Barack Obama's left wing pastor Jeremiah Wright

[lilhankjjfan]

This is to be expected from a person like Wright, As far as down grading America I think the President is doing a good job of doing that, It doesnt take wright to do it, As far as any country being powerful dont underestermate the Chinese, No one knows what they are capable of, after all they just about own America dont they? And who is to blame for that?

[antnotforwar]

looks like America forgot about this!

[77Merav]

wow my goodness, what a strong video!

Thank you.

[DitzyDoo]

Amen to this whole video! I can't even believe that anyone is willing to vote for Obama after all of this. God D**n America?! Alright, fine, if you believe that, then GO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE!

[angelsweet452957]

So now theres a theology of the black church??? I thought that the church was colorless? Wright is totally wrong.

[nautica825]

Very bias video...anyone can see that. The comments made appeal to your emmotions more than the facts. Remember people Obama did NOT make these comments and also denounces them, what more can he do. On the other hand we have Clinton who has been caught in a lie...can you trust anything she has said in the past now...how can you filter what the truth is from her past and future claims. Both candidates have flaws... but honestry always prevals.

[VentMultimedia]

Nobody on EARTH is saying that Obama said or even agrees in any way with what Wright said, you're making a straw man argument. The issue that needs to be considered is the fact that Obama considers Wright his spiritual guide and mentor despite these hateful, rediculous, and loony slanders of his country, and never raised an issue for decades until he was confronted. As for your comment about Hillary, do you really think this video intends to show HER in a positive light? Stick to the subject.

[vernlaw]

I guess that is something we'll never know. I guess for some Obama has a lot of question marks that makes him unelectible. For others his face is just what the nation needs. For some his race is going to be a negative for some a positive. Some will vote for him because of his stances and some against. Team that with the economy and war it's going to be a interesting ride we'll all be on this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how this will all play out.

[bittyrock]

Once again just the 30 Second Sound Bites. The Truth is at the TRINITYCHGO Youtube Page. If people see the Entire Video they would see what Pastor Wright was saying. Search -> Tell the Whole Story FOX! Barack Obama's pastor Wright

[imsuchabitch79]

americans are so fuckin stupid, including you

[VentMultimedia]

Really? Is that all you've got to counter the video? "You're fucking stupid"? Well if you're so brilliantly intelligent, can you back up the ad hominem insult with something actually relevant to the video?

[VentMultimedia]

No real response? Didn't think so.

[hellrazer013]

I agree with bitch,  You all dwell on the past and make things worse by attempting to prove youre not racist. American blacks complain about not being looked at as americans, while most call themselves african americans. American whites feel the need to make up for slavery, the slaves and owners are all dead. you all think U are helping but are making it worse. The ACLU and Al sharpton do more damage than good. Youre all supposed to be Americans. Stop calling each other Black and White

[hellrazer013]

You cant change the way a person thinks. and america has some HUGE problems that need to be fixed. youre divided by color, politics and terror.  Your president gives your jobs away black and white. You pay taxes and get nothing, you buy mostly foreign goods. even your Proud stickers are made overseas. jobs that are still in america are being contracted to companies that use illegal labor(they get free healthcare ) Youre Obama or Mccain are going to take care of their party before you

[DitzyDoo]

We pay taxes and get nothing? Really? I would think a government and a free society is something. Yes, our country has problems but half of what you're saying is downgrading this country. The US of A is still the most powerful nation and will pull through it's problems like it always has.

[12ut5]

Do remember the original context of that statement, "America's chickens are coming home to roost?" Malcolm X made it in reference to the assasination of Pres. Kennedy, ie America, and the President, deserved it. That's why Pastor Wright used that statement for 911. America deserved deserved 911, he said, as, he would say, it deserved President Kennedy's assasination. America's deserving both events was what both events had in common. Not "caliber" statements from either Malcolm X or Wright.

[VentMultimedia]

Yes.... the connection is made pretty clear in the video.

[GOPSpinMachineInOD]

Obama is rich? Yeah, i guess 1-2.5 million. But what top Harvard Law grad isnt worth that or more? Compared to Clinton/Bush weath in the 100s of millions or more. Obama has already denounced the pastor. Mudslinging will only get worse from here on out.

[VentMultimedia]

Wright didn't say "He aint rich, relatively". Bush is worth 100s of millions?! Is that some kind of joke? He's worth 26mil max, his ranch is his biggest asset. Obamas denouncement was weak and confusing and 20 years too late. To say that "I can't disown Wright anymore than I can disown the black community" is ridiculous. If I were black I would be offended by that statement. Wright does not represent the black community, he represents an outrageous and destructive fringe.

[vernlaw]

Again with this wright shit. Who cares what he said, it was WRONG plain and simple. But you are ignonrent, Vent, in that he does represent a lot of the black community. Just like some of your shitty views represent a lot of the white community although someone on the outside could consider them outrageous. However, if the white guy comming from a church that held your crappy views said we need to come together and change all this, I would welcome him with open arms.

