Jackson N-Bomb Stirs More Controversy

He's a HYPOCRITE! Doesn't anyone see that? This is the man who wanted to bury the n-word, now he's caught saying it, unbelievable!

It seems that, as a Reverend, Mr. Jackson never took to heart Sunday School lessons on 'Brotherly Love'and 'treat your neighbor as yourself'. It is apparent that he is quick to apologize to those he offends. Unfortunately, his apologies do not seem nearly as sincere as his derogatory comments and those comments should be offensive to everyone! On the flip side, it has been interesting to watch Mr. Obama handle this situation with dignity.

You know, maybe Rev. Jackson was really experiencing a real bad day. It appears that either he is looking for ways to stay in the media or amnesia has really caught up with him. How can you purport to be so adamantly opposed to something that you literally ignore when you do it. I think we should say to Rev. Jackson that your role in the AA community does not have to change but it appears that you are so blatantly changing that yourself. We dare not be placed in the position to place or hold one of you in higher esteem than the other, but I believe that the time must come when we can and will have the ability to adequately value each person rightfully, without provocation. However, I would pray that Rev. Jackson's eyes be opened to the day and time that we are in. It does not mean that he loses our support because Sen. Obama is rising. We are pliable, flexible, and might I say, forgiving. But we want him to cherish this moment in history with us and not deflect from the movement and the cause. Much pain, blood, sweat, & tears have gone into the birthing of this day, let's not paint an ugly picture when it was always intended to be a beautiful one. He, Rev. Jackson ,can either embrace this time or maybe show his inability to be true to the times that he says he hoped that he would live to be a part of.

There is a difference between using the N-word in a private whispered comment like Jackson did and using it as part of the remarks said on the record. It's not up to me (as a white man) to determine how or whether the different uses should be treated differently. It's up to others to decide whether it is like the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony or is it like the difference between a person on death row getting put to death by electric chair or lethal injection (different, but the end result is the same).

This is a very sad situation, especially for someone who has contributed so much to the dialogue on race over the years, and has worked so hard for social justice and who was a student of the teachings of Dr. King. Yet it is, and I hope we all will learn that there comes a time when a person must step aside, or at least move toward an advisory position, and let younger, new ideas to flourish. There is a skill to knowing when to leave the table, and allow others to step forward and carry the torch. Rev Jackson's contribution in the past should not be forgotten, but he has certainly damaged himself with this mean-spirited behavior.