It must be a nice world Obama worshipers supporters live in, one where everything has an easy explanation and when that’s challenged invoking the Johnny Cochrane defense (when there is no defense for the accused, attack the accuser) is perfectly legitimate.  Jew-hating racist pastor for twenty years?  He missed all those services, thus proving it’s possible to be a devoted member of a church without ever actually attending.  Best buds with domestic and international terrorists?  He’s never seen them kill anyone.  Repeated comments about redistributing wealth?  Why, that’s not socialism; he’s talking up a middle-class tax cut!  R-i-g-h-t.  No wonder Ralph Barbieri, one of the sports blab bozos at KNBR in San Francisco which carries among other teams the Giants, is such a fervent Obama supporter.  To be one requires the same level of disconnect from reality as that which permeates his favorite baseball team’s fan base, the one which for years insisted the only juice connected with Barry Bonds was maybe orange — team color, y’know — and besides we’ve got Tim Lincecum who’s not only going to win the Cy Young award every year for the next twenty or so seasons it’ll be renamed after him.  World Series for sure!

Although presenting reality to such people has the approximate effectiveness level of splashing water on the Rock of Gibraltar in the expectation it will immediately dissolve, if for no other reason than the sheer joy of being able to officially say “I told you so” when their world comes crashing down let’s take a look at one of Jeremiah Wright’s recent missives.  Yeah, yeah, I know; just because someone attended someone’s church for two decades and has called him a mentor and friend doesn’t mean his thinking or whatever it’s called has any influence.  But of course.  However, indulge me for a moment.  As a sidenote, you might want to take a moment to peruse the words of the guy whose church I attend.  Back to Wright; this comes straight from a church bulletin dated July 23, 2006.  And he didn’t even wish me a happy birthday.  Harrumph!

There is a two-ton gorilla sitting in the living room and nobody wants to acknowledge its presence!

God have mercy on me if I ever used the word ‘gorilla’ in any sense whatsoever when speaking of the black church or any member thereof.  But since I’m a McCain supporter, obviously I’m a racist bitterly clinging to my guns and religion.

We not only will not talk about it.  We pretend we don’t see it!

But enough about the mainstream media and Obama.

Jews and Muslims are killing each other in Lebanon, Beirut and Israel.

At the time this was written, Israel had invaded Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah terrorists having used bases in southern Lebanon to launch rocket attacks at Israel along with staging raids to kidnap Israeli citizens.  Obviously the whole thing was the fault of those Jews, right?

Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other in Baghdad and Afghanistan.

As they have been for centuries.  Your point?  And just for fun try preaching tolerance to those zany kids.  Let me know how that works for you.  But before you give it a whirl, try looking up the history of the two sects.  Then get back to me on how you’re going to put an end to this.  I’ll be waiting… just like I’m still waiting for an Obama supporter to provide justification for why someone should vote for him based on his qualifications and experience.

Muslims and Christians are killing each other in Sudan and northern Nigeria.

It’s mostly Muslims killing Christians.  And in case you haven’t noticed, it’s about the oil, stupid.

Faith (what people believe) is causing more deaths than HIV/AIDS, the world’s fastest growing pandemic!

Number of AIDS-related deaths in 2007: two million.  2.2 million in 2006.  Estimated deaths from war per year in recent history: 36,000.  Good thing to know Wright’s math skills equal his theological acumen.  Oh, and thanks for telling us what the word ‘faith’ means.  Never would have known if you wouldn’t have told us.  And if your congregation is so stupid to need the definition, you’ve done a really suck job of teaching them.  Now haven’t you.

Faith (what people believe) turns family members into lifelong enemies.

Okay, kiddies, read along with Uncle Jerry.  From the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter ten, verses thirty-four through thirty-six: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”  Don’t like it?  Go argue with Jesus.  Be prepared for it being rather one-sided.  And not in your favor.

Faith (what people believe) leads some people to hatred of others, murder and demonization of God’s other children — those not like “us” or those who don’t believe what we believe.

Quite true… about some religions.  Jesus?  He was into this “love your enemies — do good to those who hate you — bless those who curse you” thing.

Where has the tolerance of those who are not like “us” gone?

You tell me, Mr. US of KKK-A G-D America.

Is it possible to live on the same planet with people whose faith is different from ours?

Is it possible to pose a stupider rhetorical question?

Is it possible to live in the same country?

Yes, despite the efforts of racists such as yourself.

Is it possible to live in the same state?

If San Francisco and Los Angeles can do it…

Is it possible to live on the same block?

You’d let me move next door to you?  I mean, what with my bitterly clinging to guns and religion and all.

Is it possible to live in the same family or the same house?

I do believe Jesus addressed this already.

Can faith (what we believe) and tolerance (allowing others to believe what they believe — without denigration, condemnation, demonization or subjugation) co-exist?

Every time I hear the word ‘tolerance’ Ezekiel 13:9-11a comes to mind: “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations.  They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel.  Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.  Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall.”

This world does not define tolerance when put into action as St. Paul defined it for the believer in Hebrews 12:14: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  To be holy means living in the truth as well as speaking the truth.  So what is truth?

Inconvenient though it may be, there is absolute truth.  There is right and wrong.  This world defines tolerance as every everything being equal and equally valid, including all religions.  This is not how Jesus defined it.  Not only did He declare Himself to be the Son of God, He also said, “I am the way and the truth and the light.  No one comes to the Father except through me (Jn. 14:6).”  Sorry, everything is legitimate crowd, but that doesn’t leave much wiggle room.  As in none.

Dr. Martin Luther King said we need to learn to live together as brothers and sisters in this world, on this planet and in this country (and I would add in this city and in our families!)

He also extolled the virtues of integration.  I’ll keep that in mind as I see you segregate and isolate yourselves then cry discrimination.

We need to learn tolerance.

Just as long as it doesn’t include suffering fools lightly, which is the only way you’ll get off the hook.

We need to learn to live together as God’s family or we will all die together as God-forsaken fools!

Being a fool doesn’t always lead to death.  You’re still breathing, aren’t you?

Think about that this week.

That’s the problem.  We do think.  You?

Pray about it and then do something about it!

I just did via illustrating through Scripture and facts you are a babbling bigoted moron.

Which says what about someone who attended your church for two decades?