[vernlaw]

Even if he had been at that church for 20 years

[VentMultimedia]

At what point did you get the sense that I don't think we need to come together and change all this? Do you think I believe it's good that there are pastors who preach that white people invented AIDS? You think that nonsense is going to bring anybody together? The point is Wright DOESN'T want to bring anybody together, he wants his congregation to pledge allegiance to the continent of Africa, and that's the kind of divisiveness I'm against, and you say I have "shitty views", very nice.

[vernlaw]

Because you don't even make an attempt to understand the suffering that goes on in the ghettos of america. In the true vain of Christ. "Only the meek will enherit the earth." and i'm not talking about a particular race. Reverand wrights words are wrong and divisive like you said. But your crusade is misguided. Who are you fighting? what are standing for? I don't get it. I mean are we born fight for what's ours and die? What do you invision america being or are you happy the way it is?

[VentMultimedia]

Why are you still arguing with me? All you are doing is calling names and making straw man arguments and it's getting obnoxious. I agree with you, a lot of suffering goes on in ghettos, that's why they're called ghettos, what's your point? Do you even know? MY point is that Obama sat in this church for 20 years and absorbed it all and lied when he said he never heard this stuff from Wright. I'm standing for racial unity and against appeasers of racists and racism. Why are you confused?

[WarEagle2727]

How are we the "ignonrent" ones? I can spell ignorant and you can't. The fact is that I would not welcome anyone that has radical views such as these. That is why Huckabee didn't get the nomination because he was crazy and the same goes for Romney. Do me a favor, next time leave your assumptions at home and instead of telling us what you think, drive off a bridge.

[vernlaw]

Whatever,what about radical views like "preemptive strike". Why do you think Jesus died? what about his"radical views" like "only the meek shall inherit the earth." It's not even about black, white or whatever it's about the newsmedia turning people against eachother. I don't agree with wright at all but you guys are so focused on the effect and not the cause, which is americas apathy for the poor which happen to be in many cases minorities. Go ahead bury your head in the sand.

[VentMultimedia]

Now you're just rambling. Put down the bottle. Comparing Wright to Jesus? You've really lost the debate, and the horse is starting to rot.

[vernlaw]

That comment was in response to someone who said that he doesn't espouse radical views. So I said Jesus was as radical as they come. In comparison rev Wright is not radical at all. He's just bitching, while Jesus sought to upheave the whole social struture in Judea. I would never think to compare Jesus to Wright. To me wright's comments, the short clips that are played over and over, are incorrect and really not that important. You are the ones who are making Rev Wright to be so significant

[VentMultimedia]

Wright should be insignificant. He should be standing on a street corner with a can of pencils and a sign around his neck yelling at pigeons, but he's not. He's a pastor on a heavy populated Chicago church, and a spiritual guide and mentor to Barak Obama (a presidential candidate if you forgot). Whether or not you want to believe it, or whether or not you like what that means for your political opinions, that's important. How are the clips that are being played incorrect? Did he not say it?

[vernlaw]

I didn't mean incorrect as far as the media goes, I mean that he is out of touch with reality (at least in those statements).Put down to him, not the media. You're right, he is significant as far as having a decent sized following in Chicago and yes he brought Obama to Jesus. But still, what are you afraid of? Obama in some ways is a typical upper-middle class man. Has two young girls in private school who play soccer and live like regular girls. Why would he want to turn america into crap?

[aaron32228]

whew!!! The hold time, I thought he was a muslim....

[VentMultimedia]

Well, Wright has more in common than the Nation of Islam (not real Muslims, technically) than mainstream Christians, so it is still disturbing.

[aaron32228]

I was talking about Barack.

[CelticSoulUSA]

In the same book, he writes about his animosity towards white people:

"I Found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race".

What's his animosity towards his white mother and grandparents? They raised him after his African father abandoned him!

[vernlaw]

Quit taking excerps and then using them as true. In the intro to the book he says he owes everything that is good about him to his mother. As far as your other comment about "it is this world....." that is true deal with it. Yes it is the same cruise ships blacks take too. Revs problem is he uses the word white. He means blacks too....The blacks who have grown accustomed to the shittyness of consumer waste and conformed. Maybe the word whites should be replaced with "shitty fat slobs" wake up

[CelticSoulUSA]

Obama quotes Wright in his book "Dreams For My Father" in which he calls white people greedy:

"It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere...That's the world! On which hope sits!" (p293)

Why would he include this quote in his book if he didn't agree?

[Boogra]

Its fucking 2008. If you're black, get over whatever happened before most of you were ever fucking born. Some of my ancestors were killed by Indians. Should I go around bitching and whining about that? My French ancestors had to flee France because of Catholic persecution. Jesus Christ people, grow up and get on with your life. If my Vietnamese friend can do better than most white people having come here with nothing, what's your excuse?

[VentMultimedia]

Too true.

