Obama diverted by pastor detour

Now, the media has finally found some substance to dig into rather than quibble over substances with "the pastor disaster."

Seriously, how long has Obama been a declared candidate running for the Democratic nomination? A couple weeks? Wasn't there some sort of Senate race a few years back also? But now the media has discovered Reverend Wright and his extremist sermons, not to mention the Trinity United Church of Christ's website with it's Afro-centric, blacks only message.

When I first read the website of the Trinity Church, and the message it put forward, I was definitely put off. I would definitely feel unwelcome at that Church based on the tone and message conveyed. I would be intimidated to participate in a community so candid about it's bias. Perhaps there are Churches with a bias toward white people that would also put me off and offend me.

But B. was never that kind of person. He was a skeptic like many of us at Oxy. Wary of organized religion and it's history of oppression and violence. When he found Trinity Church, and he found a minister who accepted him, and a group of people who accepted him, then met at his first legal internship a woman who was most likely very much a part of the Church and the community, well it must have all made sense to him. Spiritual growth, belonging to a community, being accepted, finding love, all of those things happened to him with Trinity Church playing an integral role.

So, I don't think B. became some kind of radical bigot all of a sudden. He found a balance between the gifts and the flaws of his new life as a Christian and a member of Trinity Church.

Part of growing up is the process of finding yourself and your identity. In retrospect, I understand that B. had a greater challenge than many of us who were of the same age and social group, but he also had the greater success. That is one of the great wonders of B., that he did so much on his own. Who knew. He always made everything he did look so easy and graceful and effortless. And sometimes it did seem like the world was colluding with him, even making the sun shine and the birds sing for his benefit. And I have felt the urge to hide when I saw him coming, in order to avoid experiencing the juxtaposition of his calm, self-confidence and seeming enjoyment of life with my nearly infinite series of failings, fears and frettings.

If ever there was a living, breathing, walking, talking example of a person bringing good things into their life by having confidence, faith and hope, B. is that person. He breathes the rarefied air of the few natural born leaders.

Not that I noticed that at the time. We were teenagers. He just seemed kind of arrogant and bossy to me.

Perhaps he was simply a misunderstood Mr. Darcy of his time. Seemingly arrogant and indifferent, but actually a highly ethical and compassionate human being. Or maybe not.