Upset

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by chachi

I am sorry but just because he is a civil rights leader didnt give him a good reason to say what he did offending white americans. If Rick Warren who would have singled out one group of people in his sermon the media and everyone else would have been all over it and should be.

Also, he used present tense, so it's not like he was talking about the past. He was talking about TODAY. If he were talking about the struggles of the civil rights movements and stuff he would NOT he talking in the present tense.

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen. And Amen.

[RebelBelle]

Ok to be frankly honest, I don't have a problem with his speech. Mainly because he's from a different time. Heck, my very own grandmother gets away with saying things that I consider to be racist. Does she mean them to be offensive? No. Do people get offended? No. Why? Because she's old and she lived through things that many of us can't even imagine and she deserves some respect as does the Reverend Lowery. Respect that President Obama showed him by choosing Lowery to deliver the benediction. The point of the ryhme, that everyone is taking offense to, is the hope that one day EVERYONE will be equal. Please note that the last line says, "Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen." An all encompassing statement for everyone who believes in and strives for equality among all men and women.

I think maybe the rest of us could spend less time thinking about what was said in the past and focus on what needs to be said/done in the future. Focus on the positives instead of the negatives.

[YoRkiE Te aMo]

Originally Posted by rebelbelle

ok to be frankly honest, i don't have a problem with his speech. Mainly because he's from a different time. Heck, my very own grandmother gets away with saying things that i consider to be racist. Does she mean them to be offensive? No. Do people get offended? No. Why? Because she's old and she lived through things that many of us can't even imagine and she deserves some respect as does the reverend lowery. Respect that president obama showed him by choosing lowery to deliver the benediction. The point of the ryhme, that everyone is taking offense to, is the hope that one day everyone will be equal. Please note that the last line says, "let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen." an all encompassing statement for everyone who believes in and strives for equality among all men and women.

I think maybe the rest of us could spend less time thinking about what was said in the past and focus on what needs to be said/done in the future. Focus on the positives instead of the negatives.

bravooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!
That is what i thought 2

[Angela]

Please note that the last line says, "Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen." An all encompassing statement for everyone who believes in and strives for equality among all men and women.

Well, this is just my thought......but, if your an offend white person sitting in the room I doubt your wanting to say amen EVEN if you do justice and love mercy.

I get unconfortable when race is brought up. I have a very diverse family, plus I have felt like an outsider many times just trying to hear a little gospel singing on Sunday's. Its amazing that local preachers bring race into a sermon. Anyway, I can't word my point correct enough that someone wouldn't be offended OR I come off as saying something when I mean something totaly different.....I tried and kept erasing it. Maybe there aren't enough words in the English language.....lol NOT!

Angie

[RebelBelle]

Originally Posted by Angela

Well, this is just my thought......but, if your an offend white person sitting in the room I doubt your wanting to say amen EVEN if you do justice and love mercy.

Angie

Actually I am white and wasn't not offended and probably would have said "Amen".

This quote by Rene Descartes explains my theory more eloquently than I ever could.

"Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it. "

[Angela]

Originally Posted by RebelBelle

Actually I am white and wasn't not offended and probably would have said "Amen".

This quote by Rene Descartes explains my theory more eloquently than I ever could.

"Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it. "

I am sure there are plenty of white people that were not offended and would have said amen. I am just saying I can see where a white person could be offended. If I was there and wasen't offended I would have said amen too.....I wasen't there and wasn't feeling the energy in the room.....the man may have not ment anything by it.....he probably didn't, but I don't know.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by RebelBelle

Actually I am white and wasn't not offended and probably would have said "Amen".

This quote by Rene Descartes explains my theory more eloquently than I ever could.

"Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it. "

Sorry, missed your quote ( in bold, leave it to me! ) Anyway, that's a beautiful quote.

Angie

[crystalsmom]

Originally Posted by IndianaGirl

Im a white woman, as you can see by my avatar...lol
But, what I don't understand is why what he said, some are taking it to heart?
I have heard people say "why is there a BET channel? Why a Negro college fund?
I say why not? Its not hurting me or your if there is a channel geared towards the black viewers or a college set up for black children.
I have really grown up these last few years and really starting to understand a bit about American History and the past that it held. For those that hold onto racism and are looking for it, I hope you can see that it can be taking way out of context if you allow it to. Also understand, the Reverend is one of the few black americans left that felt the racism that did exist. The new generations coming up will no nothing of any of that because we as a society are not allowing it to continue. I didn't even vote for Obama But I do think he will help us these next 4 yrs and he certainly didn't make race an issue in his speach...but he is also too young to have encountered it too.

Bravo You can't tell by my avatar but I'm a white women also and believe if our ancestors were sold by the white race as slaves and we lived to celebrate 1-20-09 we might feel something like that in our hearts but I think he could have chosen much better words since we have come so far and we have so much hope. I voted for Obama but not for a moment do I think this means the end of racism in this country but lets take one day at a time and work towards the best America we can imagine and that will take all of us, no matter what color.

