Considered a man of faith, Barack Obama, the American President of the United States, is formed as a Christian. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, pastor Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC), Chicago, where the Obama’s worshiped for 20 years in Illinois is his Obama’s former minister. What kind of Christian was the Church? The church website proclaims: “We are a congregation which is unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian…”
Trinity United Church of Christ occupies a tan brick building on West 95th Street across railroad tracks from a public housing project, reports The Christian Science Monitor.
The President said about leaving, “Too much press harassment, people couldn’t’ worship in peace.” That wasn’t his reason for leaving, but a complaint on the news media attention. The reasons were politically controversial remarks by Trinity’s pastor, Reverend Wright.
Wright’s comments contradicted one of Obama’s central messages — that the candidate can transcend past divisions such as those involving race.
Regarding the Church, on Bill Moyers Journal, Wright says we are unashamedly Black. His philosophy embodies, “Use the culture of which we are a part.” He preaches there is hope, that life has meaning, and that God is still in control. “We can change. We can do better.” Black Liberation theology is Wright’s United Church of Christ (UCC) message. It is a UCC message he offers, since he is a UCC minister who studied under Martin Marty. Martin E. Marty, distinguished Lutheran Pastor, teacher, and writer who has been on the University of Chicago faculty since 1963.
Grounded in the history of the African-American, Black theology is powerful stuff. He is little sorry about his comments, but in Bill Moyer’s interview, Reverend Wright does appear sorry he made the comment “God damn America” in the Pulpit-if only for a few moments. But it wasn’t one remark, but a string of them that caused the significant distancing between the candidate’s spiritual advisor and then candidate.
The press in the United States spent a lot of time and space talking about President Obama’s faith during the campaign, his church, and how he is a Christian-the President said he is Christian himself, and that is also news. Religion makes news, despite separation of Church and State. Time magazine says more voters saw President Obama as a strongly religious person than they did every major presidential hopeful during the campaign but Mitt Romney, the Republican former governor of Massachusetts. Romney’s Mormonism drew extensive news coverage.
President Obama was married in Trinity church. His children were baptized in the church, and also like his wedding, Reverend Wright performed the solemnizations. The President said on leaving the church, “Trinity was where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized. We have many friends among the 8,000 members…” It is a church where he was moved many times. When Wright preached one Sunday about the sustaining power of hope in the face of poverty and despair, Obama says he found himself in tears.
He said in one speech during the Presidential campaign:
* “For one thing, I believed and still believe in the power of the African-American religious tradition to spur social change… Because of its past, the black church understands in an intimate way the Biblical call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked and challenge powers and principalities. And in its historical struggles for freedom and the rights of man, I was able to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world. As a source of hope.”
It is the claim of Reverend Jeremiah Wright that Trinity is a church of Black theology. The Reverend Doctor John Cone, the Harvard Professor and African-American theologian interviewed on American Public Broadcasting System (PBS) by commentator Bill Moyers says on the PBS website:
* “As we examine what contemporary theologians are saying, we find that they are silent about the enslaved condition of black people. Evidently they see no relationship between black slavery and the Christian gospel. Consequently there has been no sharp confrontation of the gospel with white racism. There is, then, a desperate need for a black theology, a theology whose sole purpose is to apply the freeing power of the gospel to black people under white oppression.”
Cone says:
* The Cross is the same as the lynching tree for the Black American in a Harvard Speech. The Christian Reverend Cone wants to start a conversation on this subject. He offers that lynching was terrorism that “worked to a certain degree.” This includes spectacle lynchings where 5,000 would gather to watch.
Religion is one place where you have an imagination that no one can control.” Black Churches are a place of the spirit… (even though you are living under the shadow of the lynching tree).” … There were 246 years of slavery, and 100 years of segregation and lynching. America does not see itself as “not innocent,” according to Cone. “No human being is innocent.”
Reverend Cone is ordained in the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago. which is one of the city’s largest black churches and not far from Obama’s home in the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park.
