PEN president K. Anthony Appiah was the eloquent master of ceremonies on Saturday afternoon, unruffled despite flaws in the sound system, as the venerable and stately Toni Morrison, reigning US Nobel laureate, in a remarkable show of writerly generosity, came...
Rev. Jeremiah Wright said some ugly things about America: that some of us
put America first with God a distant second. For some that god is Mammon
say God bless America and turn Your head from the slavery, racism and oppression that made us rich
say God bless America and forget our genocide against Native Americans and the theft of their land and that of others that gave us our country
say God bless America and overlook our wars for profit that gave us power
say God bless America and ignore our torture of helpless captives that makes us feel manly
luxuriate in our wealth and power, know nothing of mercy, justice and humility but proudly call upon Mammon to give us more.
Thank God there...
It was Tip O’Neill, the former Speaker of the House, who once said that all politics is local. With apologies to old Tip, I will go one step further. All politics is personal.
Whatever one’s political preferences, who cannot admire Barack Obama’s verve, spirit, and oratorical skills? But the words of his pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who Obama has revered and trumpeted as his inspiration and spiritual advisor, make one shudder with embarrassment for the candidate...
