Obama, Bigotry, and Balance ... and Death Threats

Its worse than that. Wilson was just one example of stupidity. Lets try Congresswomen Michele Bachmann:

"Take this into consideration. If we look at American history, between 1942 and 1947, the data that was collected by the census bureau was handed over to the FBI and other organizations, at the request of President Roosevelt, and that's how the Japanese were rounded up and put into the internment camps. I'm not saying that's what the Administration is planning to do. But I am saying that private, personal information that was given to the census bureau in the 1940s was used against Americans to round them up and put the Japanese in internment camps."

Now we have a dead census worker hung with a FED carved into his chest. We have gone from name calling to having people cause death because of a stupid statement by a Member of Congress...

The reason Wilson yelled out "you lie" is because Obama had just told a big fat lie. Racism didn't play any part in it.

What do you think the point of the blog is???

"So perhaps, as Kessler asserts, these people are mostly freelance haters with unknown political affiliations. Perhaps. My point here is not to point a finger at a particular party - or cable news network - for whipping up that kind of animosity with inflammatory rhetoric. Though that's a topic worth exploring."

I think the topic is worth exploring too.. Don't you HANNITY2?

I understand the point--but don't think it legitimate to draw a line between M Bachmann and the murder. The area in which the murder occurs has a history. There are folks there who don't need any encouragement for M Bachmann to do what was done.

M Bachmann professes Christ. My message to her is that we, of all people, ought have an optimism that we can empower government, and limit government; and we can carry such optimism because we have learned that we can be self-controlled persons who can act powerfully in love and decline the temptations--in submission to God. If Christians cannot deliver that optimism--that mature balance--where do we expect it to come from? If we can't deliver it--we, in one way or another, will stoke fears; we will appeal to fears; we will live and act in fear; and we will neither represent God's love well nor have anything of real value to offer. The idea, lost on many Democrats and Republicans, is they are citizens of the same nation with a whole lot in common--submission to God, submission to the institution of government, submission to the People, submission to the Constitution, submission to conscience--and all these are unifying commitments more powerful than seeking their party's political power. We need Christians in political office to behave as such--regardless of political partisanship.

precisely! i've lived amongst the hill folks... it is premature to assume that this murder of the census worker had anything to do with either race or politics. it is just as likely that he got too close to someone's moonshine still or marijuana patch and he was mistaken for a 'revenuer'. it's always too soon to rush to judgment. have we lost all grasp of calm reason?

our family is interracial. i disagree with many of president obama's social policies. will i be named "racist"? has it entirely escaped the media and the general populace that OUR president is not 'black', but bi-racial - as much white as he is black?!!! cries of racism are but an attempt to silence the voices of dissent. and note that i said "dissent", not demonize. people of integrity and good will can agree that there should be peace on earth and all people should be cared for, yet disagree on the 'how' of bringing that about. can we possibly evolve beyond the animalistic "us vs them" to realize that there are no enemies, only brothers?

i'm a bit disappointed in the new liturgical left. what an opportunity they are squandering in merely switching ditches, becoming a mirror image of the old religious right. just as polarizing, self-righteous, condemning of others, asserting that THEY alone know WWJD? and are the only authorized spokesmen for God. i'm growing weary of watching them preen on tv as the talking heads congratulate them for being so progressive for an evangelical.... selah.

It very much has a relationship to being civil, though a direct relationship to the murders has yet to be established. Yes the area has a history but so did the census worker who was well known. Yes the facts are not in yet, but if we are going to hold a President to what he says we must also hold EVERYONE else especially our elected officials to the same standard.

Glad to hear that she professes Christ.. But the Book of James reminds us that its though our deeds that we prove that not just our words....

becoming a mirror image of the old religious right. just as polarizing, self-righteous, condemning of others, asserting that THEY alone know WWJD?

Irish-annie I totally agree. Also from what I understand of the county the cenus taker was murdered in is into meth production . I agree with your understanding of where the religious left took the wrong turn as the right did, I believe some of it is has to do with the beliefs themselves . But the sin of making your religiousity something to be exalted and somehow give you superiority is not something only the right politcal machine got involved in , its part of the human condition.

Jesus confronted it , but so many of us forget the desciples had a taste of its tempatation also when they talked about which one of them would be the greatest in heaven .