Apparently the President did not turning his back on Black theology yet, per se, since he spoke from the pulpit at that same mega-church in Chicago, which has 20,000 members and is also considered a Black American church. This in 2008.
It is the history of the African American church in the United States that it is a center of Black community life speaking to the needs of the church and larger community in social and political ways. But not in so partisan a manner as was recently ascribed to the theology and preaching of the Reverend Wright. So the perception became. But he still associates himself with the African American church in general.
President Obama spoke of the role of Black fathers and their responsibilities, perhaps more a campaign speech than sermon from a “religious” man whose campaign motto is “Change That Works for You.” Will he again become a member of a Black Church while serving in Washington, D.C. Time will tell. Nonetheless, there his Christian roots lie.
It is from the Black Church that President Obama learned many things about hope. Can he really take himself out of the African-American church ethos, as he has known it? Perhaps the Reverend Wright thinks not, though he is not saying. His official press release remark on then President Obama and his family’s leaving was, “…We are saddened by the news …”
Two women’s Tragedies in Balochistan: Honor killing and Rape
On July 2008 three Baloch girls fell victim to an “honor killing” in the remote village of Bala Kot , Jaferabad, Balochistan . Similarly Dr. Shazia Khalid, a non-Baloch 32 year-old female, was raped in Sui, Balochistan in January 2005 by Pakistani military officers. Both cases are strongly condemned in Balochistan. Baloch leaders demanded that justice be served to both victims but due to Pakistani law enforcement and politician’s pattern of interference and meddling, both cases remain unresolved, remember “Justice delayed is justice denied”
According to the pro-state media, eye witness accounts described the two or three Baloch girls as being abducted at gun point with the use of government of Balochistan official vehicle on July 13-14, 2008 from the remote village Bala Kot, Balochistan. It indicates a clear lead for the law-enforcement and investigators to follow the case unfortunately within a Pakistani system, when key official figures are involved in such illegal actions, law enforcement and the judicial system become toothless.
Later police reports revealed that the abductors belonged to a Member of Balochistan parliament and one of their kin is the city mayor of Bala kot, Jaferabad, Balochistan. Furthermore the police made the case more complicated by releasing a conflicting report. First, police say there were three girls and they were shot, while there was another report saying that the girls were buried alive. Finally a final report reported that the two girls were victims of an “honor killing”. The case became murkier due to the law-Enforcement doubtful investigation.
“There is conflicting report within police department. Sometime they say they were shot, sometime they say they were buried alive, sometime they say victims were three than they say they were two.” (Says Lawyer, Sadiq Raisani, Representative of Balochistan Bar Association, in brief interview with Radio Gwank, Balochistan)
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan each year 1000 so called “honor killing” occur in Pakistan. The fundamental question is, have these rape victims ever received justice from the government. If not, then the story of abductors story ends without punishment. “Everyday, every single women’s are being raped and it is being reported in the press.. What chances they do have of winning this case.. as a Lawyer I have to tell them very few, very few.” Says Asama Jahangir Head of “ Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission” (Interviews by reporter Terence McKenna from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, (CBC)February 28, 2006)
Pakistani media has taken this isolated honor killing case from Bala Kot, Balochistan blowing it up out of proportion globally. Their motive is to demonize Baloch tribal societies and customs. Baloch people have their own distinctive culture, custom, language, literature, history, and tradition which are different than the rest of Pakistan. Historically, Baloch women have helped their worriers in the battlefield, Balochistan tribal society have had nomadic women, they work shoulder to shoulder with their men to bring home meals each day. For example, they take care of livestock in the most remote regions of Balochistan, being Sheppard’s gazing free in their mountain along with their men without wearing any veil they feel safe and secure. They are helping to form the cultivation, walking miles to collect wood and carry it back on their head to make meals for the whole family. Baloch women are hard-working regardless of any basic facilities such as, school, hospital, drinking water and electricity. That is due to the repression of the Pakistani states. But their backwardness and illiteracy is not their fault, it is the ruthless state oppression. Those Baloch families who can afford to educate their females are going to university and college. There are many female Baloch doctors, nurses, lecturers, teachers, and office workers.
