Jeremiah Wright axed from honorary degree by Northwestern U.

In a highly unusual move in the academic world, Northwestern University in suburban Chicago has publicly disinvited the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright from its June commencement ceremonies, where he was to receive an honorary degree.

It's another indication of the rolling repercussions of the retiring African American pastor's inflammatory comments on America, 9/11, race relations, the AIDs epidemic and Illinois' junior senator, Barack Obama.

As the leading candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Obama had hoped that the blow-up over videos of Wright's racially tinged sermons had gone away.

But this week Wright himself took the stump in Texas, Michigan and Washington to defend himself and to make further suggestions, one of which was that Obama was distancing himself from Wright for political reasons and might not really believe what he was saying.

That caused the candidate to make numerous strong statements further distancing himself.

Today comes word that the political controversy has....

...now seeped into the academic world as the only private institution in the Big Ten has quietly rescinded its offer of an honorary degree to Wright, which will keep Wright in the news a while longer as the crucial Indiana and North Carolina primaries loom next Tuesday.

When word of the disinvitation leaked, the school said it was acting on faculty committee recommendations.

The letter to Wright said: "Commencement at Northwestern is a time of celebration of the accomplishments of Northwestern's graduating students and their families. In light of the controversy around Dr. Wright and to ensure that the celebratory character of Commencement not be affected, the University has withdrawn its invitation to Dr. Wright."

According to the WBBM-TV website in Chicago, the university said a claim that Northwestern President Henry Bienen had questioned Wright's patriotism was not true.

Wright had been quoted elsewhere as saying Bienen had withdrawn the honorary degree invitation because Wright "wasn't patriotic enough."

"In his conversation and correspondence with Dr. Wright in March, President Bienen never characterized Dr. Wright's views or made a judgment about them," said a Northwestern spokeswoman, Mary Jane Twohey.

The letter said, "In light of the controversy surrounding statements made by you that have recently been publicized, the celebratory character of Northwestern's commencement would be affected by our conferring of this honorary degree. Thus I am withdrawing the offer of an honorary degree previously extended to you."

--Andrew Malcolm

                                      Photo Credit: Trinity United Church of Christ

Comments

[Lumberjack]

They need a bigger Axe.

[betsy]

For his next act, Wright should play the Alzheimer's card.

[robinia]

Shame on you Reverand Wright.

You, a black man, ruined the chances of yet another black man to break the highest racial barrier of the land, the Presidency! I hope you are proud of yourself.

It's one thing to believe in something. It is another thing knowing "when" to say them.

Was sleeping with Hillary worth it REVERAND?

Angry Obama Supporter

[zammy]

You know the now infamous man-of-the-cloth Mr. Wright - who is 100% wrong when it comes to timing -seemed as though he used Obama's sudden popularity to express and further his own social and religious platform.

Obama was HIS sacrificial lamb. UNBELIEVABLE. A BLACK MAN ruining the chances of another BLACK MAN's bid for presidency. Who would of thunk it?

See the new polls? Now tell me, who should I feel pity for?

[lina shantiqua quals]

Stupid Reverend Wright!

We almost take one giant leap forward, only to have a head pastor help us take 100 steps back. This is UNREAL! If I were white, I'm black honey, and didn't know any better, I'd be on the Clinton campaign as we speak.

But I'm black, and I still think Obama is the candidate to beat. However, the polls show a huge decline.

Thank you Mr. Wright...shame on you!

[jc]

Well first, U of Northwestern did the "right" thing.

Now, I'm supporting HIllary, as well as many former 'white' Obama supporters, because of Rev. Wright. What a shame.

[john]

Wright is a disloyal, low class SOB. Why any university would want to associate with this cretin is beyond me. I hope his congregation evaporates.

[Franky]

I doubt this guy is even a real Christian! He's an insane radical scamming his churches members for his own personal gain.

I feel sorry for all the people this evil man has fooled.

Trinity should close their doors and let real christians start a new church for those that need it most!

Given all of that, I still plan to vote for Obama.

[jb]

Shame on Northwestern! Putting the celebratory ahead of the cerebral. I guess that's the story of academia in this country: Go with what works, with what is fun, not with what may provoke and articulate uncomfortable truths. How could they buy the premise that Wright is looney? Did they actually look at what he said? It wasn't crackpot, it was honest social criticism. Kids read Invisible Man in school, but this guy is too divisive?