The best thing for Soujourners would be to get rid of some of the kids they have working for them , or mentor them in the Gifts of the Spirit , and actually teach those gifts were a gift , and not something that they acquire because they are smarter or on the left side of the political fence. When the folks here that blog consistently blog and the essay actually put down the Christian Film Fireproof , a Hollywood production releases in the mockers based their opinion on some kind of womens rights ideology and pass idealogical debates with one of the actors. In doing so they ridiculed common shared Bibical truth in the movie, I realized they were just attacking anything based on some kind of jeaolusy/hatred that would come out of the right side of politics and worse yet , even the every day believers of Faith who have no sense of political discernment or understanding . They just love God like the left and are doing the best they can . . Almost like the Hatfield and the McCoys.

This organization took off , then had its door slammed shut after the election . Only secular politics want them involved and those whose Bibical Understanding takes quite some leaps , plus heavy on condemnation on others . Not a mix for expansion .

Our Lord is a God of Hope, Love , Mercy and Grace.

What do you think the point of the bog is???

letjusticerolldown I believe he is posting to past blogs . Thats the problem with politics , especially the politics of destroy the opinion of your opponent in order to make my opinion appear greater .

The best sermons are those that make our selves grow , to enlighten us , and through the power of our Lord Help us get there . Most of the sermons , especially from here , use the I am smarter then you , you are more prejudice then me , and lets grow together style . How do you see that style working ?

We have two different cultures speaking to same issue . In our denomination we train Missionaries to train others in other countries . We know that they will receive and understand the Gospel better in the frame works of their own culture.

People who write about impure motives , linking beliefs with less then honest stereotypes then writing about race has got to have a limited impact . The impact is Ryan is speaking to his own choir . He could be speaking truth , but he is speaking it through a lens and to a crowd that limits his creditability because of his pass comments and insights .

There is still much problem with race in this country , I believe it is getting better . Middle Class opportunities seem to have done a better job then the church as a whole in my opinion , and thats something all the church needs to address.

But their have been some bloggers over time here that have gained following and creditability spewing some racist ideology of reconciliation blended in political power and dominance that will always throw the church back wards till those voices will not be given creditability from the right or left . Public ally they still are powerfully in the left , on the right they hide in emails and backrooms . Both have a stench .

--The best thing for Soujourners would be to get rid of some of the kids they have working for them , or mentor them in the Gifts of the Spirit , and actually teach those gifts were a gift , and not something that they acquire because they are smarter or on the left side of the political fence.

You may have a point, but there is more to it than that. As the OP said, it was Wallis himself who made the outrageous claim that Wilson's statement was racist, even claiming to hear the racially charged word "boy" in it, which Wilson never said.

(Though, in one of those sharp twists of irony that seem to only happen in reality, one can find an example of someone last year calling Obama "boy"--Jimmy Carter himself, in a television interview.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091...

About 3/4 down, you can find this.

CARTER: It already has sent a wave of approbation and admiration in many countries around the world, just knowing that this black boy, who grew up with just a loving mother and a -- and grandparents and that was about all he had to start with, has now had the chance to become the nominee of Democratic Party for president.)

So, while some of the young blood may need reined in a bit, the problem is just as much with the old blood.

One of the more disturbing articles I read here was a few months ago, this one here...

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/05/27/what-if-the-bib...

Such statements as this were what were disturbing.

"When she boldly "uncovers the feet" of Boaz during the night they spend together on the threshing floor, has she violated the "family values" that some religious folk now proclaim? Or has she affirmed that love engages the body as well as the heart, the mind, and the spirit, and that sometimes a loving body comes before a wedding?"

If Sojo allows such things to be posted on the blog, is it not encouraging sex before marriage? Not to mention the blatant misinterpretation of the account in Ruth?

Sojo may have a useful role to play, but when it compromised it's supposed pro-life stance to support a pro-death and even pro-infanticide presidential candidate, it lost much of its credibility. When it allows those who post to encourage sex before marriage, its credibility sinks lower. And it's those at the top who need to clean up their own acts, not merely get on the cases of those at the bottom.