“Reporter from Pakistan never misses an opportunity to malign Baloch culture by selective reporting of crimes and retrogressive individual leaders.” (Says Professor Gul Agha Univesity of Illinois, USA Balochi Culture September 12, 2008)
A pro-state patronage, Baloch tribal leaders and senator Israrullah Zehri made comments inside Pakistani parliament about the Baloch so called honor killing by saying “These are centuries – old tradition and I will continue to defend them.” They are “ Balochi customs”; he was wrong to begin with because through out Baloch history there never has been such a case where women were buried alive.
“Senator (Baloch) Israr Zehri is living in the pre-Islamic era, the age of ignorance when Arabs used to bury alive their new born baby girls..(He) must be condemned on his brutal remarks to justify murder of innocents and defenseless (Baloch) women in the name of so called “honor killing” (says Senior Baloch intellectuals Abdul Samad Ameeri , Balochi-Culture September 12, 2008)
Although according to representative of Balochistan Bar Association Mr. Raisani “ The pro-state Senator Israr Zehri (Baloch) later privately did apologized to the Baloch people by making such an unfair comments against Baloch customs.
But Pakistani media, TV, Nongovernmental organizations and Women’s organizations got a platform used that the senators’ remarks against Baloch customs. The state media is trying to divert the Balochistan crisis to global community through such propaganda.
“The military relies on (Balochistan) repression, killings, imprisonment, disappearances and torture to bend the Baloch to its will.” (Says Robert Templer, Director of the Groups Asia Program, United Press International, October 23, 2007)
A Baloch female student from University of Balochistan and an activist Fareda baloch says “ The Baloch women’s enjoy the most safety, respect, and equality just like other women’s in this region even they are treated better compare to the rest of the Pakistan.”
Due to the trust and safety among Baloch society she said “If you go today there is town called Bisema, in Balochistan there is no wall around their houses, houses are without doors but still Baloch people feel secure and safe.”
She was asking the Pakistani biased Media, TV, Reporters, Politicians and Women’s Groups Organizations: “I am asking where was these all Pakistani pundit media, TV, and reporter when January 2005, in Sui, Balochistan a non-Baloch female Dr. Shazia Khalid being raped by Pakistani military officers named Hamad? Where were they when (secular) Baloch tribal leaders Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti (former governor/premiers of Balochistan) stood for victim of raped non-Baloch female doctor Shazia Khalid , who demanded her rapist Pakistani military officers should be punished according to the law, due to that on March 17, 2005, Pakistani military bombarded his city Dera Bugti, in Balochistan, while 70, innocents Bugti tribes/Hindus women’s and children were killed? Where were they when their own former female Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by Islamic extremist and radical Jihad’s in “Rawalpindi”, Punjab? (Says a Female student, Fareda Baloch from University of Balochistan, and an activist, in brief interview with Radio Gwank Balochistan)
In the case of Dr. Shazia Khalid, in January 2005 she was working as family Doctor in Sui, Balochistan for the Pakistan’s Petroleum Limited (PPL) and she lived in the apartment provided by the government. She was living in high security zone of gas plant which was guarded by the Pakistani Defense Security Guards (DSG).
