Listen to Rev. Jeremiah Wright's 9/11 sermon

It has been discussed around the nation. So what EXACTLY did Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago say in the aftermath of the devastation on Sept. 11, 2001?

This sermon was delivered on Sept. 16, 2001 and is titled, "The Day of Jerusalem's Fall." Note that the "chickens coming home to roost" comment was attributed not to Wright but former Ambassador to the Iraq, Edward Peck. It comes around the 20-minute mark.

The point that I have always made as a journalist is that our job is to seek the truth, and not the partial truth.

I am also listening to the other sermons delivered by Rev. Wright that have been the subject of controversy.

And let me be clear: Where I believe he was wrong and not justified in what he said based upon the facts, I will say so. But where the facts support his argument, that will also be said.

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Comments

[BETSY WHITE]

Roland check out Senator Clinton's minister Doug Coe......can you find out about him and expose him on CNN for us. We still have your back!!

[Nola]

Thank you - I just found the sermon also on www.huffingtonpost.com and www.dailykos.com.

[Frankie Beverly]

Absolutely Brilliant Roland. An excellent forum to make clear what Pastor Wright was really saying in this sermon from Sept.-16, 2001. When you listen to this you are compelled by the vision of truth. This is simply outstanding. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Camille]

Thank you Roland I have passed it on to my family and friends!

[nic]

"The point that I have always made as a journalist is that our job is to seek the truth, and not the partial truth."

Roland, are you crazy?! If the folks from CNN see this comment, they'll fire you!!

[krish]

you have a strong voice at CNN...I hope you are successful in clearing the air with this issue.

It is clear why Obama decided to stand loyal to his friend Rev. Wright. It truly is a time of self-examination once again...

[KIT]

I always knew that there had to be more to this sermon, especially after Fox jumped on it. It is pathetic that people have make all these judgments based on a snippet played out of context. Many media outlets are the "flaming fans" of divisiveness. Roland, I was so happy when you told Anderson Cooper last night that CNN needs to take the lead in elevating the conversation on race relations. Some of the news that is reported sounds so juvenile, I wonder what these same people teach their children. I generally like Anderson Cooper, but I must say, he sounded very childish last night regarding Barack's use of the word "typical", talking about Barack agitating the racial tension. How stupid is that statement when you know that this man is trying to bring about reconciliation!

I get so turned off by the mainstream media. Roland, you and a couple of others are the only reason I continue to look at some of the garbage in the news. I had to stop looking so closely at any of the media outlets, unless you tell us you are going to be on Roland!(smile)

[BrotherJR]

Thank you Roland for providing the entire sermon for people to listen to (betcha you will not hear the entire sermon on Hannity's or Limbaugh radio show or on Fox News) I've emailed it to my friends and family. Continue to speak truth to power and calling out the right wing and their continued attempts to undermine and distort sen. Barack Obama and his presidential campaign as well as his former pastor Jermiah Wright. Has Hannity answered you challenge to a debate (doubt that he will, the coward)? You're doing outstanding work and you represent one the few people that can trust on cable news (along with Keith Olberman at MSNBC). Keep hitting them over the head with the truth brother.

[Matthew]

What about all the other comments said:

US of the KKKA...
Aids released in the Black Community by the US Government
God D*** America
Jesus was just a poor black man oppressed by rich white men..

I would like to hear the context that justifies these statements.

[V.B.]

Roland,

I am so glad you mentioned your Blog's address yesterday on CNN. I have been tring to find out how to reach you.

I really want Obama in the White House. Not because he is Black, but because if we don't get someone in the White House to change our policies, America will fall. I love my country. My ancestors spilled their blood and sweat building this country; and I will fight hard for America in honor of them.

I have a beef to pick. I believe Rev. Wright was giving America constructive criticism. Without it, this country will never improve. If he didn't love America, he would have never pointed out its faults. Hannity and other conservative talk show hosts understands this. But they needed something to bring Obama down. They played subjective takes on the video over and over to their listeners. They know how naive their audiences are; and how they are easily controlled by fear. For example, as soon as the videos surfaced, some Republicans dropped Obama like a hot potato and took cover behind McCain. I've got to be honest, the way Hannity is treating Rev. Wright, makes me believe the Republicans have something to hide. Think about it. What's wrong with criticism?; it makes companies better. Why not countries. When we have a complaint about a company, we call customer service. Rev. Wright had a complaint about this country ,so he called customer service. He called up the customer service department of America to voice his complaint. And he got dissed. They treated Rev. Wright like he was the grand puba of the KKK. They have the whole country believing this man has started a hate movement against White Americans with his Liberation Theology.

They, Hannity and his crew, said they will fix him for complaining and take Obama down with him. They led America to believe, Rev. Wright was being investigated by the FBI and the CIA for hate crimes. They hinted to the notion that Obama was in on it too. Of course, that is why he stayed for 20 years! Thy got America thinking. Obama and his pastor must be on the FBI's and CIA's most wanted list. And to think, we were going to elect Obama for president. This is what Hannity and conservative talk radio, wants America to believe. But all we have to do is pick up the phone and call the CIA and FBI and ask this question. "Is Rev. Wright a threat to this country." They would probably say, "Who???" Isn't it funny how America never see the CIA or the FBI on Hannity thanking him for catching an American terrorist. The CIA and the FBI knows he is not a threat. They know this is politics. All Rev. Wright wanted was good customer service, but naw, Hannity and his crew decided to use and abuse him to bring Obama to his knees so McCain can become president. They are powerful. All they had to do was raise the questions. Then, they pulled the puppet strings of their followers so hard, they slammed back to the Republican party. Now, stay put! Hanninty will make sure they will never stray again. He is making them afraid of Obama. Republican leaders don't want Obama in the White House. Why? Becuase he may find some truths to what Rev. Wright has been preaching? I really don't know. But to be fair, I don't know if Hannity and the crew are racist. But I do know they have an agenda. I believe they will support a Black man, as long as he play the Republican game. Obama already told them he will not.
But Hillary might. So, if they can't have McCain, then they want Hillary.

Republicans leaders are trying to control the Democratic followers, too. They are trying to confuse them, and it's working. Weapon of choice, the old divide and conquer strategy. They are keeping the Democratic leaders busy with controversies, while recruiting their followers over to McCain with the fear-gun. For Democrats they just have to pull the trigger and they are running away from Obama over to McCain where it is safe. So they think. This has surprised me, because usually Democrats are the smartest of the two parties. They are free thinkers, and are not easily controlled. If a Democratic leader say run and hide, Democrats will ask why? Then, they will explore it ,and investigate it before they would even think about running. But this time they are not. The Republicans have uncovered a weakness that haunts all of us Black, White, and in between. They have uncovered the question of Trust. Can America really trust this Black man? He's not like Tiger Woods. That's the type of Black man Republicans trust. Obama is different. He doen't walk their walk and talk their talk. Instead, he wants to undue everything the Republicans did. He wants to start by ending the war. Republicans fear a man like this, because he has potential. That's why they have to break him down. They cracked that whip against his back so hard. They wanted Obama to bow down and separate himself from his church and pastor. This is my recollection of what happend: "Your name is Toby," the Republicans said. Obama looked them in the eyes and said,"My name is Kunta Kinte. And I will not separate myself from my Black people, nor will I separate myself from my White people, and everyone in between." He went on to say (from my point of view), "America, there are things about this country that stinks and WE need to fix it." I fell to the floor after his speech. He was suppose to say 'my name is Toby!' I felt proud and scared for him at the same time, because I knew this may cost him the presidency. He knew too. But he proved to America that he would not bow down for something that he thought was wrong, even if it would upset his brother. This is the type of strong leadership he represents. Then, I said to myself, "Oh, my God. The Republicans are going to cut his foot off!" Obama's words scared Hannity and the crew. They are trying to cripple him so bad, Obama may never walk again.

It's up to you America. Wake-up! Challenge Hannity and the crew. Obama is the one. We feel him resonating in our souls. He will bring our troops home. He will change America's policies. He will fix our economy. He will fix healthcare. Believe him at his words. Thanks for reading.

[Peter]

I'm willing to bet that Rev. Wright's other so-called controversial sermons follow a similar vein. Out of context distortions by right-wing hate-mongers for political gain. Everybody who knows Rev. Wright or Chicago says that he is one of the most moderate voices out there.

America owes Rev. Wright an apology. Of course, since we still haven't apologized for slavery, I fear Rev. Wright will have to wait awhile for his apology.

I'm an Obama supporter. And no, Geraldine Ferraro, I'm not a supporter because I'm black. I'm a 49-year-old white guy who's a supporter because Obama is by far the best candidate out there.

[Alison]

Fantastic! This WHOLE sermon needs to be aired EVERYWHERE.

[Jay]

From: a retired teacher (white) who worked in inner city schools.

Thank you for making this sermon available.

Now I wish CNN would play this as a continuous loop as often as it has played the "10 second sound bites" and discussed this issue. After all, playing a tape would prevent some of those news anchors from spouting their stupid drivel to fill up time. And I include Lou Dobbs and Wolf Blitzer within that group. What an insult to our intelligence. And a distraction from real issues that need to be dealt with - home foreclosures, loss of jobs, stagnant wages, the war- to name a few.