I do think that is worth exploring. Inflammatory rhetoric. Where should we start? Keith Olberman? Jeremiah Wright? Professor Gates? Rachel Maddow? Nancy Pelosi? Harry Reid? Jim Wallis? Barney Frank? Acorn? Jimmy Carter? Obama? Biden?

Iran's building nukes, unemployment is over 9%, the dollar is plunging, Afghanistan is at a crossroads, and you're worried about those mean republicans saying mean things.

Did you ever watch the PBS series, "Eyes on the Prize," which is a documentary on the Civil Rights Movement?

I watch it from time to time. As I watch it I am dumbfounded. I can't help thinking, "OK, after 200 years, why are people still fighting to be able to vote?" And what strikes me is not that there is this single movement after a single piece of legislation; but that this era of the movement, spanning 20 years, is really hundreds of community movements across the South; most of them never recognized (even in this series). It was a fight, inch by inch, not for some new extravagent right. It was hundreds of movements to secure the right to exercise what was already their right.

But more striking than that--to me: There wasn't anything of worth to be lost by allowing persons to exercise their humanity.

And more striking than that is that it was mostly evangelical Christians who were so wrong.

Watch this little segment ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5nmxdfCeVU&feat...). It is a ten minute segment. About seven minutes into it there is an exchange between a deputy sheriff in Selma, AL and Jimmy Webb. The exchange is mostly about prayer.

I would be interested in you watching it and reflecting on what the right way is to speak to the white Evangelical church in the US about race. And by right I mean that way which is right and that which is effective.

You left out some of the best masters of inflammatory rhetoric -- Beck. Limbaugh, Palin, Medved, the endless mouthpieces on right wing radio. The problem with Michelle Bachmann is that when she mouths off it carries more weight than it deserves because she is an elected representative to the US Congress.There will likely never be a way to connect her words to the terrible killing in Kentucky, but it isn't a stretch to suggest that her words added fuel the fire. Otherwise no one is ever accountable for the damage they do with their words.
It doesn't take a whole lot of life experience to understand how damaging the wrong words at the wrong time can be.

If you had the power to determine the impact of your words: would your words

A. Disagree and/or correct Sojo? or
B. Defeat Sojo?

Where I live, in the almost-bankrupt, over-taxed, liberal state of CA, unemployment is 12.5%

All those names you listed... all very, very guilty of "inflammatory rhetoric." It amazes me how up-in-arms many liberals get over Beck and Limbaugh when their own darling, Olbermann, is one of the most arrogant, childish, pompous, inflmmatory liberals around. I watched him once, for maybe a whole 5-10 minutes... couldn't stomach any more than that. Never watched him again. It was like nails on a chalkboard.

Oh, and you forgot Chris Matthews.

I appreciate this post. It is actually somewhat surprising to see it here, as all I have read so far (by bloggers, including Jim Wallis) has been insinuations of Republicans/conservatives being racist for not voting for Obama.

It's frustrating, disheartening, and maddening to listen to these people who somehow think they know your heart and mind based on how you voted. They ASSUME that if you were not racist, you'd have voted for Obama, you'd support his health care plan, you wouldn't dare criticize him.

So basically, if you are a Repbulican, conservative, or independent who is not pro-Obama, you are supposedly RACIST.

I remember the look on Sgt. Crowley's face when he was accused of being racist and then scolded by Obama on national television. And I remember the look on his colleagues/freinds faces during an interview. Downcast, disheartened, astonished.

One officer, Kelly King, who just happens to be a BLACK woman, defended Crowley, and of all she certainly knew him well... she'd worked with him for 11 years. She said she was "appalled" and she also said this about Obama: "I supported him. I voted for him. I will not again."

And I think a lot of us, who are collectively being accused of racism... well, it's like being verbally bullied. And it's been very sad.

Never in my life do I recall ever hearing so many accusations of racism being throw around. And why? Because the President is black. And because white people didn't vote for him or don't support him. So, that automatically makes them racist.

Or if a white Congressman shouts out two simple words "you lie," everyone thinks they know the underlying reason... he's racist.

But do they actually KNOW him? NO!!!! Do they know me? Do they know my family? Do they know the millions who they have accused of racism?? NO!!!!

