Rev. Jeremiah Wright, A Man of God

"The Thought Spigot"
http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/Home_Page.html


Life is a sweater, clothing every individual in the world. The threads of the sweater are each choice, individual event, and outcome that has happened in our lives. Finally, the pattern off the sweater (on the sweater) is what our lives look like, and look like to others. Some sweaters are filled, with butterflies, vivid colors, and countless other beautiful, God filled things. Still others, are jet black, frayed, from choices and results, unfulfilled. Although, every sweater is unique and different, they are all made from our choices, reflect our true inner self, and always show the truth.

In every news spot, from the time Reverend Jeremiah Wright gave his NAACP presentation and the answers at the National Press Club, there has been mass speculation, parsing of words (by Wright, pundits, and news anchors), and mainly the words from Reverend Wright himself. When a man of the cloth (no matter what denomination, or religion), makes statements like these: "The US government made and put the AIDS virus into the black community [to cause genocide]," "The chickens have come home to roost [in referring to America, deserving to be hit on 9-11]," and his countless remarks over the last two major meetings and two sermons over the weekend, there is no excuse for them. There are very few professions in life, requiring absolute faith, decision making and character, and most importantly the truth and ethics, in both professional and personal life.

One of those professions is being a religious leader. Regardless, of the religion, the leader is bound by God, to teach and preach to followers, what is in God's message. In the Christian faith, there are countless priests, ministers, reverends, and other leaders who are men of God and lead a group in the congregation, in the truth of the Lord (Jesus Christ). However, there are a handful of those leaders, in the Christian faith, who may have once been pure of heart, but have strayed off of the path, for their own fortunes, ideologies, or narcissistic reasons. Reverend Wright is one of those people. A narcissistic man, who has now thrown Barack Obama under the bus, and is making a media road trip, to serve his own ego and ultimately to sell a best selling book (in the fall).

Jeremiah Wright is not only a self serving reverend, but he uses the Bible, God, and his pulpit to spew an Afro-American agenda, filled with hate and segregation to a portion of the black community. When he was confronted on the remarks, he made in the United Trinity pulpit, he hid from the media, leaving Barack Obama to field the questions, call him an "uncle that you cannot, just disown" and burying Obama in a mound of democratic Clinton rhetoric (not to mention the media, news stories, and constant pundit interviews). When Wright came back, for what was perceived as a low key home coming, instead he is grand standing, stating "this whole thing is not about me, but about the Black Church" and whenever possible fuels his own agenda, by pontificating his own credentials and bashing anyone who disagrees.

Overall, Wright is the worst kind of "man of God." He has put himself, thrown some in his congregation under the bus (Obama), possibly derailed the first Afro-American president in the White House (for his own gain), he has also put everything in his own ideology (to segregate the black community, from anyone not black) in front of God, but maybe the worst thing about "The Reverend Jeremiah Wright" is he puts one of the seven deadly sins, in front of everything. Wright's vanity has manufactured him into this position, by putting himself, in front of God, God's word, and most importantly leading God's children down the wrong path. Hopefully, he will see the error of his narcissistic ways, before it is to late. I know I will be praying for him.

Jeremiah Wright, Obama, & The NAACP

FROM: "The Thought Spigot" http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/Home_Page.html


There are countless people, in the political and media eye, who have constant visions of the problems in the United States. There are a lot of things in America's economic, foreign, and the overall state of the union policy. Jeremiah Wright, at the Detroit NAACP meeting, had many great quotes at the biggest meeting of the year, for the Afro-American community. Starting out, as a speech on the "black community," Wright turned the thirty minute speech, into an "Afro-American Church Service." The Wright speech and/or service was not out of line, in the way it was presented, the way Wright boomed away, and even when he broke into dance. Wright's comments though, were not only unprecedented and not factual, they were completely out of line. Wright's whole speech was under the guise of, "America is a country who sees different, as being deficient." He also went on saying, "I am not divisive, I am descriptive. I am not running for President of the United States, I am running for Jesus."