You might want to consider pitching the idea to CNN as part of a cost-cutting strategy - tape vs. live stupidity. 'Cause we know that with the corporations, it's always about the bottom line.

[Mitch]

Thank you very much Roland. It is amazing to me....I keep hearing how Jeremiah Wright is a racist. I admit that I had been swept away with the media's playing of these clips in succession. I even began thinking that HATE might be the word best used to describe everything I heard. Then I checked myself and remembered my background and realized its just the tone.
Some folks just cannot handle the TONE and TIMBRE of sermons in a black church.

Here's a short example.

I saw a program last night - Greta van Sustern or what ever her name is - in a disagreement with Al Sharpton on whether Wright used HATE speech or not. She decided to play clips in which Wright was actually talking about THE INJUSTICES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT COMMITTED AGAINST WOMEN (as we know this means white women in the political/demographics world) AND MINORITIES! Al Sharpton challenged her to find the hate in that speech and of course she couldn't...only by trying to compare Wright to Don Imus. Sharpton shot that down too because nowhere in any of his sermons has he tried to demean people using racist and sexist comments. After that she just agreed to disagree, but I for the life of me can't understand what she found HATEFUL in the clips that she played. Maybe you can investigate that and let me know. Sure his criticism of GOVERNMENT was harsh, but NEVER (at least to me) was he hateful in the clips that SHE played - her own show screwed her it seems.

BTW, One can only assume that Hillary had never been called N-. He didn't call her one, he didn't call Barack one, he said that Barack knows the plight of the A.American rich and poor because of his experiences. If people can't handle that, it is only further proof that the country is simply not ready for a discussion of the racial problems in America.

It is a travesty that he has been labeled a bigot because he uses the term 'rich white people'. Also, if you don't agree with why he said 'God damn America' then that is one thing....but I have a feeling that most of those folks could give a 'damn' what his sermon and message in that clip is about in the first place. Black White Yellow Brown and Red have been duped once again by the MacNews organizations in an effort to get ratings.

And I'm sure folks will try to ignore you, the entirety of the sermons, or the FACTS, but you keep digging and putting the truth out there.

[Cynthia]

Roland, I think what most people want is just fair and right journalism. And in the aftermath of the last few days we all see that being fair and just is not on the agenda of some. But, we must and will rise above it. Thanks for putting the truth regarding Rev. Wright on the CNN Blog AC 360 Blog. And a big check mark to CNN for allowing it to be addressed.

[Jerry]

95% of this sermon is completely accurate. But even if it weren't. Why does Obama have to speak for his minister. White people (a lot of you all) will NEVAH, EVAH understand what blacks have endured and continue to endure in this country. I'm proud to be an American. But there are things about America I continue to have a problem with. I admire Mike Huckabee for "getting it". Obama won't be elected. He won't because we've seen America fumble the ball at the polls in 2004. 2000 doesn't count, because that election was stolen. So John McCain will be president because great focus will be placed on stuff like this, and not the issues. The GOP will swiftboat Obama, and that will be that. And once again the chickens will come home to roost.

[Mitch]

Brother JR

The fact that your post was simply the 5 to 9 word phrases of the most controversial sound bites, is more evidence of America's short attention span. Roland is looking into the full sermons and will report back....that's what he said right? Now, unless you have the sermons, YOU don't know their context either....but from the tone of you post, you probably don't care. If you don't it's a shame.

[HUGgy bear, GOD's Leading Lady]

"To seek The TRUTH and not the partial truth", is to declare war on "POLITICS".

Are you really ready for this Brother Roland? I have been praying for you. I pray that you will always find the strength to stand. One thing I must bring to your attention is that one must first COMPLETELY SUBMIT to ALMIGHTY GOD before one tries to RESIST Satan, otherwise one is doomed to fail.

[Kent Shaw]

Thanks so much for posting this. It was a gift to get the context, but an even greater gift for its spiritual message.

[James from Houston]

And he shall make your enemies your footstool.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/mayhem-at-fox-news-ancho_n_92743.html

[Cecil]

Thanks to Roland for shining light on the truth. Our government and media has no business getting involved in the religion aspects of Rev. Wright or Obama. I Have always been taught that the truth shall set you free and Rev. Wright is preaching nothing but the truth. American needs to really wake up to her 232 year history and how she really, really treated everyone from the Indians, the Blacks, the Latinos, and everyone else around the world. Greed and trying to take resources, whether they be land, gold, or oil is wrong.
Keep up the good work and let the chips fall where they may. In our heart of hearts, we know we can do better as a nation.

[Mr. B]

Rev. Wright mad a mistake when he went on Hannity's show thinking that Mr. Hannity wanted to get the truth out. Couldn't be further from the truth.

[REP]

" AN THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE. "

[Courtney Bradshaw]

Thank you for providing this clip. I am so saddened by the media. I cannot believe that they were not more critical(showing the whole speech, showing what he said in context) I am so angry and hurt.

[Tallulah]

Thanks for sharing the ENTIRE sermon. I saw a photo of Rev Jeremiah Wright with Bill Clinton this morning on CNN. I really hope this photo will be shown over and over on CNN, like the video of Rev. Wright; especially on the Lou Dobbs show.

[HUGgy bear, GOD,s Leading Lady]

"To seek 'The TRUTH', and not the partial truth," is to declare war on "POLITICS".

Are you really ready for this, Brother Roland? I have been praying for you. Allow me to bring this to your attention. One cannot successfully RESIST Satan without first COMPLETELY SUBMITTING to GOD ALMIGHTY.

TRUTH and "POLITICS" do not mix. HONESTY has no place in "POLITICS". WHY?
Because Satan's SYSTEM thrives on LIE! DISHONESTY!

[Michael7]

The majority media will never play the entire sermon nor "snippets" from other parts of Rev. Wright sermon because they knew exactly what they wanted white America to hear about Sen. Obama's pastor. The goal is to take Obama out because anyone with a brain knows that this man will bring a change to this country that is needed and will upset the status quo we find today in this land that our ancestors built. The white establishment does not want to yield power to this strong, articulate, intelligent Black man because they know that Sen. Obama is and will be the greatest President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The majority media does not want to portray a Black man as a strong, forceful, intelligent and visionary leader; one that can actually speak eloquently and with a compassion not heard of in years. They want to keep us in subordinate roles as entertainers, ball players, or in roles that portray us as angry men. That is why certain portions of Rev. Wright sermon were shown on TV to scare whites into abandoning Sen. Obama for their mediocre choice of Senators McClain or Clinton.

The majority population, well most of them, have never set foot in a Black church, let alone a church that does not espouse a passive theology of Christ. They do not understand the agressive, liberation theology taught in most Black churches, a theology that is not afraid to speak truth to power. A theology that made it possible for their to be slave uprisings during slavery. A theology that caused a movement in the 1950's and 1960's that changed the course of American history.

They do not understand because they have had the "Invisible Privilege" of being white in America and praying to their "White Jesus" and believing that the universal God is somehow a white man or woman. This belief implanted in their minds for over three centuries allowed them feel superior to Blacks on one hand, but fear them as well because they knew that the theology taught by Black preachers to their congregations would empower Black people to want to move beyond their current status to a higher status where the universal God has called them to be. And once that Black people understood their true place in this nation, then whites would began to lose power and control of the society.

With that privilege came the notion that "I am superior, I am in power, I control all and anyone else of a darker hue is inferior to me." This mindset has caused America to not reach it's full potential as a nation because it has kept some of most brightest and talented citizens of color from participating fully in all aspects of the society for hundreds of years. That is why whites, regardless of political affliation, will not vote for a more talented person color running for public office over a mediocre white candidate.

Finally, I looked up the definition of racism since most of the media are labeling Rev. Wright as one. According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's website (www.hsp.org) racism is defined as: Prejudice or discrimination based on an individual's race; can be expressed individually or through institutional policies or practices. racism is a system of oppression -- a nexus of racist beliefs, whether explicit, tacit or unconscious; practices; organizations and institutions that combine to discriminate against and marginalize a class of people who share a common racial designation, based on that designation.

Based on that definition no Black person in America can ever be called or labeled as a racist. We can be bigoted, prejudiced, stupid and even crazy. But a racist, never!

[Danielle]

Not the hateful rhetoric it was made out to be. More...more...more. I would love to hear the context of the other speeches.

[A.C.]

Trinity has its own blog and YouTube set up to show the positive side of Trinity. Also the YouTube channel has the controversial videos with full context

http://www.truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/TRINITYCHGO

[Steven]

Thank you for sharing this information and allowing the real truth to be divulged. I just wish that there was a way you get CNN to air the truth pertaining to Rev Wrights sermon so that America can learn the real truth.

