The Corporate Curse

The truth about the economy comes more from history than theory, as Sam Smith here demonstrates.  5/8/08

John McCain and other Republicans running for office this year have a big problem. The ideas by which they have been winning elections have been tried over the past few decades and now large numbers of Americans realize that they do not work. Whether foreign or domestic policy, conservatives have had their chance. People know that tax cuts cannot go on forever without creating such huge deficits that the whole government is severely damaged. Conservatives might like that, but most people want their government to do things that make their lives better, not worse. The idea that private business can do everything better than government programs has been proved over and over now not to be true, in such matters as providing electricity and health care and not least concerning public schools. An article in the Washington Monthly reports on recent studies about so-called school choice. Even original proponents of vouchers are now concluding that such programs just do not work. And large numbers of conservatives themselves, in their local communities, want nothing to do with vouchers. They want good public schools. Watch to see whether McCain and other Republicans continue to push for vouchers; if they do you know that the facts don't mean anything to them.

The View from Ho Chi Minh City

A travel report of first hand observations about Singapore and Vietnam.  5/1/08

Media-Driven Presidents

Obama's rejection of his pastor Jeremiah Wright is profoundly disappointing.  5/1/08

Wright Speaks: Substance versus Sound Bites

The self-justification of media leaders will not allow a real critiqe from a credible religious figure.  4/29/08

A substantial "landscape survey" has been completed by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Take a look at this page on religious affiliations. "Evangelical Protestant" denominations constitute 23.6 percent of the adult population and "mainline Protestants" make up 18.1 percent. Nearly 24 percent of adults are Catholics and historically black denominations make up 6.9 percent. "Unaffiliated" make up 16.1 percent of adults. It is always an issue how these groups are defined. But the survey is interesting for those who want to interpret what is happening in religion today, especially since different forms of religious faith have become so important in political campaigns.

Selling Your Brain: Politics and Public Intellectuals

Who would you say are public intellectuals today?  4/4/08

Saving the Wealthy from Themselves

A conservative administration is beginning an economic revolution.  4/2/08

Hillary Clinton's Pastor Talks Some Sense about Preachers and Politics

Methodist Pastor Edward Matthews expresses sympathy for Jeremiah Wright  4/2/08

Iran, Iraq and a Culture of Arrogance

Two months before the war in Iraq George Bush did not know the difference between Sunni and Shia.  4/1/08

The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. is now presenting a conference on the 40th anniversary of killing of Martin Luther King, April 4, 1968, entitled "Remaining Awake: A Week Celebrating Racial Reconciliation & Justice". Speeches can be viewed online by John Lewis and Taylor Branch. The latter is the author of the three volume biography of King and his times.

Fixations of Conservative Republicans

Not being able to see what is going on all around you means you will make some very big mistakes.  3/31/08

Save Your Souls, You Greedy Bankers

The Bishop of Rochester, England, has some Easter words for the rich.  3/31/08

Malicious and Mindless Media: The New Republic Gets It Wrong on Wright

Articles by E. J. Dionne and Dayo Olopade in The New Republic seriously miss the mark.  3/30/08

If you have been convinced by the white conservative media that Jeremiah Wright is a viscious hate monger you should watch this video. I believe that pastors and members of churches should begin to speak up publicly on behalf of this prophet of the church. You may not agree with every position Wright has taken on some issues, but over-all this man is a prophet for our time and speaks much more solid truth than you can receive from the corporate media that has an interest in either gaining ratings for profit or intentionally undermining the experience of the black church, the church which has nurtured and sustained a man who may be the next president of the United States. This is no longer a partisan issue, it is a matter of telling the truth not only about a particular pastor but of the whole history of race in the United States. Wholesale attacks on Jeremiah Wright are expressions of the depth of racism within this society, white people willing to believe the worst about black people and black leaders. Watch this video, see the integrity and joy of people of Trinity Church who are being maligned by the media, hear Pastor Wright preaching the love of God for all.

Obama’s Gambit: Civil Religion

Philip Gorski places Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright into a framework for understanding civil religion in the U.S.  3/29/08

What a deal, religion is so important in politics that political candidates are now fighting over who their pastor is. Robert Scheer, a liberal columnist, fired from the Los Angeles Times a while back, has written a piece, in which he says: "I respect Barack Obama's right to repudiate his pastor's comments, as he did, but I respect even more his refusal to throw the man overboard in a practice we witnessed all too often with the Clintons when they came under right-wing attack. Hillary did it again Tuesday, telling the right-wing Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial board that Wright "would not have been my pastor." So she says, but the record shows she was there in the White House on Sept. 11, 1998, when her husband posed for a photo with the Rev. Wright and was grateful for his support in the midst of that wrath-of-Leviticus blue dress flap. Ingrate."