While she was sleeping in her apartment at night a military officer named Hamid attacked her. While his job was to be protecting her, Dr. Shazia Khalid says “ I tried using all my stamina to protect myself and save myself. He used my scarf to blindfolded me and he tied my wris
ts with telephoned wire… than he raped me..I tried to move, he would hit me whenever I tried to move he said, I have pistol, if you scream, if you try and call some one for help I will kill you.” (Says Dr. Shazia Khalid an interviews by reporter Terence McKenna from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, (CBC)February 28, 2008)
When Dr. Shazia Khalid approached the authorities for justice her case was watered down by top state figures. Instead she was insulted by her Nation’s President Pervez Musharraf. While international reporter confronted him about her case in New York, President Musharraf replied “ You must understand the environment in Pakistan. This has become a money-making concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.” (Washington post, October 1, 2006)
The poor helpless, humiliated and degraded ”32″ year old rape victim Dr. Shazia says “ I did not get justice and I will regrets that for the rest of my life.” (An interviews by reporter Terence McKenna from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, (CBC) February 28, 2006)
It will be embarrassing for the state when its President declared his military rapist officer “100 percent” innocent without any investigation or trial on the national television; it clearly shows justice will be a pipe-dream for common men and women in Pakistan.
A Lawyer Asama Jahangir says ” If the president of the country comes out on television without any investigation being carried out and says that the accused he can assure people is innocent..Then he is involved in a cover up.” Asama Jahangir is the Head of “Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission” (Interviews by reporter Terence McKenna from Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, (CBC)February 28, 2008)
This kind of cover up is common among Pakistani civilian and military politicians, in Pakistan’s parliamentary election through raged and fraud whoever wins become a parliamentary member. These winnings are compared to those of winning a lottery, through corruption many politicians dream to be millionaires overnight. That is the norm in Pakistani politics. No one amongst them has the will power to come forward to break the ice and reshape their failing system. Pakistani leaders may borrow the John F. Kennedy quote who said ” Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Therefore western observers once wrote the “ Well educated political families, such as the Bhutto’s took a page from the Chinese nationalist, telling Westerners exactly what we wanted to hear, preaching democracy and the rule of law abroad, they looted shamelessly at home.” (USA Today editorial, can not recall the date)
As a third world country Pakistani politicians can not afford to live in glass houses as their state is dependent on US aid, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other International Donor’s while due to their incompetent leadership and ruthless and corrupt military power which always tend to corrupt such rulers be a civilian or military as saying goes “Absolute power corrupt absolutely.” That’s what Pakistan is going through for the last six decades as third world country.
“The poor break their fast with the salt water”, these are heart breaking words from Pakistani writers Zafar Alam, someone can imagine how poor people are struggling in Pakistan. This is a wake up call for those Pakistani rulers who love to live in their glass houses while their people barely survive day by day in all aspects of life, and continue their cries for justice like the raped women’s victim Dr. Shazia Khalid and thousands of others.
What Do We Know
As Senator Obama stated in his newsletter July 2008, the American people have a right to know… Whoa, take a minute to read his entire newsletter from cover to cover. Then in order to put this newsletter into perspective, take a peek at Senator Obama’s actual track record in the Senate. Go to the United States Senate: Senators Home
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the Senator chose to sit on the fence for months at a time without casting a vote. One thing for sure you can keep your track record pretty clean if you don’t participate, or can you?
When Senator Obama discusses his concern for the “middle class” – it becomes a little confusing, because those free “fuzzies” he’s throwing to us in his campaign speeches aren’t quite adding up.
He refers to the “middle class” like we are some little waifs on the street corner waiting for a handout. Here’s a news flash to Republicans and Democrats, “Americans aren’t asking for a free ride; but we don’t want to be the good guys to rescue the crooks any longer.”
His speeches in Colorado Tuesday talked about 50 billion dollars would be used to jump start the economy and earlier the same day it was announced that the US Government was bailing out AIG to the tune of 85 billion dollars. Just exactly where does Mr.Obama think that 50 billion dollars for a jump start is hiding?
It’s obvious that “words” aren’t only cheap; sometimes they’re down right nonsensical. Americans are struggling and trying to make sense out of Senator Obama’s many promises and his feeble explanation about leadership. If he couldn’t be a stand up leader in the Senate and his greatest concern is Sarah Palin, why does he think he’s got the credentials to lead our Nation?
