “institutional racism” is hogwash! People are the agents racial divide and only people can hate. So if you want to start having a real discussion about race in America, you’ve got to start talking about people. So who are the real racists in America? Maybe the better question to ask is, who is causing the most racial strife in America?
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: The most skilled white supremist organization in America today is the Democratic party. The Democrats are run by a bunch of rich white men who have, for nearly 40 years, convinced black America that that they have their best interest at heart. And 40 years after the civil rights movement, and 40 years after Martin Luther King’s dream was voiced, and for 40 long years of bussing, affirmative action and all the social experiments, the black welfare state has grown exponetially, prisons have become overcrowded with black men, much of black America is still in poverty and the ruling elite of the Democrats are still rich white men! THE KKK SHOULD BE TAKING NOTES!
THE RACE INDUSTRY: Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, NAACP, SCLC and a host of other individuals and organizations thrive on racism. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and a number of black leaders have made careers out of racism. They preach it, they teach it and they call attention to it’s most inconsequential forms because it’s good for their pocket book. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU EVER HEARD ABOUT A KKK RALLEY? CAN YOU NAME A WHITE SUPREMICST LEADER, ANYBODY, WHO HAS AS MUCH NATIONAL RECOGNITION, CLOUT AND RESPECT AS JESSE JACKSON OR AL SHARPTON? Who are they doing battle with?
THE BLACK CHURCH: White America has seen what goes on in, not all, but in many black churches all across America. Rev. Wright’s “sermon” of hate for America is not the isolated rants of one man. Recent studies show that the majority of black American’s beleive that AIDS was created by the government. A sitting, senior black elected leader, Maxine Waters, believes and tells her constituants that crack cocaine was created by the CIA and that the CIA helps distribute it and keep it flourishing in the the black community.
People, the fox is in the hen house! Racism is being perpetuated by the very people and institutions that benefit from it’s existence.
Now I am not so stupid as to think that we can wipe out racism. There will always be hate and evil in this world, but we have eliminated, ELIMINATED, institutional racism. There is no law, in existence anywhere that prevents a black man from receiving the same opportunities as a white man. Racism that does exist, exists in the hearts and minds of the haters and the hated. Barak Obama is proof. He stands a reasonable chance of becoming the most powerful leader on the planet. What else is there? Economic equality? The same opportunity is there for all. To be sure, there is some catch up that has to be made for black families who cannot benefit from generations of acquired wealth. But that is a red herring! My father left me no wealth, no home, no land, no business. Does that make me a victim? Does that prevent me from building my own wealth, owning my own home? No!
I applaude Obama for making a bold speech but he is part of the problem. As my friend Zack pointed out to me in a recent email his favorite quote from Obama recently is “My friends we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you will join with me as we try to change it.” The irony is thick enough to spread with a knife but it’s typical of the mind set of liberals like Obama, Jackson, Sharpton, Wright, Clinton, The Democrats and the liberal elite. Their power comes from the idea of oppression. If oppression is defeated, conservatism wins.
OBAMA IS SLAMMED BY BLACK MINISTER
JUST WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO START COMMENTING ON OBAMA AND RACISIM IN AMERICA, I WAKE UP TO FIND THIS VIDEO POSTED ON YOU TUBE AND LINKED TO THE DRUDGE REPORT. APPARENTLY, THIS PASTOR DOESN’T THINK HIGHLY OF OBAMA. AFTER LISTENING TO THIS, I AM CONFUSED, BEFUDDLED AND BAMBOOZLED. LOOK WAY DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
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