[sowhatsthatthere]

After being freed by Abraham Lincoln 145 years ago, they are still wondering in a desert of self pity.

[vernlaw]

What happened after that freedom and you wonder why people like the rev are so angry. Ingnorent mutherfuckers like you

[VentMultimedia]

Excuse me?  Can you elaborate on that point so somebody besides yourself knows what in the world you're talking about?

[vernlaw]

If your white get over this bullshit that you keep bringing up. It's usless. Let's move forward instead of repeating the same uselless crap over and over and over. Rev Wright couldn't drink from the same water fountains as whites in a lot of places in this country. and now he's retiring, can we please retire his and your way of thinking and move on.

[VentMultimedia]

He couldn't drink from the same water fountain 70 years ago so Goddamn America? That's quite a powerful grudge he's got there. Wright is the one who brought it up, nobody else. He's the one who can get over "this bullshit" and move on, but first you have to recognize that Obama listened to this for 20 years and didn't bat an eye.

[vernlaw]

Wright isn't the only one who brought it up. For one it was less than 50 years ago and just because the laws changed doesn't mean the condition changed. Look, like I said repeatedly I don't agree with wright. I can see where he's coming from but don't agree with him. We need to change that mentality if we are ever going to go forward. But your mentality is just as devisive it's really no different.

[vernlaw]

Boogra wtf "some of your ancestors were killed by the indians" So were some of mine. What's your point? Are you that ignorent? I can't believe this shit. The indians got fucked man. We really treated them like shit on thier own land. Threw them on shitty reservations where they still live today in worse conditions than the blacks and your using them to prove your point that we need to get over our complaints of oppression? WOW

[VentMultimedia]

Indians are doing excellently, and the ones who are not doing excellently aren't doing so because of reservations, because they could always leave the reservation if they want. They're not being forced to segregate. Nobody denies injustices, but what does that have to do with anyones ability to overcome bitterness and anger in today's society?

[vernlaw]

What are you talking about? the indians are doing excellently. Now I know your crazy. Native americans are on the bottom of almost every socio economic indicator. I live in New Mexico man, the native condition is sad. I agree with you we need to overcome anger and bitterness in todays society, but it also needs to start with you. Instead of denouncing wright outright why can't you try to move past his type of devisive mentality instead of propetuating it.

[VentMultimedia]

I want to move past the kind of divisiveness Wright represents more than anything, that's why I'm so wary of a presidential candidate whose been marinating in it for 20 years. Obama sold himself to the American people as the post-racial candidate, and now he's pulling a bait and switch, and his falling poll numbers are a result of that, your claim that I perpetuate racism because I denounce Wright is a clear indication that you know that too.

[vernlaw]

I'm done man. I guess there is no hope man. We are destined to repeat our mistakes over and over. America has so much promise are prosperity Unfortunatly it will always mired by it's one main hang racial division. and you might think that because it's not as much out in the open it's not there. Jeramiah wright is no different than any man on the streets here. He's different in that his voice is loud. Unfortunatly there are some people can justify their views because of him. It's sad. But oh well

[Digity26]

I think you have to walk in a black man's shoes to understand Wright. Although, I do think he's over the top and should find a better way of getting his message, but there's a lot of truth in what he says. It just comes across as very hateful and crass.

[bhosucks]

Digity26, you need to walk in the shoes of a white person to understand that this sort of rhetoric is not productive---regardless as to "history." BHO is now trying to tap dance around an important issue. He failed. He tried to blame this issue onto the "untrained ear" of whites. Words, just words? Haaaa. I think not. We now know his heart. He's unfit for public office of any kind.

[vernlaw]

I hope you guys aren't Ron Paul supporters cause he takes on a lot of the same positions especially about 9/11

[happy1s2]

Jeremiah Wright is such a HUGE CONCERN for the American People.

[gorgegirl4]

While it is true that it is not the Rev Wright running for the office of the president, there is a distinct,long-term relationship here that makes me very uncomfortable when I hear the hate for white people and this country. Since Obama's speech in 2004, I have been impressed, but not ready to accept him as our president because I'm not sure he can do the job. I just don't think his presence in this church is the leadership we need. It shows poor judgement to have stayed for 20 years.

[Brkn27]

I never imagined I'd hear such a hate spewed sermon in the 21st Century. Preachings like this only set Black people back & keeps them in a vicious circle of being victims. I wish the Black people success & true equality but people like Rev. Wright will trully keep Black people down. I don't think Obama should be held accountable for the Rev. comments, but he will need to prove that he doesn't believe in what Rev. Wright preaches.

[joreis88]

Brkn27, I completely agree with what you're saying but I also feel that Obama is 20 years too late to start proving that he doesn't believe in what Wright preaches.

[VentMultimedia]

John Mccain is not nearly as close to Rod Parsley as Obama is to Wright. There's no comparison.

