Hi Sarvis;

I know you are intelligent and not naive in any sense of the word but based on what you are writing here and dissecting is the Minister and whether he is shouting this at every sermon and although I cannot say I have personally witnessed him saying it and probably never will but...

Down here in the South every Sunday (all day sundays) the slavery card is used in some context to justify white hatred or black oppression, depending on what stance you need to garner advantage...this is why the sound bytes have caused such "hysterical bullshit".

Just One True story: At xmas white light bulbs were removed at the request of the minister of a black church! I did not know what to say and still don't.

But what I feel is that we should have moved beyond this card since our constitution has addressed this wrong since 1865!!! I will not atone for the actions of our ancestors but I will fight to uphold those changes. I will say loudly it was wrong but I will not be held responsible in any way.

On another note: I feel for Obama because he will get it from all sides no matter what he does now...he needed to distance himself from this to support CHANGE these resentments rather than condone the attitude of both sides, although I know he showed he had empathy for both perspectives, how could he not being bi-racial, but he has to not make excuses for anyone and say what he thinks he can do to move this along, I think. Pretty words are great but we need words that are piercing to all sides...imo.

kim