“Those People”
So, Barack Obama gave “THE” speech today. It had to happen. If you haven’t seen or heard it, the text is available on his website here.
My opinion? I think it was ok - it was fine. I don’t consider it “one of the best and most important speeches” ever give nor probably one of the most important Barack Obama will give, but what I did find interesting was the near-admission of what we might call “those people” conversations.
Every group I’ve ever known does them. I’ve heard straight people refer to gays and lesbians as “those people” (and visa versa… incidentally). I’ve heard black people talk about white people with such language (and visa versa). I’ve heard church-goers talk about non-church-goers (and visa versa)… the list could go on for a long time with just what I’ve heard in the first person, let alone what I’ve read about and heard about. It’s a simple concept. With any group there is an “us” and there are “those people.” It may be news to some that language like that shows up in African American churches, but let’s be honest, it shows up in white churches too.
Unlike some people, I don’t necessarily have a problem with such language. There is a place for it. AA/NA meetings use a particular language because all the participants have a similar history and like-experiences. Non-addicts don’t always understand addict-language, and that’s ok; the same is true with other mostly-homogeneous groups. Why wouldn’t we expect the same from churches? After all, churches are some of the most segregated institutions in the world (and often some of the most racist - on “both sides” of the fence). Similarly, churches are the ultimate “in” verses “out” institutions. The real problem here, of course, is not that there is an “internal” and an “external” language, it’s that “internal” language isn’t always suitable for “external” display. Words of a common experience (or at least a common understanding of language, hyperbole, metaphor, image, etc.) simply cannot always be transfered into a realm where there is no common bond. When they are, they practically demand to be misused and misunderstood.
I use hyperbole a lot (”all the time… indeed”) 
In my congregation, people are relatively used to it. They’ve grown accustomed, over the past 8 years, to the way I use language and the ways I sometimes speak in extremes to make a point. Barack Obama’s “former pastor” may have taken this too far (although no further than other “hard-core” African American preachers I’ve heard), and Barack Obama is right, there is a certain generational aspect here (I am reminded of the kind of language I sometimes still hear about “those women” at General Synod or “those men” who don’t fully support “them” -usually from people my parents’ age) and while that doesn’t excuse it, let’s be honest, it is a reality. Let’s not turn it into anything it’s not.
On another note, I cringe to imagine that I’d be judged on some of the things said by preachers I’ve “sat under” over the years!
So, what’s my point? Simple: Get over it. I know this is the age of 24-hour news channels and they need something to talk about, but come on. There’s enough real news we don’t need to hear about the trumped-up stuff. How about a real discussion on in-groups and out-groups… how about a well-balanced discussion on racial hatred and mistrust (from “both sides of the aisle”)… how about asking the truly hard questions instead of just giving them a half-hearted nod….
Grace and Peace,
`tim
One Response to ““Those People””
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March 19th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Aman and amen!!
But . . . if we really started talking seriously about the issues, we’d have to start talking about how serious sacrifice is required for most of them, and about how the President–whoever it is–will have very little realistic power to change most of the things that people say most concern us, that most of it is up to us. And nobody wants to watch that.