Quit Harping

Susan Harmon
Commentary Editor

   While watching “Hannity & Colmes” March 1, I watched Barack Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, question Sean Hannity on his knowledge of black theology.
 
   According to Wright’s favorite black theologist, Dwight Hopkins, black theology is "how God, or the spirit of freedom, works with the oppressed black community for their full humanity." I retained this knowledge as recent events unfolded concerning Jeremiah Wright’s sermons, which declared a few statements that lead me to believe Obama may be racist (Yes, African-Americans, as well as other races can be racists. I don’t believe that label is reserved only for Caucasian-Americans). 

   Statements such as, “Jesus was a poor black man living in a country controlled by rich white people” and “Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger” left me wondering why Obama attended Wright’s church for 20 years unless he believes the same standards as Wright.

   Wright and his congregation gave a lifetime achievement award to Louis Farrakhan, who is the head of the Nation of Islam. In 2000, Farrakhan made a racist comment saying "White people are potential humans - they haven't evolved yet.”

   If statements such as these aren’t racist, what is?

   According to the Obama campaign, Geraldine Ferraro’s recent comment that “if Obama was a white man he wouldn’t be in this position” seemed to be a cause for an uproar. In my opinion, Ferraro should stand by that claim. Obama wouldn’t be receiving an immense amount of attention if he were a white man because Obama is the very first African-American presidential candidate. The same could be said of Hillary Clinton. If someone said that if she were a man she wouldn’t be in this position, someone would gripe because that would be considered a sexist statement.

   Obama’s church preference is not my only concern. The man refused to hold his hand over his heart during the national anthem or recite the words because he feels the national anthem conveys a war-like message and the American flag is a symbol of oppression. Let me get a few things out of the way. Slavery ended 143 years ago when Abraham Lincoln issued the 13th Amendment. That was a very long time ago and there are currently no slaves in North America.

  Why continue to harp on it?

   I think it’s odd that about a half of the slaves brought to the American colonies were white and that was way before black slaves were brought from Africa. You don’t hear Caucasians complaining about oppression even though some white people are just as oppressed as other races when it comes to things such as jobs. On the same note, the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was ratified in 1920. Eighty-eight years ago! Women are no longer thought of as mindless homemakers anymore.

  Once again, why continue to harp on it?

   I question Obama’s judgment concerning his religious choices since I don’t believe Wright’s statement about Jesus is true. I don’t think He was black and I don’t think He was white either. I do believe, however, the only reason Wright resigned as Obama’s spiritual adviser is because Obama encouraged him to resign in order to attempt to persuade voters he’s not a racist. I personally think the line-up of presidential candidates have become a pitiful list containing a racist, an insensitive hardass and a war-addicted old geezer.

   I am sure no matter who ran for president there would be a shady past to haunt them, but these candidates could take over the title of worst presidential candidates in history. Instead of voting, I think I will sit at home and listen to the soothing sounds of “Ebony and Ivory” by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney and maybe eat some Rocky Road ice cream.

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