[gdmorgan22]

my entire family is from england and wales. i can guarantee that my ancestors had no part in slavery in america. however, as an american i still empathize with the african american community. i think fairness, equality, and a little empathy is all that they ask for. considering the fact that they are still descriminated against, i do not think it is too much to ask. i am not religious, but i expect that god would promote compassion towards blacks and their frustrations over segregation.

[gdmorgan22]

blacks like wright have suffered a great deal of mental and physical racism, not just verbal. he is expressing verbal reverse racism, which is still prevalent in the african american community. obama wants to eliminate racism by both whites and blacks (see georgia speech). he is truly committed to unifying the country. the media is trying to use fear to divide us on this issue. obama is not a liar nor a racist, no matter how you feel about wright. don't let the media fool you, watch debates...

[gdmorgan22]

i do not agree with many of wright's statements, especially that hiv was invented by the government to create genocide among blacks. however, he obviously was someone who went through segregation and has distrust of whites - let's remember context. additionally, obama does not support these views and outright condemns them. obama's message is about unity, not racial division, see his speech at dr. luther king church in georgia or his response to wright's comments...

[Mattwr01]

so why didn't he condemn them twenty years ago? being an active member of the church for that long is just as good as supporting the pastor's views. just because he condemned them when the heat was on doesn't mean anything. there's no doubt in my mind that he's a racist and this stuff has the potential to destroy progress in race relations from the past several decades

[VentMultimedia]

Yes, after I posted the video I read the news story about Obama rejecting the views in question (read the video description), however, Obama still considers Wright his spiritual leader and mentor, and every Christian should be wary of someone who follows a pastor whose views line up more with Louis Farrakhan than Billy Graham.

[gdmorgan22]

let's imagine this: your race is sold into slavery and generations of your family go through segregation. look, i am a white male, and i think the jeremiah wright controversy is being blown way out of proportion. blacks have had to deal with generations of racism. there are many frustrations that blacks still feel and church is a social arena where people vent their frustrations. i am not excusing the comments of jeremiah wright, but let's keep it in context, have a little understanding...

[Mattwr01]

well, would you give the same understanding to KKK members who feel that they must react to systemic abuses of the south and of whites by the government?? the answer of course is a strong NO... hate speech can't be explaind away or put into context, it is hateful and it is wrong and we CAN NOT afford a president who tolerates hate speech. Barack Obama has lost my respect for good, he's a liar and a racist

[gdmorgan22]

look at obama's record and you will find he would never support such statements. please watch georgia speech, he talked about unity and alleviating ratial tensions long before these videos were released. obama has worked his whole life to bring whites and blacks together. obama condemns hate speech. i think he would have condemned the comments sooner had he known about them. he understands frustrations felt by african american community, but does not support venting the way wright did.

[vernlaw]

Poor poor white people. The KKK has it's roots in fighting the freedom of black people. It's not based on oppression, but of fear that they might lose their standing as oppressors. How ignorent are you

[Mattwr01]

you are ignorent of history. the kkk was started as a fraternal organization to protect the ravaged areas of the south from abuses by the northern army immediately after the end of the civil war. in its current status it is a hateful organization with rhetoric that is extremely similar to wright. you are just one of those who doesn't believe there is such a thing as racism against whites. you therefore are a hypocrite

[VentMultimedia]

I was born in 1985, I had nothing to do with slavery whether I'm white or black. You or I don't even know whether or not my ancestors even benefited or suffered from slavery. None of the history has any effect on today's life, unless of course you LET it. Jeremiah Wright would prefer his followers wallow in the sorrow of sins far gone rather than inspire progress and reconciliation. I understand the context completely, and it's a message of hate and frustration.

[berkin1014]

Obama's Pastor and spirtual advisor makes his living on the misery of poor people... of course he is going to hate the typical whites and whipping of America...

Folks, this is a sad diatribe where I thought we made progress with race relation...

[VentMultimedia]

It is sad indeed, as a white person I would fully support and be honored by a black person as president. However, Obama shows through his views, lifestyle and behavior that he's clearly not the person to be that leader.

[gdmorgan22]

Which views, lifestyle and behavior are you talking about? Consistenly in speeches and debates, in his public and private life, in his book & as a community organizer, Obama has tried to bring people of all races together and try to heal the wounds of slavery and segregation. the guy is half white for goodness sake, being racist for him is pretty much impossible. his great great great grandfather actually owned 2 slaves. he understands the complexities of racism and wants to end it.

[VentMultimedia]

Fine, if you want me to be specific, I will. He has the most hard-line left wing in the senate, supports state funded abortion on demand, he cites the bible to support his liberal positions, picking and choosing verses and calling Romans "obscure", which implies that if you disagree with his views, you disagree with the Bible, he won't field questions from Fox News or anyone else who might challenge his vague misleading statements, and it's clear that he pays plants to faint at his rallies.

[vernlaw]

Picking and choosing. You could pick any books of the new testiment, the ones with Jesus not paul, and they would be considered liberal. "love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, let he who is without sin cast the first stone, the first will be last and the last will be first" Why do you think he was killed. He fought against the power structure. Wake up man!

