Overexposure is a concern for many performers. Perhaps it would be a good concern to be embraced by many politicians, not the least of which is our current President. Because of a comment he made “off the cuff” (or with his favorite prop – the Teleprompter), the focus for several days on racial profiling and the actions of a white policeman arresting a black professor in Cambridge, MA. In an attempt to ameliorate this situation, the President invited Officer Crowley and Professor Gates to the Rose Garden for a Beer Summit (and to balance the racial components, Vice-President Biden was a late minute addition to the Beer-garden. It was somewhat ironic that a Summit called to try and bring some unanimity they were unable to agree on one beer to be served – four different beverages were served (one to each person at the table).
Did anything significant occur at this “Summit”? Was there any apology offered by anyone about anything? Was there any agreement about anything at all? The answer is – “No!” Many people are beginning to get annoyed at the constant statements about racial divides and racial-profiling in our nation. An illustration of this is: “In a March 21, 2008 syndicated column headlined "A Brief for Whitey," conservative commentator and MSNBC contributor Patrick J. Buchanan asserted, ‘America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.’ Buchanan was discussing Sen. Barack Obama's March 18 speech addressing race and controversial comments by his former pastor, Jeremiah A. Wright. He continued, ‘Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.’ Buchanan then asserted that ‘no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans…
Buchanan continued his statement by adding: “Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to. This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these: First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks - with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants. Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks. We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?”
It seems there are many assumptions – the vocal minority with their sweeping claims and indictments, and the silent majority with varying views on race and what is fair and right for our nation. ACTS 17:24-30 is comprehensive when it declares: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us…since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Consider these things with me.
Did anything significant occur at this “Summit”? Was there any apology offered by anyone about anything? Was there any agreement about anything at all? The answer is – “No!” Many people are beginning to get annoyed at the constant statements about racial divides and racial-profiling in our nation. An illustration of this is: “In a March 21, 2008 syndicated column headlined "A Brief for Whitey," conservative commentator and MSNBC contributor Patrick J. Buchanan asserted, ‘America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.’ Buchanan was discussing Sen. Barack Obama's March 18 speech addressing race and controversial comments by his former pastor, Jeremiah A. Wright. He continued, ‘Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.’ Buchanan then asserted that ‘no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans…
Buchanan continued his statement by adding: “Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to. This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these: First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks - with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants. Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks. We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?”
It seems there are many assumptions – the vocal minority with their sweeping claims and indictments, and the silent majority with varying views on race and what is fair and right for our nation. ACTS 17:24-30 is comprehensive when it declares: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us…since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Consider these things with me.
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