Jeremiah Wright’s “God Damn” Sermon

Prophets are unapolegetic. They call it as it is given to them, or as they see it. In 1898 some folks may have thought that the philosopher, William James, the Harvard philosopher was suffering from monomania or was "slightly wacky" when he “said that Americans were guilty of ‘murdering another culture’ and concluded one of his speeches by declaring ‘God damn the U.S. for its vile conduct in the Philippines!’” (See Stephen Kinzer, Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change From Hawaii to Iraq, Times Books, 2006, ISBN 0-8050-7861-4 p.54.) Whatever your feelings about the involvement of America in other places today, what do you think will happen to someone passionate enough to publicly say “God damn the U.S.A"? Okay, so you already know the answer. They may find themselves the subject of a cover story of the New York Times. (See NY Times, Thursday, April 29, 2008) Someone might claim that you are grabbing your 30-second spot of fame. They may attempt to mock your intellect by calling you "...a voluble, vain and erudite entertainer, a born televangelist who quotes Ralph Ellison as well as the Bible and mixes highfalutin academic trope with salty stree talk." Of course Christians know this sort of thing happens to prophets. Prophets may also become famous, and they may require body guards for their inflamatory observations. John the Baptist had his head cut off. In 1967 Martin Luther King said, “… my country is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” He talked about how the economy of the USA was dependant on exploitation and violence… One year later, King lay dead at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. William James never backed down. In so many volumes Jamese challenged his professional colleagues, and readers not to let a narrow mindset prevent honest appraisal and dialogue. The Rev. Wright should not back down either. He has no good reason to be apologitic about his "God damn" message.

Jena, Louisiana - Everything Must Change!

I grew up and came to maturity about 70 miles South of Jena, Louisiana. If you looked at a map of Louisiana, the town of Opelousas (St. Landry Parish), where I grew up is almost directly South of Jena (as the crow flies!). A few days ago I received an invitation to the 40th Class Reunion for members of the 1968 graduating class of J. S. Clark High School. Louisiana has been on my mind a lot lately. I visit my home state frequently from my house in the Bronx, via the INTERNET. The poverty in the state (the poorest in the nation)and the unfinished Katrina story, are subjects on my mind.

The news from Jena suggest two scenarios about Louisiana. One is familiar. While much has changed, much remains the same. Or worst, nothing has changed, and therefore everything remains the same.

My old high school, J. S. Clark, a relic of the "separate and unequal days" was thankfully closed in about 1970. Black children were then bussed to the newer Opelousas High School (previously for whites only.) Integration, of course, did not work. Opelouas High School is about 75% Black today and 24% white. Opelousas has a few private (some "christian") schools where whites are in a safe majority.

While some things have changed in towns such as Jena and Opelousas, segregation remains embedded. Neighborhoods have not changed. Poor Black people, and some poor whites ones live separate lives apart from one another. Churches, for the most part continue as racial institutions. In Jena, there was until recently, a "tree" which shaded white children in a public school yard. You can believe that other spots such as bars, Rotary and Lions Clubs, gyms and other institutions, while sporting welcome documents and signs, as closed to some people as they have always been.

The breaches in these communities are very real. The walls that separate are as high as the would-be wall between Mexico and the United States, and as environmentally distracting as the wall separating Israelis from Palestinians. In Louisiana the walls separating people are built into the psyche. In order for progress to be made in Louisiana, a whole lot more must change. Otherwise, Jena is what it is. Jena is
a symptom of a systemic statewide problem. Not even 60,000 marchers can make this problem go away. No court decision will force change. There must be a change in the hearts and minds of people.

Shame on Congressman Tom Tancredo

Six men and boys have been arrested for the late-nigh shootings of three young black persons in Newark, New Jersey and a United States Congressman from Colorado grand stands on the steps of the Newark City Hall, hundreds of miles away from his district. Republican Tancredo blames Newark and its political leaders for the murders. Tancredo's tortured logic asserts that the residents of this urban center are complicit "in the murders because they had declared Newark a 'sanctuary' for immigrants." (New York Times, August 21, 2007, p. B3). Isn't this blaming the victims? Do the people of Newark need a presidential candidate riding (flying) into town to add to the pain and despair they feel as they are forced to come to terms almost daily with so many deaths on their streets? Has Tancredo lost his mind? Mr. Tancredo needs to go back to his war room and search for ways to heal America and not do more harm.

When Churches Play God

Wheat and Tares: Matthew 13:24-30

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

High Point Church in Arlington, Texas canceled a memorial service for Cecil Howard Sinclair because he was gay. You might say that they are not desiring to mix a tare among wheat. The writer of Matthew 13 warns of the harm that is done when householders attempt to seperate wheat from tares. Matthew writes, "Let both grow together until the harvest." When is the harvest? I believe that Matthew has in mind what Christians call "the end time." Matthew saves the task of seperating for the Lord of the harvest. Churches and preachers are not stand-ins for the Lord of the harvest. In determining who gets to be in and who is to be kept out, churches are doing great harm to the whole field. I think that the Lord of the harvest is God. God will "...say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Now I bet that most people sitting in church think that they are wheat and some other people (in this case, gays) are "tares." At harvest time look for some major surprises!