Does Rev. Jeremiah Wright have a split personality? His criticism of our government was perfectly acceptable and within his rights as an American citizen. I didn't even mind the clips played over and over on YouTube because I've read enough to know the true context. His interview with Bill Moyers last week was truly inspirational. However, the words of Rev. Wright the last few days have been puzzling. I was taken back by his comments to the NAACP about how African Americans instinctively interpret music differently and are predisposed to being right-brained (creative) instead of left-brained (logical). That smacked of the same kind of ignorance that exists in the people he criticizes. It does nothing but feed prejudice and discrimination. Maybe he was just out of his element. Maybe he meant to do that. Maybe he was trying to create the kind of uneasy feeling found in the movie "Crash" where racism is thrust out into the open spaces of dialogue for all to see in its ugly details. If he was, then it was at best poor timing and at worst devious.

I've supported Rev. Wright on this site and I still marvel at the few sermons I've listened to, but I'm not about to suggest that I blindly support his latest words. I'm saddened by his those words. Barack Obama is right to distance himself, but he is also right not to disown him as a friend. I have friends who are bigots. I have friends and family who are ignorant and I firmly believe their religious beliefs and political views are harmful, yet they are still my friends and family. I love them. I would not expect Obama to disown Rev. Wright because he said something wrong, and it doesn't then make his previous statements wrong also. Those statements are still valid, but his latest are certainly not.