[BrotherJR]

Mitch,

You have obviously confused my post with the post of Matthews which is directly below mine what I said was "Thank you Roland for providing the entire sermon for people to listen to (betcha you will not hear the entire sermon on Hannity's or Limbaugh radio show or on Fox News) I've emailed it to my friends and family. Continue to speak truth to power and calling out the right wing and their continued attempts to undermine and distort sen. Barack Obama and his presidential campaign as well as his former pastor Jermiah Wright. Has Hannity answered you challenge to a debate (doubt that he will, the coward)? You're doing outstanding work and you represent one the few people that can trust on cable news (along with Keith Olberman at MSNBC). Keep hitting them over the head with the truth brother." It was Matthew who reduced thing to "5 to 9 word phrases". Your criticisms are directed at the wrong person.

[Ron]

"The Truth shall set you free"

Good Job Roland

The man only speaks the truth!!!!

[BrotherJR]

Mitch,

You have obviously confused my words with the words of Matthew which is directly below mine. What I said was "Thank you Roland for providing the entire sermon for people to listen to (betcha you will not hear the entire sermon on Hannity's or Limbaugh radio show or on Fox News) I've emailed it to my friends and family. Continue to speak truth to power and calling out the right wing and their continued attempts to undermine and distort sen. Barack Obama and his presidential campaign as well as his former pastor Jermiah Wright. Has Hannity answered you challenge to a debate (doubt that he will, the coward)? You're doing outstanding work and you represent one the few people that can trust on cable news (along with Keith Olberman at MSNBC). Keep hitting them over the head with the truth brother." What I said was praising Roland and based on listening to the entire 9/11 sermon provided here on Essence. It was Matthew who reduced Rev. Wright to the "5 to 9 word phrases". Your criticisms are directed at the wrong person.

[Books Alive]

Wow, I listened to the entire 36 minutes. CNN and MSNBC ought to play the segment at 28 minutes, where Rev Wright and the congregants say "I love you" to each other! I'm going to send them the suggestion today.

Thanks, too, for reminding me that I was in a summer-time college choir that sang the early American version of "By the waters of Babylon."

[Gary Scott]

It's 3:00 AM, and I'm tiered and sleepy; but I couldn't stop listening to Rev Wrights sermon. It is so different than what it was made out to be. I am so glad that I took the time out to listen to it. It touched me deeply.
Thank-you so much for shinning the light on this. God bless you; and I pray for our nation.

[SANDRA]

I HATE ELECTION YEAR. THIS WAS ONE YEAR I DID THINK WE HAD SOME GOOD CHOICES. I WAS ACTUALLY UNDICIDED. NOW I DO FEEL THAT THE CRAP IS STARTING TO GET SPLATTERED ON ALL OF US(AS USUAL). ELECTION YEAR IS FULL OF FALSE PROMISES AND NO CHANCE OF ANY CHANGE. BUT ONE THING I CAN SAY IS I AM TIRED OF THE WHOLE RACISM THING. BLACKS AND MINORITIES OR SO CALLED MINORITIES GET FREE COLLEGE FREE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE WITH BUSINESS LOANS,HOME LOANS, AND THE LIST CONTINUES TO GROW BECAUSE HE WHO CRIES THE LOUDEST GETS HEARD. JUST LOOK AT IT FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS WHITE SINGLE MOM. I ASK FOR HELP BUT DON'T GET IT. IF I WERE BLACK I WOULD GET MORE HELP BECAUSE THE WORLD OWES ME FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. YEAH I AM RACIST. WHY? BECAUSE I AM TIRED. JUST TIRED, I WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO RAISE MY THREE KIDS ALONE. BECAUSE OF THAT I MAKE TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR ANY HELP. IF I SIT ON MY BUT AND WHINE I COULD GET SOME REST. MY POINT LOVE HAS NO COLOR BUT YOU HAVE TO LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO MAKE IT. IF I SAT AND WHINED I WOULD JUST BE ANOTHER LAZY AMERICAN. WE NEED TO STOP WASTEING TAX PAYERS ( MY RETIREMENT ) MONEY ON WELFARE AND MAKE PEOPLE EARN WHAT THEY GET. QUIT WORRYING ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES AND THIER BUSINESS, GIVE THE JOBS BACK TO AMERICANS AND PRIORITIZE. MONEY IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTIONS AND EMPHASIS IS TOO.

[BrotherJR]

Check out Roland''s commentary just posted on CNN. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/21/roland.martin/index.html)

[Misty]

Good God Almighty, what a crying shame that Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh would go to this degree to try and destroy Barack and keep him from becoming the Presidential Nominee and possible President. I have been emailing these guys and telling them what I think about them and their racist reverse racism and have not heard from any of them.

There's a degrading sermon that Rush Limbaugh played on his radio station the other day by Reverend David James Manning who is a Hillary and Bill supporter and this sermon has not hit main stream media because it will expose this Pastor as well as Hillary and Bill.

Roland, I appreciate you and I thank God for you having the guts to stand up for what is right and for investigating this and making it available to us all.

[Dennis in Oregon]

Roland: This effort is a great service to help right a wrong. Rev Wright's sermon was fantastic. Not only did he speak the sermon in a calm, mild manner for 99% of the service, his analysis was right on target. How stupid we are at times when we allow ourselves to be guided around by the nose with those self-serving sound-bites. Every American should listen to this sermon after listening to Senator Obama's message of hope. Then get down and offer a prayer for our country and for this violent world we live in. By the way, I am white and a retired one-time pastor that worked a life time in law enforcement....and I don't work for any party or candidate, but I do know who I will be voting for this year

[Harley]

This isn't the sermon that bothers me. The one were Rich white people and Bill and Monica "riding dirty" that is not what a Pastor should be saying in front of a church. Roland doesn't see the statements as wrong but thats only because he is pro-Obama. I bet he wouldn't be trying to explain away a white man's comments like this. The Al Sharptons and Jesse Jackson's of the world who have made their living ruining people's lives and careers over statements like this are nowhere to be found when a black man is guilty of the same thing if not worse. It is Bullshit.

[Harley]

It's people like you Roland that make race an issue. I see at the top here in the Headline. The Roland Report: Black America's source for the news you need to know now. Wow. What if someone on CNN had a site like this that said "White America's source for the news you need to know now." You would be marching in front of their building calling them racist. You need to think long and hard about your part in the race issue Roland. There is only one America. If you want to be a journalist for black America, thats just wrong on so many levels. Black comedians think its ok to stereotype whites and if a white comedian does it they are on the front page the next day for racism. The double standard is just wrong.

[David]

The Media did a disservice to Pastor Wright message with an attempt to use a 30 second excerpt to invoke racism into Obama’s campaign. Not only was the sermon not racist in nature it was a well delivered message. Pastor Wright should be reinstated as Obama’s spiritual advisor on his campaign team and not be thrown under the bus just because the media was ‘Riding Dirty’ on this one.

[Edithia]

I hope this gets through. I am an old white woman (Ferraro's age) and my computer expertise is equivalent to a five year old, but my mind is young and my life experiences are as varied as Senator Obama's. My comment/question is: Who among us has not cursed the thing or person we love the most?

I was raised in the 'white slums' of St. Lous, MO, in the 50's and have experienced first hand discrimination inflicted by my immediate family, as well as, my peers & educators, against the black race. I have been married for over half a century, to a career military man/Viet Nam Vet and raised a son who also served his country in the military. Some may recall Viet Nam fighters and their families had no support from anyone...in my case, not even my immediate family.

To the point, this dialogue should and must continue. Yes, it's painful, yes, it may be ugly (so is childbirth!) but it is necessary. If you hold the opinion that anything new can come from hanging on to the old, please, re-evaluate your position.

We are in the biggest battle American has been involved in since our inception...and it is not in Iraq. It's a battle of the 'old' vs.the 'new'...the future vs. the past, and, dear ones, it has nothing to do with age or wrinkles (I have 'earned' every one of my wrinkles.)

If you have not yet concluded that I am a supporter of Senator Barack Obama, I've wasted your time...sorry.

[David]

The Media did a disservice to Pastor Wright message with an attempt to use a 30 second excerpt to invoke racism into Obama’s campaign. Not only was the sermon not racist in nature it was a well delivered message. Pastor Wright should be reinstated as Obama’s spiritual advisor on his campaign team and not be thrown under the bus just because the media was ‘Riding Dirty’ on this one.

[larry buchas]

"Sympathy and compassion for those that were devasted." Then the people were angry for revenge. The Reverend is truly a great man!

He deserves apologies from those of us that criticized him, including myself.

[Robert Robinson]

Air it and put an end to it. The truth will show all

[debbie valdez]

roland can you get the other tapes that the media clipped? would love to listen to them if that is possible thanks so much deb

[william]

Thank you. Once again people trying to destroy a good man. I have not been this moved since the days, oh so short, of Bobby. I was a supporter of another person early on. Not any more!!!!! I will not stand to let this happen again. I am ashamed of what we have done. By the way I am a 53 year old white man.

