The angry feelings that Jeremiah Wright has about the treatment of African-Americans and other dishonorable aspects of the history of the United States are obvious.
It may be natural for him to have these kinds of feelings.
However, what is confusing and troubling for many people is why he is apparently bringing forth this anger and these complaints, many of which may be legitimate, in ways that divide Americans and damage the candidacy of Barack Obama.
Although his background indicates he is an intelligent person, Wright's anger seems to lack reasonable and intelligent "situational awareness."
He seems to be lashing out like an angry child or teenager, without mature consideration of the consequences of his actions.
The other significant element of his public appearances is his apparent disdain for Barack Obama's candidacy and maybe, in some way, Obama himself.
DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES
Wright is well informed and experienced in many ways about the history of African-Americans in U.S. history, and apparently views this in the context of other problematic aspects of our history, such as the near-genocide of Native American Indians, the treatment of other minority groups, racism among some elements of American society and similar serious situations.
Obama, on the other hand, as many people have pointed out, was raised in large part in Hawaii by his white grandparents, his mom's parents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, who were originally from Wichita, Kansas. Stanley Dunham fought under Army Gen. George Patton in World War II.
Obama's dad was not an African-American with a history of generations of slavery and active or passive repression and discrimination like many or most African-Americans. He was from Kenya, Africa, and came to the U.S. for his college education.
Although Barack Obama obviously learned in Hawaii, and later on the U.S. mainland, that there are obvious and subtle kinds of dynamics among different ethnic groups, and some of the history of the U.S. is unpleasant or worse, he claims he wants to transcend these difficult and painful histories, though not ignore or forget them.
Jeremiah Wright obviously is not on the same page.
In addition, having spent six years in the Marine Corps, Wright probably has heard the military-oriented saying, "Lead, follow or get out of the way." He has chosen to be a leader. But is this former Marine leading in a constructive direction?
He seems to many people to want to show and inflict more pain and more division, and present himself as a leader of the African-American church community and, therefore, a great African-American leader.
He seems to want conflict. He seems to want a fight.
So, in Wright's view, maybe he is more legitimately "black" compared to Obama. Or, put another way, maybe Wright thinks Obama is "too white," a label that is an ultimate insult to many black kids, teens and adults ... but maybe has different meaning to someone like Barack Obama.
FROM HAWAII TO THE MAINLAND
Obama, raised in the multi-cultural Pacific region, both in Hawaii and Indonesia, where many people are different shades of brown, with different shaped eyes, different kinds of hair and different historical backgrounds, undoubtedly looks at things differently than Wright.
No doubt that when Obama came to the mainland he quickly learned of the different racial dynamics and history here. Maybe he chose Wright's church because he wanted to learn about the African-American history from the view of those who had experienced it for generations on the mainland.
Now, Obama seems to be trying to find and create a more stable and strong center that transcends the old divisions and hatreds. Maybe he is trying to teach us something about what he learned growing up in Hawaii about different shades of people living and enjoying life together.
Wright seems, in some ways, like a portion of older, less-educated white voters that are currently tending to support Hillary Clinton. He can't get past the issue of ethnicity and the past. He can't transcend it.
Maybe, in some odd way, Wright himself is "too white," like some of those white voters who find it challenging to vote for Obama.
It has become a cliché – Obama is too black for some older and less-educated white voters and he is too white for blacks with big chips on their shoulders, like Jeremiah Wright.
Obama and his supporters seem to be working hard to find the balance, the center and the transcendent new America that will take us to the next level in our social, political, economic and human development.
Message to people like Jeremiah Wright: "Lead – in a good direction, follow or get out of the way."
NOTE TO READERS: For those who enjoyed this article, a few others might be of interest, including: "Marine Jeremiah Wright, SEAL Jesse Ventura speak bluntly," "Obama Faces Ohio Hearts and Minds," "Obama's Iraq position, mixed ethnicity are key factors," "Mixed-ethnicity Americans face challenges" and "Oprah bumps book 'Education of Little Tree' from list; readers can explore many factors involved". Also, please visit the Joint Recon Study Group site and look around. You can read my novels online by clicking these links for MISSION INTO LIGHT and the sequel LIGHT'S HAND.
