The truth behind Rev. Jeremiah Wright's 9/11 sermon

As this whole sordid episode has played out over the last week regarding the sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, I wanted to understand what he ACTUALLY said in this speech. I've been saying all week on CNN that context is important, and I just wanted to know what the heck is going on.

I actually listened to the sermon Rev. Wright gave after September 11 titled, "The Day of Jerusalem's Fall." It was delivered on Sept. 16, 2001.

One of the most controversial statements in this sermon was when he mentioned "chickens coming home to roost." He was actually quoting Edward Peck, former US Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan's terrorism task force, who was speaking on FOX NEWS. That's what he told the congregation. He was quoting Peck as saying that America's foreign policy has put the nation in peril.

"We took this country by terror away from the Sioux, the Apache, araw, The Comanche, the Arapaho, the Navajo. Terrorism.

"We took Africans away 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-miliatry personnel.

"We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with stealth bombers and killed unarmed teenage and toddlers, pregnant mothers and hard working fathrs.

"We bombed Qadafi's home, and killed his child. Blessed are they who bash your children's head against the rock.

"We bombed Iraq. we killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to pay back for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hard working people, mothers and fathers who left home to go that day not knowing that they'd never get back home.

"We bombed Hiroshima. we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than teh 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 black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff that we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost.

"Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred. And terrorism begets terrorism. 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 who is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said 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."

He went on to describe seeing the photos of the aftermath of 9/11 because he was in Newark, N.J. when the planes struck. After turning on the TV and seeing the second plane slam into one of the twin towers, he spoke passionately about what if you never got a chance to say hello to your family again.

"What is the state of your family?" he asked.

And then he told his congregation that he loved them and asked the church to tell each other they loved themselves.

His sermon thesis:

1. This is a time for self-examination of ourselves and our families.

2. This is a time for social transformation (then he went on to say they won't put me on PBS or national cable for what I'm
about to say. Talk about prophetic!)

"We have got to change the way we have been doing things as a society," he said.

Wright then said we can't stop messing over people and thinking they can't touch us. He then said we may need to declare war on racism, injustice and greed, instead of war on other countries.

"Maybe we need to declare war on AIDS. In five minutes the Congress found $40 billion to rebuild New York and the families that died in sudden death, do you think we can find the money to make medicine available for people who are dying a slow death? Maybe we need to declare war on the nation's healthcare system that leaves the nation's poor with no health coverage? Maybe we need to declare war on the mishandled educational system and provide quality education for everybody, every citizen, based on their ability to learn, not their ability to pay. This is a time for social transformation."

3. This is time to tell God thank you for all that he has provided and that he gave him and others another chance to do His will.

By the way, no where in this sermon did he said "God damn America." I'm not sure which sermon that came from.

This doesn't explain anything away, nor does it absolve Wright of using the N-word, but what it does do is add an accurate perspective to this conversation.

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.

So stay tuned.

Comments

[rikyrah]

I hope you bring this up tonight on CNN. That they're lying as to what sermon this comes from.

[Nola]

Thank you for providing a copy of the sermon. How can we get this published in major newspapers -New York Time or Washington Post. We the little people must fight the media with the truth.

[kim]

thank u Roland u are are agent of truth

[kim]

thank u Roland u are are agent of truth

[Jody Gaddy]

"Thank you for providing a copy of the sermon. How can we get this published in major newspapers -New York Time or Washington Post. We the little people must fight the media with the truth."

This is one of things that gives me great pains in this nation - Black Americans do NOT have our own national TV stations. We need TV stations that can compete with CNN, FOX, MSNBC. Mexicans have their own stations.

Bob Johnson (the guy who started BET) had the opportunity to develop one (correct me if I am wrong), he sold it. He was among the first to attack Obama.

I say this because the major networks are still in the mode to destroy Obama and I am afraid they will succeed. Look at Hillary and her lies and fabrications about NAFTA. She lied to Ohio voters about NAFTA. The documents which she had to be fored to release prove this conclusively. The media is not talking about this repeatedly the way they have repeating about Obama's preacher.

