29th
Two Important Things About Rev. Wright's GDA Speech I Didn't Learn Until I Went And Listened To It
I keep hearing the noise about Jeremiah Wright – who’s been speaking out against imperialism and racism and feeding hungry people at the Trinity United Chuch in Chicago since 1972 but only recently gotten any attention as a result of knowing Barack Obama and saying “God Damn America” – but I’ve had trouble getting more than “I like English” soundbytes.*
*Ask somebody.
So I listened to the speech. It’s definitely worth listening to, not because he insists that a government entity created HIV , which I disagree with; not because he rails against US misbehavior from 1492 to the present, which I do agree with; but because he – like many African-American preachers – has a commanding vocal presence, and he’s enjoyable to hear. The context of the speech is very important, even though I don’t agree with the sentiment of “God damn America”.
Two things I insist on pointing out, however:
- Immediately after the third or fourth repetition of “God damn America”, he adds: “…so long as she tries to act like she is God and she is supreme.” (around 34:48)
- Later in the speech, he makes a joke at his own expense: “Forgive him for the ‘damn’, but it’s in the Bible – blessings and curses.”
You’d think that in hours and hours of pundicratic commentary, these two points would have been made. But I didn’t hear them anywhere.
TimeWaster™
Wright speaks to the the NAACP. I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s next on my list.
Today I’m listening to: David Cross!
