Reverend Wright

Today Obama's former pastor, Reverend Wright spoke at the National Press Club in Washington. You remember that the media has focused a great deal on his relationship with Obama and the comments that he has made during sermons over the years.  Many have seen these comments as divisive and anti-American.  Clips of the most controversial comments have been playing over and over on You-tube and all over the internet.  I need not repeat them, but to the casual observer they seem a bit crass and yes divisive.  But then again...few people have heard the whole sermons in which these clips were taken.  I, for one, have not heard all of the sermons.  But I can tell you this...I heard the man today...and I understand a little bit about what he has been saying.  This country...which I have served and which I love...has had governments...from time to time.. that have acted counter to our highest ideals.  We stand for human rights.  We believe in equality.  We believe in freedom of religion.  We believe in free speech.   And yet, we have often come up short on these ideals.  And of the last few years...under this administration...we pretty much have spit in the face of all these ideals.  And when anyone has the balls to criticize these clowns...or their policies....they are instantly labeled divisive and un-patriotic.  This is not a new technique of course.  The far right has been pulling this shit since at least the 1960s.  "America....love it or leave!" they would say back then.  Not realizing, that those who criticize the government...did love America.  They loved it so much...they wanted to change it... to make it make more like those high ideals I was talking about earlier.  These are the true patriots.  Those who show the courage to say...what many of us are thinking...but are afraid to say.  America is not perfect.  Our government have made many mistakes over the years.  We should not be shocked that some people hate us...not so much for what we stand for...but what we have done and what we are doing.  Most Americans don't want to think we have blood on our hands or that we should take responsibility for what we have done.  But the only way we will ever make good on all our lofty promises is to come to terms with our past. Realize we have problems...and do something about it.  That's not being unpatriotic.  That's being a good American.