Challenge to Barack Obama: Invite Wright
When my daughter was 5, she was run over by a van while crossing the street in a crosswalk. By some miracle she wasn’t killed (which amazed the paramedics), but she did sustain cuts and bruises. Her face was deeply cut, and you could see the tire marks on her hip where they went over her. It was, without question, the scariest moment in her short little life and definitely the scariest moment in my longer one.
After the accident, she was terrified to cross the street, even with an adult holding her hand. She shook like a leaf at the prospect, and for awhile wouldn’t even set her feet in one, insisting that one of us carry her, which we did for the time that her physical bruises were healing.
At some point we realized that if we kept carrying her, we were enabling her to hold her fears as legitimate and lasting instead of facing them and moving on.
So we began the work of teaching her that the crosswalk was not the enemy; the careless driver in the van was. It took awhile. It took some unconventional detours, like signing her up for irish dance competitions to give her confidence on the stage and in the crosswalk. After about a year, she got it.
This is not to say that she isn’t a bit freaked when some idiot turns through a crosswalk at breakneck speed or she sees a news report about pedestrians being mowed down. Both of us have to blink and swallow when that happens.
But she’s not afraid of her own ability to make a judgment call and step into a crosswalk. She knows what to look for, when to wait and when to go. She doesn’t shake with fear.
Similarly, it’s time for Barack Obama to introduce the American people to the Real Jeremiah Wright. The one who has fire when he preaches, yet is gentle when he ministers. The Jeremiah Wright with a passion for people suffering and in need, the Jeremiah Wright who overcame his own concerns about AIDS/HIV and gays in time to embrace and advocate for them when no one else would. The same Jeremiah Wright who offered Bill Clinton comfort and encouragement in the lowest days of his Presidency.
It’s time to start helping Americans overcome their fears. It’s time to set the record straight on this man and neutralize the orchestrated demonization.
Barack, take him out, let him talk to people. He’s a pastor. He’ll get it. And you’ll do a tremendous service to those who think he’s just some radical, separatist whacko by showing them what it means to be a man of God and a man of conviction all at once.
Reverend Jeremiah Wright begins his unveiling on Bill Moyers tomorrow night. After that, let’s see him by Barack’s side a few times, not campaigning, just being Dr. Wright.
PS to Lynn Sweet: The truth is EXACTLY what Obama needs. Dr. Wright is not a stupid man. The media is stupid for spinning him as one.
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