ANTHONY BRADLEY ON CNN/HEADLINE NEWS WITH GLENN BECK
Anthony Bradley is a professor at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis with my dad and works with the same youth group I do at Chesterfield Pres. I think he's awesome.
"His wife said 'poor us... blah blah blah.'" Really, did she?
From what does Black Liberation Theology spring if not white racism? Why is it that white people in this country seem to have forgotten that segregation existed in the lives of many African Americans still living, including Jeremiah Wright? Do people really think segregation has ended in this country? Isn't St. Louis pretty drastically segregated still - economically and other?
After 350+ years of barbarism committed against Blacks in this country, why are White people suddenly horrified by the notion of "Black Liberation Theology" - when White people were using the Bible all along to oppress Black people?
Also, for centuries the history of Africa has been the history of gross colonial European imperialism and oppression and exploitation.
Why do White people act surprised when people of African descent feel outraged?
What progress really has been made? As recently as a few years ago, the median net worth of African American households was $19,000, and the median net worth of White households as $121,000.
Pat Buchanan would attribute this to laziness. People who actually have expertise in this field know that this is absolutely the legacy of oppression and the subsequent education and opportunity disparities.
Were there more people actually concerned about Black equality, people like Jeremiah Wright might not feel so desperately outraged about the gross inequalities that persist and are accepted as "progress."
Wow, so, according to Ailsa's rx, Jeremiah Wright or Obama have no sense of responsibility in this matter? MLK felt the same oppression and outrage, but how did he deal with it. I do understand that when someone has been forced to drink poison for many, many years, the natural rx is to vomit it up--to have a violent purging. But is the "natural" reaction always the best? Does it really help things grow and change? I did a bit of research on Latin American liberation theology years back, and am sympathetic with many of its desires--not necessarily its methods. Yes, there are still tons and tons of problems with race relations in America, but does that really excuse hate rhetoric, even if from someone who has been oppressed?
By the way, I was surprised that I did not find Bradley's comments incredibly helpful. The conversation does seem to oversimplify something that is extremely complex. I really don't like the whole scary, scary Marxism--that dirty word--feeling of it. I need to watch again--perhaps I am being too harsh but this was my first impression.
I'm not saying that Wright was right. And I wouldn't equate Wright and Obama at all, by the way. Obama has never said anything remotely like Wright - in fact, he's very reminiscent of MLK in his attitude - exceptionally measured.
My frustration is that people think Wright is a maniacal whackjob. No, he's obviously not. He's a normal person who's been pushed to the limit. It's easy to dismiss him if you call him crazy. But if you acknowledge that he's sane - and try to understand why he's so outraged - well, maybe that's just too uncomfortable for White America to deal with.
The mainstream responses have been either "He's crazy" or "He should just shut up and be glad he's American." It's like no one will grant him anything - except, strangely and refreshingly, Huckabee.
It's natural for a middle class and White person, never having walked a day in a Black man's shoes, to say, "He should be more reasonable." So if natural isn't right, what's the alternative? Putting yourself in his shoes for a minute.
I agree with Mary that Bradley's comments weren't that helpful - he seemed to just be providing a few "facts" to back up Glenn Beck's gross oversimplifications. But I'm glad Beck is here to bury nuance and context under the weight of truth: Barack Obama hates America! His wife is not proud of our country! You should always be proud of America! With the next four years of our country's future in the balance, this is EXACTLY the type of discussion we need to have. Also I heard he's Muslim. And a Marxist.
That aside, maybe I didn't listen well because I was too busy staring at "Black Liberaton" - typo? Or subliminal message that Obama is an African-American robot?
"His wife said 'poor us... blah blah blah.'" Really, did she?
ReplyDeleteFrom what does Black Liberation Theology spring if not white racism? Why is it that white people in this country seem to have forgotten that segregation existed in the lives of many African Americans still living, including Jeremiah Wright? Do people really think segregation has ended in this country? Isn't St. Louis pretty drastically segregated still - economically and other?
After 350+ years of barbarism committed against Blacks in this country, why are White people suddenly horrified by the notion of "Black Liberation Theology" - when White people were using the Bible all along to oppress Black people?
Also, for centuries the history of Africa has been the history of gross colonial European imperialism and oppression and exploitation.
Why do White people act surprised when people of African descent feel outraged?
What progress really has been made? As recently as a few years ago, the median net worth of African American households was $19,000, and the median net worth of White households as $121,000.
Pat Buchanan would attribute this to laziness. People who actually have expertise in this field know that this is absolutely the legacy of oppression and the subsequent education and opportunity disparities.
Were there more people actually concerned about Black equality, people like Jeremiah Wright might not feel so desperately outraged about the gross inequalities that persist and are accepted as "progress."
Wow, so, according to Ailsa's rx, Jeremiah Wright or Obama have no sense of responsibility in this matter? MLK felt the same oppression and outrage, but how did he deal with it. I do understand that when someone has been forced to drink poison for many, many years, the natural rx is to vomit it up--to have a violent purging. But is the "natural" reaction always the best? Does it really help things grow and change? I did a bit of research on Latin American liberation theology years back, and am sympathetic with many of its desires--not necessarily its methods. Yes, there are still tons and tons of problems with race relations in America, but does that really excuse hate rhetoric, even if from someone who has been oppressed?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I was surprised that I did not find Bradley's comments incredibly helpful. The conversation does seem to oversimplify something that is extremely complex. I really don't like the whole scary, scary Marxism--that dirty word--feeling of it. I need to watch again--perhaps I am being too harsh but this was my first impression.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that Wright was right. And I wouldn't equate Wright and Obama at all, by the way. Obama has never said anything remotely like Wright - in fact, he's very reminiscent of MLK in his attitude - exceptionally measured.
ReplyDeleteMy frustration is that people think Wright is a maniacal whackjob. No, he's obviously not. He's a normal person who's been pushed to the limit. It's easy to dismiss him if you call him crazy. But if you acknowledge that he's sane - and try to understand why he's so outraged - well, maybe that's just too uncomfortable for White America to deal with.
The mainstream responses have been either "He's crazy" or "He should just shut up and be glad he's American." It's like no one will grant him anything - except, strangely and refreshingly, Huckabee.
It's natural for a middle class and White person, never having walked a day in a Black man's shoes, to say, "He should be more reasonable." So if natural isn't right, what's the alternative? Putting yourself in his shoes for a minute.
I agree with Mary that Bradley's comments weren't that helpful - he seemed to just be providing a few "facts" to back up Glenn Beck's gross oversimplifications. But I'm glad Beck is here to bury nuance and context under the weight of truth: Barack Obama hates America! His wife is not proud of our country! You should always be proud of America! With the next four years of our country's future in the balance, this is EXACTLY the type of discussion we need to have. Also I heard he's Muslim. And a Marxist.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, maybe I didn't listen well because I was too busy staring at "Black Liberaton" - typo? Or subliminal message that Obama is an African-American robot?