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Post by shadow1 on Jan 21, 2009 9:55:04 GMT -4
Was Reverend Lowery's inaugural benediction ending:
....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."
racist or just an impassioned reference to the past?
Curious what people think!
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Post by AquaHolic on Jan 21, 2009 9:58:38 GMT -4
Was Reverend Lowery's inaugural benediction ending: .... 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."racist or just an impassioned reference to the past? Curious what people think! My personal opinion...it was inappropriate and a very kid like way of writing it... it sounds like a person who has smoked something wacky... One more thing...I don't know if it was a reference to the past...and I think it was racist..."white will embrace what is right" isn't that lumping all whites together? To me that is racist. Its just like me lumping all the blacks together as criminals...which I would never do since I believe there are just as many jerks of every color. Barb
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Post by einebierbitte on Jan 21, 2009 10:11:08 GMT -4
I don't understand at all what he means by any of it......
I can definately plug my opinions into it, and say what that sentence is saying to me.......
I would tend to lean towards this statement being racist.......
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Post by linda712 on Jan 21, 2009 10:40:30 GMT -4
Was there something said prior to this that would change the first impression one has when reading it as a stand alone statement? Was this "Reverend" elderly? If this statement came from out of nowhere and planted itself at the end of an alledged "benediction" -- then in my opinion, you bet it's racist.
Just Google "help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back" and take a look see.
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Post by funnel101 on Jan 21, 2009 12:26:10 GMT -4
Personally, I think it was an impassioned reference to the past, to show how far we've come and at the same time, how far we have yet to go.
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Post by zebadee on Jan 21, 2009 12:41:18 GMT -4
Below is the last para of the benediction speech:
"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. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."
The more I read it the better I understood it, but I still believe, that in the venue in which he read it he should have read it as a quote from the past, and should have recognized how far this country has come from its past; referencing the diverse unified crowd standing before him.
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Post by einebierbitte on Jan 21, 2009 12:47:20 GMT -4
I agree with Kathy..
I don't believe that statement fits today; but because he didn't allude to yesterday, it's not a far leap for many to take offense as to what he said....
Is it nitpicking his words. Yep, probably most definately. But I think we as American's should be held accountable for what we say in public, even in prayer. If your message isn't clear, or it's covered with hidden subtle barbs and attacks...that's when people get the panties twisted and fights break out and then we end up taking a few steps back instead of forward.
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Post by linda712 on Jan 21, 2009 12:52:31 GMT -4
Excellent comment, Zebadee. I totally agree.
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Post by AquaHolic on Jan 21, 2009 12:58:33 GMT -4
I agree with Kathy.. I don't believe that statement fits today; but because he didn't allude to yesterday, it's not a far leap for many to take offense as to what he said.... Is it nitpicking his words. Yep, probably most definately. But I think we as American's should be held accountable for what we say in public, even in prayer. If your message isn't clear, or it's covered with hidden subtle barbs and attacks...that's when people get the panties twisted and fights break out and then we end up taking a few steps back instead of forward. Exactly...much better written then mine Barb
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Post by moosie on Jan 21, 2009 13:45:17 GMT -4
i just had a laugh. my thought was that he was trying to make a point without being too heavy-handed on a historic day.
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Post by dej on Jan 22, 2009 11:36:46 GMT -4
His quote clearly shows he asking the Lord's help to "help us work for that day" when whites will embrace what is right. This certainly a reference to the future, not the past. Sounds like a racist comment to me, as he appears to believe whites still cannot or will not "embrace what is right"
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Post by shoreterp on Jan 22, 2009 11:43:33 GMT -4
Remember, white man = evil. That's all you need to know
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Post by alcatraz on Jan 22, 2009 16:11:30 GMT -4
It began funny simply enough, but I took the end comment on "the white man embracing what is right" as a slam against the white masses. Similar to the slams stated from Obama's own pastor in the past.
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