[Kevin]

Thank you. I am a 51 year old white man who was crying before the end of the speech. I have sent it to my father who is a faithful man. I just had to tell someone. I wrote a letter to Chris Mathews and Tim Russert. This is a man who has never done anything like that in my life. What a great injustice to Reverend Wright. This was a great speech today and let's not forget when it was actually given. On those days it was even more important. It was a speech from a sheppard leading lost sheep to a better place.

We have to ensure that we all work not to let the story told by our media pundits continue to go unanswered.

[jean]

this is the most boring sermom i have ever heard!!! he may have only said one thing in this sermon but he said many racial things in his other sermons and you know , women who have been beat by the husbands will say he hit me only once,one hit is one to many!!!!!!one word is one too many racial slurs i would have left this church after the first sermon, he is preaching fear about god instead of love!!!!

[M-J]

Hi Roland,
Thank you for this info. May God bless you and guide you in finding away to broadcast this to a larger number of people. I hope that this will somehow help Obama.
He could have defended himself in asking people to look for this entire sermon but being who he is he didn't! May god help him too.

[Al Norton]

Most of the speech was Bible Beltin hokum, found on any 50 stations on any Sunday.Who cares, it pays his bills.Why does anyone care about these con artists anyway.

But I can't find anywhere, where Peck said those things and even if so how does that justify only black folk jumping from towers, or necessary bombing of Nagasaki/Hiroshima? Thousandss of lives were saved.

Regards from NYC, get all the religion I need on the "A" train.

[kervens]

HOW ARE YOU DOING IT'S A PRIVELEGE FOR ME TO POST MY VIEW .I'M HAITIAN I LOVE THIS COUNTRY IT A OPORTUNITY MY COUNTRY DID NOT GIVE ME, WHAT REV WRIGHT PREACH SINCERE IMPORTANT,THE COUNTRY CAN NOT HANDLE THE TRUTH WHEN A FOREIGNER OR BLACK OR DEMOCRAT BESIDE REPUBLICAN YOU ARE AN ANTI AMERICAN.WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS AN HAITI EVERYTIME SOMETHING GOOD GOING TO HAPPENS AN HAITI BOOM COUP D'ETAT,IN 1991 PRESINDENT ARISTID ELECTED AFTER 1 YEAR, BUSH SR ORDER A COUP AN HAITI GAVE MILLIONS DOLLAR TO CRIMINALS ,THOUNSANTS OF PEOPLE DIED ,I'M A CHRITIAN I DO NOT KNOW HOW MANY CHRITIANS OF THIS COUNTRY SAY THE ARE CONSERVATIVE CHRITIAN AN THEY KNOW THEY GOT A POLICY TO RAGE WAR ANYTIME THEY WANT TO,COME ON WE DO NOT HAVE TO RAGE ON PEOPLE WE HAVE TO PRAY AND RAGE WAR AGAINST SATAN.WHAT THE REV WRIGHT WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS IF YOU KILL BY THE SWORD YOU GONNA GET KILL BY THE SWORD,IT'S NOT WHO SAID THAT JESUS DID.THE 9/11 PEOPLE WAS MUDERER AN THEY GOING TO HELL.

[larry buchas]

Once again, a compassionate speech. "What should our response be?"

The ambassador's words, not the Reverend's.

Turn to the person next to you and say "I love you or you may never have the chance again."

WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SPREAD THIS SERMON TO NON-BELIEVERS AND CASTIGATE THE MEDIA!

[shawn]

I heard the sermon, very interesting and this sermon needs to be played on national tv for all to hear.

It is so true that the little tidbits that you hear you get whole other perspective. I am black and go to church to get inspired by the Lord and to be encouraged for the daily grind that we go through on a regular basis. I did not hear anything in this sermon that was derogatory or racist, but what stands out is we basically need treat others the way you want to be treated, give thanks and love your family.

So what I assume what utube did was cut and paste the pastor sermon to get the reaction from the people. Send this tape to O'Reily, Joe Scarbough and the other nay sayers.!!!

Also you can tell by Sen Obama demeanor he is not an evil person and I beleive he really is genuine and really wants to make a change for all people. And even through he attachs he has remained calm and collective. We cannot say that for his opponent who really got upset over the NAFTA situation and called he out for a fight so to speak.

I am so proud of you Roland and am impressed with the way you handle yourself on tv with all the nay sayers. You really stand up for what you believe, and you tell it like it is. And I also admire how you let it be known that you are for Senator Obama.

God bless you Roland and God bless America!!!

[anne]

His sermon is actually very powerful and it's a shame this man is being destroyed in the MSM like he is. Won't someone speak out for him? I know Obama did about as much as he could, and yes Rev. Wright did say a few things that aren't right in other sermons... but man, it's just heart breaking the media is doing this to this man.

[Loveable]

Praise God for you Roland...Please put the other Jeremiah Wright messages on your website...PLEASE, PLEASE, and PLEASE!

[Brian Maxwell]

Roland:

Thanks for posting this. All I can say is Hallelujah anyhow! This message was as prophetic and powerful as it gets! We need to find a way to get this to hit the airwaves. America needs an opportunity to hear the whole truth!

[EPPS]

Gee, Thanks Roland for your insight. I am an Obama supporter and I thought Hillary's camp put the hit on Rev. Wright to get to Obama. The act angried so many of my friends and myself, that some of us were deciding not to vote at all or vote for McCain. (Just what the Republicans want). Thank you for stepping up to the plate and seeking the truth. I won't be fooled again. I emailed all my friends the real deal about the ugliness and I will put it on the grapevine!! Thanks Again

[Brenda]

Matthew:

Superbly said, I agree with every word. Thanks and praise to Roland for digging for the truth and righteousness of Rev. Wright's words. Keep up the good work Roland and keep the letters and thoughts coming Matthew.

Barack '08

[Independent American Asian]

I initially heard bits and pieces about this controversy and wondered how Obama can associate himself with Rev. Wright. After listening to this sermon, I can say that I fully agree with everything the Reverend has preached. This sermon must be heard in context and should be broadcast for all Americans.

A powerful and significant sermon that should be heard by all people of faith, all people who love freedom, all people who believe in what this country “should” stand for, all Americans. If this is the sermon that has raised the hoopla for Obama, I agree he should not disavow Rev Wright, he should encourage him to preached to those who professed to be Christians; the Christian Right.

He is spot on about the years of failed foreign policy which have created the hatred and distrust for Americans. We need to elevate America back to the level of respect and esteem that it deserves, only by being a role model for the world can this country move forward.

Independent American Asian

[roch20]

Roland, i'm amazed and i've been a strong supporter for Barack Obama, now i am proud of how he stood up against all odds... Even Anderson Cooper couldn't find any wrong doing and neither do i, thanks a lot!!! Oh by the way, i was watching you yesterday on CNN, you make some mention and forgive my mispeling or forgive me if i forget the exact words you used, but i heard you saying something in reference to using the network as a bridge for healing and informing the people about race issues, that's not the words you used, but it's sort of and i'm so proud of you and Sen. Barack Obama, and the news from Bill Richardson endorsement, it all make sence to me...! Thank you for everything, and to be honest i haven't been so proud of the elections process up until now, and it's all because of Barack Obama, see i'm a hispanic guy who came here from Puerto Rico in the late 90's, and i finally have a unique opportunity to vote for a man the i feel represent me like no other candidate ever could, amazing!!!

[Johnny Onthespot]

He was riding dirty! Yea baby!

[Fred Pohlman]

This is a truly beautiful sermon by a truly beautiful man..We MUST get this information out to the people immediately.
.It is a shame how fast we rush to judgement....
Signed, Fred Pohlman
A white man who wishes to repent his sins against his black brothers and sisters

[Keith]

Roland,
Thank you for posting the truth, I have suspected strongly since the very beginning that these clips were being shown out of context. The really sad thing to me is much of the media jumped on this without doing the real investigative work we should expect from reporters. I have just recently began listening to you on CNN and it is quite refreshing to see a man of christian faith who obviously adheres to principles and ideals that trancends all religions and ideology; we should all embrace the truth and forgive those whose blind hateness has tried to decieve us.

God Bless you.

[Vera G. Davis]

Thank you for sharing. You are truly a force to be reckoned with. You make me so proud.

Vera

[Lee Oates]

As a hard-core athiest, and a 69 year old "white" man who happens to be a psychologist, I listened [and read]Rev. Wright's speach to the end. It brought tears to my eyes, and hope for a better future. I think that if America turns down Obama as president they will have lost their only chance at meeting the huge challanges of the future, and I am shocked [though not suprised] at the efforts made to destroy him and his pastor. Thank you for the inspiration Rev. Wright. And, I might add, your right about "America's chickens have come home to roost".

[Nancy]

Roland,

GOD BLESS YOU!

I am most pleased to hear the real 9/16/01 sermon of Pastor Wright. I have to admit that I had judged him because of the clips from the media. There should be an apology from the news media, and an explanation of the misquotes.

Nevertheless, Senator Obama's speech was outstanding, in spite of the mass confusion. In him, I have observed a man of high character.

