Pastor Dr. Kenneth L. Samuel

From the October 5 protest in Atlanta, Georgia: 

STATEMENT BY DR. KENNETH L. SAMUEL
PASTOR, VICTORY FOR THE WORLD CHURCH – STONE MOUNTAIN, GA.
PRESIDENT, DEKALB COUNTY NAACP
MINISTER IN ACTION – PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY

I CONSIDER IT A PRIVILDEGE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY TODAY WITH
PEOPLE OF MORAL CONSCIENCE ALL ACROSS AMERICA WHO ARE IN COURAGEOUS
OPPOSITION TO THE PERNICIOUS POLITICS OF WAR, THE POLITICS OF INTOLERANCE AND
THE POLITICS OF COMPASSIONLESS CAPITALISM.

AS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, I WANT TO SAY THAT
THE RELIGIOUS ELEMENT WHICH NOW DRIVES MUCH OF CONSERVATIVE POLITICS IN AMERICA – THE
CHRISTIAN RIGHT – IS WRONG

THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT IS WRONG BECAUSE IT IS FOUNDED UPON THE
FLAWED FOUNDATION OF RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM, AND RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM –
WHETHER IT TAKES THE FORM OF THE TALIBAN IN AFGHANISTAN OR THE RADICAL SHIITES
IN IRAQ OR THE ZIONISTS IN ISRAEL OR THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT IN AMERCA – RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM
IS WRONG BECAUSE IT POSITS A MYOPIC VIEW OF MORAL ABSOLUTES WHICH LEAVE NO ROOM
FOR DIALOGUE, DEBATE, DISSENT NOR DIVERSITY.

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WRONG, BECAUSE THEY TRY TO JUSTIFY
BIGOTRY, SANCTIFY PREJUDICE AND CONDONE INTOLERANCE IN THE NAME OF GOD.

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WRONG, BECAUSE THEY ARE BLINDED BY A
BIASED BIBLIOLATRY THAT DOES NOT CHALLENGE OR CORRECT THE INJUSTICES OF
SLAVERY, PATRIARCHY, MILITARISM, HOMOPHOBIA AND ZENOPHOBIA.

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WRONG, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO FIXATED ON
THE CONTEXTUAL LAWS OF GOD’s WORD
ON PAPER THAT THEY COMPLETELY
MISS THE UNIVERSAL LOVE OF GOD’s WORD MADE FLESH.

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WRONG; BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE
CONCERNED WITH KEEPING GAYS OUT OF THE U.S. MILITARY THAN KEEPING THE U.S,
MILITARY OUT OF UNWARRANTED, UNJUST AND UNDECLARED WAR.

SOME 38 YEARS AGO, AS AMERICA
WAS ENGAGED IN THE QUAGMIRE OF THE VIET NAM CONFLICT, THE PROPHET TO THE
NATION, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SPOKE TO THE AMERICAN CONSCIENCE, WARNING
US THAT THE BOMBS WE DROPPED OVERSEAS WOULD EXPLODE IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS.  THE AMERICAN POWER STRUCTURE IGNORED DR.
KING’s PROPHESY BACK THEN, AND TODAY THAT PROPHESY IS STILL BEING IGNORED AS
THE BOMBS WE AIM AT OTHERS ARE STILL EXPLODING IN OUR OWN BACKYARDS.

WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY FIGHTING TO BUILD DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ
WHILE DEMOCRACY IN AMERCA IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION

WE ARE FIGHTING TO SAVE BAGDAD WHILE WE Can’t EVEN RESCUE
AND RESSURRECT NEW ORLEANS

WE ARE FIGHTING TO ESTABLISH FREE ELECTIONS IN IRAQ WHILE VOTES IN THE MAJORITY BLACK
PRECIENCTS OF FLORIDA, OHIO
AND GEORGIA
HAVE BEEN DISCOUNTED, DELETED AND DISCARDED.

WE ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE WHILE WE IGNORE THE
IMMINENT ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES – LIKE THE STEADY EROSION OF THE OZONE LAYER –
WHICH JEOPARDIZES NOT JUST AMERICAN LIFE, BUT ALL LIFE ON THE PLANET.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEOPLE OF MORAL CONSCIENCE TO STEP OUT
FROM THE SHADOWS OF RELIGIOUS PAROCHIALISM AND TAKE A STAND FOR UNIVERS

AL
TRUTH AND JUSTICE!

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL OF US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY HAVE
COME OVER ON DIFFERENT SHIPS, BUT WE”RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT NOW!

NOW IS THE TIME TO STOP FIGHTING FOR OIL IN THE MIIDLE EAST
AND START FIGHTING TO SAVE LIVES IN THE SUDAN!

NOW IS THE TIME TO AFFIRM, WITHOUT HESITATION, THAT A THREAT
TO JUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE!

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE THE LIGHT THAT CANNOT BE HIDDEN UNDER
ANY BUSH!

IF NOT NOW” WHEN?

IF NOT HERE” WHERE?

IF NOT US” WHO?

NOW IS THE TIME!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

LET FREEDOM RING!