Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.So the "white" have not yet embraced "right"? This is racist and divisive, and worse, it was met with laughter and official embrace, not the opprobrium it deserved.
Reverend Lowery has been jailed, shot at, fire hosed and dog-bitten, among other things, all in the noble pursuit of civil rights (human rights!).
This great, brave man, basking in that glorious day on a dais of pomp and glory, with the whole world watching, crouched down and stuck chewing gum under the seat of American consciousness.
He obviously paid no heed to the new president's words:
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.Beautiful words, but difficult to accomplish when citizens are aiming racist jibes at one another. No one should understand that better than Reverend Lowery, and the president who laughed at his words.
Time to set aside childish things. Yeah...