[VentMultimedia]

What does that have anything to do with what Wright said?  If you're going to lump Wright in with "red letter Christians" you're pasting an awfully vicious insult on liberal churches, one that even I as a conservative Christian wouldn't sling.

[happy1s2]

Please be careful who you vote for!

Please be careful who you vote for!

Please be careful who you vote for!

[Antjammat]

Wright is CLEARLY a racist.

Despicable.

[toolboxdingdong]

and your image on the palestinian-israeli comment is disgusting, divisive, and shows a plain misunderstanding of the conflict.

[VentMultimedia]

It summarizes the conflict as I see it, and offers a far more factually honest portrayal of the conflict than Jeremiah Wright gives.

[toolboxdingdong]

whatever this pastor is right. try and listen to what he's saying and his message.

[VentMultimedia]

His message is not right, it's hateful and vulgar. Not even Obama could stand to support those comments, and he is a close friend of Wright. I heard what he said, and his message, what about it shouldn't be condemned as outrageously offensive?

[mdw2194]

Proof of your ignorance. You answer with an "everybody knows it" response rather than debate the issue intelligently.

[mdw2194]

The root problem in his church is a growing problem throughout Christianity. People are blindly following a "spiritual leader" rather than opening up God's Word and learning to think for themselves. Anyone can clap and yell in agreement, but can they prove what has been said through rational debate?

[mdw2194]

He did not give any evidence to support what he said. These "truths" are based in racial bigotry, not reality. Can you prove that anything he said was true? I think not!

[porn1978]

Shit,ask any black man living in America.

[vernlaw]

The problem is most blacks don't even look at themselves as americans. "There are Americans and there are niggers that live in places where true americans are afraid to go. Now that's changing. But most blacks would give anything up just to be a person and not a "black person". Jeramiah write is no different. You know he's lived through some hardships. Obama is trying to overcome this. I'm afraid he falls short. Maybe the next generation. We're getting closer.

[porn1978]

its not like the pastor was lying.everything he said was true as shit.

[VentMultimedia]

You're right, he wasn't lying, because he wasn't presenting any facts with which to lie about. All he's said were opinions and speculations, and the majority of those opinions were vile, divisive, vulgar, and have no place to be spouted from a church pulpit.

[porn1978]

Not opinion and speculation,but solid facts,BELIEVE ME!.It was wrong coming from a pastor but shit somebody had to say it.

[VentMultimedia]

No, I won't believe you just because you say "believe me" in all caps, you have to do better than that. What "solid facts" has he presented that can be proven?

[porn1978]

WTF!,are you blind and deaf?

[VentMultimedia]

I disagree. I think Jeremiah's Wright adores living within the restrictions he's set up for himself because he's black. It makes sense for somebody to blame all the bad things in the world on something other than themselves, it happens in all cultures and all races, and in every case it's destructive. If the greatest issue to you is America's support of Israel, you're likely to live out every day in a comfortable state of anger and frustration because it's not YOUR LIFE.

[vernlaw]

You still don't get it man. If you saw your sister get raped and her teeth kicked in (not that I would wish that on anyone) when would you get over it. Now if you looked at every person in the world as you did your sister, not just those that look like you but everyone, it would make you sick to your stomach and some of the injustices that have gone on. A lot by american blacks and muslems, but just as much by white christans and jews.

[VentMultimedia]

That's an awfully gigantic stretch to claim that racism today has the effect of "raping people and kicking their teeth in". To claim that any institutional unfairness in America has that kind of effect is quite a horrendous claim.

[vernlaw]

I wasn't just talking about what's happening in America, I'm talking about what's happening to the Palestinian kids. Not that the Palestinians aren't to blame from some of that. We have 1 percent of our adults prison. The highest rate (by far) in the world. Just a couple of generations ago. Blacks were still getting lynched in the south. Families are still getting terrorized. The inner cities are the 3rd world conditions. Things just don't go away in a generation.

[vernlaw]

Why do you focus on wright. I don't agree with him. I don't know him as a person though. I'm talking about the terrible conditions that exist inside our country. It's going to take a long time to cure the ills. and everyone has to do their part. I think people with your attitude don't think they'll benifit by trying to help people that they don't consider their own. I'm not saying go to the inner cities but just having some empathy. That will make all the difference.

[mdw2194]

Too many people in this country would rather sit around waiting for a welfare check than to work for a living. I worked 12-16 hrs/day, 6dys/week in order to provide for my family. The problem in America is one of self-sufficiency versus a welfare mentality. It's easier to blame the white man than to fix the problem.

[lindiane]

When I see a child, no matter what color, I see a child of God. I do not label anyone because of their color. I do not blame anyone for my poor circumstances but me. Through hard work and self education I have become better off than my parents, which is not saying I am well off, I'm not, I'm lower middle class, bordering on poverty level. I do not think America, white, black or brown owes me anything. I am treated exactly the way I think I should be treated no less or more.

