Jeremiah
Wright, Hypocrisy, and the National Day of Prayer
Commentary by the Rt. Rev. Council Nedd II
On May 1st 2008, our nation celebrates its 56th official National Day of Prayer and I am
confident that Americans will once again be subjected to a litany of complaints from left-wing activists, public interest
lawyers and militant atheists about the government endorsing a day of prayer. We have all heard their silly arguments before
about how a day of prayer is tantamount to establishing a state religion and that America is one step away from becoming a
North American theocracy. Officially recognizing the importance of faith and prayer in the lives of a vast majority of Americans
poses no risk to our republic. Everyone from the most obscure atheist professor at the local college to the most battle-hardened
ACLU litigator knows it.
This year's National Day of Prayer will not be remembered for what the anti-religious left said about religion in the
public square, but what these oh-so-tolerant and righteous liberal muckrakers didn't say. Specifically what they won't
say about the most famous preacher in American today - the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
Reverend Wright makes no apologies for diving
headlong into political controversy from his perch in the pulpit of the Trinity United Church of Christ. According to Wright,
he sees it as a minister's duty to mobilize his congregation for political action and to rally the faithful to his radical
partisan banner.
Based on the complete and utter silence coming from the likes of the liberal groups like the ACLU, Americans United for the
Separation of Church and State, the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and People for the American Way, it seems these groups
have no problem with Reverend Wrights political sermons.
Where is their outrage and vitriol and their threats to boycott, protest and sue because Reverend Wright is violating the
sacred "Separation of Church and State?"
I suppose Wright's comments condemning America and his racist rants about the AIDS epidemic are not nearly as inflammatory
or dangerous as saying the Pledge of Allegiance, or erecting a nativity scene in front of a courthouse during the holidays.
One
would think that the racist ranting of an out-of-control minister who is the "spiritual advisor" to a man who could
very well become the next President of the United States would at least merit the same attention and condemnation from these
groups as would a picture of Jesus posted on a courthouse wall.
Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the case.
So, if a high school football coach bows his head while his players lead a pre-game prayer, that is a constitutional crisis.
But when a militant left-wing minister uses his position to spout hate-filled racist lies about our nation and its people,
that is just political speech? The hypocrisy of the American left is only outdone by their thirst for power.