They are judging people's hearts... people who are strangers to them, and it's simply cruel and wrong of them to do so. But I see no end in sight and feel that I, along with others, will have to endure it as long as Obama is in the White House.

"If there is any racism behind some of the vitriol it seems impossible to dialogue about it."

This is because most of the racist accusations are aimed at all Repbulicans/conservatives as a collective group. Other than Beck, Limbaugh, and Joe Wilson, the comments aren't really aimed at individuals, nor are they based on some individual's actions or any words that are clearly racist.

The accusations are assumptions. I mean, a white man says "You lie," and he's racist? Think about it? How do the words "you lie," indicate any racism, whatsoever?? They just simply do not. But liberals are just certain that he's racist becuase he said those two words to a black man.

So, I think the dialogue is almost impossible because the accusations are so unfair and so unfounded. It's be one thing for Joe Wilson to say, "You lie, you nigg**" or something where it was clear he was racist, but these accusations being made... there is no proof of actual racism.

You just simply cannot prove that someone's criticsm, desdain, or lack of support for Obama means that the person is racist.

The other thing is is that the people making the accusations... they don't know us. They don't know Joe Wilson. And so they are making these accusations of people who are virtual strangers... and people who don't have records of any racist acts and/or words.

Even your comments indicate that you believe these people to be racist, and you think it is just as clear as the nose on their face, but they refuse to see it.

How would you expect any of us to be willing to dialogue with you when you have already found us guilty, and without having any true evidence and proof???

"We have gone from name calling to having people cause death because of a stupid statement by a Member of Congress..."

Well, if this is the case, then we should expect to see some dead Republicans and/or tea party attendees in the near future because there has been some very hostile, slanderous, hateful things said about them... from many sources, esp. the liberal media. So, if any conservative or white person (esp. a white, middle-aged conservative man who seems to be the biggest object of hate) or health care protestor winds up murdered... then I think using your logic, it'd be fair to blame the liberals... Carter, the media, and others. And if Beck or Limbaugh wind up murdered... you better believe it'll be due to the "name calling" by liberals... based on your logic, of course.

"cries of racism are but an attempt to silence the voices of dissent."

AMEN!

Are you black? I am just curious because in so many of your comments, you are constantly bringing up how the "white evangelical church" has done so much wrong to blacks. It seems as if you have a lot of bitterness towards "white evangelicals," and just trying to understand where you're coming from and how it is that you seem to believe that white evangelicals are so racist, cruel, and horrible.

I am a "white evangelical" and go to church with other "white evangelicals" (as well as evangelicals of other colors and races), and throughout my lifetime, I have had friends, family, coworkers, etc. who are "white evangelicals."

And many of them are extremely loving, kind, and Christlike. I can't even think of anyone offhand that I've ever known that was racist or who needed to be told "which way is right" or who would hate a President based on his skin color.

I've known "white evangelical" missionaries who have served in places like Haiti and Jamaica. I've know "white evangelicals" who've adopted black babies. I once had a very close friend, who was about the blackest guy you've ever seen, and he was loved and respected by all of us "white evangelicals" who worked with him and/or knew him. He even married my "white evangelical" roomated. In fact, I can think of very few "white evangelicals" who've not been close with people of other races and colors, including blacks.

As for myself, I've had close and dearly loved friends of all races and colors... African American, Haitan, Mexican, Asian. Oh, and on my own initiative, I drove an elderly black, wheelchair-bound homeless man to the local rescue mission the other day (after first buying him some food) since he was hostilly being shooed away from the 7-11 where he sat... by the Middle Eastern owner.

But all I read from you is how horrible "white evangelicals" are to the black community. Your words indicate a great desdain, and perhaps bitterness, towards them.

But there are many "white evangelicals" who love the Lord, and who believe Scripture... and I think many of us need far less talking to about race as do those who think we do.

The problem is across the board on both sides of the political stectrum and not just one part of the extreme political movements. Hannity, Limbaugh, Savage, Beck are just as dangerous as some on the left because of the distortions they tell while they enrich thmesles. None of these people are poor or doing their jobs because of a cause or the need to put food on their table.

However one can overlook their stupidity while not liking it over a elected official doing almost the same thing. My really question is.....

When are we as a people going to stop the madness while preserving the right to free speech?