The "sermon on the mount of the NAACP" was tame of Wright quotes. By comparison, to the other things, he has been quoted in the media, "America injected the AIDS virus, into the minority [black] community" and comparing "the United States to Al-Queada." However, the main flaw with the speech, was the ten minute rant, on the Afro-American community and unity. There was two major flaws in the overall part of the speech. The first part, Wright said the Afro-American and African people are completely different, from White Americans and others, from the womb. Wright used music, as an example of this, comparing the Michigan and Michigan State marching band (playing the school fight song, at football games), to the Grambling State marching band. Also saying, that blacks think and learn on different beats, genetically imprinted on their brains, from birth. The other major flaw in his speech, was the fact he did not mention Caucasian and other nations of people integrating (in any way) with the Afro-American community.

Barack Obama was also on the television, having his interview with Chris Wallace (after 722 days, of the promise to come on his show). Obama was all over the map, in the interview, blaming the media for being positive on his wins, but slamming him after Pennsylvania. Really, the overlying theme of the whole Obama interview, was summed up in the statements he made referring to wins in Wisconsin, Iowa, and previous other states when the democratic field was markedly wider and the press was giving him a direct pass. Ironically, this fits into the fact Obama was not properly vetted, early on, in the democratic election process, Michigan and Florida did not have primaries, and the fact that Obama and Wright are close. They are close in the sense of Wright being his pastor, his spiritual mentor and also the fact Obama and Wright used each other to climb their respective ladders. This is the major reason why the American people (especially the democrats voting for Hillary), have a vested interest in how far Obama espouses Wright's views, insight into the segregation versus integration (which happened to be Michelle Obama's thesis, at Princeton, when she was twenty-two years old), and the overall feeling Obama has with the mixing of races and where Afro-American people are to be, in Wright's view, in American society?

The Bottom Line: The fatal flaw for Barack Obama is he stayed in a church, who's reverend preached against Caucasian and Afro-American integration, who made complete anti-American statements (the government put AIDS into the Afro-American and minority communities, as a form of genocide), and people do not know exactly where he will stand on these kinds of issues. Reverend Jeremiah Wright has one fatal flaw in his speech, at the NAACP meeting (at Obama's expense). If Afro-American people have different learning patterns, ways to learn music and even different ways to practice their religion, "from out of the womb," where does that leave Barack Obama, who is both Caucasian and Afro-American (biracial)? Did Obama and all biracial people have a struggle from birth in learning, music, relationships, and all other parts of their lives? Is Obama bound by DNA, to become, either white, or black, by choice? A bigger question is Barack Obama, is just as Caucasian, as Afro-American, why is the African community voting for him, at a 90% rate (that is the question people should be asking, as well as, why can't he win Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California)

Wright's overall thesis, or premise, last night was a joke. People are all created equal, all created with the same blood in their veins, and though they may have a darker skin, lighter skin, or somewhere in between, it makes no difference what their skin color is, out of the womb. What matters is the values, ethics, morality, and overall choices they make, as adults. Changes occur and things are learned, thru environment, choice, parental and overall people's interactions, with other people. There are genetic traits, that are handed down, of course. However, to make huge blanket statements, like Wright did, is beyond absurd.

Obama, Clinton Crist, & The Parsing of Words

FROM: "The Thought Spigot" http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/Home_Page.html

All politicians, at any level in the political system, have a distinct gift for speaking. As a rule, the better a speaker a politician is, usually the better the politician. In the age of YouTube, Camera phones, and countless other ways the "common person" can record anything, or record a video of words not meant for public consumption, political figures are more on their guard, then ever before. The George Allen, "Macaca moment," while running for reelection in Virginia, in 2006, was a huge hit (if not his complete downfall) in his losing to Jim Webb. Other, "not for public consumption moments" have been had by Bill Clinton (on sexual issues), John McCain (anger), Senator Joseph Biden (race), and Barack Obama's recent comment (in San Francisco) on "Cling Gate." All of these slips of the tongue, were all caught on tape and/or video, in recent times, and a mere ten years ago none of these things would have been public.

In today's, "gotcha political games," the parsing of words is almost a profession. Focusing on any blog, radio interview, television spot, or debate the public pours over each word, of the potential political candidate, political person, or even a family member. After Pennsylvania and Hillary Clinton's 9-10% win, on the stump, she said, "I am very proud, that as of today, I have received more votes. By the people who have voted, than anyone else. I am very proud of that, because it is a very close race." Of course, Hillary Clinton, is still behind on the number of votes, to Barack Obama, on "official paper." However, if the Clinton campaign counts the votes in Michigan and Florida (which were rendered, null and void, by the DNC and DNC chair Howard Dean), she is technically ahead on voters pure votes. Therefore, when a person in Indiana, at a Clinton rally hears these words (if they are not 100% boned up, on the issue), they feel as though they are winning, and everyone wants to vote for a winner.

