Rudeness Precedes Racism at Obama Inauguration

The rudeness that greeted President George W. Bush and Pastor Rick Warren was surpassed only by the divisive flavor of Dr. Joseph Lowery’s closing prayer at yesterday’s inauguration of President Barack Obama.

While walking a tightrope of propriety and keeping his remarks less vile than those Rev. Jeremiah Wright might have delivered if given the opportunity, Dr. Lowery cast a veiled jab at conservatives early in his message:

For we know that, Lord, you’re able and you’re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.

Toward the end, he jumped into the deep end of a pool of racism, uttering the words below which few men other than the so-called “civil rights leader” would have deemed appropriate at a backyard barbecue, much less an inaugural:

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.

While some might dismiss most of the clergyman’s sing-song commentary as merely insensitive, few can dispute the fact that the final eight words in the paragraph above open up a Pandora’s Box of race-baiting brambles and thorns — words that do little to help the nation realize the goals of unity that had been offered by President Obama mere moments earlier:

“…because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass.”

If President Obama seeks true unity in this country, he will, in the future, refrain from giving people like Dr. Lowery platforms from which they can fan the flames of racism that should now be considered extinguished by the election of our nation’s first African-American president.

-- Bob McCarty Writes