Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

“Dr. King did not believe in excluding anybody, and I’m sad to say it took me 50 years before I began to study peaceful non-violence,” Maybe she should have learned that before she tried to tear he city apart in the early 90's. The only trouble is that she was so good at it that the city still suffers from it today. Morgan and Meadowview Christian schools are standing monuments to Rose's ability to segregate people. Parent partisipation at Selma High and Westside was at an all time high before Rose and her "footsoldiers" decided to roam the the halls and free the students from "leveling" (her interpretation of the separation of curriculum of vo-ag students and college prep students). Yes Rose sometimes we do learn our lessons, but the sad part is that sometimes the damage has already been done. popdukes12

Posted by sinkingship (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

the last thing the "black leaders" want is an end to racism. where would they get their money without federal funding and cororite shakedowns. bringing jeremiah wright to Selma is another glaring example just at jessie jackson's lack of support (not to mention castration) of obama during the election. when questioning someone's motives, always follow the money.

Posted by kdnichols (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If the people of Selma don't want
Rev. Wright then just don't show up.
Rose has her agenda and that is all that
matters. She has to be the spot light at
all her endeavors. For once let her be
the only one there.

Posted by renigade (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am glad to see that Micheal Steele, the National Republican Committee Chairman will attend the Jubilee. I think it speaks well of the party to have Republican Representation at all minority events. The most interesting thing will be to see who he has with him from the State Level and which Dallas County Republican will be his escort. Will the current Dallas County Republican Chair attend or will new Republican Leadership appear in Dallas County Politics. I hope the STJ follows Mr. Steele's visit very closely as it may be a history making event. I encourage all true Republicans to get out and support this history making visit. It would speak well of Selma to do so and could determine Selma's Future!

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It also speaks well of the Sanders' to invite him,Renigade,tough I don't think they did it to be "inclusive" there may have been other motives at work.It will also be interesting to see if Steele's visit will do much to get the area's black population at least curious about the Republican party.Something tells me he's going to get a cold reception...that's if anyone even knows who he is.

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok Republicans watch how you speak, we don't want drama on the blog. Anyway I still think it is out of character for Mr. wright to attend this event, because of the issues that was presented during our President campaign. I will respect Mrs. Sanders for this event, however out of respect for our President Of The United States Of America. This is starting out ugly.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not a Republican--or Democrat for that matter-- mccrary,simply making an observation.You know just as well as I Republicans--especially a black one-- aren't popular in this neck of the woods.

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The ugly part about this is if pastor Wright speak negative or demonstrate with body language against The President Of The United States. The city of Selma will be degraded for years to come. There would be nothing the mayor of Selma could do to make up for the demaged he may cause.

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes you are so right leo71.

Posted by tjournal (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have been living under an impolitical rock these last couple of years. Can someone please tell me, what is it that Rev. Wright is so despised for.

Posted by keepnitreal (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

THE JUBILEE IS A GREAT EVENT. DON'T TRY AND MAKE A MESS OF THIS! WE SHOULD ALL ENJOY AND LISTEN TO EACH SPEAKER. IT IS PAST TIME TO END THE RACE ISSUE. STJ SHOULDN'T FOLLOW MR. STEELE ANY CLOSER THAN THE OTHER GUESTS. IF EVERYONE WOULD STOP SEEKING /DOING EVIL, THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE PEACE!!

Posted by catchem (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tjournal: for dividing, not loving.

Posted by tjournal (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

catchem, thanks for replying

But what did he do or did not do to cause you to reach this conclusion he is anti-loving and pro-hater.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He was--I think that he's retired-- the minister of a church in Chicago that President Obama attended,tjournal.He gained notoriety for making controversial statements--from the pulpit no less-- about the U.S. and blamed the government for creating the AIDS virus to eradicate African-Americans among other things.Google Jeremiah Wright or Black Liberation Theology if you want more details.

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tjournal: Wright is despised because he was believed to be the issue that would derail Barack Obama's bid for the presidency but failed to produce the desired results.

During the campaign after 40 years of preaching, someone took about 10 seconds worth of video from the text of one of Wright's sermons, pulled it out of context distorting the meaning, then began showing the extracted sermon clip over and over claiming it was a full representation of Wright.