I am over 50,and an African American woman, who initially was a supporter of Hilliary Clinton. I had so much respect for her, until all of the dishonesty, and manipulation attempts by she and her campaign began. I am a true believer that women should always be ladies (the sugar and spice thing), have integrity, and hold on to their dignity, no matter what. Others who love her, should talk to her about that end of her character.

[Carl]

Roland,
Can you get this to the Obama campaign? how about youtube? I bet CNN and Fox won't give this as much coverage as it did to the clips that caused so much controversy.

Thanks man

[Murry]

Hi Roland,
Thank you so much for looking into Wright's speech! I thought you, Berstein, and Gergen were spot on Thursday night on AC360 having an intelligent adult conversation about race. I love your commentary. Keep fighting for the truth.

[T]

Thank you brother.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

[T]

With all of this going on, I thought it appropriate with Easter around the corner to provide the community with this clip from Bill Moyers on PBS on James Cone and the Black Liberation Theology. Rev. Wright mentioned him in that pitiful interview Sean Hannity tried to hold with Rev.Wright. He spoke at the Harvard Divinity School on "The Cross And The Lynching Tree."
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11232007/watch.html

[Area504]

The context of these statements within the full sermon does not change anything for me. This is a man who despises the United States of America. His disciple, Barack Hussein Obama, doesn't deserve to lead this country after listening to this crap for almost 20 years.

I will vote for someone who loves this country. If Hillary Clinton fails to convince Democrats that she is the best person for their party, then I will vote for John McCain.

[Jody Gaddy]

Whoever wrote the following is a complete animal:

"The context of these statements within the full sermon does not change anything for me. This is a man who despises the United States of America. His disciple, Barack Hussein Obama, doesn't deserve to lead this country after listening to this crap for almost 20 years. I will vote for someone who loves this country. If Hillary Clinton fails to convince Democrats that she is the best person for their party, then I will vote for John McCain."

First, Hillary and Bill are done for good no matter how this nomination ends.

Second, I will also vote for McCain if Hillary lies her way into the nomination. 99% of Blacks will never vote for her again no matter what.

Third, here are words and a video by McCain's preacher and friend:

Word:

"If I were call for the sterilization or the elimination of an entire segment of society, I'd be labeled a racists or a murderer, or at very best a Nazi," says Parsley. "That every single year, millions of our tax dollars are funding a national organization built upon that very goal -- their target: African Americans. That's right, the death toll: nearly fifteen hundred African Americans a day. The shocking truth of black genocide."

"Right now our own government is allowing organizations like Planned Parenthood to legally take the innocent lives of precious baby girls and baby boys and even footing the bill for it all with our tax dollars, turning every single one of us into accessories to murder," he says. "You know who their biggest fans must be, that must be the Klu Klux Klan, because the woman who founded this organization detested black people.... African Americans were number one on Margaret Sanger's list. So this 'Lady MacDeath,' as I like to call her, studied the works of Englishman Thomas Robert Malthus, and embraced his plan of eugenics."

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw8-9AGGsQw

[Dominik Lukes]

Amazing stuff. 'Move from worship to war'. This is really a message of peace. I've come from vaguely thinking of Wright as possibly a slightly misinterpreted nut who gets carried away in the heat of the moment to seeing him as a thoughtful commentator and a great speaker. Me, a white atheist from Europe, I listened to the whole sermon, and I can't wait to hear more.

[hillary4change]

Roland,
I have to say everytime I see you on t.v you are trying to tell Americans how they "really feel". By shouting down who ever is saying something that you do not agree with. Instead of listening.
I KNOW with out ANY doubt how his words make ME feel!!!
I know, no church I have EVER attended has EVER said ANYTHING untoward about ANY race!!
Obviously Roland, you and obama can't say that.
With all due respect sir, I have a problem with that!!
Americans are having a lot of trouble buying obamas lame excuse and "race" speech. He can say what ever he wants, we know the truth. Some where in Wrights rhetoric lies obamas beliefs.
The question here is do we want to hand him control of our country and sit back and wait to find out what exactly that is!!!
I have a right to choose the candidate I want. At one point that choice included obama. Now, NO WAY!!
He no more wants to know how this feels to us white Americans, than he "believes" in reverse racism. I sir, have seen it.
Now I have only mentioned race. What about AIDS and gay Americans. Obama obviously doesn't care about them either!!! Not to mention Jewish people.
This congregation DID NOT seem shocked by these incendiary remarks!! They were clapping and rejoicing in the words of hate!!
America has to continue to stop and watch.
We are in this mess because the DNC has piss poor leadership.
The media was so busy swooning over obama that he was NEVER vetted.
Americans are obviously experiencing buyers remorse where obama votes are concerned.
I do not trust that man!!! Sorry, many Americans agree!!
Now, obamas camp has leaked a 10 year old photo of President Clinton and Rev. (I am using the title loosely) Wright at a prayer breakfast at The White House. On one hand they say he is an old uncle that says inappropriate things, then he says he never knew of any remarks, then he did. Now they are trying to link the kind old Uncle to President Clinton. Hoping the filth will rub off I guess!!

[Murry]

HI Roland,
I just saw your appearance on CNN Friday night. Thanks for trying to explain Wright's views but it seems you were outdone by Bay Buchanan's shouting and John King's video clips. Why did they only show the bad clips of Wright? What was the point of the discussion if they weren't going to show any good clips for "context"? That was very frustrating to watch.
Again, thanks for trying. Keep at it.

[Betsy]

Watch Rev. Jeremiah Wright's 9-11 sermon in context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ

Watch Rev. Jeremiah Wright's God Damn America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw

[Betsy]

Added: March 20, 2008
Already 72,000 people have watched this video

Watch Rev. Jeremiah Wright's 9-11 sermon in context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ

Added: March 20, 2008
Already 22,000 people have watched this video
Rev. Jeremiah Wright's God Damn America in context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw

[betty]

Thanks for the sermon, it all makes sense now. I LISTEN to the whole sermon and forwarded it to a couple of friends also, after reading it they called and thank me for sharing the sermon with them. I like Anderson Cooper's shown, but I'm really getting frustrated with his show picking little bits of the sermon. I feel if CNN wants to be fair they need to play the whole sermon for us the audience to decide.

In addition everything that was preached in this sermon is in the bible and if I was living in Chicago if would attend his church.

PS lets ask Anderson Copper to play the whole sermon.

[Cynthia]

In response to Posted by: hillary4change | March 21, 2008 at 07:11 PM

I am sure that photo was in the archive of political photos filed under President Bill Clinton. So, please do not blame the Obama camp for the photos. Let's spread real truth. We already see what happens when the truth is not available to us all. We make assumptions and that's never good. I understand the hate that has been spewed toward Obama, but again not one of us here can say we have never been in the company of people with these views or different views we don't agree with. And I would bet you don't throw them to the wolves you just put it aside and say "that's their opinion not mine." So, my question is why do you do it to this man? Let's put this away and deal with real issues, health care, economy, war in Iraq, veterns with substandard conditions and a major housing crisis. I want to know what and how they are going to change our country. If we divide we will be conquered.

[Jody Gaddy]

Meet The (White) Man Who Inspired Wright's Controversial Sermon
By Sam Stein
March 21, 2008 02:00 PM

Meet the man who inspired Reverend Jeremiah Wright's now famous tirade about America's foreign policy inciting the terrorist attacks of September 11.
His name is Ambassador Edward Peck. And he is a retired, white, career U.S. diplomat who served 32-years in the U.S. Foreign Service and was chief of the U.S. mission to Iraq under Jimmy Carter -- hardly the black-rage image with which Wright has been stigmatized.

In fact, when Wright took the pulpit to give his post-9/11 address -- which has since become boiled down to a five second sound bite about "America's chickens coming home to roost" -- he prefaced his remarks as a "faith footnote," an indication that he was deviating from his sermon.
"I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday," Wright declared. "He was on Fox News. This is a white man and he was upsetting the Fox News commentators to no end. He pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, that what Malcolm X said when he got silenced by Elijah Muhammad was in fact true: America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Wright then went on to list more than a few U.S. foreign policy endeavors that, by the tone of his voice and manner of his expression, he viewed as more or less deplorable. This included, as has been demonstrated in the endless loop of clips from his sermon, bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuking "far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye."
"Violence begets violence," Wright said, "hatred begets hatred, and terrorism begets terrorism."
And then he concluded by putting the comments on Peck's shoulders: "A white ambassador said that yall, not a black militant, not a reverend who preaches about racism, an ambassador whose eyes are wide open and is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice... the ambassador said that the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have, but they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them... let me stop my faith footnote right there."
Watch the video (the relevant material starts around the 3:00 mark):
So it seems that while Wright did believe American held some responsibility for 9/11, his views, which have been described as radically outside the political mainstream, were actually influenced by a career foreign policy official.
Who is Peck? The ambassador, who has offered controversial criticism of Israeli policy in the West Bank but also warned against the Iraq War, was lecturing on a cruise ship and was unavailable for comment. But officials at Peck's former organization, the Council for the National Interest, a non-profit group that advocates reducing Israel's influence on U.S. Middle East policy, offered descriptions of the man.
"Peck is very outspoken," said Eugene Bird, who now heads CNI. "He is also very good at making phrases that have a resonance with the American people. When he came off of that Fox News, a few days later he said they would never invite me back again."
And what, exactly, did Peck say in that Fox News interview that inspired Wright's words?
Here are some quotes from an appearance the Ambassador made on the network on October 11, 2001, which may or may not have been the segment Wright was referring to. On the show, Peck said he thought it was illogical to tie Saddam Hussein to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, and that while the then-Iraqi leader had "some very sound and logical reasons not to like [the United States]," he and Osama bin Laden had no other ties.
From there, Peck went on to ascribe motives for what prompted the 9/11 attacks. "Stopping the economic embargo and bombings of Iraq," he said, "things to which Osama bin Laden has alluded as the kinds of things he doesn't like. He doesn't think it's appropriate for the United States to be doing, from his perspective, all the terrible things that he sees us as having been doing, the same way Saddam Hussein feels. So from that perspective, they have a commonality of interests. But they also have a deeply divergent view of the role of Islam in government, which would be a problem."

