Rev. Wright, Contextualized
For those who might be curious, here is the more extended clip (a little over five minutes) of the video clip in which Rev. Wright uttered the words "God Damn America." Oh my, I do believe I'm getting the vapors! Nothing is ever quite so inflammatory in context.
For those without five minutes to spare, the clip goes something like this - the U.S. government sanctioned slavery and segregation; Things changed for the better under Clinton; Bush II has enacted policies that are harmful to African-Americans; governments change but God does not change ("God was against slavery and God who does not change is against slavery today"). Governments fail (Roman, British, etc.). The U.S. government failed in its treatment of Native Americans, Japanese Americans, and African Americans. [list of specific, valid examples] They want us to sing God Bless America? No, God damn America! (as long as she acts like she is God).
Pretty damn innocuous. I know the media isn't going to run a five minute clip, but when omission of context so vastly warps the meaning, perhaps a responsible media doesn't make the nothing into a story. Frankly, this whole Rev. Wright controversy has been nothing but a racist hit-job; show Americans an animated African-American (read: "angry black man") which they have been so cultivated to fear (through media accounts, etc.) in order to destroy someone close to him. Just one more paragraph in the tragic history that is race in America.
Click to viewFor those without five minutes to spare, the clip goes something like this - the U.S. government sanctioned slavery and segregation; Things changed for the better under Clinton; Bush II has enacted policies that are harmful to African-Americans; governments change but God does not change ("God was against slavery and God who does not change is against slavery today"). Governments fail (Roman, British, etc.). The U.S. government failed in its treatment of Native Americans, Japanese Americans, and African Americans. [list of specific, valid examples] They want us to sing God Bless America? No, God damn America! (as long as she acts like she is God).
Pretty damn innocuous. I know the media isn't going to run a five minute clip, but when omission of context so vastly warps the meaning, perhaps a responsible media doesn't make the nothing into a story. Frankly, this whole Rev. Wright controversy has been nothing but a racist hit-job; show Americans an animated African-American (read: "angry black man") which they have been so cultivated to fear (through media accounts, etc.) in order to destroy someone close to him. Just one more paragraph in the tragic history that is race in America.