[happy1s2]

Please be careful who you vote for!

[vernlaw]

I'm so glad that this is getting brought up. Not because of why you think. Wake up. A lot of blacks really believe this, finally their voices are heard. I think rev right is right on on a lot of things. I'm not saying america is not better then most countries. But we're full of our own bull. Don't you realize how bad non-whites have been treated in the history of this country. It's not that blacks don't like whites. It's that they are sick of being treated like shit.

[VentMultimedia]

We're not talking about the 1930s, we're talking about TODAY. Where today are black people not being given equal opportunities? Black people are suffering TODAY from his ideology of black victimhood and low expectations more than anything racism is doing. It's fair to criticize America for the past, but black people today have far bigger problems to face today than harping on the sins of past generations.

[vernlaw]

Agreed. It is up to black americans to take resposibility and pull themselves out. BUT also think that oppression has become institutionalized and is very hard to overcome. The fact that Obama is even being considered as a viable canidate proves something. But go to the inner-cities of any big city in america and you'll see how bad the black condition is. It's really sad, if whites could see those poor black children as American children instead of black children you wouldn't see this anger.

[vernlaw]

On the other side. Blacks need to stop labeling whites. After all if it weren't for some very brave white people, there probably would still be slavery. But truth be told there is no excuse for so much poverty in this great county. I lived in Toronto back in 2000-01. It was a real eye opener to the fact that it was by far more racially diverse plenty of blacks, but there were no ghettos. I couldn't believe it, Having lived in Detroit before and after which is only 4 hours away.

[VentMultimedia]

I think it's very difficult to say that liberals like the majority of mayors in poor cities like Detroit are doing more to help black people than hurting them, and Jeremiah Wrights attitude towards America falls right in line with that mentality. Just the fact that he has to make such a large display of believing Jesus was black shows that he cares far more about race than most white people. Do white people care about Jesus's skin color, or do they care more about the content of his character?

[vernlaw]

You just don't get it man. I understand what you are saying about Jeremiah write. I agree with.But your not seeing the other side. You have to put yourself in his and his followers shoes for a day...To blame poor cities on the liberals is just crazy man. Like I said earlier look at Canada which is way more liberal that us and has just as many blacks. It has absolutly no ghettos. Detroit was way gone before the current mayor took over. Now he's not helping much but no one could at this point.

[VentMultimedia]

Even if you don't want to put blame on poor cities on their governing officials, you have to admit it's a far more credible charge than to blame it on ALL white people. I can't verify the lack of ghettos in Canada, I don't know either way, but if it's true I would attribute it to freedom from "black leadership" who attribute all failings of black people to things done in the past. You can't change history, but you can change the present, and Jeremiah Wright's follows live in the past.

[vernlaw]

Detroits (0r most inner city's) problem has nothing to do with leadership. It has to do with economics. All the businesses have moved out. There is no funding, the schools are crumbling there is no infrastructure. It's not the "white mans" fault. No one seems to care. Superman couldn't come in and do anything about it. It's really sad. Blacks just don't have the capital. So most of the money has to come from whites. But many don't seem interested. That's where the frustration is coming from.

[VentMultimedia]

That doesn't make any sense.  Why should one city be prosperous while another city is failing? Even if it is because "black people don't have the capitol" which is debatable, shouldn't desegregation alleviate the economic depression?

[vernlaw]

it's like that in all the big inner cities in america

[vernlaw]

The difference is in Canada for the most part, blacks, asians, muslems etc are looked at as Canadians first and then their race. In america it's always race first. If whites were to look at those poor black kids in the ghettos as poor americans. And blacks were able to look at themselves as americans and not just some inferior, beaten down group. Then america would be a truely powerful country and be what it was meant to be. Maybe one day.

[VentMultimedia]

I highly doubt that. Canada has a far less ingrained sense of national identity than America, that I know for certain. You've said two things that make sense, 1: That white people should see poor black kids as poor Americans, that's true, but how does that assist them in not being poor? To me, your second point, the idea that poor blacks should not pigeonhole themselves because of race, is a far effective idea to promote prosperity.

[vernlaw]

Ok I meant as PEOPLE first not canadians my bad yes it is less nationalist you are right....Point 1 and 2 go together. It's about everyone coming together. You are seeing it as THOSE people need to do something if THEY want to come up. Instead of WE need to do something if WE need to come up. If we, as americans, had that mentality, things would start being repaired immediately. It's a simple acknowledgement the WE (black and white and otherwise) have a problem that WE as americans need to fix.

[TokJokWTB]

"The difference is in Canada for the most part, blacks, asians, muslems etc are looked at as Canadians first and then their race. In america it's always race first." Do you hang around KKK members or something? Vent is right about Canadaians national identity. Remember a dozen or so years ago Quebec had a couple of different votes on seceding from Canada. Quebecians think they are treated like 2nd class citizens. When I talk to Canadians from elsewhere and I tell them this, cont.

