Benediction

[Dragoon68]

Well, it describes the history of the US.

It most certainly does not! America is described by the freedom and opportunities she has provided to all its citizens above and beyond any other nation on earth.

 

[sag38]

Where are all the Obama supporters coming to the defense of this racist's prayer? Where is the condemnation of those who showed extreme disrespect to the out going president during the parade?

 

[sag38]

Edited...Double Post

 

[LeBuick]

Where are all the Obama supporters coming to the defense of this racist's prayer? Where is the condemnation of those who showed extreme disrespect to the out going president during the parade?

I don't think the prayer or benediction needs to be defended. You have to understand the life and road Rev Lowery traveled in order to know the significance of his words. Those words were part of an old civil rights chant which he was very much part of and were from the chorus of a song the marchers would sing.

Big Bill Broonzy Black, Brown And White lyrics

This little song that i’m singin’ about,
People you know it’s true
If you’re black and gotta work for a living,
This is what they will say to you,
They says, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, stick around,
But as you’s black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
I was in a place one night
They was all having fun
They was all buyin’ beer and wine,
But they would not sell me none
They said, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, stick around,
But if you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
Me and a man was workin’ side by side
This is what it meant
They was paying him a dollar an hour,
And they was paying me fifty cent
They said, “if you was white, ‘t should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But as you black, hmm boy, get back, get back, get back”
I went to an employment office,
Got a number ‘n’ i got in line
They called everybody’s number,
But they never did call mine
They said, “if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But as you black, hmm brother, get back, get back, get back”
I hope when sweet victory,
With my plough and hoe
Now i want you to tell me brother,
What you gonna do about the old jim crow?
Now if you was white, should be all right,
If you was brown, could stick around,
But if you black, whoa brother, get back, get back, get back

And so you are taking his words out of context unless you include the entire statement he said...

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 back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.

 

[Dragoon68]

... Those words were part of an old civil rights chant which he was very much part of and were from the chorus of a song the marchers would sing. ...

They are words that were completely inappropriate for today's ceremonies and they were an insult to Americans.

 

[Joshua Rhodes]

And so you are taking his words out of context unless you include the entire statement he said...

LB - normally you and I are right in line in opinion. But this time, I can't agree. I don't care what the origin of the lyric might be, these lines or lyrics are inappropriate today.

I have never oppressed anyone based on race, gender, or any other bias. I take offense to those who would accuse me, even broadly, of such things.

 

[Fox]

Racism?

.....and when white will embrace what is right." Is it only racism if something like this is said by a white person?

 

[annsni]

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 back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.

Umm- were we not inaugurating a black president today? Are we not at that day? I don't understand it. Barak Obama was voted into his office thanks to white people. So what is this man saying?

 

[LeBuick]

Umm- were we not inaugurating a black president today? Are we not at that day? I don't understand it. Barak Obama was voted into his office thanks to white people. So what is this man saying?

There is actually another side to this coin, there are some who voted for Obama because he is black and there are other American's who detest his presence in the White house because he is black. I still remember the guy with the sign that read, "It's the White House not the Black House". So if your question is have we overcome racism? I don't think so. Is this a huge step in overcoming racism, absolutely.

In like manner many of you were offended by the benediction. It is being called racist. So have we overcome racism, absolutely not...

 

[LeBuick]

LB - normally you and I are right in line in opinion. But this time, I can't agree. I don't care what the origin of the lyric might be, these lines or lyrics are inappropriate today.

I have never oppressed anyone based on race, gender, or any other bias. I take offense to those who would accuse me, even broadly, of such things.

I was just explaining the history of the statement. I was really hoping Jim would come around and explain since he was actually there and can better explain what it was about.

What makes the statement offensive is that it grouped whites together as one who is wrong and didn't separate whites who were right from whites who were wrong. Let's face it, there were whites who owned slaves and whites who pushed to free the slaves. Jim Crow laws were made by whites but t was whites who had them appealed.

When I think of the term white in the view of civil rights, I understand it to only be directed at those whites who did oppress, hate and discriminate. I say this because if you look at the pictures, there were just as many white marchers singing this song as there were black marchers. Whites went to jail and were killed in the name of racial equality. I guess I just assume the song wasn't directed at them.

 

[LeBuick]

They are words that were completely inappropriate for today's ceremonies and they were an insult to Americans.

I can't argue with that, if they offended one person they were inappropriate in todays ceremony. That is a fact... :thumbsup:

 

[Rippon]

.....and when white will embrace what is right." Is it only racism if something like this is said by a white person?

I haven't encountered any whites who have chanted ;"Whites will embrace what is right."

There was some American Indian basketball team who called themselves
"The Fighting Whities".I think they had a chant going something like :"We do what's right, because we're white." I didn't take offence.It was done in humor.

 

[Jim1999]

Even twinges of racism is still a touchy subject in some societies to-day.

Just the other day I made an innocent remark and an Indian lady who owns a coffee shop in town took offence. I was talking with another English chap from East London, England. I said if we want to talk in Cockney now we have to do it in an Indian accent. No racism intended; historical fact. Indians and Pakistanis have virtually taken over East London. We can't even get chips from chippies anymore. They don't exist.

It is so bad now, they have even moved the borders by which a Cockney is known; sound of Bow Bells.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[rbell]

Oh, I get it, LB...since Lowery was in the past a victim of racism, then he is allowed to practice it.

Now...is that in the Book of 1 Confusions or 2 Hesitations?

sheesh.

 

[LeBuick]

Oh, I get it, LB...since Lowery was in the past a victim of racism, then he is allowed to practice it.

Now...is that in the Book of 1 Confusions or 2 Hesitations?

sheesh.

RB... I think I got that one wrong. I thought knowing where the statement came from would make a difference but I guess it probably made it worse. That's why I said "is racism still alive, absolutely".

I guess that's one for me this year... :laugh:

 

[rbell]

I guess that's one for me this year... :laugh:

I'll catch and pass you. Give me 20 minutes.

 

[dcorbett]

Compare this "prayer" by this sorry racist excuse for a "minister" to RW's prayer.

That's what happens when one guy knows Who he's talking to, and another one doesn't.

I agree. Although I am not a Rick Warren fan, his prayer was actually a prayer. This joker that they CALL a preacher only used the Benediction moment to express his sarcasm and dull wit. He didn't pray; he presented his political agenda. It was all about HIM and the color of his skin. Nothing about God, no matter what he said.

God frowned on that moment, as He will be frowning a lot in the years coming up as abortion and homosexual marriage are advanced - and America cow-tows to the world by stopping interrogation and accepting world religious fanaticism.

But in regards to Mr. Lowery, hear this: God doesn't care if you are black or white - He looks upon the condition of the soul. Many will cry Lord Lord, and He will say "I never knew you".

 

[LadyEagle]

.....and when white will embrace what is right."

Maybe he meant....and when white will embrace what is Wright."

Insulting and disgusting. And Obama laughed at it. Watch the video.

 

[Revmitchell]

Maybe he meant....and when white will embrace what is Wright."

Insulting and disgusting. And Obama laughed at it. Watch the video.

As if there isnt just as much prejudice among blacks as there is among whites.

 

[KenH]

Other than around forty words toward the end that, in my opinion, he should have left out it was okay as a prayer.