tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358737.post-32610507591269095322008-03-21T07:38:00.000-07:002008-03-21T09:55:50.801-07:00It's not surprising that the intersection of religion and politics may occassionally beget controversy. Really, though, have we ever seen anything that nears the pandamonium surrounding Obama's family minister and spiritual advisor, Jeremiah Wright? I genuinely wonder if this is at least partially a product of White people wanting to feel indignant at the Black man. I mean, it's not like he's the first to use fiery rhetoric to convey ideas that can be considered offensive or inflammatory to some sector of society. Presidential spiritual advisors - past and present - openly preach anticipation for America's destruction (i.e., the rapture), the threat of Jews, the evil of homosexuality, and a desire to eradicate the Muslims. McCain's spiritual guide refers to Allah as a "demon spirit" and calls on Christians to wage a war against Muslims. A Bush advisor blames the Church for 9/11 and calls on Christians to pray for bin Laden. Hardly a whisper is ever heard about these pontifications. Undoubtedly there is a double standard being applied, and I think it may be beneficial to investigate the reasons.<br /><br />On a sidenote, I was reading this Washington Post <a href="http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sally_quinn/2008/03/our_friends_and_their_views.html">blog on faith</a>, where the Author enters Jesse Jackson (an advisor to the Clintons during that Presidency) into the equation: "The Clintons did not repudiate Jackson... for accepting Arab money for two of his organizations." For those of you who (inexplicably) do not see what's wrong with this statement, imagine if she had said "Black money" or "Jewish money." Just another example of how anti-Arab racism has become a form of acceptable discourse in this country.Fadihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12244690620062327071noreply@blogger.com