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/meet-the-white-man-who-_n_92793.html

[Jody Gaddy]

Video: Jeremiah Wright “Chickens Coming Home to Roost” September 11 Full Sermon

Here is the transcript of the Fox News interview with former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Edward Peck, that Rev. Wright referenced. The first interview occurred on October 10, 2001.

VESTER: Welcome back to “The War on Terror.” I’m Linda Vester.
That was the U.N.’s former chief weapons inspector on bioterror weapons in Iraq.
This week the Bush administration warned Saddam’s representatives here in the U.S. that he will be very sorry if he tries to pull something while the U.S. is preoccupied with Afghanistan.

I’m joined once again by Ambassador Ravan Farhadi. He is the permanent representative of the Islamic state of Afghanistan to the United Nations. Also joining us from Washington is the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Edward Peck.

Gentlemen, first question is the obvious. Ambassador Farhadi, let me first ask you very simply, do you think Iraq has been helping al-Qaeda and bin Laden?

FARHADI: I do not think because, in spite of they may have some goals in common, but I think that the Ba’ath Party and the belief of the — Saddam is quite secular. And I think that they don’t suit each other, and then so therefore bin Laden is making his own way independently.

VESTER: Ambassador Peck, what do you think?
EDWARD PECK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: I think the ambassador is right, to a very large degree, except that, as we learn — as we’re learning now, politics makes strange bedfellows, so that we are, you know, siding up with the Russians now kind of against the Chechens, after having for years said that that wasn’t the way to do it. And they do have some goals in common. And it’s worthwhile noting that…
VESTER: Like getting American troops off of Arab soil…
PECK: Yes, ma’am.
VESTER: … for starters.
PECK: And/or — and stopping the economic embargo and bombings of Iraq, things to which Osama bin Laden has alluded as the kinds of things he doesn’t like. He doesn’t think it’s appropriate for the United States to be doing, from his perspective, all the terrible things that he sees us as having been doing, the same way Saddam Hussein feels. So from that perspective, they have a commonality of interests. But they also have a deeply divergent view of the role of Islam in government, which would be a problem.
VESTER: Right. OK, Ambassador Peck, though, a question. Czech officials say that Mohammed Atta, one of the ringleaders of the September 11th attack, met with an Iraqi former consul, who is actually stationed in Prague and met him before he traveled to the U.S. in June of 2000. That doesn’t give you any evidence of a link to — between Iraq and bin Laden?
PECK: No, not that. I’m sure he met with a lot of other people. He may even have had, you know, dinner with a couple of American businessmen who didn’t know who he was. So the fact that he met somebody is certainly not evidence of anything. I’m not even sure it’s grounds for an allegation.
VESTER: OK. Well, what about this. Laurie Mylroie, you know, is a reporter and author and does a lot on Iraq. She says Ramzi Yousef, who was the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, traveled here to the United States on an Iraqi passport. She even goes so far as to say that he was an Iraqi agent. Doesn’t that give you more of a link?
PECK: Well, I have a — I have a problem, which may be shared by a few people. And that is that Saddam Hussein is blamed for everything. You know, he — I feel kind of sorry for him because now Osama bin Laden has taken the number one slot on the list of the people we love to hate. But we blame Saddam Hussein for almost anything.
And I guess one of the questions that troubles me, as an individual who was supposed to have been trained to be able to interpret other people’s views, is I think that Saddam Hussein, from his perspective, has some very sound and logical reasons not to like us. And it’s important to remember in this connection that he was at one time our friend, our guy, just as the Mujahadeen in…
VESTER: Right.
PECK: … Afghanistan were.
VESTER: They were ours.
PECK: But these things change.
VESTER: Right. Yeah. Well, these things change, and then they come back to bite us. Ambassador Farhadi, what if the United States finds some evidence to strike Iraq in this war on terror? Will it be destabilizing?
FARHADI: I think that this is — this is not a sound idea because then the Islamic community in the world would fail to understand that there is any link between bin Laden and Saddam. And this is very important. I think that the — my feeling, as far as I am continuing to study what’s happening in all Islamic countries, I think that it wouldn’t be wise to have the kind of engagement for…
VESTER: Right.
FARHADI: … for hurting Iraq…
VESTER: I want to come back around to this. Ambassador Peck, I got to — I just got to come back to this. How can you feel sorry for Saddam Hussein? I’ve been in Iraq. I know what he does to his people.
PECK: Well, you know, I said sorry in a somewhat sarcastic way because I was making a reference to fact that he used to be at the very top of the list of the people that we hated. Now he’s…
VESTER: OK. Just making sure.
PECK: … number two. But you know, the thing about Saddam Hussein - - you’ve been to Iraq. I lived there. It’s been a couple of years. The people of Iraq had very few political freedoms. They probably have fewer now. But the Ba’ath Party, which is socialist and it’s secular, as Ambassador Farhadi said, did everything for the Iraqi people — schools, churches, electrification…
VESTER: Wow. But they…
PECK: … water purification, roads…
VESTER: … are miserable! I mean, you look in their eyes. I’ve seen that look, and it’s — they’re just miserable beyond words!
PECK: Does it have — does it have anything to do with the 11 years of economic embargo that we’ve imposed?
VESTER: Does it have anything to do with the total fear that if they say anything against the government, they’ll be dragged out of their houses and put in prison for a month?
PECK: Well, you know, just…
VESTER: In a room that’s five by five with 50 other men and their family has no idea what happened to them?
PECK: Just in this country not too long ago, a key spokesman at the White House said “You better watch you say.” You remember that? See, people get uptight when the situation is difficult. And the[tilde] White House press spokesman cautioned everybody to be careful what they say at a time of national stress. Now, in Iraq, no opposition to the government is tolerated. But — and I say this, understand me now, what the situation is — if you don’t bother the government, it has no reason to bother you.
VESTER: Oh, boy, I…
PECK: One of the…
VESTER: Ambassador Peck, I got to take issue with that. I’m also getting — you and I may have to have a discussion for another day, but I’m getting a cue from my producer that we’ve got to — we’ve got to cut it there.
Ambassador Ravan Farhadi, Ambassador Ed Peck, thanks to you both. We appreciate it.
PECK: A pleasure.

And Fox News brought Ambassador Peck back on the next day, October 11, 2001.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: There’s no question that the leader of Iraq is an evil man. After all, he gassed his own people. We know he’s been developing weapons of mass destruction. And I think it’s in his advantage to allow inspectors back in his country to make sure that he’s conforming to the agreement he made after he was soundly trounced in the Gulf war. And so we’re watching him very carefully.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VESTER: Welcome back to “The War on Terror.”