[Chrisropher Coughlin]

I am white and 64-years-old. I lived through the civil rights era, and have watched racial issues closely for most of my life. I admire anyone who speaks truth to power, and Pastor Wright's address to the National Press Club was just that, a breath of fresh air. If truth is inconvenient to you or a political candidate, tough.
It is time there were more Jeremiah Wrights in Washington, but unfortunately, we have a congress of cowards and a press made up, not of journalists in the George Seldes tradition, but sycophants hoping for a ride on Air Force One. The press is not only imbedded with the military, it is in bed with the military.
Most journalists are sucking up to a president who suffers from terminal little man's disease. When will journalists and academia love their country enough to relentlessly publish the truth? Jeremiah Wright should run as a write-in candidate for president. I would vote for him long before I would vote for Hillary, Obama or McCaine. He, at least, has the courage to tell the truth to power. Obama revealed himself to be a vanilla man, with no nuts at all, just another pragmatist who abandons friends to gain political power. What good would it do to put a black vanilla man in the White House?
Chris Coughlin

[San Ying]

North Western University is doing the right thing. Next, Wright needs be kicked out of his Church. Jesus preached love. Wright preaches hate.

[SimpleRep]

When in error the first time, "shame on YOU".

When in error the second time, "shame on ME!"

Come November, I'm not voting. Thank you Rev. Wrong.

Nothing wrong about free speech and the right to your own opinion.

But there is a god-given conviction called "discernment". Remember what your good book says, my fellow 'Christian'; "All things are lawful to me but all things are not expedient." (1 Corinthians 6:12)

You blew it for everybody. Congratulations. A Republican who almost supported Obama!

[arnie]

This is all a huge distraction that has nothing to do with Obama's ability to be president. remember the Howard Dean "scream" 4 years ago? This is another similarly idiotic media and political frenzy over nothing. But it may keep a decent and thoughtful person out of the White House. And when we're stuck with another republican or the Rove clone, who-knows-what-she-stands-for-anymore, Margaret Thatcher wannabee Hillary Clinton, perhaps those of us who continue to get riled up over such nonsense instead of paying attention to the real issues are getting just what they deserve. Too bad for the rest of us.

[Dee Dee]

Hey Wright dude, I'm Gonna act ig-nat like you and call you self rightous stupid idiot.

[Phil]

Sad. America is to ignorant to realize the majority of what Wright said is the truth. Now the man has been painted as a lunatic. That is a slap in the face to blacks and our view of this country. This type of stuff is the reason Michelle Obama said she is finally proud of this country. But the media has worked to erase any reason we had to believe this country was ready to face reality. That is what finally allowed us to start to have pride....but its gone now.

This is EXACTLY the lack of understanding that Obama talked about in his own race speech. This is exactly what Wright meant by different not deficient. America is not ready to understand how blacks feel about the overwhelming majority of our history in this country. And even though Wright has said nothing any more inflammatory than a Hagee or Falwell or Robertson his message is somehow deficient. Hagee, Falwell and Robertson can prance across TV talking about gays causing 9/11. But Wright quoting someone else saying the chickens have come home to roost is crazy.

Yes America hasn't come nearly as far as people want you to believe.

[Lou]

Maybe Wright could axe for it back.

(Good one! :-) )

[An American Citizen]

I AM APPALLED AT REV. WRIGHT'S REMARKS!!!

Although he says he is defending the black church [and his reputation] he seems jealous of Obama's success...that a young man who grew up in his church is now outshining him. [Ministers can be very egotistical and they are only human].
I gave Rev. W. the benefit of the doubt when he appeared with Bill Moyer [which was fine], at the NAACP [still respectable], but, he dropped the ball at the NPC as some of the remarks he made were absurd, nasty and vindictive.

Obama doesn't exhibit any of those grand-standing characteristics that Rev. Wright displays. Obviously, he wasn't listening too hard to the reverend...Obama probably fell asleep. I sincerely know that it's highly plausible and possible to sit in church and not be [totally] influenced by the minister, especially if you're not a kid. After all, Indivisuals have minds of their own...taking what we want and leaving the bs at the door.

Some sermons feel good [momentarily], but, when we leave church [entering into the real world] we put it all [logically and rationally] in perspective... ESPECIALLY, if one is a Harvard graduate. Years ago, a young [20-ish] Obama, new in town, wanted to belong. Then, years pass and [bam!] you're still sitting there with friends you've made and [the church does good deeds which Obama does as well]. People attending that church are decent respectable people ...teachers, doctors, lawyers, business people...all kinds of people. You say, what's wrong with this?...and America isn't totally innocent either.
I sincerely hope that [the white, black, hispanic people] who are thinking of changing their minds because of the Rev. really search their minds and hearts and ask themselves...Would you want to be judged by someone else's words or your own words? BUT, what really astounds me is how can the media make Rev. Wright more important than the war??...over 4,000 dead?? thousands hurt and/or maimed?? gas prices?? health insurance?? recession??
food prices??
The constant "STEERING AWAY" from real issues by the "MILLIONAIRES who control this country" is mind-blowing. DON'T LET THEM DO IT AGAIN AMERICA...OUT WITH THE MUD-SLINGING OLD POLITICS. LET'S EMBRACE THE NEW POLITICS AND STICK TO THE HARD ISSUES PLAGUING OUR COUNTRY.