It may be natural for him to have these kinds of feelings.
However, what is confusing and troubling for many people is why he is apparently bringing forth this anger and these complaints, many of which may be legitimate, in ways that divide Americans and damage the candidacy of Barack Obama.
Although his background indicates he is an intelligent person, Wright's anger seems to lack reasonable and intelligent "situational awareness."
He seems to be lashing out like an angry child or teenager, without mature consideration of the consequences of his actions.
The other significant element of his public appearances is his apparent disdain for Barack Obama's candidacy and maybe, in some way, Obama himself.
DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES
Wright is well informed and experienced in many ways about the history of African-Americans in U.S. history, and apparently views this in the context of other problematic aspects of our history, such as the near-genocide of Native American Indians, the treatment of other minority groups, racism among some elements of American society and similar serious situations.
Obama, on the other hand, as many people have pointed out, was raised in large part in Hawaii by his white grandparents, his mom's parents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, who were originally from Wichita, Kansas. Stanley Dunham fought under Army Gen. George Patton in World War II.
Obama's dad was not an African-American with a history of generations of slavery and active or passive repression and discrimination like many or most African-Americans. He was from Kenya, Africa, and came to the U.S. for his college education.
Although Barack Obama obviously learned in Hawaii, and later on the U.S. mainland, that there are obvious and subtle kinds of dynamics among different ethnic groups, and some of the history of the U.S. is unpleasant or worse, he claims he wants to transcend these difficult and painful histories, though not ignore or forget them.
Jeremiah Wright obviously is not on the same page.
In addition, having spent six years in the Marine Corps, Wright probably has heard the military-oriented saying, "Lead, follow or get out of the way." He has chosen to be a leader. But is this former Marine leading in a constructive direction?
He seems to many people to want to show and inflict more pain and more division, and present himself as a leader of the African-American church community and, therefore, a great African-American leader.
He seems to want conflict. He seems to want a fight.
So, in Wright's view, maybe he is more legitimately "black" compared to Obama. Or, put another way, maybe Wright thinks Obama is "too white," a label that is an ultimate insult to many black kids, teens and adults ... but maybe has different meaning to someone like Barack Obama.
FROM HAWAII TO THE MAINLAND
Obama, raised in the multi-cultural Pacific region, both in Hawaii and Indonesia, where many people are different shades of brown, with different shaped eyes, different kinds of hair and different historical backgrounds, undoubtedly looks at things differently than Wright.
No doubt that when Obama came to the mainland he quickly learned of the different racial dynamics and history here. Maybe he chose Wright's church because he wanted to learn about the African-American history from the view of those who had experienced it for generations on the mainland.
Now, Obama seems to be trying to find and create a more stable and strong center that transcends the old divisions and hatreds. Maybe he is trying to teach us something about what he learned growing up in Hawaii about different shades of people living and enjoying life together.
Wright seems, in some ways, like a portion of older, less-educated white voters that are currently tending to support Hillary Clinton. He can't get past the issue of ethnicity and the past. He can't transcend it.
Maybe, in some odd way, Wright himself is "too white," like some of those white voters who find it challenging to vote for Obama.
It has become a cliché – Obama is too black for some older and less-educated white voters and he is too white for blacks with big chips on their shoulders, like Jeremiah Wright.
Obama and his supporters seem to be working hard to find the balance, the center and the transcendent new America that will take us to the next level in our social, political, economic and human development.
Message to people like Jeremiah Wright: "Lead – in a good direction, follow or get out of the way."
NOTE TO READERS: For those who enjoyed this article, a few others might be of interest, including: "Marine Jeremiah Wright, SEAL Jesse Ventura speak bluntly," "Obama Faces Ohio Hearts and Minds," "Obama's Iraq position, mixed ethnicity are key factors," "Mixed-ethnicity Americans face challenges" and "Oprah bumps book 'Education of Little Tree' from list; readers can explore many factors involved". Also, please visit the Joint Recon Study Group site and look around. You can read my novels online by clicking these links for MISSION INTO LIGHT and the sequel LIGHT'S HAND.
