President Obama Delivers Eulogy at Charleston Shooting Funeral of Clementa Pinckney (3338 hits)
Obama eulogizes pastor in Charleston shooting. Obama sings Amazing Grace at funeral of Charleston shooting victim Clementa Pinckney. Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama on Friday eulogized the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of the victims in last week's church massacre, calling him a "man of God who lived by faith."
"We are here today to remember a man of God who lived by faith," Obama said. "A man who believed in things not seen. A man who believed there were better days ahead, off in the distance. A man of service who persevered knowing full well he would not receive all those things he was promised, because he believed his efforts would provide a better life for those who followed." The President's remarks both memorialized the victims and touched upon the current controversy surrounding the Confederate flag and what he said was a need for more gun control in the wake of the tragedy.
"By taking down that flag we express God's grace," he said.
Obama finished his remarks by breaking into song, leading the assembled in a rendition of "Amazing Grace."
Friday's funeral service for Pinckney isn't the first time Obama delivered a high-profile eulogy, and with a year and a half remaining in office, it may not be the last.
But when the President stood in historic downtown Charleston to remember the slain pastor and eight others shot down in their church last week, his speech moved beyond just grief for the victims -- Obama stepped directly into a national conversation about race in which he plays a central role.
President Barack Obama ended his at times solemn, at times rousing eulogy for Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed along with eight other African-American churchgoers last week, by leading the congregation in “Amazing Grace.”
After repeating those words, “Amazing Grace,” several times, the president paused before launching into the song as the mourners joined him.
This video is on the official website of the White House, whitehouse.gov under the title Amazing Grace. That makes it an official communication from the President of the United States to the American people. I have seen the video in its entirety, and I plan to review it again. Now I did not say I find it offensive, I said I consider it an offense, i.e. a wrongdoing. I and many other Americans do not consider the removal of the Confederate battle flag to have anything to do with Amazing Grace. The President is entitled to his Christian belief. However, when he speaks for the nation he should include all of us, not just Christians. Personally Brother Deacon, I cringe every time I hear that phrase 'a wretch like me' I feel sorry for those who consider themselves wretches, and I surely don't consider myself a wretch, or in need of Christian salvation.
You of all people know that this nation identified with Christian theology before you freely chose to become Buddhist. And furthermore, it is selfishness on your part to try to dictate where the message should be posted...
God's Grace is Amazing, at least the song writer thought so .... He found himself wretched being a owner of a slave ship.... So who are you to now dispute what he felt about himself! It (message) should stay on the official site.
I do want the flag taken down Jen, I just have my own reasons.
Monday, June 29th 2015 at 5:13PM
Steve Williams
Jen, I couldn't even speak at my own mother's funeral. Not to a church full of Christians.
Monday, June 29th 2015 at 5:29PM
Steve Williams
34 Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
YOUR STATEMENT: This video is on the official website of the White House, whitehouse.gov under the title Amazing Grace. That makes it an official communication from the President of the United States to the American people. I have seen the video in its entirety, and I plan to review it again. Now I did not say I find it offensive, I said I consider it an offense, i.e. a wrongdoing.
I see nowhere in your writings that I see you being offended by the murder of Rev. Clementa Pinckney and 8 others and the oldest was a woman of 87 years old. When that thug was pulling the trigger, talking that racist rhetoric, you rape our women and you have taken over my country. Brother Steve, where is your offends over that?
In the past, I have seen writings from you that if the families of the victims really forgive that young calculating murdering thug, then they should let him go. Which I replied that the families forgave him, which I know was unexpected by this THUG, for his limited thinking told him that he wanted to start a race riot. Through the power of Amazing Grace they found that power to forgive. I also said that this boy is under the law of the land now and this admitted killer will not be set free to murder again.
Instead of being offended, you should have been one of the first to comprehend the example of the moral leadership displayed herein the actions of the victims’ families. To be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions that are enlarging before your very eyes. Love and not hate, understanding and not animosity is broadening our awareness between the families of the victims and it is expanding out throughout the hearts and the minds of both Black and White people in this country but yet you are offended that The President did something that no other President have done in the history of this country, and that is to sing AMAZING GRACE.