The republicans and the "Clintons" [who have had a 'wonderful run', but, it's time for them to leave the arena in a dignified manner], are trying to stump the life out of Obama, but, I have much faith in America and I know we won't let them. Nevertheless, Rev. Wright did say one thing I agree with and that is...IF God wants Obama to win............ YES HE CAN!!! OH, YES, HE CAN!!!...and I still believe HE WILL!

[Franky]

To Phil:

Are we to come so far as to believe our own country created AIDS to kill ourselves?!? Can you enlighten us to help us understand that!?

Mr Wright is insane and no Christian - to support him is just as insane as supporting Hagee, Falwell, and Robertson - they are all extremists & terrorists! They all should return to their cave with OBL.

p.s. The "chickens" quote is the least of his insane rants.

[Annabella]

why would so many of you chose not to vote for obama because of Wright? That's what he wants to have happen... he wants to prove that America is still racist. He wants to show Obama that he can't transcend race. Oh no. You. Can't. And all of you were going to support Obama have now decided to go along with this madness? What am I missing? Why would you want to do something like that?

[BJ]

THANK YOU Rev. Wright for your revelation about Barack Obama, the man... the politician!

He is no agent of change! All he is, is a confidence man, smooth and slithery, and we don't buy his brand of Kool-Aid.

Very convenient of him to dump you, just as his ratings were going down.

You need to reveal more about this man and where his true affiliations lie!

We know that most of the pro-Obama bloggers here are paid bloggers.

[Dr. Jesse Kally-Williams]

In Africa the sages sharply distinguish between wisdom from knowledge. This old African tradition might have influenced St Augustine's idea of the difference he made between scientia and sapientia within the context of neo-Platonism. Rev Wright simply lacks wisdom. As many Americans and the rest of the world see it, the positive impact that Obama's presidency could be redemptive and tremendous. And the fact that Obama is a member of Wright's congregation could be a testimony to Wright's ministry. Sadly, Wright lacks the wisdom to read “the signs of the time”. This is a message of Jesus. Jesus enjoined his disciple and others to discern “the signs of the time”. If Wright says that he follows Jesus’ prophetic tradition, he ought to be know this too. Wright made a fool of himself during the “question-answer” time with NPA. Very sad. Wright undermines his own authority, not Obama's. Americans need some critical thinking on this issue. Furthermore, there were and are those like Francis Schaeffer, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Jerry Fawell, John Hagee, even Billy Graham and many others, who have in many instances invoked God's wrath upon America. Wright belong to that group on the left side.

[c-t-m]

Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated 40 years ago, but he didn't truly die until people like Rev. Wright, Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton became the "voice" for the black community. There is no truth in anything they have to say, only anger and fostering racist sentiments in their followers by teaching them they are eternal victims. There is no empowerment in their words, no truth, only hatred and weakness. Because of their obfuscation, they don't foster advances or understanding, they do not do anything to empower or resolve or aid in cooperation... they simply rant and rave and teach hate under the guise of civil rights.

[debra]

This clown is trying to sell his crummy book so why would anybody believe his claptrap?

[Ken Pittman]

Coughlin is as foolish as Wright. The worst part about the whole glorification of "Rev." Wright is the pass he gets for being incredibly unintelligent and dull. His vitriol may be incendiary but his content is retarded in logic and his comic material is tomato worthy. If racism is wrong for whites then it is wrong for blacks. I'm sure most KKK Grand Wizards had clever diatribes to justify their blanketed hatred of an entire race but they, like Wright, are villified by truth. Without white Americans the civil-rights movement would have died in its cradle. Without white Americans the Underground Railroad sees no escapees. Without white Americans no KKK criminals are brought to trial. America is designed to see people for what they are; individuals.

[fonz]

It never amazes me that white America can never own up to the truth when someone speaks out about America and how the past was never address when it comes to slavery and hate, this is not something that did not happen, but this something that is going on now. I am 47 years of age born in North Carolina moved to Los Angeles and it was the first time that I heard the word nigger being used toward me. Young black males and females and some of the older ones living in a dream are confused about obama being in the white house, what is he going to do for black people once he gets in. nothing because he’s the president of the u.s. not black America. What the Rev. said is true; America is trying to force other countries to be like us. And the sad part is we can’t even take care of our own people, this country is more about greed than about helping its own. God does not see races of people, but children, his children. And that’s what we should be doing acting as one race.