Obama and Wright controversy

In my estimation, it is truly unfortunate that this situation has developed between Senator Barack Obama and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I had expected racial prejudice to be a monster issue in the presidential campaign because much prejudice still exists in this country. Since it is no longer “politically or socially correct” to be openly prejudice, I had expected to see subtle criticisms and sly innuendos reminding people that Senator Obama is at least ½ black with a Muslim name to boot. We have seen this and will continue to do so. Oh, there are still many in our society that are so prejudice that they will outwardly and loudly criticize and denounce his candidacy when they are with a like-minded group of racists or in a group where those who know it is wrong lack the courage to speak their mind.

But, when the race issue is brought front and center by a black, highly educated, much respected, very successful minister of God, it is really sad. It brings fuel to a fire that Senator Obama has tried to rise above and beyond in his candidacy. He has worked hard and said most of the right things to put the race issue behind us where it needs to be. His focus has been on issues, change in direction that this country desperately needs, and issues of character and leadership.

Then, on the scene steps a pastor of a primarily Black Christian Church who is of an earlier generation that is still fighting the battle against prejudice as it was done 40+ years ago. He is angry, and rightly so, that minorities have been characterized as deficient rather than only different. In many cases, injustice exists in our society for Blacks, Hispanics, etc. He knows it, Senator Obama knows it, and all of us know it if we read the statistics on unemployment, poor educational opportunity, % of those incarcerated, discrepancies in income levels, etc.

In direct contrast, Senator Obama sees the solution to these problems as something that can be changed positively over time without focusing on all the old wrongs. He himself has demonstrated how a bright, well educated, ambitious black man can rise above all the prejudice that exists. There are many other examples of bright minority leaders; and, if we and the media give them the chance, they will step up to help lead this country. We can only hope that they will not be hindered by obsessing over past wrongs and will be allowed to help create a better future for us all.