You should have been one of the first to recognize, to see that moral standard of life and leadership, that is a philosophy that goes beyond religion as a Buddhist but yet you find it offensive. YOUR WORDS: I said I consider it an offense, i.e. a wrongdoing.
YOUR WORDS: I and many other Americans do not consider the removal of the Confederate battle flag to have anything to do with Amazing Grace.
Amazing Grace is not only referring to that Confederate battle flag, which that flag represents slavery, racial terrorism, defiance that the south will rise again , racial intimidation, kidnapping, racial extremism, assassinations, bombings of churches in the south, voting rights of Black people hangings, murders and carries with it a philosophy of HATE and laws of Jim Crow. Where is your outrage and your consideration of this wrongdoing? If more of the citizens of both of north and the south understood the true meaning of that song, then maybe many of us on both sides would start to judge another by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. That flag popped out of the grave in 1964 during The Civil Rights Movement and have gotten strength since President Obama moved into The White House.
The President was inclusive in his Eulogy at Charleston Reverend Pinckney's Funeral which all races was included. There is not just a white America or a Black America or a Latino America, we are all America. If we can recognize of what the song of The Amazing Grace is telling us, that The Most High has given us, to humble ourselves to see where we was wrong in our selfishness, to see that we as a country need to come together for the common good. I was blind but now I see to save a wretch like me. That means in my pursuit of happiness, that that world of thinking is all about me, made me a wretch, unfortunate victim who was lost in my own BS, me but now I see that there is more to life, then myself and the world would be better if I contribute and share my life, my gifts, my teachings and talents with another, instead of being silent.
Brother Steve, that is what I find it an offense, when I find myself in that condition. Instead of finding it an offense, I need to think about my purpose to lead a moral life, to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions of myself as well as others and to develop vision, wisdom and understanding of my place in YAH (GOD) and not given time to given thought to the negative that consider it an offense to a song without understanding the meaning.
President Obama after he eulogized the late Pastor and Senator, also did what he does best... give a speech. In the speech, he addressed a number of key issues such as gun control, inequality, and United States wrong... being slavery. And if not for any other reason, the eulogy is appropriate for an official site like all his other speeches.
Furthermore, the song Amazing Grace was perfect not just because its a great funeral song but also because the song was written by a slave ship owner that transported slaves ... And that flag was an emblem of the South wanting to hold onto its slave tradition. As well as a emblem that Roof wanted to start civil unrest between Blacks and Whites. Those are facts... can anyone dispute them?
John Newton was speaking about the state of his soul, his own wretchedness... not anyone elses. That's what Grace was to him... found him right where he was... in a wretched state although he didn't deserve God's favor ... he should have died in the storm at sea but he didn't... he asked for mercy and God granted him mercy.
I understand that song all too well. I grew up with that song, and for long time I believed that song. I stopped believing that song when I stopped believing that God condemns unbelievers to eternal torment. What do you think Brother Deacon, will I spend eternity in hell if I persist in my unbelief?
..."Early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had known John's father. John Newton ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.
Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, he had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.'...
For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”...
Jen, I know the story. But why did he only convert after his life was in grave danger?
Monday, June 29th 2015 at 8:07PM
Steve Williams
Brother Steve,
Here are the lyrics that President Obama sung at Eulogy at Charleston Reverend Pinckney's Funeral.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.
This song sounds like a person, like John Newton who is in transformation from thinking that he made it through life all by himself, to a belief of a greater power other than himself that has the power to make the blind, see.
I don’t think that you are going to hell because of your belief in this song.
Monday, June 29th 2015 at 8:50PM
Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Brother Deacon,
Of course there are greater powers, that storm that threatened John Newton's life for instance. There is also the power of collective action, that is a greater power. There is also the power of ideas, such as the idea Rev. Pinckney had to require all police to wear body cameras. But Rev. Pinckney is out of ideas at the moment. You forgive the man that did that, I do not. I do not say that Rev. Pinckney's death was for the good, but it is a fact and we will carry on.
