Many of us who have ventured outside of our own personal island and actually tried to form a friendship with another human being have certainly had this experience: You trust someone, you're loyal to that person, and you may even have defended that person in the face of insults. Then one day (or perhaps over time), despite being a friend to that person, you realize he or she is no friend of yours, be it because she stole your boyfriend, or he lied about you, or she did something sneaky behind your back. Whatever it is, you discover that the very person you trusted to hold your knives has stabbed you in the back G? sometimes repeatedly. Author Jennifer Mitford first called these enemies disguised as friends frenemies.
For Sen. Barack Obama, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a frenemy. The reverend is knowingly and brazenly destroying Senator Obama's campaign for his own personal 15 minutes of fame. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People should be ashamed of using their national platform to give Wright a microphone. Ironically, advancement is in their name, but the NAACP has now unashamedly contributed to the dis-advancement of Sen. Barack Obama (and the image of black people in general).
The Rev. Wright is an extremely selfish individual, not a true friend of Senator Obama and certainly not a representation of black people in this country or Christians. He is a runaway pastor, accountable to no one and an embarrassment to the slew of black people in this country who have abandoned paralyzing conspiracy theories in an attempt to make something of their lives. The Rev. Wright is entitled to his own opinion and more than likely not alone in his sentiments. However, if he were really concerned about the plight of black people in this country, he would avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes by airing his hurtful, misinformed and misunderstood comments on national television at every turn.
Since its inception, the black church has been a source of hope and strength for black people. The church has been and continues to be a literal sanctuary for those feeling the pressure of living in a hostile world. Many of the pastors, both historically and currently, commentate on life in America as a part of their sermons. However, it is one thing for what a pastor says behind closed doors to be snipped into sound bites and aired on national television without his consent. It is quite another for him to remove all doubt by holding his own press conference in order to do nothing more than fuel the fire. The call of a Christian pastor is to show the love of Jesus and ultimately convert non-believers to Christianity. The Rev. Wright needs to ask himself: Who is he truly representing? Is his purpose to effect change? To bring more people to Christ? Not in the least.
One has to question the intelligence of people who even suggest that maybe Sen. Obama shares the Rev. Wright's views. This isn't the senator's friend. He is obviously out to destroy the senator's campaign. What kind of friend knows that his or her public actions are killing your campaign and not only refuses to stop, but demands a bigger audience? Yesterday, Obama rightly decided to disown the reverend completely.
I know there are some who sympathize with the reverend. They personally experienced hardships in this country and are not about to forget. They understand that not speaking out against injustice doesn't mean injustices aren't happening. Criticizing the United States is not disloyal. This country has a history that can't be excused, and sometimes it is necessary to talk about it. Even today injustices continue: the acquittal of the police officers in the Sean Bell case, the maximum sentencing of actor Wesley Snipes and let's not forget why Michael Vick is in prison ' clearly this country has a long way to go in granting justice to black people.
However, I think the Rev. Wright would do better by being descriptive about current issues like these in the black community. Maybe his church could have done better by donating money to Chicago's inner-city schools rather than building him a $10 million house. I know this country could do better by refusing to give this man an audience. I think we should move on, disregarding the comments of a reverend thirsty for attention and instead pass the mic and the attention to someone with something beneficial to say. But maybe it's just me.
Alissa Griffith is a junior journalism major. Send her an e-mail at ag180505@ohiou.edu.
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Alissa Griffith
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