The preacher talked and used words to criticize America. He did not kill anybody or sent any job to oversea. BUT HIllary and BIll sent thousands of jobs from Ohio to Mexico due to NAFTA. She lied about this. She needs to go and apologize to Ohio voters. In fact, the voting in Texas and Ohio need to be rerun if you ask me. But no major media outlet cares about this. Rather, they are all talking like Obama's preacher committed treason. This is racism at its core and there is really nothing we can do about this excpet watch them destroy our own with their lies and racist mindset.

[Soldierette]

Roland, why haven't you been writing on CNN blogs lately? This is something that should be there most of all.

Thanks for your honesty and integrity in journalism. I've noticed it!

[Cynthia, TX]

Again, Lars did not want to talk to you about the whole sermon. He just wanted to spew his right wing conservative hate. America is tired of this and we are seeing that all over the blogsphere. But, Roland we all know this is really not about Pastor Wright this is about getting Hillary as the nominee so they can really turn on the hate.

[Chan]

oRoland, I love how you keep it real. You and maybe a few others speak facts rather than foolishness. We really need for the serman or even your brief summary of that article to circulate in on CNN website, newspapers, and other media outlets. Also, you need to tell you collegues at CNN that the Rev. Wright never said Damn America; therefore, they need to apologize on public television for speaking what somone else speculated.

[Andrea]

Roland, we need to get this on Tom Joyner, Michael Baisden and all these black preachers need to stand up NOW! I have been thinking all week why doens't someone look at the videos and see before and after. This is getting out of hand. On CNN Headline, this Glenn B had the nerve to talk about Rev. Wright as racist and he was spewing so much racial garbage and hatred-how could he talk about Rev Wright and he is actually getting paid to do this. If all our officials walk around with their head in the sand instead of standing up and saying enough is enough!

[Wilbur]

You can listen and download many of Rev. Jeremiah Wrights sermons in iTunes. Don’t accept what you hear he said, listen for yourself.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=142350012&s=143441

[Rochelle M. Kithcart]

You are a Blessing Mr. Martin! I agree with rikyrah, "how do we get this published in major news print media?" Believe me FOXNEWS will NOT publish this on their news stations. But that is okay because our REAL GOD will out all of this deception by the major conservative news shows.

You and David Gergen (and Jack Cafferty) are the balance that I look forward to on CNN and Anderson Cooper 360 in the evenings. I was glad to see Mr. Malik Shabazz on Fox and Friends this morning. Even though these news items are ugly and painful, the conservative news hosts don't realize they are strenghthening the position for them to fall (HARD).

Keep doing the great work that you do. You have stepped forward as a well respected and leading JOURNALIST OF TRUTH.

Be Blessed.

[dAnnE]

Roland...you always brighten my day with your outlook which is always honest and fair. I tune in here first for your perspective in order to prepare me for the angry, hard-hearted CNN bloggers. Their comments often amaze me.

[Lynne '08]

Thanks, Roland. I also emailed you a pic of Wright and Bill Clinton on 9/11/98 arm-in-arm! Guess FOX is not interested in that either -- umm, I wonder how the Superdelegates would respond to the pic???

[Miles]

Roland, thank you for your efforts. The grief I feel watching the present state of journalism is belayed by your professionalism. I needed the context you have provided with this article. The 9/11 sermon I attended at a local church was all about patriotism and very little about our creator, and even less the causes of the tragedy. I have to agree with Jody Gaddy and I would like to see more of your work.

[Celia]

I am distressed when I realise how lies and deception colour this whole campaign and are fed by poor journalism, mental laziness, and intentional evil. I love to listen to you Mr. Martin because you are the antithesis of these. I wish you had your own show on CNN so we could get more people to listen to good sense.

This is Good Friday. I suppose those of us who follow Christ should not expect to be treated better than He was. Senator Obama will just have to take these kinds of blows in his stride, rise above it all, and keep going.

Many people are ignorant becuase they choose to be. They believe what is convenient and listen to what does not challenge them.

We need to really pray for Senator Obama and this campaign.

