In Theory:

Presidential contender Barack Obama, rocked by criticism for his affiliation with Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, recently delivered a speech distancing himself from his longtime pastor’s most inflammatory comments but also calling on the nation to engage in a conversation about race. Many religious leaders have heeded the call. Do you think it would be productive to do that in Newport-Mesa, and what would be the best way to go about it?

Obama not only addressed race, but called us to accountability. It would have been easy for him to turn his back on his pastor and his church, but instead he used this moment as a teaching opportunity.

Had we listened to the entirety of Rev. Wright’s sermon, we would have heard more than an oft-repeated 15-second sound bite and understood why Obama gained a message of Hope from his decades of membership at Trinity United Church of Christ.

Obama called us to ask the tough questions of ourselves, to grow beyond our past, to own it and all that it has done for and sometimes against us, but to dream and hope for unity — to be the United States we believe we can be.

His message was to all of us. We need to continue having conversations like we did last week about race, diversity, ethnicity and even nationality.

Instead of vilifying that which is different and crucifying a pastor who spent a lifetime of ministry helping the poor, we should continue to examine our own culpability.

We have lots of local opportunities to build bridges — from conversations about immigration, to religious diversity, to war, and even what it means be patriotic. The key is to continue the conversations. Come out to our Interfaith luncheons, hold a forum at your place of worship, or talk to someone in line at the grocery store!

Rev. Sarah Halverson

Fairview Community Church

Costa Mesa

As a rabbi in Orange County, I witnessed racism at a fall 2000 Arab rally against Jews and Israel, taking place near Disneyland, of all places.

Militant Arab terrorists for years, falsely and simplistically, equate Zionism with racism, colonialism and apartheid to drive Israel and America out of the Middle East.

When I was a rabbi in Key West Florida, I encountered people who thought that the Jews were the ones who brought racism to America.

Vegetables in grocery store aisles are assembled like a “melting pot.” There is a cornucopia of taste and no quibbling among them of which is superior.