[vernlaw]

Quebecians aren't treated like second class citizens. I've been to Quebec several times, it's very nice. Quebec and the rest of Canada are different culturally in some respects. Quebec having it's roots from france and the rest of canada from england. As you might know the french are the french-they like to do things their way. French Canadians are different than the French but their are some similarities. It's funny if you think about it just petty squabiling nothing significant.

[TokJokWTB]

Having actual votes to secede from the union is a petty squabble?

[TokJokWTB]

..as was told to me by 2 PQ'ers they laugh out loud. Generally I have found that most Canadians from other than Quebec can't stand PQ'ers. Also a dozen years or so ago there was serious talk in the western provinces about quitting Canada and joining the US. Your seeing what you want to see me thinks.

[vernlaw]

Thats funny the western provences joining the US. I mean maybe some of the middle provences that have virtually no population. But there is no way Ontario or BC would. Toronto and Vancoover are top notch cities with a lot less problems than the cities here. Much cleaner and less violent.

[TokJokWTB]

vern u said " But go to the inner-cities of any big city in america and you'll see how bad the black condition is." I've not just gone to an inner-city I've lived and worked there and I cannot explain this w/out being a little lengthy so hang with me pls. First me; grew up in lily white upper midwest small city which is STILL 98% white. I grew up poor single mother welfare friends in prison whole 9 yards. I learned early if I wanted anything in life I would have to work for it. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

Black people to me were Bill Cosby - I had the Fat Albert lunch box and being a plump kid my nickname was Fat Albert which was fine with me cause I loved the show- Richard Pryor was a fave Harlem Globe Trotters, later Eddy Murphy etc, in other words it was all good. At the age of 19 I moved to a big city and ended up in fast-food management. I was working the 'burbs at first. These suburban kids though they were white had lives considerably different than the one I had growing up. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

I got a chance to transfer to an inner-city store and I jumped at it. It was closer to my apt. for one, the other was that I was sick of the suburban -in my eyes- spoiled brats I was working with. It actually went through my mind that the inner-city folks were my 'peeps' because their lives would more closely mirror mine. Race was completely beside the point with me. I figured these folks, being poor, would be just like me and have an understanding...cont.

[TokJokWTB]

..that if they were going to get anything in life they would have to work for it. MY GOD WAS I WRONG!! I swore I landed in what you would expect to find in Beverly Hills or something with the most spoiled rotten brats inaginable! Don't want to work, show up late, back talk, steal, quit without notice, threaten. couple examples; had a kid (21 y.o.) want more hours I said sure, the night came for me to show him how to close down the kitchen- in addition to my own work- where is he? cont.

[TokJokWTB]

.. on the phone. I said I'll be back in 5 mins. Came back in 5 he was still on the phone I said come on we need to get started. 5 more mins. I try again and this time say that if I have to come back again I'm gonna hang up for you. 5 more mins say come on lets wrap it up. He again barely acknowledges me as I sit there and stare at him for a couple more mins and I finally say ok thats enough and I hang up the phone and say lets go. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

I walk into the kitchen he comes out and says "Don't ever do that again or I'll have to blow you up." EXACT WORDS. HIS 1ST F'N NIGHT AS A CLOSER! To this day I regret not firing that kid on the spot. Why didn't I though? Because in this poverty stricken neighborhood with probably 30% unemployment an applicant is rare. Heres another one differnt kid. Drive through customer places an order kid repeats order correctly, customer "mis-hears" and repeats the order back to kid. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

kid says to customer "Duh". I was coming around the corner and was looking right at him when he said this so I saw that the green light was on so the mic was live. I said "Steve you don't say that to a customer." Now do you think this kid would feel an ounce of remorse at getting caught say sorry or hell even try to claim that he hadn't pushed the button when he said that? Oh hell no 1st words out of his mouth; "Don't tell me..." I actually don't remember cont.

[TokJokWTB]

...what his words were after that because on the inside I hit the roof. Now this is a kid that had been written up countless times and should have already been fired. I calmly let him finish out the customers order and then I had him watch me punch him out and told him he was done. Oh he through a fit refused to leave. Came back 2 different times demanding his job back pounding his finger on the counter and what not. ridiculous. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

I was among the few managers that didn't get their vehicle damaged at the inner-city stores (2 different ones) I worked at. I think they understood I wasn't one of these suburban "white-boys" that would take that s#@%. I'd hunt their ass down. Now consider the absolut absurdity of this situation: This was a chicken joint, and as such, country-wide the single biggest business day of the year is Mother's Day. At these inner-city stores every 1st of the month is called mother's day. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

welfare checks come out and we would get absoulutely hammered hammered hammered with business for 3 to 4 maybe even 5 to 6 days straight if it was hot. I would stand at the cash register for as much as 9 hours straight. STRAIGHT! Waiting on customers. Why? Because we were ALWAYS short handed. There was noone else to do it. Imagine this riduculous scene; Boxes stacked all over the kitchen from the truck delivery because theres noone available to put them away because we are short handed...cont.