"God d^mn America" was one of the phrases that was lifted from one of his sermons. Fox News and the people that parrot and blindly follow whatever they say then tried to tie the distortion to Barack the candidate because he went to the Wright's church.

It appeared that since they could not find anything to smear Obama with personally, they had to resort to smearing Wright and then the lame "Guilt by Association" tactic that followed.

One of the ironic things about the attack is that it was one based upon patriotism and Wright, unlike many of those leveling charges against him, actually served in the military.

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney dodged military service yet noone ever questioned their patriotism.

What was done to Wright is the equivalent of saying the Bible teaches that God does not exist because Psalm 53:1 says "There is no God."

Posted by catchem (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tjournal: Without getting into a long drawn out debate, I visited and stayed in Nicaragua with several of my college foreign exchange students during the reign of President Somosa just before the disasterous earthquate which left most of the Country in ruins which left the County open for another revolution. This well established economy was destroyed and on its way back when the Sandinista National Liberation Front took over the Country with their forms of releasing the poor and oppressed. They had the poor believe, as did Castro, the poor would be released from bondage, but did that happen? The Rev. Wright's form of theology was born in Central America and is a twist on what I know as Christianity, by stating all Christians are not the same and that Black Christians should not follow the "white Church," on the grounds that it was a willing part of the system that had oppressed black people. Most of this came from James Hal Cone, a mentor to Jeremiah Wright, whose life was influenced by Malcolm X and the Marxist belief. My spiritual beliefs are there is only one God for all of us (Black and White), and anything different than that has us worshipping more than one God, if you are a Christian. Furthermore, I personnally watched several hours of Rev. Wrights sermons and saw consistancy in his distorted half truths, total lies, and his attempts to divide the races. That is all I have to say.

Posted by tjournal (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks to all for taking the time to educate on this matter,

I agree the timing of Rev. Wright's message of race segregation did not coincide with that of President Obama's message of unity. This is a new time and era. Martin Luther King has taking us all to the base of the mountain and now President Obama will lead us to the top. It will take an even greater effort not only to come together as a nation but to work together as a whole to strengthen the threads within this rope of hope to make this strenuous and very daunting journey out of hate and fear within the conscious existence of our own moral fiber.

Thank you,

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AGAIN. What was done to Wright is the equivalent of saying the Bible teaches that God does not exist because Psalm 53:1 says "There is no God."

Very few "christian values" are exhibited in the comments on this website.

One thing that real christianity teaches is that noone except Christ was or will ever be perfect. Abraham was a liar and idolater. Moses was a murderer. David was a murderer and adulturer. Even Solomon, the wisest man, was imperfect.

The church that the imperfect Wright led is well-known for it's work with people suffering from AIDS, the poor and the homeless. Loving the un-lovely, how un-christian!

Sadly, christianity is more and more only becoming something to be used against those with whom we disagree politically.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wisdom: Amen on your last statement "Sadly, christianity is more and more only becoming something to be used against those with whom we disagree politically". It's always been that way. popdukes12

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

popdukes12: All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.

It's the lesson Selma should have learned from it's turbulent history.

But those who don't learn from their history are doomed to repeat it.

Posted by sinkingship (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wisdom, obama is not coming to selma, jeremiah wright is, you idiot. if you think g-- d--- america is ok then you should say it. he is as a hate filled a racist as the devil (joe smitherman) was but you praise him. get jobs not grants, get husbands/wives not children and get mortages not section 8's. give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime.

Posted by bamafan (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well said sinkingship, well said...

Thank you!!!

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on February 28, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First of all, I challenge you to show where I have praised Wright.

Secondly, like you, that man is entitled to his views whether you like them or not. He has the right to say whatever he wants, it's called Freedom of Speech, a right guaranteed by the constitution of the United States of America. But you obviously don't care about anyone else's rights.

I guess people other than yourself are only allowed to have rights as long as the exercise of those rights meet with your approval. In fact, I bet Wright and anyone else you disagree with don't have any rights that you are bound to respect.