Last night on this show, you saw a discussion between myself and Edward Peck, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Here’s just a little clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PECK: I have a problem, which may be shared by a few people. And that is that Saddam Hussein is blamed for everything. You know, he — I feel kind of sorry for him because now Osama bin Laden has taken the number one slot on the list of the people we love to hate. But we blame Saddam Hussein for almost anything.
And I guess one of the questions that troubles me, as an individual who was supposed to have been trained to be able to interpret other people’s views, is I think that Saddam Hussein, from his perspective, has some very sound and logical reasons not to like us.
VESTER: How can you feel sorry for Saddam Hussein? I’ve been in Iraq. I know what he does to his people.
PECK: Well, you know, I said sorry in a somewhat sarcastic way because I was making a reference to the fact that he used to be at the very top of the list of the people that we hated. Now he’s…
VESTER: OK, just making sure.
PECK: … at number two. But you know, the thing about Saddam Hussein — you’ve been to Iraq. I lived there. It’s been a couple of years. The people of Iraq had very few political freedoms. They probably have fewer now. But the Ba’ath Party, which is socialist and it’s secular, as Ambassador Farhadi said, did everything for the Iraqi people — schools, churches…
VESTER: Wow, but they are miserable. Seen that look. They’re just miserable beyond words.
PECK: Does that have anything to do with the 11 years of economic embargo that we’ve imposed?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VESTER: Well, we couldn’t let that go, so Ambassador Ed Peck is here once again.
Welcome back, Mr. Ambassador.
PECK: Well, I hope it’s going to be pleasant.
VESTER: Well, it’ll at least be lively! You heard Dr. Kissinger say earlier that on the sanctions, the Iraqis want to keep them there. Saddam Hussein wants those sanctions there.
PECK: Well, the…
VESTER: He has a thriving black market…
PECK: Stand by! Stand by!
VESTER: … on oil, and he’s — and he makes at least — at least a billion dollars last year in black-market oil.
PECK: A billion dollars to feed 23 million people. Now, what does that work out to…
VESTER: The thing is…
PECK: … per person per year?
VESTER: … Mr. Ambassador, he didn’t use it to feed people.
PECK: Well, stand by. You see…
VESTER: Since the war, he has built…
PECK: Hey, hold it. Whoa! Whoa!
VESTER: … built 48 new palaces…
PECK: Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
VESTER: … and refurbished others to the tune of $1.5 billion![tilde]
PECK: Well, you don’t know that, either. But the thing…
VESTER: I do!
PECK: No, you…
VESTER: And you know who that comes from?
PECK: You’ve invited…
VESTER: Madeleine Albright.
PECK: Hey, look…
VESTER: It comes from the State Department!
PECK: Oh, my goodness gracious. You’ve invited me here to tell you what I think, so give me a chance now.
VESTER: OK.
PECK: OK. Dr. Kissinger sat there, with you in the room. I don’t have a chance to see you. You see me, but I’m in a dark room. He said that Saddam Hussein gets all this money from oil. Now, Henry Kissinger is smart enough to know, and so are you, that none of the money from the “oil for peace” goes to Iraq. They don’t get a dime from the sale of that “oil for food” money. It all goes to the United Nations, which doles it out, what’s left after reparations and so forth, under the aegis…
VESTER: I understand, but we’re talking about the black market. And I think that’s what the doctor’s talking about, as well.
PECK: Well, a lot of people…
VESTER: Richard Butler from the United Nations also confirmed this to me. And he actually said the number — the amount of money that Iraq is getting from its black market sales of oil is much higher. It’s several billion dollars.
PECK: OK, now…
VESTER: I have a — I have a chapter and verse from…
PECK: If we…
VESTER: … from the U.S. commander of the 5th fleet in Bahrain…
PECK: OK, he…
VESTER: … explaining his own patrolling of this. He sees the pattern…
PECK: He’s close by.
VESTER: Yes.
PECK: Now, if you’re going to take the U.N. figures that you just stated, why do you choose to ignore the ones about the deaths of children as a result of the embargo?
VESTER: Well, why do you choose to ignore the fact that Saddam Hussein gassed his own people!
PECK: Now, wait a minute! You have to understand — when did that happen? Do you remember?
VESTER: Yeah, during the Iran-Iraq war.
PECK: Well, what year was that?
VESTER: Many years ago.
PECK: Yeah, OK. What was the United States government’s position on that at the time?
VESTER: You know what? It doesn’t matter!
PECK: Well, see, it…
VESTER: He killed his own people!
PECK: It does matter. It does matter because…
VESTER: Why? I mean, murder is murder!
PECK: We didn’t think it was a problem at the time. It didn’t become a problem until after 1990. Saddam Hussein is not a nice guy. Don’t push me into defending him! My interest, my only interest — and it should be yours — is how do we advance America’s interests in that part of the world? And we do not do it after 11 years of a strangling embargo and bombing Iraq whenever we feel like it.
VESTER: They get plenty of money to feed their people! You know they do.
PECK: They do not, and I do not know it, and I don’t think that you do, either, as a matter of fact. Two United Nations humanitarian directors have resigned in protest, one after the other, one a Brit, one a German.
VESTER: All right…
PECK: They said, “Hey, I cannot be associated with this.” Now, my point…
VESTER: Ambassador…
PECK: I don’t think…
VESTER: Yes. Very quickly.
PECK: Yeah. You know, I don’t support Saddam Hussein. My job is to think about what’s good for the United States.
VESTER: All right, I’m sorry to cut you off…
PECK: And doing what we’re doing — yeah, you did it again.
VESTER: … but perhaps we’ll have another — no, we’ll have another night together. Maybe we’ll go to Baghdad.
PECK: I’ll look forward to it.
VESTER: Ambassador Ed Peck, thanks.

Source:
http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/video-jeremiah-wright-chickens-coming-home-to-roost-september-11-full-sermon/#more-2653

[Dexter Smith]

Thank You. The truth always comes to the light. I just hope that Americans can take their heads out the hole to see it. This is a fantastic sermon and I wish there was more being given every Sunday in all churches.

[V.B.]

Roland, I applaud you. You will go down in history as the man who proved Obama's case. If this gets out in time, he will be able to beat McCain. Believe me, the Republicans have so many mean things up their sleeves, Hillary and the Rev. Wright's ordeal are just the rehersal. They even been on Ancestry.com researching Obama's mother's history. They still continue to dog Michelle Obama and anything she says, they take out of context, just like the Rev. Wrights tape. More importantly, America will see Hannity for who he really is. A skank!

[Jody Gaddy]

AS far as I am concerned, the Clintons are responsible for this preacher saga. Remember that Ferraro went to FOX to say that Obama's campaign was attacking her because she is white. The Clintons normally stay away from FOX, but to get Obama smeared they had to send Ferraro.

Also, listen to Bill Clinton again, questioning Obama's patriotism using the preacher while elevating his wife and McCain:

Here is the full quote: "I think it would be a great thing if we had an election between two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interests of the country and people could actually ask themselves who is right on the issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

Tony McPeak, a retired Air Force general and current co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign, compared former President Bill Clinton to Joseph McCarthy Friday in response to comments Clinton made earlier in the day that appeared to question Obama's patriotism.

"It sounds more like McCarthy," McPeak said. "I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/another-bill-clinton-mome_n_92818.html

[Brad Small]

Hi- Just a comment on the Tukeegee syphillus experiments. These "experiments" are well documented and were performed on unsuspecting black citizens. I saw you on CNN friday night and you said these men were "being treated" for syphillus. This is incorrect. None of the subjects were given treatment, even though effective treatment was available (pennecylin).
Read about it here at the OFFICIAL US Gov CDC site:
http://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm A
LSO here:
Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Study_of_Untreated_Syphilis_in_the_Negro_Male

[Ester]

Thanks Roland. We are so glad you're where you are, otherwise all these lies and sound bites would never have been confronted. I knew there was more to it than what was being shown and I prayed and asked the Creator to intervene. I know HE did, and I praise and thank HIM. You are a blessing Roland, and you are in our Prayers.

[jmd3]

I am so angry at the press right now. This man is a prophet. I believe those who crafted this framing of Rev Wright and Barack Obama know he is a prophet as well for Satan and those who serve him recognize the work of God. I was in church Thursday evening for Maundy Thursday service. I am a member of a UCC Church like Barack. My pastor's wife expressed that she was angry w/ Barack, not for what Rev Wright said, but because Barack distanced himself from Rev Wright's words. After having listened myself to the sermon and following the biblical passages he referenced, I understand how she could feel this way. My greatest prayer now is that the real truth of this sermon and all the others fall on the American people. It has to happen. I shudder to think what fate will befall us if we allow our neighbors who simply react and choose not to think about anything of truth or value, who would rather remain fat and preverted in ignorance, to remain comfortable in their state of denial of what American is becoming.

[Jim]

Thank you for this. If there was someone like this preaching anywhere near me, I might actually be sitting in church on Sundays. Not only was this NOT offensive... it was actually inspiring. Again, thank you for bringing this to people's attention.

[PaulC]

Here's a transcript of the portion of this sermon that is found on You Tube:

Fuller transcript of Jeremiah Wright’s full 9/11 sermon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related

"Every public service of worship I have heard about so far in the wake of the American tragedy has had in its prayers and in its preachments, sympathy and compassion for those who were killed and for their families, and God's guidance upon the selected Presidents and upon our war machine, as they do what they do and what they gotta do -- paybacks.

There's a move in Psalm 137 from thoughts of paying tithes to thoughts of paying back, A move, if you will from worship to war, a move in other words from the worship of th God of creation to war against those whom God Created. And I want you to notice very carefully this next move. One of the reasons this Psalm is rarely read, in its entirety, because it is a move that spotlights the insanity of the cycle of violence and the cycle of hatred.

Look at the verse; Look at the verse; Look at verse nine: [rising voice] "Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rocks."[lower voice] The people of faith are the rivers of Babylon. How shall we sing the Lord's song? If I forget the order ... The people of faith, have moved from the hatred of armed enemies [rising voice]--these soldiers who captured the king; those soldiers who slaughtered his son, that put his eyes out; those soldiers who sacked the city, burned, burned the towns, the burned the temple, burned the towers, they have moved from the hatred of [loudest voice] armed enemies to the hatred of unarmed innocents -- [low voice] the babies, the babies.