On the other side of things, the Obama campaign (with Barack himself, leading the way), came out with their own brand of word parsing. Obama said, "Nobody has complained more, about the press, questions at the debates, or how she has been treated, than Mrs. Clinton has and President Clinton. And so, we have been pretty tame, in terms of taking our shots, and um rolling with them." Of course, Hillary Clinton did have advertisements, in Pennsylvania, about Obama complaining about the debate questions and overall coverage, in the "City of Brotherly Love." Although, Obama was the person who went to San Francisco, making the comments about Pennsylvanians "clinging to religion, guns, etc..etc.." Obama, over the last year, has also enjoyed a completely free, roller coaster ride, from all of the press, until the last six weeks (when all other candidates were gone, from the playing field, the Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Obama's voting record and other things have come to light). Even Saturday Night Live, who bashed Senator Clinton early on, in the democratic campaign, reversed its role, making several skits, at Obama's expense (on how lopsided the coverage was, to Obama's advantage).

Charlie Crist, the Florida Governor, got into the act, as well. Even when he did not need to go out and push an agenda, with a parsing and double edge meaning of words, he did. On CNN, "The Situation Room" he was interviewed by Wolfe Blitzer. Blitzer asked him, "Which of the two democratic candidates is stronger candidate, Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama?" Crist replied, "Well, my presumption would be, that the stronger of the two democrats would be Senator Clinton. After all, she won in the democratic primary we had January 29th, did very well in the "Sunshine State" and was a record turn out in, both the republican and democratic primaries, so clearly I think she would be the more formidable, of the two, as it relates to Florida." Translation, Crist was, obviously, saying that Clinton and Obama need to keep on beating each other up, let the democratic primary go as long as it has to, and the Florida and Michigan people and votes should be counted. If Crist would have just came out, flatly saying that, he would have injected himself into democratic politics, put McCain into a strained position, and may have done himself damage (in possibly becoming the republican vice presidential running mate, for McCain).

The Bottom Line: People should say what they mean, and mean what they say. In addition, people should never assume and project, onto other people. I recently wrote a blog and a person responded to a context word, they were incorrect in the way I used that specific word (for future reference, "A teacher does not have to teach school. Rather, a teacher is anyone who has information, that is given to another person, and that person then uses and/or espouses it to their lives. A teacher is not always a professor, Carl). Politicians are on the bottom of the American people's shoes, in the way of approval, now. Depending on what poll a person was to look at, the President Bush has an approval rating of 27-31%, Congress has an approval rating of 17-21%, and 81% of Americans think the country is going int he wrong direction. Possibly, a way to "right the ship" and bring America back to the days of respectability, is for every link in the chain, in the political machine (pundits, media, analysts, and the candidates at all levels) is to speak in a solid and forthright way. This is a prayer that may go unanswered, but one can always pray and hope.

OBAMA, CLINTON, & DEMOCRATS

"The Thought Spigot" http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/Home_Page.html

Looking across the democratic landscape, one has to wonder, is there any intestinal fortitude, in the democratic party at all? Congress was elected, in 2004, by an overwhelming margin, with promises of change and overall "anti-Bush" slogans. The two remaining democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (in the presidential nomination race), are both running on change, hope, and a basic "anti-Bush" platform, as well. Combining the above (Congress and the nominees), the "super delegates," and the democratic third person people (bloggers, MoveOn.org, The Democratic National Committee, and all of the individuals, with heavy money and democratic ties) there is a problem. The problem is they have no pulse on the American people and an overall lack of guts.