It's that very attitude that is at the heart of the problems in this country. Or am I not allowed to say that the country has problems?

I say again. What was done to Wright is the equivalent of saying the Bible teaches that God does not exist because Psalm 53:1 says "There is no God."

And in conclusion sinkingship, you are very aptly named.
It's better to remain quiet and be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Posted by leo71 (anonymous) on March 1, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're losing me,wisdom.What exactly is being done to Rev.Wright? You're correct that he has a right to his opinions--outlandish as they may be-- but there must have been something to the controversy surrounding him considering President Obama has distanced himself from him and the church he founded.

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on March 1, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not defending Reverend Wright. I do not agree with Black Liberation Theology.

All I am saying is, in my opinion, the man has been wronged. I don't believe you can take a snippet out of all that a person says public or privately and reduce that person to that snippet.

To do that is like saying the bible teaches that God does not exist, simply because it contains the words "There is no God" in Psalm 53:1. Taking that small snippet of bible and saying that's what the bible is about, is similar to what has been done to Wright.

This man has been a preacher for 40 years, think about how many words this man has spoken over the years. Wright is also the same man who said to take a negative and turn it into a positive requires the Audacity of Hope. The racial tension in Selma is a negative and to turn it into a positive will require the audacity of hope.

I think some people can't accept that the man has been wronged because they don't agree with his black liberation views. Everyone of us have said words that taken out of context could be perceived to mean something other than what we intended.

It's like the issue of torture and terrorists. Because someone is believed to be a terrorist does it mean it's okay for him to be tortured.

Posted by popdukes12 (anonymous) on March 1, 2009 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wisdom: Ever been in a fist fight? If you have you know all that theory goes out the window, when the first lick is thrown. popdukes12

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on March 1, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes you all are right everybody have their opinion on what ever issue there is. Again I respect Rev. Wright as a preacher and a man of GOD. I am looking at this as an political view. Ok remember when the anchor man Tom Brockow the evening news man. Remember when he did a segment on President Bush. About when he was in the service and he said the wrong thing and he was off the air with the quickness. That is what I am saying, I am looking at this as a political issue. I don't have anything against him I am looking at his agressivness.

Posted by wisdom (anonymous) on March 1, 2009 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sinkingship: I apologize for implying that you were a fool. I'm sorry I lost my cool when you refered to me as an idiot. That wasn't cool either but I should have used more temperance (self-control).

Posted by WilliamSmyth (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 1:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

catchem wrote:

"The Rev. Wright's form of theology was born in Central America and is a twist on what I know as Christianity, by stating all Christians are not the same and that Black Christians should not follow the "white Church," on the grounds that it was a willing part of the system that had oppressed black people. Most of this came from James Hal Cone, a mentor to Jeremiah Wright, whose life was influenced by Malcolm X and the Marxist belief."

Actually if you read a transcript of Rev. Wright's National Press Club speech you will have a better understanding of the origins of Rev. Wright's Theology. There is no part of liberation theology as practiced by Rev. Wright and Trinity UCC that assumes anything but equality among all of God's children. Black liberation theology does reject the belief as practiced by some in "white churches" that whites are superior to blacks.

Dr. King in his "A Knock at Midnight" preached the following.

"Millions of American Negroes, starving for the want of the bread of freedom, have knocked again and again on the door of so-called white churches, but they have usually been greeted by a cold indifference or a blatant hypocrisy. Even the white religious leaders, who have a heartfelt desire to open the door and provide the bread, are often more cautious than courageous and more prone to follow the expedient than the ethical path. One of the shameful tragedies of history is that the very institution which should remove man from the midnight of racial segregation participates in creating and perpetuating the midnight. "

"While speaking of the laxity of the church, I must not overlook the fact that the so-called Negro church has also left men disappointed at midnight. I say so-called Negro church because ideally there can be no Negro or white church. It is to their everlasting shame that white Christians developed a system of racial segregation within the church, and inflicted so many indignities upon its Negro worshipers that they had to organize their own churches."

BTW. Dr. Cone was also greatly influenced by Dr. King and is not a Marxist.

