The Audacity of...

Barack Obama took a big hit this week. Obama's Pastor Jeremiah Wright is more than an albatross, he is a disgrace. No man or woman who preaches God's Word, the Gospel of Jesus, has any business spewing the kind of hate and racism and paranoia that issued from his pulpit throughout the years. Now some of my Greek friends know that there are at least a handful of our own priests who have said similar things, but they were not MY pastors and I'm not running for President--and I've already confronted a couple of them publically. If they are YOUR pastors, maybe its time to speak up. Racism is evil no matter the circumstances or heritage of the protagonist. It is one of the great moral triumphs of the 20th century (yes there were such) that humanity has come to realize that racism-- and not only when it becomes evil in the extreme form of genocide--is a great sin. We are all children of God. Period.

I believe Obama addressed this matter as well as is humanly possible. It was a powerful speech --what we have come to expect of him: passion and and eloquence, but it may not be enough. I think his candidacy will survive. At the very least this issue gives him another opportunity to show America how he handles crises. Personally, I believe he should have made that speech months ago, but it is perfectly understandable ( and for a political animal like me, excusable, buts that is no credit to me) that he chose to wait until it became an issue in the media. He obviously gambled that it would blow up on him only after America got to know and admire him--bringing it up too early may have wrecked his candidacy. But he did finally address it, honestly and forthrightly. I believe we all have had similar experiences; people who are actual or virtual family members who are basically good people but with a dark side. Personally, I would have found a way to leave Wright's church but still remain a friend, a friend who confronts his friend's dark side and tries to heal his spiritual wounds, but again, I'm not a politician.

It is most unfortunate that Barack got the title of his book. 'The Audacity of Hope" from Wright. It an excellent boook. Reading it sealed my conviction that Obama would make a good president. The books proves there is substance behind his words, especially in my largest are of concern, foreign affairs. All Americans , pro or anti-Barack, should read it.

I have found myself in a similar situation. It really bugs me that I must quote Timothy McVeigh everytime I need to make the point that "actions have consequences". Got that Barack?