[not a man of faith]

i am not a man of faith, but i think if i had belonged to a church with a man like wright, i would be a man of faith today. this man has been treated so unfairly by the media, any person who believes in the bible should learn the context of his comments and cry in shame for ever thinking he was a hate monger. this man has been wronged. this is so wrong, it makes me furious. i like obama but now im angry at him for distancing himself from wright. wright is a great man. he actually makes religion relevant. this man has a gift.

hopefully, somehow, one of the media outlets will pick up on this and allow the world to hear this mans words in proper context. people need to stop being so damned proud and show america some tough love - thats all wright is doing. do we not discipline children when theyve done something wrong? do we spoil them with compliments and ignore their faults? america is spoiled rotten by these people who are so outraged over these out of context comments. i am outraged. let the truth out, my friend. please find a way!

[dBone]

Dear Roland
I just watched two of Rev. Wright's unedited sermons and I want to cry for what the media has done to this man. It's hard to imagine that the clips we've seen played continuously on the news have merely been taken out of context. But it's true! When the tapes are played in full, there is nothing hateful in what Wright says. He is NOT speaking against whites. Rather, he is speaking against hate and violence.

I urge everyone to listen to Wright's words in context. I cannot believe the media so artfully cut these clips so as to mislead the American people. Or that they conveniently left out of their commentary that Wright is a veteran who was at LBJ's side when LBJ underwent surgery. He has received three presidential commendations and was invited to the White House twice! He was one of the "core" ministers President Clinton invited to the White House to hear his confession regarding Monica Lewinsky.

Again, please watch the videos. I have continued to support Barack through all of this but I must admit I felt uneasy about this issue. Now, I can rest easy. In fact, I'm even more in support of him since he did not bow to pressure to denounce Rev. Wright.

Videos:

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

[the entire truth please]

The New York Times nor Washington Post will dig any deeper to get to the truth- they are headline grabbers. I just filed a complaint with the FCC to register a complaint of the edited version of Rev Jeremiah Wright's 9/11 sermon after hearing it in its entirety. I recommend that everyone who is also outraged by this latest political maneuver by...(add a name), register your complaint: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html. If enough of us use our power by going to the FCC- it may prove to be a powerful weapon. Remember "Nipple Gate"- Janet Jackson and the Super bowl?

[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

[Cheryl]

Roland, again I say thank you for the truth.

Just as others have said Rev. Wright and the Trinity United Church of Christ as well as Sen. Obama is owed an SINCERE APOLOGY from the media, they have misled people about this 'MAN OF GOD'. I know that there will be some that will not agree. Whoever found the sermons and took just those clips from (3)
different sermons meant it for 'EVIL' but as everyone who has heard these messages in their entirety now know that his messages was not racist.

'TOGETHER WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL'. I started supporting Sen. Obama from the very beginning and even through all of this madness. Common sense says, that we can Agree to DisAgree but not lose sight on what we really have to do to,and that is to help, encourage, uplift one another.

Roland, keep up the good work.

Cheryl

[Cal]

Thanks Roland!,

I pray for this country because the unfair treatment of Rev. Wright is deplorable.The clips are, obviously, out of context, yet, the media continues to play them and speak harshly about Rev. Wright.The complete videos should be REQUIRED viewing or reading for all talk hosts, critics and commentators.I, along with so many, many, other good citizens are outraged that the media had the nerve to play these clips without presenting a context, the full sermons, or anything that would accurately depict the message of Pastor Wright.

[F. Davis]

If some of the comments by Wright actually came from what Edward Peck said you have to question why no one not even Black writers has pointed this out?

[John]

A must read book, if you want to understand the truth behind the sermon The Great Rev. Wright speech..

Stephen Kinzer's latest book, "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq," is, I think, a necessary and valuable contribution to the study of American history. It's one of those few books that I begin reading and find difficult to put aside. While not exactly a "thriller" in the ordinary sense of a James Bond novel, I found myself continuing to turn page after page, reluctant to take a break, hesitant to stop reading lest I miss something important by forgetting where I left off and, all in all, curious about what was coming next. This was strange; after all, I taught American history for over ten years and have continued to study it ever since I left teaching. But not much of the "stuff" Kinzer is relating. No, the whole idea of so-called "regime change" was never a topic discussed in a history class I taught. For that matter, it was not a topic in any American history course I took in college.

