>>It seems to me that those who do are sympathetic to the pain that triggered Wright's anger so they cut him some slack. But that doesn't make his outrageous pronouncements any less outrageous or damaging.
Or they are looking at Wright as a whole person and, on balance, find Wright less offensive because he has a positive side where Duke has none. Again, that doesn't make Wright's outrageous pronouncements any less outrageous or damaging.<<
Karen -
First, I really don't know that much about David Duke, to be fair. I know that he was a member of the KKK, a Grand Wizard, in fact, which is an organization responsible for acts of violence against innocent people over several decades, and one committed to denying the civil rights of black Americans.
But to learn something more about David Duke, I went to his website just now. From what I read and heard, he believes that whites are subject to terrible discrimination in this country, and that white women are being sexually assaulted by black men at alarming rates. He says that immigration from "non-white" countries is changing the character of America in negative ways.
If he thinks the deck is stacked against white people in this country, I'd have to question his powers of observation. And I must say I don't see much of an upside there. However, he is not advocating violence against black people anymore, so that's a step in the right direction. Do I think David Duke is a terrible person and that anyone who associates with him should never be allowed to be President? I'd say that I'll reserve judgement on the first part of the question, but that the second part is simply too broad and sweeping a judgment to make.
In any case, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and John Hagee are closer to being equivalent to Wright in my mind, as Wonk suggested.
McCain has actively sought the blessings and backing of Hagee and the others, even after calling Falwell and Robertson "agents of intolerance" in 2000. Am I calling for McCain to resign his candidacy or his Senate seat? No. Do I assume, because he has sought the backing of these men, that he believes that the attacks of 9/11 happened because God was angry with the US for proposing that Israel be divided? No. Do I assume he believes Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans because God was pissed off about rampant homosexuality? No.
Getting back to Wright, I'd like to know what you think is so terrible about anything he has said? He seems to be saying three things, basically. One, the US is run by rich white people. Two, there's still a lot of discrimination against black people in this country. Three, black people, therefore, need to stick together, and need to rely on themselves to get ahead.
I don't think we can reasonably argue that points one and two are false, and I don't see anything wrong with point three. Would I say it's a positive and important thing to rail about points one and two in the way Wright is seen doing on those tapes? No. But I do know, from reading some of Wright's other words, and from the testimony of white congregants in that church, that he isn't just about that.
But whatever. You can decide that if I don't see this situation the way you do then I must be biased. That's your privilege.
- Allen |
