4 MAY 09: Wright of Free Speech

The scene late Sunday afternoon admittedly surprised me. I took a camera in case of trouble, but there was none. I took a tape recorder in case someone became angry, but no one did. In fact, the loudest shouts of the evening probably happened where they were expected -- inside the church revival service.

Controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright apparently received a warm welcome Sunday evening, as a revival began at St. John A.M.E. Church on Steam Mill Road. Everything seemed calm outside, as there were no opponents in sight. I thought there might be a demonstration - you know, by other Protest-ants.

I chatted for a moment outside the church with a man named Antonio, who admitted his main purpose was NOT to hear Jeremiah Wright. He's an aide to South Columbus United Methodist Church Pastor Joseph Roberson, and sings in Methodist choirs. "When we're told the choir's singing, I sing," he said. It's a bit like a sports team staging a Fort Benning night....

Antonio thought for a second, when I asked if he was concerned about the controversial comments Jeremiah Wright has made in sermons. "If I haven't heard the entire sermon, and heard the context of what he said, I really can't comment on it." This man clearly has NO future as a radio talk show host.

Antonio pointed out how the news media like to "carve things up" into soundbites, so the context of a statement can be lost. This statement left me feeling guilty - because I didn't tape-record what Antonio said, to try it for myself.

While Antonio might be considered "neutral" when it comes to Jeremiah Wright, the opponents were noticeably absent Sunday. If this was May 2008, I'm not sure that would have been the case. Republicans tried to link Wright's messages at a Chicago church to church member Barack Obama. The President still seems to be looking for a Washington church where tape recordings are prohibited.

This blog broke the news about last year's scheduled visit by Jeremiah Wright to Columbus [22 Apr 08]. It happened when an e-mail to us suggested something be done to stop Wright's appearance. Apparently the Big Eddy Club didn't make him a big enough offer to skip town this year.

St. John A.M.E. Pastor Debora Grant told Sunday's Ledger-Enquirer last year's debate about the Jeremiah Wright appearance stemmed primarily from politics. I'm not so sure about that. For some of Wright's critics, it's at least a matter of patriotism - and at worst concern that God actually will listen to Wright, and curse our country once and for all.

As it happened, I attended a church service Saturday where two different speakers referred to Jeremiah Wright - both in negative tones. Maybe this explains the lack of protesters Sunday evening. The critics vented their anger by hollering "amen" toward preachers they like.

The speakers could not believe Jeremiah Wright would call on God to, uh, do the opposite of blessing America - especially when the U.S. provides Wright freedom to speak and give sermons. Yet one critic also brought up the Biblical prophet Jonah, who warned Nineveh was doomed for collapse. Jonah apparently also had freedom of speech - because his only punishment came when he tried to avoid speaking.

One of the speakers told me after the service that Jeremiah Wright speaks of a curse on the U.S., while he lives in a "$4.2 million house." We checked online Sunday night, and the value is more like one million. Well, that was the value last spring. Given what's happened to the housing market since then, Wright might be using it now as a homeless shelter.

So how did Sunday's revival service go, and exactly what did Jeremiah Wright say? Sorry -- job commitments prevented me from going inside the church to find out. I know from personal experience that revival meetings in Columbus sometimes can run four hours or longer. And the real "revival" stuff comes after worshipers fall faint in the aisles.

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E-MAIL UPDATE: At the other end of the spectrum from Jeremiah Wright, our InBox has this invitation....

Friends

This is a much requested update for the events occurring on 7 May 2009. You CAN NOT miss this opportunity. You WILL have the chance of a lifetime to actually pull the trigger on the Army's latest small arms weapons, the Army's largest machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper weapons, even the Bradley fighting vehicles. Mortar platoons will demonstrate their effectiveness. You will observe the launch and operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Instructors from the Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 29 Infantry Regiment will actually train you to fire the weapons by yourself...YES...one-on-one instruction from the most advanced and professional military instructors in the world...all for you.

The Big Gun Shoot is scheduled to begin at 6 pm on Fort Benning Georgia 7 May 2009.

I would encourage all to meet me at 5 pm on the west parking lot of Commando Military Supply Store on Victory Drive (immediately to the right of the I-185 south exit 1).

There we will register ($15.00 per person), collect waivers, ensure eye protection and hearing protection, and provide driving directions to the firing range.

You will be driving your vehicle onto Fort Benning property. Bring your Drivers License, your current vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

The schedule of events is:

500 pm register at Commando (West parking lot, between Commando and Commando Discount Store)

530 pm drive onto Fort Benning

600 pm watch Live Fire Exercise

630 pm receive safety briefing

640 pm begin shooting

Prior to the live fire you will be able to mingle will the soldiers who have trained and fought with these weapons. You can handle systems such as the M-240 medium machine gun and M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW). They will even fly an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and let you see the live video feed as it relay coordinates to the shooters.

I pray you can make this event as it promises to be an experience long remembered. As usual invite your family and friends there is no limit to the amount of people who can and will enjoy this event.

Contact me with your intent to participate Thursday, 7 May 2009. I will provide you with waivers and directions.

Bruce Stansbury, MAJ (ret)

Program Director

The Timothy Group

Columbus, GA

Cell-706-570-5719

Wow - you almost can be a soldier, without having to go through that boring Basic Training stuff.

I'm not sure what sort of waiver you need to attend Thursday's Big Gun Shoot. Presumably you have to meet an age requirement. And I suppose a doctor might have to verify you've never had post-traumatic stress disorder.

If there's been a Big Gun Shoot at Fort Benning before, I've never heard about it. It puts those November "turkey shoots" at rural farms to shame - unless you want to pretend the turkeys are members of the Taliban.

Moving on, a reader of our last blog entry was left a bit puzzled:

Dear Blogger;

On Sunday you posted an email to your blog, which is about the Chief of Police, his wife, Byron Hickey, and a missing gun. It sounds like " Mystery Theatre Downtown " - maybe the title of my next novel. The emailer said he was holding a grudge.

I have a few challenging questions for him, though I doubt he has the courage to answer them:

How and why did you witness Byron Hickey alledgely shooting at a robbery suspect?

How do you know the police chief's wife lost a gun?

Why do you hold a grudge against the chief of police?

Are there other grievances which you have not mentioned?

What would you like to see happen to rectify the wrongs you feel so strongly about?

Deborah Owens

I don't think the author of Sunday's e-mail will object to being named, because we've mentioned him here before. He's former Columbus Police officer Brent Rollins, who was fired from the force last year. That name probably answers most of the questions - and if Chief Ricky Boren joins the crowd running for Sheriff in 2012, that might answer the rest.

BIG PREDICTION UPDATE: The Atlanta Hawks proved me wrong Sunday, by chilling the Miami Heat 91-78 to win their first-round N.B.A. playoff series. The Hawks were at their best, and radio announcer Steve Holman on WEAM-AM clearly was on his best behavior. For instance, he referred often to "the Miami Coach" -- and completely stopped calling him "little."

Steve Holman actually called Miami star Dwyane Wade "an ambassador of the game." Quite a change from earlier in the series, when he sarcastically declared: "The 'Great Dwyane Wade' just threw one into the front row!" Maybe Holman went to church Sunday, because going to work.

Atlanta moves on to play Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, starting Tuesday. The Cavaliers had the best record in pro basketball this season -- which means they're not playing like Chevy Cavaliers at all.

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