Bush's War Exposed

A definitive account of the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been presented by the Public Broadcasting System.  3/25/08

A Prophet Never Sits at Ease in Zion

Ralph E. Luker talks about Vernon Johns, Martin Luther King, and Jeremiah Wright.  3/25/08

Torture in Georgia Prisons

What is happening now in Georgia prisons ought to cause all people to be outraged at this injustice.  3/25/08

Luther's Strong Language

Jeremiah Wright is in good company concerning strong language including damnation.  3/24/08

Brite Divinity School Honors Jeremiah Wright

A Fort Worth, Texas, higher education institution chooses to honor the ministry and career of Barack Obama's pastor this year.  3/24/08

Race, Religion and Politics, A Little History

The energy of the Republican Party comes from its opposition to liberal civil rights gains of the 60s.  3/23/08

Killing another Prophet: Jeremiah Wright

Conservatives are intent on killing the influence of a prophetic preacher.  3/21/08

"God didn't call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war. . . . And we are criminals in that war. We've committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I'm going to continue to say it. And we won't stop it because of our pride and our arrogance as a nation. But God has a way of even putting nations in their place...[God will say:] And if you don't stop your reckless course, I'll rise up and break the backbone of your power." - Martin Luther King in his statement against the Vietnam War.

Fox News and other television and radio broadcasters are using over and over the clip where Jeremiah Wright uses the phrase "God damn America." This use I believe is breaking the commandment against bearing false witness. It is public lying. It is a clear case of malicious use of a pastor's comment for political purposes because it totally omits the full context of the sermon. A fuller version of the sermon can be viewed here. In this sermon Pastor Wright gives a brief history of slavery and black history. It is against this history that he uses the phrase condeming America, and all Americans should agree. I think anybody who attacks Pastor Wright with the brief clip is acting in a racist manner. Whether or not you support Obama for president the reputation of Pastor Wright should not be maligned in this way. Here is a fuller version of Pastor Wright on 9/11. I encourage anyone who sees this done to contact the station and let your views be known.

At the moment, on air waves across the country, conservative talk shows hosts are maliciously attacking a Protestant pastor, a member of the United Church of Christ, a man with a long history of faithful ministry. His fault? He is the pastor of Barack Obama. The whole conservative movement is founded on the idea that it represents God, that God hates liberals, that God hates those who believe in peace and justice for the world. It goes straight to the heart of conservative blasphemy to suggest that God may not be on their side. Obama himself has not adequately responded to the Wright controversy, he has backed away too much from his pastor's statements rather than point to the the truth in them. I believe it is critically important right now for all people of good faith, faith in the true God revealed in the scriptures as a God of justice for all, to stand up in support for Jeremiah Wright. What he has said in the film clips now circulating is taken out of context and visciously portrayed as a man who hates America. I encourage everyone to write a letter to the editor, send a message to the leaders of your churches, encourage your pastors and leaders to stand up and support this servant of the church. You might begin by viewing a statement of support by the president of the United Church of Christ, The Rev. John H. Thomas.

A Strategy for Obama on His Pastor

Ed Knudson offers some thoughts on how to respond to the courageous preaching of Jeremiah Wright  3/17/08

The Audacity of Hope by Jeremiah Wright

The pastor of Barack Obama gave this sermon in 1990.  3/16/08

Egalitarian Corporate Lawyers

Shared Economic Growth: Wouldn’t That Make More Sense?  3/10/08

The People's Ball

Nicholas von Hoffman writes about what an Obama inaugural celebration would look like, Alinsky style.  3/10/08

Theocracy Rejected by Former Religious Right Leaders

Frank Schaeffer, John Whitehead and Cal Thomas have repudiated the theocratic movement they once led. Here’s why.  3/10/08

The Poison of Poverty in the Minds of Children

Neuroscientists link impairment of language development and memory of children to poverty.  2/28/08

Robbery Requires Violence: The Role of Race, Religion and Money in Political Violence Today

Presentation to a conference on religion and violence in Solvang, California  2/25/08

The following is a message from an Obama campaign worker: "Just wanted to share something moving that happened to me yesterday. I was calling supporters in the area to tell them about an Obama event. While speaking with an elderly woman I asked if she had indeed indicated she was an Obama supporter before moving on with my invite. She could barely say "yes" before she began crying. She had heard Obama speak and studied his books and knew his passion was real. Weeping, she went on to tell me that she had very much wanted to support Hillary because she had so deeply hoped to see a woman president in her lifetime. And she knew that she wouldn't if Obama were elected. But she said it "just breaks her heart" to see the Clinton's acting this way. This made me realize that this election means so much more to many people - that it is not just a "horserace" like many past elections have been. And that supporting one candidate over another is a very difficult decision for many to make."

The Broadcasters’ Big Payday

Amy Goodman discusses how the media profit from political campaigns, especially this year.  1/13/08