WWBOD
Posted by WLS:
Obama decided last week to “resign” from the congregation of the Trinity United Church — a decision he made only 73 days after going on national television in his much-ballyhooed Philadephia “race” speech to say:
Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church?…
…The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God’s work here on Earth – by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety…. Like other black churches, Trinity’s services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.
And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children…. I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community…..
Some will see this as an attempt to justify or excuse comments that are simply inexcusable. I can assure you it is not. I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork.
So, his bravery in defending Trinity and Rev. Wright in Philadelphia ultimately falls in favor of the “politically safe” thing — and Obama’s decision is reduced to a blog entry from a black journalist in Chicago who got wind of the “resignation” letter sent by the Obama’s to Trinity on Friday.
Well, ain’t that a profile in courage.
Which leads me to wonder — WWBOD?
John McCain’s father was promoted to Commander Pacific Naval Forces in mid-1968. McCain had been a POW since Oct. 1967. In a propoganda ploy, North Vietnam offered McCain the opportunity to go home shortly after his father’s promotion. McCain refused unless all POW’s who had been held longer were released first. In response, the North Vietnamese embarked on a program of brutal torture of McCain in August 1968 which lasted until late in 1969.
McCain gave a coerced “anti-American” statement at one point after 4 days of continuous torture, but refused thereafter to meet with anti-war groups from the US or to sign any additional statements condemning the US.
Which leads me to wonder …. if Obama could only take the heat over his association the Trinity Church for 73 days, how long would he have lasted in the Hanoi Hilton before taking the North Vietnamese up on their offer of a hot shower, soft bed, and a nice cup of Black Forest Berry Honest Tea in preparation for a sit down meal with Jane Fonda?
One more thing — If the rumored tape involving intemperate speech by Michele Obama turns out to be true, do you think Barack will file for divorce?
