Words matter
In “Whose words matter?” (Letters, April 18) Charles Gardner copied part of Sen. Barack Obama’s now famous speech on race and then asked: “Does it really matter what the Rev. Jeremiah Wright said?”
Yes it does, and here’s why. Anyone can write a moving speech. Some of the most murderous tyrants in history gave magnificent speeches. You can’t tell what’s in a man’s (or woman’s) heart or what he really believes from prepared, practiced speeches — especially in an election year when politicians will take whatever position is necessary to win. You learn someone’s character from his actions and unprepared statements. They tell you more than any prepared speech can.
Obama has so far made two statements that — contrary to what his supporters say — were not just poorly chosen but seem to go to his core beliefs. The first was the “typical white person” reference to his grandmother. Obama’s view of white people became crystal clear. Had a white man used the phrase “typical black person,” we would consider him a racist. Maybe Obama’s not as far from the beliefs of his church’s former leader as he would like us to think.
The second statement was that smalltown Americans cling to their guns and religion because of financial frustration. Here, too, I suspect he stated his true feelings about those of us who live in “fly over land” (as his elitist peers like to call us). To those he associates with — and perhaps Obama himself — we gun-totin’, Bible-preachin’, racist, ignorant hicks are too stupid to understand how things really are and need the enlightened “them” to lead us.
So what about Wright? Obama spent 20 years listening to Wright preach. Did none of Wright’s radical views rub off? How much black liberation theology does Obama follow?
And Obama’s been married since 1992. How much of his wife’s “there’s nothing America has done in her lifetime to be proud of” does he agree with? Do we really believe that in 16 years of marriage she has had no influence on his views — and won’t have if he’s president?
What we need to learn is what Obama’s view of America really is. Is it a view based on what his prepared speeches say — good people, individual freedom and capitalistic opportunity — or is it a view based on the elitist socialist hate-America ideas of those he associates and lives with and that creep out when he’s unscripted?
That is the reason Wright’s words are so important.
SILVIO DiGREGORIO, Flagler Beach
Well said Silvio.
Jesse
Posted by Jesse Roland 
Posted by Jesse Roland 
