Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Benediction

Did anyone else notice the glib racisim in the inaugrigation benediction??

“We ask you [God] to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give 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,” Lowery said.

What?

No "white" is embracing "what is right?" At all? Not even Billy Graham and Mother Theresa? Blacks shouldn't "give back" just because they're black? No "red men" can get ahead?? I'm thinking that all those "red men" who own casinos are rolling in way more money than I will ever see!

6 comments:

Todd said...

full disclosure: i'm white.

I think his statement was "when black will not be asked to get back," referring to Rosa Parks, et al.

Your point remains true, though. Everyone is a victim except the evil whitey. I feel less than human b/c of the color of my skin. Wait, isn't that what we're supposed to be fighting against? Hmmm ...

Barack Obama is president because he didn't pit white vs everyone else. Rev Lowery could learn from this.

Ashley said...

Thanks for the comment Todd. But all the transcripts I've read online read "when black will not be asked to give back." Am I missing something?

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2470658.htm

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/01/20/about-that-race-based-benediction/

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/post/2009/01/61651854/1

Unknown said...

I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. First of all, he did, indeed, say "get back;" the reports that quote him as saying "give back" were wrong. And really, "get back" (as in back of the bus) makes much, much more sense than "give back."

Second, Rev. Lowery is about as far from "reverse racist" as anyone can get. He started the movement that MLK became a part of. His benediction is a message of hope, not division--just like MLK preached hope, not division.

Also, he's not saying that every white does not do "what is right." It's simply a rhetorical statement.

Finally, it's a fact that white is the majority in the United States. The Bible tells us that those with more privilege should show mercy and compassion toward those with less. While our country has made great strides in this regard, it is still a fact that those with white skin are given the benefit of the doubt more than those with other colors of skin.

OK, I'll get down off my soapbox now. :)

Unknown said...

Oops, sorry, that was Beth who wrote that last comment, not Mark.

But Mark wants me to add that only a small percentage of Native American get any type of meaningful profit from casinos. :)

Anonymous said...

I've gotta agree with mearnest.

The part of his Benediction you're talking about is most likely inspired by this artist.

http://www.broonzy.com/

You can hear part of the song there.
You should also check more impartial sources. Agree with her or not, Malkin is NOT impartial or unbiased.

It's funny there has been a lot of talk about this on the national level by talk-show hosts. It's non-P.C. Oddly, MOST of those talk show hosts spend a great deal of time complaining about the P.C. Police.

Anonymous said...

sorry, that last post was me, Nate

Have a great weekend :)