The lie over Bosnia, by Hillary Clinton, was a catastrophe. The longer Obama's campaign goes on, more things are coming out about his background, friends, and poor character/judgment (see the blog, "The Real Obama Presidency" at TheThoughtSpigot.com). Congress, when elected, was to build and pass major legislation within the first two to four months of their elections (on immigration, education, the war, et. Al.). However, they have been rendered almost useless, due to the democratic nomination, and its dragging on for over eighteen months. Holding off up, or down, votes on judges, of Bush's appointing (for strictly political reasons), having hearings on steroids/baseball (instead of urban schooling, economic stagnation, & other major issues), and the resounding obstinence of cutting the war budget (after saying they would in their election campaigns) is borderline, to be decent. The overall lack of leadership by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and countless others on "The Hill," because of "wait and see" attitudes is more than transparent. It is a lack of guts, ethics, and honesty to their constituents. If Hillary Clinton was to win the nomination, some democrats do not want to be the ones, who have pushed for any kind of legislation and/or votes, which may not be to her liking. The same situation for Obama. There is no leadership, in waiting for the problems to fix themselves, or get worse, while sitting on nominated hands.

"Super Delegates" were another wonderful invention, of the democratic party. The Frasier Comission, was the designer of the "Super Delegate System." However, did he realize when making the system, he could possibly, be giving away possible voter's rights, in their own party? By giving "Super Delegates," a vote and delegation, they have the ability (in this election and in the future), to determine Obama is an "nonviable candidate," vote for Hillary Clinton, and then the votes of the people would be null and void. A basic "back room deal" and/or we want the White House, so bad, we will go against our own people/electorate, to get it. Another situation, if the election between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, does go to the Democratic National Convention, will the "Super Delegate" vote for the nominee, their state voted for, or will they exercise against the will of the people, going in a different direction?

Obviously, this is a mute point, at present, because the majority of the "Super Delegates" are not acting super, and are playing politics, with votes. Mainly, refraining from picking any candidate, hedging their bets, to see who will win, or if there will be a winner outright. Therefore, they will not have to exercise an "OPINION, OR VOTE" for a candidate their state wished for, or even who they wish for, in order to not go against the grain (of a potential president). Insuring, they will be able to have a "seat at the table," with the presumptive nominee, not being an outcast. Is this what a "Super Delegate" should be about, or what they should be doing, with their vote?

Between the United States Senate, Congress, the "Super Delegates" and the third person people (in the party) nothing is getting done in Washington. While they await the presumptive nominee, the American people are occupied with the race for the "Presidential Throne." While, gas, unemployment, inflation, and food prices are going thru the roof, democrats are beating President Bush and military leaders to death about the war. They continue to obstruct from any kind of legislation and votes, hoping the American people will have their attentions focused on other things and the democratic nomination. Instead of working together, as a democratic majority, to have bills (even if it requires multiple solutions and extra hours of work) ready for their presumptive democratic president, they are playing politics, with time. Time the Americans do not have to waste. Yet, Pelosi, Reid, MoveOn.org, Obama, Clinton and the talking heads of the democratic party are taking up the time, with little (if any) kind of solutions to health care, gas and food prices, the housing situation, so the economic bubble and America is about to burst (if it is not bursting now). Where is the legislation, the leaders looking to fix and send up possible solutions to America's big problems, and the hard integrity needed to fix huge issues like immigration, health care, and the deficit?

THE BOTTOM LINE: The democrats are in the majority of both houses, at present. If they are to be taken seriously, as the "party of change," they need to start thinking out the of the box. It does not matter who the next President of the United States is, because they are the majority and the problems will still be there. If Obama, McCain, or Clinton is the President of the United States, come 2009, there should be several different bills, pieces of legislation, and the votes passed up to start the ball rolling, on day one. All the Democratic Party is doing now, from Congress, the Senate, and the Super Delegates is wasting time. Cast your votes, quit playing politics with the American's future, and start LEADING. The longer the democrats wait, the longer it will be for the "change" to be instituted (which they so freely speak about). Get it done, whether you have to draft ten different copies, of the same bill. Check your egos at the door, do what you promised to do (when you were running to be elected), quit the bickering and reach across the aisle, and finally press ahead for the country, that is why you were ELECTED (you were not given anything, but ELECTED to SERVE THE PEOPLE).