To the extent I can be racially and religiously compartmentalized--which I virtually never do: I as born and bred pure "northern white evangelical-disconnected-in-thought-and-life-from anything related to race". I never walked away. Never rebelled against it. I went to such colleges and seminary coming out of Swedish Baptists. I understand and love such--inside-out. I am in the South now in a Black-White town--ruled by the Southern Baptists--whom I love.

John Perkins, a wonderful African American saint ( http://www.jmpf.org/content/perkins/biography/ ), returned to his home Mississippi in early 1960's. In the little town in which he ministered he befriended a white pastor and became close friends. As the white pastor became close--the white pastor committed suicide. In the Delta region of Mississippi, where Perkins also worked, he became close to another white clergy--with the same outcome.

I mentioned in another comment how some slaveholders were astonished their slaves did not want to stay with them after they were freed. They had seen themselves as wonderful Christian masters.

I have a white friend who recently worked for a couple larger white evangelical organizations working to build better relationships with minorities (because of decades of experience doing so)--and became internally very distraught at the way he was ultimately treated by these employers.

We struggle against principalities and powers. Israel struggled against idolatry and injustice. It is arguable what America's "original sin" is--but if there is one that has long been a warning flag of fundamental sin--it has been the nature of racial relationships. This nation has been one of great promise--a place of gathering of the nations--and a gift to the nations. But there has also been a betrayal of that promise. The promise and the betrayal were evident in Christopher Columbus and at Jamestown. Sometimes Evangelicals have landed on the side of promise and other times on the side of betrayal.

I mention John Perkins, slaveholders and my friend because of the "mental breakdown" that can occur in white persons as they confront the 'force' of this principality. I cannot recount a long journey in a sentence here but suffice it to say there have been times in my life, as I made decisions as to how I would guide my life in response to this principality, that I felt myself dying.

This, I believe, is the spiritual life--one of laying down our lives--being crucified with Christ.

For the white pastors who committed suicide: they started to face up to an evil; their congregations would not go with them; and sadly the Gospel to which they held was not bright enough to overcome the darkness of the evil; and the source of the darkness was not the problems black persons were experiencing but what came at them out of their congregations as they essentially were defined as 'nig****'. The best I can tell--this is often the point of mental breakdown. Very frankly, it makes me think of some muslim converts to Christianity I have known; forsaken by family and lives threatened.

You hear the charge of "racism" as an accusation. Sometimes it is that. I don't use it that way. It is an identification--like "idolatry" or "consumerism" or "sin."

I would say that you don't understand that perspective. Someone who used to post on this blog said he was friendly with a black man whose race he said he really didn't see, but it became very clear to me that they had not really talked about how that black man felt about politics or anything else. I really wonder if you have any of those close relationships with blacks and know how they really feel and why they do, otherwise you wouldn't be so quick to defend yourself.

I've read half-a-dozen books on Christian racial reconciliation written in part by African-Americans, and all but one of them blame the conservatism of the white evangelical church for much of the division in Christianity, if for no other reason that white evangelicals have rarely made an effort to understand a perspective other than their own. In college I was actually asked to leave a fellowship because I was black, and about a decade ago I visited a church where literature from the Council of Conservative Citizens -- formerly known as the White Citizens Council -- was available. (Think that would be a place where I would attend?)

Thanks for the you tube . I have watched some of the clips I believe before , I have a documentary on King and one on the Civil Rights ovement . I might check out that PBS serries , the quality of the commentary on the clip was good I thought . This stuff should be played in Public Schools , along with President;s Obama speech he made on race .

The clip of webb and the Sheriff was quite unsettling . Pure Hatred V against an open Christian heart , filled with Christ was my take on it . I am not sure how to anaswer your question , because the problem is culturally and in our history, and still in its present . Its spirtual also as you pointed out . But the Evangelical White Church you mention I am not part of , so it would be hard for me to speak for them . The church has a role to play , but economic opportunity has a role to play also. Right now I would say much of the problem is also people living in history also. That sheriff would be fired now if caught on tape, but if someone accused a person of being like that sheriff because they oppose government healthcare it is agreed with on many cable news stations and blogs. Injustice , racism , does not have an idealogy tagged to it , racism is" non discriminatory" in who it effects.