Obama w/ More Pull That Jesus @ Easter Service In Troubled Washington DC Community Prompts People To Line Up At 4AM

Easter service at DC church draws Obama family

(Note: Sorry folks - I typed version one in an airport time share computer.  The buzzer had chimed and the lady was looking at me 'side-eyed'.   Please note the edits and clarifications in version two)

Upon reading this story as contained in the New Orleans Time-Picayune, the newspaper that originates from a yet another problem plagued "majority Black city" my observation that Obama had so much influence over "our people" provoked sadness in me rather than pride.

The majority of "my people" will look at this large crowd, which started forming at 4am and will conclude "This is a great man and Black people are willing to show their appreciation that  'one of their own' has made it to the top".  Some will even be fulfilled with the knowledge that "George W Bush would not be able to get a church full of Black people to come see him".  If their behavior during the "King Week" back in 2007 is any indication - they would get up early so that they could be front and center in the anti-Bush protest.  Of course they were protesting Bush's war activities.  We all know that anti-war protests are no longer cool, despite the continued military actions.  Change has indeed come.

Please afford me to explain myself before I am labeled as "a hater".

The key points of this story is that:

• This section of Washington DC is a problem plagued community where there is great suffering and strife had by the majority Black community in Ward 8.
• 4 Young people were murdered in this community just last week as they departed from a funeral of a friend who had been taken away too young
• The President Of the United States came to this church on Easter Sunday - the most sacred day on the Christian calendar
• The attendance of the President is what prompted a "standing room only" response - Not Jesus - the "God who they as Christians worship".

The key point that needs to be brought forth is that the city of Washington DC already has been taken over by people who are "favorable" to the Black populace.  Great excitement was seen in this same community as each "barrier" was broken on their ascension.   Unfortunately what made the Black community "proud" has ultimately failed to make the difference in the end result as seen by the residents in the city.

We must ultimately conclude that: What is POPULAR with Black People is not always that which has documentable EFFICACY in addressing the communities problems.

My challenge to all with this consciousness and the propensity to draw a measure of pride about the POPULARITY of Obama - or any man - is to ask yourself "What has this ultimately bought you in the way of your Permanent Interests having been obtained"?

I struggle as I ask "Would these people who 'praised Obama' on this blessed Easter Morning be able to "punish him" for failing our Permanent Interests?  Or is his very presence proof of us having obtained it?

The point is that Obama as one man and as the President of the United States cannot be expected to shoulder this burden.  In truth - the entire machine that he sits atop of and which also controls the city government of Washington DC needs to be inspected for its efficacy.

Sadly we risk suffering from the continuing damage of having our people focus on their pride in the "vehcile" by which our permanent interests will be otained rather than developing any particular competency in MANAGING this vehicle so that what we desire is ultimately obtained.

For the operatives in the Black Establishment a group of "proud Black people" is their best set of customers.  Those in the audience who seek "pride" over completion will easily buy into the notion that they are on a lnog term struggle and that they must 'keep the faith" and not ask questions which risk derailing the movement.

Regardless of how the key indices which measure the health of the Black community stand in the year 2012 - the Black Establishment is going to ask Black America:  "Don't you want to feel PROUD again in your voting in Novermber?" .    Put Obama back in office so that he can make you feel as you did on November 4, 2008.

When we as a people are sucked into retaining our loyalities for the 'machinations' by which we are to achieve forward progress rather than more expertly managing these outcomes then we should be content that we have done everything necessary to reside where we persently stand as a community.

Next weekend, beyond the Easter holiday things will go back to normal:

• Obama won't likely be in church
• The spirit of the "Christin Jesus" may or may not show up in many of the churches in the city
• The attendance in these churches will experience a fall off from the noted "Obama bump" and the "Easter bump"
• The community for which the church is to be the cornerstone of will continue to produce many "Un-godly results" that show that we are not developing into the form that God has created us as.