Real Change

"The Thought Spigot" http://www.thethoughtspigot.com/Home_Page.html

Before there were countries, there were people, and all people are the same. They may be changed through the choices they make, in life, but all people are born the same, as pure souls and babies. However, the United States of America was founded on freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The experiment called the United States, over the years, choices, different leaders, and people, has produced a nation of dichotomy. A duality, throughout the whole country, in all choices, traditions, and opinions. Mistakes have been made, through the years, but there have been remarkable and unconditional successes, as well. Slavery, the killing and processing of the Indian population and lands (for government and personal gain), and the internment camps of Japanese during World War II are all huge examples, of blatant abuse of power and heinous judgment. Obviously, there is are excuses for the scars on American people and psyches. Poor decision making, corrupt people and leaders, and the scars left behind are hard to forget, world wide. However, for every wrong choice and atrocity, by leaders and other people, there is another side to the experiment of America. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and countless other rights and amazing things, Americans take for granted everyday, have all been attained by the experiment. When looking at the "experiment called America," the good far outweighs the bad, in just about all cases. However, there is still multitudes of things, both common and irregular, to be remedied in the US (and world wide). Change only comes through every person, what lens they choose to look at the world with, and an attitude of not hating people, but the actions of people.

It does not take very knowledgeable person, to look into the past and cast dispersions on people and choices. There is no person, beyond judgment, as there is not anyone who is perfect. If a person has no religious faith, or belief system, this is still a fact. There seems to also be a huge double standard, on who is to be persecuted and by whom. When Bill Maher says, "Catholicism is a child abusing, religious cult. It's leader also has a compound, and this guy not only operates outside the bounds of the law, but he used to be a Nazi and wears funny hats. We're here, we're queer, get used to it. (He went on, comparing the FLDS Cult bust in Texas, to the Catholic Church) But, really, what tripped up the “little cult on the prairie” was that they only abused hundreds of kids, not thousands all over the world. Cults get raided. Religions get parades. How does the Catholic Church get away with all of their buggery?" It is amazing how a person can look for laughs, at something like this. Regardless, there is a startling problem with this kind of pervasive thinking, in America. Obviously, the FLDS situation, in Texas, is a compounding of "religious perversion" (no matter how you look at it, based on twelve to sixteen year old girls being impregnated, women married off at the same ages, and men, boys, girls, women without any rights. This due to a small group of men, regulating, perverting and mandating rights). The Catholic Church has had a large problem, in the form of abuse, the sex scandal and overall priest misconduct. Not to minimize any of the things which happened in the Catholic Church, in any way, but the Catholic faith has many positive and devout people, throughout the world, with all kinds of positives. Comparing the Catholic faith, with the FLDS cults (in the US), is a ridiculous and biased point of view. There will never be any change with this kind of thinking.

American history is a very undisciplined topic. The history and choices, viewed from the lens of one person may form opinions, traditions, and set in motion lifestyles for years to come, for countless people. Yet, the same past and choices, viewed from another's position, may set in motion a completely different outcome. America's history is tangled and intertwined, with the best and worst of people and choices. Until, people start looking at others (as equals), taking a step outside themselves (gaining perspective of other's point of view), and invest time into the choices (a "walking a mile in their shoes" approach), that actual change for the multitude will be possible. All people should be accountable for their actions, the words they say, and most of all to understand all people are the same and equal. The main offenders, hide behind freedom of speech, and are the people who have the most money, influence, and power. The media continues to give free passes, as they sometimes participate and generally share the same views, with these people. There are virtually no whistle blowers and people who want to make a positive change, thru a sense of empathy.

The Bottom Line: Most people do not believe in change for the overall betterment of society, or else they are feeding and becoming more powerful, with the way they abuse and manipulate society. I do not feel believing in a world where empathy (viewing the world thru where another person stands, feels, believes), making choices for the common good, and a general understanding that all people are equal and are the same. Actions and choices make people different, over time. Yet, everyone is born the same. There may be disadvantage, a different environment, in a person's life, but ultimately every person is the same. People who have had abusive parents, constant hurdles and other's lived in poverty, but they went on to become great leaders, changing the world in enormous ways. However, change is something, only achieved, when made thru conscious choice. Whether a person is religious, atheist, or agnostic, there is a simple saying, in order to create change for a common good: "Hate the sin, not the sinner." An all inclusive statement/quote, but if followed and coupled with a general yearning, in the hearts and minds of all people, with conscious decision of change, then all things are possible.

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