On Sunday September 16th 2001 I received an email from an Egyptian immigrant (Assam Elmagoop)
who had several months earlier, joined my North Beach coffee group.
The Egyptian immigrant blamed the United States for the murder of
nearly 3,000 civilians that we had all seen on television the previous
Tuesday. He argued that the murder was not terrorism but justifiable retribution for American foreign policy.
The same day, Barack Obama's close friend and minister in Chicago, Jeremiah Wright was screaming the same thing to his congregation. Wright explained the murder of American civilians as the consequence of white American foreign policy, it was he said "chickens coming home to roost."
I acted immediately Monday morning the 17th and told Elmagoop
to either retract his email or leave the coffee group. He wouldn't. I
lost two friend in the coffee group who sided with Elmagoop, one who
had been a close friend and adviser for 25 years. I stood up to moral outrage and lost my close friend and adviser.
Barack Obama waited seven years, after September 16th, until the heat of a presidential campaign to call his minister friend's outrageous attack morally unacceptable. Obama still hasn't rejected his friend Jeremiah Wright who has made many other horrific declamations.
Our paths crossed and I feel my actions were morally superior to Barack Obama. I think the American people are joining me.