Mr. Mark Gellman, I disagree with you when you try to correct Barack Obama on what he should have said to his Pastor. Not everyone disarees with the Pastor and so keep your stupid advice to yourself since I and many others that voted Obama feel the same as the Pastor about our country. We have sunk very low ever since Bush became our President and many of us say "DAMN America" too
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There is a way to explain this that comes from the Jewish tradition and was told to me by a rabbi. Once there was a great rabbi named Elisha ben Abuyah. He had a brilliant student named Meir. One day, after seeing the death of a child, Rabbi Elisha ben Abuya became an apostate, an atheist, a denier of the existence of both God and justice. He said, "There is no Justice and there is no Judge." After his apostasy, all his students left him and denounced him, except for one-Rabbi Meir. He continued to study with his former teacher, scandalizing all the other rabbis who severely criticized Rabbi Meir for studying with a man they now only called Aher, the other one. Rabbi Meir calmly answered them by saying, "My teacher is like a pomegranate. I throw away the bitter skin and drink the sweet juice."
I know many of you cannot imagine any sweet juice flowing from a man whose entire 36 year ministry has been boiled down into 20 seconds of bigotry. I understand. But you did not know this man. I am saddened by his words, I am revolted by his words. He will have nothing to do with my campaign. (On Friday Obama did say, "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Reverend Wright that are at issue.")
But I say to you, just as you might say about the prejudice in the heart of those who might have once taught you, I can still taste the sweet juice of faith and hope and pride that I drank, not from his lips, but from his heart.
Thank you and God bless my pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright
© 2008
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