Hate Sermons

I woke up this morning and checked my e-mail, as I do every morning, only to find another disgusting chain letter claiming that Senator Barack Obama is a Muslim who hates America, refuses to hold his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance and was inaugurated while placing his hand on the Bible. My stomach churned, and it was not because I had not eaten breakfast yet; this propaganda is getting out of control.
I watched, as every one else did, as the mainstream media bombarded us for weeks with clips of Rev. Jeremiah Wright spouting the words we all heard him say. The first time I heard it my jaw dropped to the floor as I watched the ten second rant. By the fourth, fifth, twenty-eighth time I was disturbed. Often I wondered, “Is there anything else going on in the world? Iraq? Darfur?” But it was no use – I turned the junk off.
Now I am not one to condone any one statement he spouted, especially in church, but come on people. Do you really think Rev. Wright was the first person to say that? Because quite honestly, I remember hearing similar sermons and sentiments by, all together now, white people. That is right, and not just any white people, but the rich and powerful ones we see plastered on television and in papers all the time. How about Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell? They love all people, right? Unless they are feminists, lesbians (which are the same to them), gays, pro-life, not Christian, refuse to brush their teeth using a circular motion, the list goes on.
In his press release following September 11th, Pat Robertson says America was attacked because “We have allowed rampant pornography on the Internet, and rampant secularism and the occult, etc. to be broadcast on television. We have permitted somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40 million unborn babies to be slaughtered by our society.” This is just the second paragraph, mind you, as it continues with other light-hearted and inspiring remarks. Nearing his conclusion Robertson states, “Don't ask why did it happen. It happened because people are evil. It also happened because God is lifting His protection from this nation and we must pray and ask Him for revival so that once again we will be His people”. Ah, nothing like the smell of judgment mixed with religion after tragedy.
I decided I would re-write pieces of this press release to make it more personable and reader-friendly. “We have allowed the rampant consumption of our planet’s resources, and rampant name-calling and division among races and genders to be regarded as normal. We have permitted over 3.5 million people to sleep on the streets, half of which are children, to be refused by society.” I like mine better, but I tend to be bias.
But seriously, does no one remember what these people have said before? It wasn’t that long ago that Katrina happened because New Orleans is a tainted city. Before that it was gays, feminists and online pornography that caused 9/11. Rev. Wright was very passionate in his sermon, but only a snippet was ever broadcasted. I am not stating that it was covered because he is black or supports a certain candidate, but what if that were the case? He certainly was not the first to preach politics from the pulpit.