Rev. John Thomas on Anderson Cooper 360

[skipwadoo]

Wright is just a crazy blackman. Period !

[MitcheltonMilo]

I carnt beleave hao awefull yoo peeple ar at speling. If yoo karnt spel, yooze a dickshenery four hevvens sayk.

[ericdt7]

What strikes me as interesting is that the information that is shared inside of the church has made it to the press, thus violating the principle of confidentiality (as no church, temple, mosk, or any other such place of worship is legally defined as a PUBLIC place). It once more points out the need for sensationalism in mankind, and shows how it can ruin relationships. May we all learn something from this...

[tacobellsk8er]

Kinnamon is disingenuous when he says that the UCC is portrayed as 'some kind of radical sect.' The United Church of Christ is extremely liberal (Kinnamon will admit that), as is the National Council of Churches, but that's about it.

What people find absurd is that the UCC, whose history is defined by involvement in the civil rights movement, is apparently willing to support a church LITERALLY DEFINED by race. Had the church been, say, 'anglo-centric,' they would NEVER have supported it.

[sherijrich]

What a shame that this had to even be said/ done.. seperation of church and state is there for a reason.. too bad the press doesn't seem to get it. This has all been based on racism and fear.. our country has relied on for far too long to keep us divided, seperated and afraid of one another. Our gov and the Media are both in for a very serious wake-up call. America is becoming more unified.. deal with it media- we are many more than you and we are far smarter than you give us credit for.

[debrosha]

I don't agree with Goldberg's opinion at all. Real conversations about race/class are very difficult to have and not for the lilly-livered or weak-kneed. It takes coming back to the table time and again and setting aside preconceived notions of the other person or party's opinion. Labeling someone a "conservative" or a "liberal" does nothing to promote dialogue. PUT ALL LABELS ASIDE and have a REAL discussion about race and class in this country.

[tacobellsk8er]

It's true labels don't necessarily promote dialogue, but Goldberg's point is that REAL dialogue isn't the goal. The goal is for the development of government programs and initiatives to be developed - in the name of 'racial discussion/healing' - which separate people from their money and, ultimately, solve NOTHING.

As to having a discussion about race, ask Geraldine Ferraro if one is allowed to give an honest opinion with regards to race - and not suffer for it...

[debrosha]

I'm not sure what government programs you and Goldberg are referring to and REAL dialogue happens between people and not government officials and policy wonks.

Geraldine Ferraro wasn't trying to discuss race she was making a point about Senator Obama. I understand what she was trying to say. She could have been more eloquent in how she spoke but I don't think of her as being a racist at all.

[johnlorican]

"People have been calling for national dialogues and conversations for decades. It usually works something like this: Liberals say we need a frank discussion about race (or class or gender) in this country, and then they proceed to bludgeon any conservative stupid enough to take them up on their offer." -- Jonah Goldberg

Sadly, Goldberg is right. Despite this, let's get started. If you want my perspective, look at Bill Moyers 4-part interview w/ Shelby Steele (YouTube).

Brilliant.

[ronaldpagan3]

Look, sometimes crazy shit gets said in churches. It doesn't matter what side of the fence you're on. The right has gay and abortion bashing and on the left there is racial and governmental injustices. It is hard to pin down evil, and thats the reason many preachers miss the mark.Evil does exist in a lack of respect for human life, and that is the center of the argument for both sides.