Long excerpt of Wright's "God Damn America" speech

For more info: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/profile.html Bill Moyers interviews the Reverend Jeremiah Wright in his first broadcast interview with a journalist since he became embroiled in a controversy for his remarks and his relationship with Barack Obama. Wright, who retired in early 2008 as pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Senator Obama is a member, has been at the center of controversy for comments he made during sermons, which surfaced in the press in March. Watch BILL MOYERS JOURNAL on your local PBS station (check local listings.)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• rev.
• wright
• obama
• pastor
• pbs
• bill
• moyers
• race
• america

[eastariel]

If our America is to survive, it must look in the mirror. We must not make other nations do it for us. Forgive me, please, America, for this:

THE LITTLE EMPIRE THAT COULDN'T

A little Empire stole this land from natives, wild and free,

and staked their claim of every inch, from sea to shining sea.

"They are not us," the Empire said in their native holocaust.

When said and done, a million lives, "not us, but them," were lost.

They farmed the land the natives left, with the help of foreign slaves.

[eastariel]

"They are not us," the Empire said, and worked them to their graves.

The profits filled the Empire's banks and told those far and wide

that you'd better try to stand with "us" or be the "thems" who died.

By world war one the Empire, strong, had weaponry to spare

and gathered allies to its side to give the world a scare.

In world war two the Empire, vain, casually dropped two bombs

and killed 200,000 "thems" -- children, dads, and moms.

[eastariel]

War by war, the death toll rose, in the Empire's common fight

against those "thems" that blocked the path of "us," the land of might.

An attack into our homeland came and burned two towers down.

The Empire's rage flew to the east, and brought the Iraqis down.

The Empire's armies far and wide, with bullets, bombs, and jets

is chasing hate across the world to kill it against all bets.

"You're either with us, or you're with them," the Empire says to all.

[eastariel]

It draws a line across itself, a mighty, towering wall.

Republicans and Democrats, as us and them, they fight,

one people swinging on the left, one punching on the right.

One president from far away held a mirror to the Empire's face.

The Empire fled like a sheep stampede and cleared out of that place.

U.S. Empire, fair you aren't, but you're the homeland that I love.

Remember who you're supposed to be, One Nation under God Above.

[EnvelTheTrader]

@eastariel u can say that.. but god will never bless a thief and murderer.

[31guitar]

Is this a joke? Guess which party did all those things the Rev. hates America for... DEMOCRATS!! Like his boy Obama. Big government did all those things, the same kind of big government he and Obama want. But what about America being one of Israel's only allies? Or America stopping the genocide of millions of Jews? Or America fighting communism which also killed millions of people? I wish all of you would open your eyes please. I pray for you and our president.

[Saintevolo]

@Theosha5 You are not liberated? You are dragging yourself down, the obstacles are not there anymore. Will you look at the leader of the country for GODS SAKE! he stopped complaining and did something for himself!

[eastariel]

It's okay to curse sometimes. Words are way wiser than weapons.

I know America's not perfect, and I know it's fugly sometimes. But I love it anyway.

Irreverend Wright in his own way, I think, is just suggesting that we need to make some changes. I respect that; it's important that America looks in the mirror sometimes with eyes wide open.

No, America isn't perfect yet. But I hope nobody gives up on our one nation under God.

I say, GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[clutchcity25]

Said the realest thing ever at 0:29

[mamacornettesmoney]

@ensabahnur2u Tha tis ridiculous. Who the hell doesn't acknowledge the evil deeds of some white people? taht is such racist bullshit. I'm sure you have wicked ancestors to. Might have some wicked living relatives, for that matter. The idea that atrocities of the past not being acknowledged is fucking ludicrous. it is in our faces at all times. It is people like YOU who need to help YOURSELF and quit worrying about what someone else's "ancestors" may or may not have done.