[TokJokWTB]

..and therefore everybody is occupied with trying to keep up with the business from people who don't have a f'n job so their on welfare!!

[vernlaw]

That's terrible. It's a mentality that needs to end. Wright is not perfect but it seems like he's trying to build these people up. Yes he has some of the old mentality he's from an older generation. But I'm sure he's turned a lot of criminals into upstanding citizens. He doesn't preach hate. but he's an outlet for the disenfranchized to vent some of their frustrations. In a few generations you'll see america will be a diffent place

[TokJokWTB]

"It's a mentality that needs to end." Exactly, it's the "culture" in the inner-city thats the problem. Too many of these kids were totally turned off on the idea of making it in the white man's world (thought they couldn't) they didn't even try. I believe that preachers like Wright exaserbate the problem with their endless whining and bitching and finger pointing. In one sermon he brings up Hiroshima and Nagasaki, give me a f'n break! That absolutely IS preaching hate. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

Because Wright ignores the reality that FEWER people INCLUDING Japanese died as a result of ending the war that way. On top of that theres the Nanking slaughter. Are you familiar? The Japanase slaughtered 250k Chinese, mostly civilians, in a 6 week period. Japanese newspapers print pictures of smiling Japanese soldiers,in one case, holding up the dacipitated head of a victim. Isn't that nice? Wright ignores these type of things completely in order to demonize the US.

You don't call that hate?

[VentMultimedia]

Exactly, this isn't preaching, it's indoctrination. It's amazing that Wright himself has become the issue, it's pastors like him that are the major reason churches in the inner cities are failing to improve the areas around it, but let us not forget, this is Barak Obamas mentor. Pastors are influential, that's their job or else they wouldn't be a pastor. It's hard to believe Obama looked at Wright like a father figure for 20 years and didn't pick any of that bigotry and intolerance.

[vernlaw]

I don't disagree with you, I'm familiar with Nanking, the Japenese were CRAZY. What saddens me is the it's THEIR problem. it's all our problems.I can see your frustrations man. But it's not a Black thing. Most blacks that come from africa,like Obamas dad, work their ass off save their money and really make something of themselves. It's the sons and of slaves that grew up in generations of post slavery oppresion. It's an american tragedy that's going to take all americans black and white to fix.

[TokJokWTB]

vernlaw, you say this; "Most blacks that come from africa,like Obamas dad, work their ass off save their money and really make something of themselves." Most blacks that come from slaves ALSO make something of themselves. Most blacks do not live in poverty. Let me tell you of the economics of my white-boy adventure in the inner-city. I was working for the actual corporate company, not a franchise, and they were also hard up for management people. It was a lousy job, admittedly, cont.

[TokJokWTB]

but it was above poverty income and the bennies were outstanding. Full medical/dental/optical, 3 weeks paid after 6 months and check this out; if you went to college for a business related degree and maintained a B average they would reimburse you FULL tuition! I had started part time for extra money and was talked into going into mgmt. They rushed me through as they would for anybody that expressed an interest in mgmt. I only saw one inner-city resident do it. ONE! cont.

[TokJokWTB]

The opportunity was there and I made the sales pitch to every new hire but no takers. (The one that did had already started when I started at these stores) You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. A major component to success is attitude as I'm sure you'll agree. How are "we" going to "fix" that? The water is there the black horse needs to take a drink for himself (as most do). It is you that needs to look at them as the same. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

In other words you said this in an earlier post: "If whites were to look at those poor black kids in the ghettos as poor americans." I do look at them as poor americans and I say the same thing to them as I would to ANY american of ANY race and thats get off your dead ass get a job stay in school don't have kids you can't afford to take care of etc. etc. but as a white guy saying that in this country gets one labeled as a racist and someone who doesn't understand the black experience...cont.

[TokJokWTB]

labeled as a racist and someone who doesn't understand the black experience blah, blah, blah. I'm sick to death of it. Heres an example of a hired off the street mgmt. person who was black that worked for this same corp. He got HORRIBLE "secret shopper" scores. Out of 103 points he got as low as 63 one time never got above 90. My average was 98 and at these inner city stores the worst I got was a 93. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

But even when it is in black and white (low scores) he would repeatedly say to me that he wasn't going to get promoted to full manager because of racism! Absurd! He wasn't a good manager plain and simple. But being black he had an ever ready excuse why he wasn't advancing. What I am saying is this; If you take a kid of ANY race and tell that kid over and over that he's no good, stupid, worthless, can't do anything right, never amount to anything etc. etc. cont.

[TokJokWTB]

then you will increase the chance that the kid WON'T amount to anything because he will come to believe he can't. Understand? IMO the constant harping about racism that the Wrights, the Jesse Jacksons, the Al Sharptons and their ilk do has the same effect on too many young black kids. Though it's for different reasons they come to believe they can't make it. Understand? The water is their the black horses need to take a drink. There is nothing you or I can do to make them.