Wow !! I dont know whether its a consequence of the somewhat impersonal nature of blogging but boy it sure seems that there is a lot of hate flying around here from both sides. What I find incomprehensible though is attempts to compare the Jewish holocaust with slavery; Hitler tried to exterminate a whole race of people and slavery was a systematic dehumanisation of a people for economic purposes. Which is worst ? the answer, neither!!. Both were appalling acts perpetrated by humans on other humans. There seems to be some competition for the victimhood prize. As there are those who deny the holocaust there are those who deny that the affects of slavery and Jim Crow did not disappear with the passing of civil rights legislation. I also find it more than a little confusing when references are made to the opportunities now available to be enjoyed by blacks, (more specifically, Obama and his wife) in America and that they should be grateful and by implication, not complain. This has a hint of patronization. I do not believe that this is the intention of the blogger but I hope you see that it might be construed as such. These opportunities were not as a result of some gracious gesture on the part of the American government, they were hard won and came at a high price; a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I do however accept that it is fair criticism of those blacks who have chosen to disrespect the sacrifice of those who have gone before (both black and white – whites also died in the civil rights struggle)by not striving to improve their lives. I must make it clear at this point that I am actually British and living in the UK, via the Caribbean so my experiences are not the same as black Americans. I therefore have different cultural references so for me “GD America” was not offensive, for me it is akin to “A pox on both your houses”. So while I disagree with some of Rev. Wrigths statements, I do not find them as offensive as others have and would be quite happy to sit in on his sermons. I can say this, because after listening to the 9/11 sermon and his statements on the need for self examination, I found myself in Church on Easter Sunday.