Now, this does not mean that those of my generation were ignorant of the things of which Kinzer writes. I grew up and lived in the era when many of the "regime changes" discussed by the author were taking place. Neither I nor my contemporaries, however, used the term "regime change" or looked at those incidents through the conceptual lens that many of us do today. As close as I remember getting to this sort of political reality was when I spent ten days in Hawaii way back in the 1960s and was introduced to a few native Hawaiians who did not have very good things to say about the American missionaries and businessmen who stepped afoot on their island and simply took control, changing (or "destroying"?) a culture that had been around for hundreds of years and successfully so. A "regime change"? Well, I don't think any of us looked at it quite that way back then.

This book definitely reminds us of some uncomfortable incidents in American history. The United States, as Kinzer points out, has overthrown at least fourteen sovereign foreign governments. Furthermore, the United States seems to have adopted a policy of interfering in foreign governments long ago, possibly as long as a hundred years or so. So our recent invasion of Iraq, for instance, in the name of "regime change," should come as no surprise to the informed. Actually, many of the "intrusions" the United States has made into other countries -- whether by supporting friendly coups, by fomenting internal revolutions, or by just plain military invasions -- have occurred during my lifetime. These include Cuba, Iran, Viet Nam, Chile, Grenada, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Panama, and most recently, Iraq. I might relate that I was in Central America during the time of the hostilities in Nicaragua and Guatemala and did experience firsthand some of the problems there.

There is no doubt in my mind that the United States has aggressively interfered in the internal affairs of other nations. That is a matter of record. And I submit that it is difficult to justify most of this interference since it was either promoted by or in the personal interests of American alien-residents or large corporations who simply wanted to exploit the local populace and their natural resources. Kinzer provides many examples of both cases and he does it objectively and dispassionately. Historical facts are historical facts. The United States does have many things to be ashamed of regarding its foreign policies and practices.

Let's be fair, however, and look at the excursions which are narrated by Kinzer with some historical perspective. While it is true that the United States government has involved itself in many questionable and possibly condemnable practices in foreign affairs, it has certainly not been alone. It has had no monopoly on international intrigue and exploitation. England, France, China, Holland, Spain, Japan, Germany, Turkey, Russia -- need I go on? -- are also guilty of building empires of their own, invading foreign nations, exploiting human beings, and involving themselves in, to say the least, despicable practices.

This is not an excuse for the behavior of the United States regarding its past or present international "sins," but it is necessary to place these matters in some perspective. If the United States is to be considered the "Great Satan" out there, it has lots and lots of company. Many other countries need to realize that they may be part of the "international problem" too. That being said, the United States has to do much better on the international stage. America needs to be an exemplar of democratic reform and human rights and it can't do that by trying to impose such through the force of arms. As I have said elsewhere: The United States may currently be the "big man" on the international campus, but it ought not be the "big bully" in the international school yard.

I think that Kinzer ends his book with an observation that all of us need to take to heart. He says: "The United States rose to world power more quickly than almost any nation or empire ever has. Filled with the exuberance and self-confidence of youth, it developed a sense of unlimited possibility. Many Americans came to believe that since they had been so successful in building their country, they not only duplicate that success abroad but were called by Providence to do so. Responding to this call, and to their belief that they are entitled to a large share of the world's resources, they set out to overthrow foreign governments. Most of these adventures have brought them, and the nations whose histories they sought to change, far more pain than liberation." I'll second that.

Lest readers think that Kinzer in his book or I in my review are being "unpatriotic" at this critical time, let me remind them that "patriotism" means "love of one's country," not "love of one's current government." This book is a must read for all true "patriots."

[James O'Neill UK.]

Hi I am English and I did a blog RADIO SHOW on this issue of the rev Wright and here is the show description - Why Black African America should withdraw Totally from voting in politics in the USA! - it may interest you and is worth listening to and here is a direct link to it! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/THE_DEAFENING_SILENCE_Radio_Show/2008/03/30/THE-DEAFENING-SILENCE-Radio-Show-Hosted-by-English-Psychic-Healer-James-ONeill-
All The Best James O’Neill