For those that think Rev. Wright hates white people so much, you should take into consideration that Trinity UCC is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ, a predominantly white denomination. The polity of the UCC is such that the congregation could leave the denomination whenever they desired and there would be no financial plenty. All the churches assets belong to the congregation not the denomination. Mighty strange affiliation for a supposedly "Black Separatist" church. Not only do they choose to stay, but in addition to their own extensive ministries they are also the largest supporter of the denomination's ministries. Again all voluntary

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does this Jubilee celebrate and honor all the charity work the Catholic Organization/Edmundite Mission group here in this city has done for the past 45 years? DO they acknowlege there MAJOR sacrifice during the CIVIL RIGHTS era? A rather large group of WHITE people that stood side by side in the face of opposition and put their life on the line just as much as the next guy? Are they called hero's and footsoldiers? Did they extend an invite and award to them???

Posted by antnee09 (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes they acknowledge alot of Whites who died and fought for the civil rights movement... I was even able to speak with Viola Luizzo's family a few years ago as they attended the jubilee... The also recognize such people as James Reeb..... He was white also... Eyesonyou... Come on down and you will see... You can get you some good food as well. Once you come down there, you can come back on the board and post about the good time you had ....

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I lived here for well over 30+ years and haven't seen much public appreciation for this group. I guess they don't get the public appreciation because they just stick to the cause and aren't out sticking their nose in everything else like politics and racial issues (or lack there of). Not saying they should have a parade, but should get more attention.

Posted by antnee09 (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well all groups who contributed should be recognized.

Posted by WilliamSmyth (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rev. Wright at the National Press Club.

God's desire is for positive, meaningful and permanent change. God does not want one people seeing themselves as superior to other people. God does not want the powerless masses, the poor, the widows, the marginalized, and those under served by the powerful few to stay locked into sick systems which treat some in the society as being more equal than others in that same society.

God's desire is for positive change, transformation, real change, not cosmetic change, transformation, radical change or a change that makes a permanent difference, transformation. God's desire is for transformation, changed lives, changed minds, changed laws, changed social orders, and changed hearts in a changed world.
----
The Apostle Paul said, "Be ye reconciled one to another, even as God was in Christ reconciling the world to God's self."

God does not desire for us, as children of God, to be at war with each other, to see each other as superior or inferior, to hate each other, abuse each other, misuse each other, define each other, or put each other down.

God wants us reconciled, one to another.
----
The prophetic theology of the black church has always seen and still sees all of God's children as sisters and brothers, equals who need reconciliation, who need to be reconciled as equals in order for us to walk together into the future which God has prepared for us.

Reconciliation does not mean that blacks become whites or whites become blacks and Hispanics become Asian or that Asians become Europeans.

Reconciliation means we embrace our individual rich histories, all of them. We retain who we are as persons of different cultures, while acknowledging that those of other cultures are not superior or inferior to us. They are just different from us.

We root out any teaching of superiority, inferiority, hatred, or prejudice.

And we recognize for the first time in modern history in the West that the other who stands before us with a different color of skin, a different texture of hair, different music, different preaching styles, and different dance moves, that other is one of God's children just as we are, no better, no worse, prone to error and in need of forgiveness, just as we are.
-----

Is this the racist keynote speaker you are worried about?

Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Again, this is an example of picking and choosing one "cleaned up" version of his speaches. That's just a guilty as picking a negative one only.

Posted by WilliamSmyth (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Direct copy past from the Fox News transcript. Feel free to read the whole speech.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/election...

Posted by mccrary36703 (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's just hope that this event will be a good one without any negative comments. Selma Alabama is a historic city and should be preserved in a good fashion. Let's just welcome all of our guests with open arms and braced them with our southern charm. This event is prepared for Thursday, everything is in place. Including the speakers. Lets just join in or sit back relax and watch your local news.

Posted by WilliamSmyth (anonymous) on March 2, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Show me one place where Rev. Wright is quoted as saying that blacks are superior to whites.

Posted by Nina (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From Mr Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech:

.we've heard my former pastor...use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; that rightly offend white and black alike.

I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. ..
But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country — a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America."

Rose knew better than to invite President Obama.