Thanks EJ!

Finally!  I've been waiting for someone to say something that makes a little bit of sense in the Obama-Wright controversy.  No surprise that EJ Dionne steps up to the plate, pointing out the hypocrisy of how quick our society is to condemn radical black preachers while being more diplomatic and understanding of racist white preachers who say things like "God doesn't hear the prayers of the Jews" and call the Catholic church "the anti-Christ". 

I disagree with the biblical scholar he quotes towards the end of the piece who says Wright was wrong to cloak himself in the mantle of a prophet because "prophets of old didn't announce their prophetic prerogatives at press conferences and press clubs".  Well, duh! They lived 2,000 years ago!  That has nothing to do with anything.  I think we do have prophets today just as human society had prophets 2,000 years ago and just as we will 2,000 years from now.  Who knows how they're going to deliver their messages?  Prophets just might use press conferences and press clubs to speak truth to power.  Whether Rev. Wright is one or not is up for debate but it's silly to attack the means of delivery instead of the message.