Blessed are they who dash your baby’s brains against a rock. And that, my beloved, is a dangerous place to be, yet that is where the people of faith are in the 551BC, and that is where far too many people of faith are in 2001 AD. We have moved from the hatred of armed enemies to the hatred of unarmed innocents. We want revenge, we want paybacks, and we don't care who gets hurt in the process.

Now I asked the Lord, what should our response be in light of such an unthinkable act, but before I share with you what the Lord shared with me I want to give you one of my little faith footnotes.
Visitors, I often give little faith footnotes, so that our members don't lose sight of the big picture, let me give you a faith footnote. Turn to your neighbor and say, "Faith footnote." [Voices: "Faith footnote"]

[Begin faith footnote]
I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday. Did anybody else see him or hear him, he was on Fox News. This is a white man, and he was upsetting the Fox News commentators to no end. He pointed out, (Did you see him, John?) --a white man-- he pointed out-- an ambassador-- that what Malcolm X said when he got silenced by Elijah Mohammad was in fact true, America's chickens are coming home to roost.

We took this country, by terror, away from the Sioux, the Apache, the Arrowak (phonetic) the Comanche, the Arapajo, the Navajo. Terrorism--we took Africans from their country to build our way of ease and kept them enslaved and living in fear. Terrorism. We bombed Grenada and killed innocent civilians -- babies, non-military personnel. We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with Stealth Bombers and killed unarmed teenagers, and toddlers, pregnant mothers and hard working father. [fullest voice] We bombed Khadafi, his home and killed his child. Blessed be they who bash your children's head against the rocks.

[fullest voice] We bombed Iraq, we killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed the plant in Sudan to payback for the attack on our embassy -- killed hundreds of hard working people --mothers and fathers, who left home to go that day, not knowing they'd never get back home. [Even fuller voice] We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New
York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye. Kids playing in the playground, mothers picking up children after school -- civilians not soldiers. People just trying to make it day by day. We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and South Africa and now we are indignant? Because the stuff we have done overseas is brought back into our own front yard.

America's chickens are coming home, to roost. Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred, and terrorism begets terrorism.

[lower voice] A White ambassador said that, y'all, not a black militant. Not a Reverend who preaches about racism, an ambassador whose eyes are wide open, and whose trying to get us to wake up, and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said that the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have, but they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them, and we need to come to grips with that.

Let me stop my faith footnote right there, and ask you to think about that over the next few weeks if God grants us that many days. Turn back to your neighbor, and say, "Footnote is over." [Voices: "Footnote is over."]

[End Faith Footnote]

[Gentle voice] Now, now. C'mon back to my question to the Lord, "What should our response be right now. In light of such an unthinkable act. I asked the Lord that question Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

I was stuck in Newark, New Jersey. No flights were leaving La Guardia, JFK, or Newark Airport. On the day tht the FAA opened up the airports to bring into the desinations of cities those flights that had been diverted because of the hijacking, a scare in New York close all three regional airports and I couldn't even get her for Mr. Radford's father's funeral. And I asked God, "What should our response be?

I saw pictures of the incredible. People jumping from the 110th floor; people jumping from the roof because the stair wells and elevators above the 89th floor were gone-- no more. Black people, jumping to a certain death; people holding hands jumping; people on fire jumping. [plaintiff high voice] And I asked the Lord, "What should our response be?" I read what the people of faith felt in 551BC. But this is a different time, this is a different enemy, a different world, a different terror. This is a different reality. What should our response be, and the Lord showed me three things. Let me share them with you quickly and I'm gonna leave you alone to think about the faith footnote.

Number one: The Lord showed me that this is a time for self-examination. [cheers] As I sat 900 miles away from my family and my community of faith, two months after my own father's death, God showed me that this was a time for me to examine my relationship with God. MY own relationship with God-- personalrelationship with God.

I submit to you that it is the same for you. Folk flocked to the church in New Jersey last week, you know that foxhole-religion syndrome kicked in, that emergency chord religion, you know that little red box you pull in emergency? It showed up in full force. Folk who aint thought about coming to church in years, were in church last week. I heard that mid-week prayer services all over this country which are poorly attended fifty-one week a year were jam packed all over the nation the week of the hijacking the 52nd week. [inaudible]

But the Lord said, this aint the time for you to be examining other folks relationship this is a time of self examination. But the Lord said, "How is "our" relationship doing Jeremiah? How often do you talked to me personally, how often do you let me talk to you privately? How much time do you spend trying to get right with me, or do you spend all your time trying to get other folk right?

This is a time for me to examine my own relationship with God. Is it real or is it fake? Is it forever or is it for show? Is is something that you do for the sake of the public or is it something that you do for the sake of eternity? [voice rising] This is a time for me to examine my own, and a time for you to examine your own relationship with God -- self examination.

[end of video tape.]

[V.B.]

After viewing the tapes, I believe the Republicans are trying to start a race war. Rev. Wright is not a racist and either is his congregation. Special interest do not want Obama in the White House. They are probably paying conservative radio host big bucks to divide us so McCain could win. So far it's working. They even went as far as saying if Obama loose, Black people will start a Civil War. Yeah Right.

[V.B.]

Roland,

Is Hannity an idiot? He acts like he understand our politcial system then he says things that sounds so dumb. Yesterday, he said Obama told Trent Lott to step down because of something he said and Imus to step down because of something he said. Now, Obama's preacher said something and he is calling for Obama to step down. Obama didn't say anything. Obama is a Senator. He work for his constituents. It was his constituents who wanted Trent Lott and Imus to step down. Senators are the voices of the people they represent. So why should he step down because of what someone else said that wasn't even work related. Should you step down for something your wife has said?

[V.B.]

Except MSNBC, cable news has down a media orchestrated, high-tech lynching of Obama. It would be nice if we could organize a high-tech prostest until they appologize. Like that will happen. They have so much power, it make me sick. It is time for someone to address the corrupt media.

[V.B.]

Hillary supporters says they like her because she is a fighter. Wasn't Bush a fighter? She doesn't know when to stop. Didn't Bush stop at nothing? Do her followers really know what they are saying? They want to put a female version of Bush in the White House. I want someone in the White House who will fight only when they have to. Not someone who looks for fights to prove they are tough.

[ME]

THIS IS THE 911 CONSPIRACY LINK. COULD THIS REALLY BE TRUE?? I HOPE NOT.

http://loosechange911.com/?gclid=CIKk4tWkopICFQLylgoddiwxSABE

[Jonathan]

Are u all crazy. Rev. Wright used Ambassador's Peck's analogy for the purpose of the theme of the sermon. It doesn't matter who originated it, the theme embedded in the comment is one that Wright agrees with and uses over and over. The point is that in this sermon, he is essentially blaming the US for the bombing of the WTC. In so doing, he essentially give the lie to his own point, which is to say that while he criticizes the USA for indiscriminate bombing of civilians, he excuses the bombing in the USA by essentially blaming it as a response ot the US actions in the world. Well, I am willing to agree in part, the bombing is a result of hatred of the US, and that hatred is certainly deemed justified by those who hate us, but that doesn't mean I have to show understanding. I would venture that a large majority in the US feel for the very people who hate us, but a small minority, if any, in those countries feel for the suffering in the US. I witness the same difference in the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Inordinate blame is foisted on Israel. It is true the State of Israel imposes hardships on the Palestinians, but when one witnesses the Palestinians dancing in the streets when 8 children are murdered while studying what they deem to be holy books in a religious institutions, one can see the vast divide, and why it is so difficult for a country so small to be able to ever trust such a decrepit society.

So too here, the sermon shows a complete lack of perspective, and shifts into a general indictment of society and the ills afflicting us. One can not fix all ills. Our society of limited resources is one where tragic choices are made in terms of what we focus on. This is why we can spend so much money to save some whales in the sea rather than some poor children in need medical help. It is a very simplified view of the world, and unfortunately is something that simple minded people who participate in this church and such other churches around the country gobble up, then leave and go about their lives, usually just feeling good about themselves because all their ills have just been blamed upon white, racist America -- not their own in ability to rise up above. Rather than giving them the tools to move forward, the sermon is filled with feel-good sentiment that does nothing to cure their ills, but only reinforces their "blame the white guy" mentality.

Ronald, I would subscribe intelligence to you, except that you clearly don’t see to understand that when a preacher takes the words "chickens coming to roost" from another person, and uses it over and over in his sermon as part of his theme, that in fact he is essentially commandeering that sentiment and is owning it. How utterly pathetic that you attempt to paint his use of those words as not his own. I suppose it’s because you are black, and suspect you have heard such sermons quite often in your life. I suggest that if you are to report the 'truth" then you park your own biases at the door next time. Nice try though buddy.

Some animal who calls himself "me" wrote this:

"So too here, the sermon shows a complete lack of perspective, and shifts into a general indictment of society and the ills afflicting us. One can not fix all ills. Our society of limited resources is one where tragic choices are made in terms of what we focus on. This is why we can spend so much money to save some whales in the sea rather than some poor children in need medical help."

I categorically inform you that you are a beast from the wild. When it comes to providing funds for healthcare a