Everyone is listening to his campaign speeches, because that’s what Americans do the last 6 weeks before the Presidential Election. We’re spending all of our time sifting through the political maize trying to determine who he really is and what he might stand for…
According to Webster, “A leader is a person that leads, directs, commands and is a guiding hand.” So my question is this, “when, where and how did Senator Obama master the art of leadership?”
His track record in the Senate indicates more no shows than Carters got pills, but he wasn’t worried because his Democratic friends were managing the Senate. The few times he did vote certainly didn’t indicate any concern, respect and love for the American people.
Please don’t take my word for anything, go to the webpage, “US Senate: Senators Home” and find out the truth for yourself. Senator Obama’s newsletter would make one think he made “senator of the year” in 2007 & 2008, but on close examination you probably will wonder why Illinois even kept him around.
Get an accurate picture of who this man really is and what he does or doesn’t stand for in the scheme of things. As I said, he was missing in action a large part of the time, but below are just a few of the things that he voted against in his short interim as Senator.
Before we go any further, read about the bill on 3/14/08 that was placed before the Senate to codify the unborn child regulation. For more on this go to Glenn Beck on CNN and remember that Senator Obama voted a big “Nay” on this bill.
What you’ll read is very graphic and quite sad to think that babies are just left to die with only their little blanket for comfort. There’s probably going to be an influx of people who finally have the nerve to step forward and share this story! Let’s dissect his performance during his short interim as Senator, I believe you’ll find a big “nay” on codifying the unborn child regulation..
Senator Obama didn’t considered improving access to affordable health care for all as important and he didn’t see any reason to require appropriate qualifications for interim US attorneys. Guess, its best not to step on any toes if you’re trying to win the Presidential Election – just don’t do anything to ruffle feathers Mr. Obama.
He wasn’t much interested in increasing the Federal minimum wage either and than why should he care if our college graduates are unable to find jobs – any little perk would have been most appreciated by them and the young middle class community.
Without boring you, study this bill that was to strengthen the Federal Government’s ability to detain dangerous criminal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters, until they can be removed from the United States, to prohibit the rewarding of suicide bombs and allow adequate punishments for terrorists murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults, and for other purposes – you got it, once again he voted a big “Nay” on this bill!
He wasn’t much interested in helping small businesses, ranches and farms by providing them with a tax exemption nor did he consider protecting the families’ budget from runaway government spending or providing a point of order against legislation the increases income taxes on taxpayers, which includes the entrepreneurs, college crowd and middle class – income families.
As you continue doing your homework, you’ll discover that Senator Obama even voted against paying down the government debt and reducing the government waste on antiquated mandated programs that aren’t working.
Senior citizens, middle class and concerned citizens go to 3/13/08 and see what this Senator is all about – the bill that he voted against will astound you! On the Amendment S.Amdt. 4170 to S.Con.Res. 70 (No short title on file) Just what year did Senator Obama plan on becoming a leader who really cares about the people?
What the Democrats have in their camp is an eloquent speaker, who has a great way with words and no doubt has a great speech writer in his hip pocket and a teleprompter under his coat tails. The difficult times the past couple of years was definitely the time that Senator Obama had the opportunity to support real “change.”
Instead of taking action and leading, he opted to continue straddling the fence hoping from all outward appearance that Americans would perceive him as a Senator with a strong track record.
Our country really doesn’t need a bird watcher, who can’t make definitive decisions or stand hard on issues and legislation that is critical to the recovery of our faltering United States of America. We need “leaders not followers.”
Our Nation has two leaders, Senator John Mc Cain & Governor Sarah Palin who will carefully guide our country thru the hard times – check the “mavericks” out. They love their country, their fellow citizens and most of all they want to place our Nation back on a strong foundation for our children and our children’s children.
Americans, you’re intelligent hard working citizens with good minds and the ability to learn the truth. Voting is not only our rights as an adult citizen of the United States of American; it is a responsibility! Grab ye ole mouse and do a little homework @ United States Senate: Senators Home
As Always, Annie