I just read the letter by Charles Gackstetter (Globe, March 31), and I am incensed by it. He calls Jeremiah Wright a preacher and prophet. I seriously doubt he is even a Christian.
Consider these facts: I am 70 years old, I have been a card-carrying minister for 50 years, I have been the pastor of a church here in Joplin for 20 years, and I have been editor of a small religious newspaper off and on since the early ’70s.
In spite of this, I have never written a letter to any editor. I deplore controversy. I am a card-carrying member of the Cherokee Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendant of survivors of the infamous Trail of Tears. The last survivor was a woman named Becky Neugin, who was fifth cousin to my father and his siblings. She shared some of the atrocities of the Trail of Tears. They never forgot, and shared much of it with me.
I love black people. Blacks attend my church and are welcome. Have blacks been abused and discriminated against? Certainly, they have. I witnessed some of it, growing up in Tulsa and Jenks, Okla., during school integration. I don’t intend to minimize it. My maternal grandfather told me about the Tulsa race riot, and probably participated in it.
I have been vocal in my support of the black Cherokee freedmen (a minority position) in their present conflict with the tribe.
I have said all this to show that some of my ancestors have been greatly abused and discriminated against; probably by some of my white ancestors. This is probably true of Mr. Wright too. I heard him and saw him. He is probably more white than I am!
“God damn America”? No ! A thousand times, no! Yes, there has been injustice. Where would you go where there isn’t any — Russia, China, Cuba — where?
No, “God Bless America”! In the words of the hymn, “America, America, God mend thine every flaw.”
Perfection awaits God’s kingdom. Meanwhile, let’s strive to make this a better place. Hatred will not do it. Only love and good will can.
Rev. Wallace E. Joice
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Incensed by Wright defense
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Millions of dollars in donations have poured in from around the world since the May 22, 2011, tornado. Those donations represent money from lemonade stands, charity auctions, corporate gifts and celebrity checks, just to name a few. In fact, one year later donations continue to come to Joplin.
-
Beth Meeker, guest columnist: Same-sex marriage battle a quest for equal rights
I would like to take a moment to reply to guest columnist Anson Burlingame’s, “The Marriage Debate” (Globe, May 13).
-
Sunday Forum: 2012 graduation speakers key on tornado, mall school and president’s visit
Editor’s note: In addition to speeches by President Barack Obama and Gov. Jay Nixon, Joplin High School’s top students addressed graduates, faculty, parents and other guests packed into the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center on the Missouri Southern State University campus. Following are the text of those speeches.
-
Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Pack mentality takes truth as a casualty
President Obama’s Joplin graduation speech Monday showed that while there’s the political “right,” there’s also a very active “rabid” political right.
-
Your View: ‘Study’ can mean anything
A few evenings ago, I watched a television program on the science of marriage.
-
Our View: Support for museum
How can you tell the story of Joplin without the accounts of its mining history?
-
Our View: Finding middle ground
The G-8 summit held last week in Camp David ended as expected.
-
Anson Burlingame, guest columnist: Class of 2012 upholds character, hope
My oldest granddaughter was part of the class of 2012 from Joplin High School, and I attended the ceremony on Monday night.
-
Scott Charton, guest columnist: 'Deadline in Disaster' film a story about storytellers
Local newspapers are at their best when they help their communities confront, understand, endure and overcome shared challenges.
-
Our View: Make voting easiser
This year’s ballot will not include a proposed constitutional amendment that photo identification be required at the polls in Missouri. Good.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Our View: Victims should come first
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