[Lou]

Can't we all just get along?

I am 1/4 Indian. Should I demand my land back from the whites?
I am 1/4 French - Should I apologies for my countrymen being rude to Americans and bailing out of wars?
I am 1/2 German - Should I regret how I treated the Jews?

My family hails from Kentucky where they were sharecroppers. Never owned slaves but should I apologize for slavery?

My point is that I am like our country. I am a boiling pot and I have NEVER understood racism. If you do me harm then I might hate you but until that time - walk beside me and be my friend.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by YoRkiE Te aMo

sometimes it is good to research prior to making statements or judgements !
Joseph Lowery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I dont understand what your point is? Even if someone else wrote it, it is still wrong that he said it!

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by IndianaGirl

Im a white woman, as you can see by my avatar...lol
But, what I don't understand is why what he said, some are taking it to heart?
I have heard people say "why is there a BET channel? Why a Negro college fund?
I say why not? Its not hurting me or your if there is a channel geared towards the black viewers or a college set up for black children.
I have really grown up these last few years and really starting to understand a bit about American History and the past that it held. For those that hold onto racism and are looking for it, I hope you can see that it can be taking way out of context if you allow it to. Also understand, the Reverend is one of the few black americans left that felt the racism that did exist. The new generations coming up will no nothing of any of that because we as a society are not allowing it to continue. I didn't even vote for Obama But I do think he will help us these next 4 yrs and he certainly didn't make race an issue in his speach...but he is also too young to have encountered it too.

But saying those words did hurt!

[IndianaGirl]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

But saying those words did hurt!

Why would it hurt you? You weren't around when blacks and whites were segregated (neither was I by the way)
From what I gathered from the Reverend is that was how it was in HIS time.
I think something that was said that really touched my heart was:
Im glad my grandchildren are here to see this, Im sad my grandparents are not"

Racism will never go away, but the slavery, the segregation, the unjust treatment has gone away and it will take some time for the old timers that are still living to "just let it go" its still their past!

Like I said, the new generations coming up will not see what the Reverend is talking about...Thank God for that right?

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by IndianaGirl

Why would it hurt you? You weren't around when blacks and whites were segregated (neither was I by the way)
From what I gathered from the Reverend is that was how it was in HIS time.
I think something that was said that really touched my heart was:
Im glad my grandchildren are here to see this, Im sad my grandparents are not"

Racism will never go away, but the slavery, the segregation, the unjust treatment has gone away and it will take some time for the old timers that are still living to "just let it go" its still their past!

Like I said, the new generations coming up will not see what the Reverend is talking about...Thank God for that right?

If a white person got up there and said something negative about blacks he would be hung out to dry by everyone. Its just not fair one bit. If he was talking about his time he would have used past tense not future tense. Personaly I think sense we have a black history month EVERY race should get a history month Spanish,Mexican, White, ect Heck maybe we will get a white history month sense our pres is black lol I didnt want this thread to have people fighting over things I just wanted people to see it was uncalled for and talking about anyones race can hurt feelings.

[RebelBelle]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

If a white person got up there and said something negative about blacks he would be hung out to dry by everyone. Its just not fair one bit. If he was talking about his time he would have used past tense not future tense. Personaly I think sense we have a black history month EVERY race should get a history month Spanish,Mexican, White, ect Heck maybe we will get a white history month sense our pres is black lol I didnt want this thread to have people fighting over things I just wanted people to see it was uncalled for and talking about anyones race can hurt feelings.

See you're still young enough to think that you can get people to see things your way. I used to think that all the time so I know where you're coming from. Then I had a professor who showed me a completely different side of things. He said if I put 1/4 the energy I was spending on persuasive arguments on actually pushing a positive message and making change, I would be one powerful woman. It turns out he was right! Now instead of seeing all the things that are wrong in the world, I see all the things that I can work to change.

Now stop making me feel old with your youthful indignation!

[IndianaGirl]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

If a white person got up there and said something negative about blacks he would be hung out to dry by everyone. Its just not fair one bit. If he was talking about his time he would have used past tense not future tense. Personaly I think sense we have a black history month EVERY race should get a history month Spanish,Mexican, White, ect Heck maybe we will get a white history month sense our pres is black lol I didnt want this thread to have people fighting over things I just wanted people to see it was uncalled for and talking about anyones race can hurt feelings.

Aren't all of our holidays "white" or European anyways.
St. Patricks day is a Irish holiday, St. Valentines Day I believe is either an Italian or Irish, not sure. My point is, all or most of our holidays that we celebrate here in America are "white" or European holidays. Black history month does not insult me. To say give us what they have to make it equal sounds like you might have some deep issues you have not brought up to the surface yet. Believe me when I say this, I felt just like you at one time and I guess life experiences and meeting different people, my views have been broadened.
And for me, Im happy to NOT feel like someone has more rights than me or something isn't fair. I guess Im getting old lol