My name is B.L. Conway. I am a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kentucky and a 1986 graduate of its law school. I reside in Abingdon Virginia where I enjoy the practice of law. I am a Christian and a history buff. I was trained in a Purpose Driven Church (the fastest growing Christian Movement in the World given to us by Pastor Rick Warren) here in tiny, Abingdon. My purpose is to serve others gladly and freely, which is what I am trying to do here.
Now, let me address the first point of the title first, because as to it there can be little argument. He was born Yeshua Ben Yoseph in the town of Bethlehem. Yeshua means salvation or “Lord who is salvation” in Hebrew while the remainder of his name refers to his lineage from his earthly father. Smith’s Bible Dictionary; The Nazerene Way of Essenic Studies internet publication entitled Yeshua or Jesus. Jesus was born into a poor Hebrew family, but one that was provided for very well by God through the Wise Men. Matthew 2:1-12.
Second, Jesus’ genealogy is stated clearly in the Bible and demonstrates that he was a man of color. First, Matthew 1.2-17 sets out Jesus’ lineage to King David and beyond, which interestingly contains many flawed human beings (sinners like me), but also contains at least four Afroasiatic women: Rahab, Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba. Id. They were either Moabites or Hittites all. Joshua 2:1, Genesis 38:1, Ruth 1, Samuel 11:3.
There was also a substantial general Afroasiatic influence in Jesus’ DNA as the Hebrew in Jesus genealogy were a subjugated people that spent hundreds of years in Africa. Genesis 37 through 50, Exodus1 through 12, Troubling Biblical Waters: Race, Class and Family by Cain Hope Felder (New York Orbis Books 1994) at page 8 through 14 and see Professor Mark Goodacres’ internet article entitled Jesus as a Person of Color; and see BBC NEWS for Wednesday October 27 2004 article entitled So What Colour was Jesus? . Putting aside the probable sexual exploitation of slaves that we know from our American and Mexican experience, Moses for example had a Cushite or Ethiopian wife and Phineas, which in Egyptian means “the Nubian”, was the son of Aaron and the father of a priestly Hebrew line. Id. and see Numbers 12:1; Exodus 6:25; Jeremiah 38:17.
Third, Jesus spent his early years in Egypt where he and his family apparently blended in quite well. Matthew reports the flight of Jesus’ family to Egypt to escape Herod’s infanticide designed to kill Jesus. Matthew 2. Thus, Jesus spent his formative years in Africa and was exposed to Egyptian mysticism. Troubling Biblical Waters: Race, Class and Family by Cain Hope Felder (New York Orbis Books 1994) at page 8 through 14 and see Professor Mark Goodacres’ internet article entitled Jesus as a Person of Color; This is confirmed by non biblical resources as early Jewish critics of Christianity argued that Jesus learned his magic in Egypt. Id. citing Origen Contra Celsom, 1:28. Matthew also documents that God called his son out of Egypt. Matthew 2:15.
For all these reasons, it is clear that Jesus was a man of color. He was of mixed blood known as Afroasiatic. Cain Hope Felder, Blacks in the Bible and in Bible Lands, Sphinx (Summer 1999 on line journal) and see Professor Mark Goodacres’ internet article entitled Jesus as a Person of Color; and see BBC NEWS for Wednesday October 27 2004 article entitled So What Colour was Jesus? He like his parents was much like the darker Palestinian, Egyptian or Yemenite of today: More chocolate brown than Caucasian in appearance. Id.
What is in a name? Today in America our names have little meaning other than to identify us. This was and is not so in Middle Eastern cultures. The name Hussein which is being used to demagogue Barrack Obama because it was also the shortened name of Saddam Hussein does not actually have any evil connotation. In Arabic it means “to be good” or “to be handsome or beautiful”. Obama Should be Proud to be Named Hussein, Salon. I can only assume given those ears, that Mr. Obama’s parents were referring to the former. Whereas, the use of the Hussein name in the former dictator’s name refers to his father’s first name. The former dictator’s full name was Saddam Hussein al-Majid al-Tikriti which means Saddam son of Hussein al-Majid of the tribe of al-Tikriti. Blair Shewchuck, CBS NEWS ONLINE.
So as with most demagoguery, we find that there is no basis in fact for it, nor is there any thing for us Caucasian Americans to fear from the use of this name. Like the true name of Jesus, Barrack’s name refers to good.
By the way, Jesus’ true name changed upon Peter’s revelation that he was the Messiah to Rabbi Yeshua Ben Mashiach (Jesus Son of God). Mark 8:27 through Mark 8:33, Matthew 6:16 through Matthew 6:18, Luke 9:18 through 9:22. Jesus was called this and the crowd shouted Hosanna (God Save us) upon his triumphal entry to Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion. Mark 11:1 through Mark 11:11 and see, from the SOURCES by Eliezer Segal available online and Psalms 8:2.
Jesus was crucified because he was a liberal, indeed a radical against the religious and political leaders in Jerusalem. Immediately, after the triumphal entry, Jesus proceeded to the temple where he made a whip of cords and drove out the money changers and those selling sacrifices together with their animals screaming “you have turned my father’s house into a den of thieves”. Mark 11:15 through Mark 11:19, Matthew 21:12 through Matthew 21:27, Luke 19:45 through 20:8, John 2:12 through John 2:25, and see Isaiah 56:17, Jeremiah 7:11 and Zechariah 14:21 . This was done in full sight of the Roman Garrisons which were situated on each end of the Temple Square and the Hebrew religious leaders that no doubt had an interest in the commerce. See e.g. www.steverogers.crg to see photos of the temple.
Jesus, as he had many times before, then called these religious leaders hypocrites to their face because they misused their wealth, power and position to glorify and satisfy themselves rather than to take care of the poor, the widowed and orphaned. Mark 12:42, Luke 21:2. In his Ministry, Jesus often warned of the danger of wealth and possessions. He taught that a man’s life is not measured by possessions and that we can not serve God and money. Luke 12:15 through Luke 12:16, Matthew 6:24. Jesus said that it will be very difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. Luke 6:20 through Luke 24, Matthew 19:23,24 and Luke 12:33. He taught that we are stewards of God’s blessings and that we should use our position, power and wealth to help those less fortunate and to expand the Kingdom. Matthew 6:33, Matthew 19:21, Luke 12:33 and Luke 12:48 and Pastor Jimmie Davidson from a sermon. These are liberal principals, but it does not end there.
Jesus was and is against the Death Penalty. He taught that thou shall not kill and that if one is sinless; let him cast the first stone, as he bent down and wrote symbolically in the sand. John 8:3 through John 8:11, Luke 6:37 through Luke 6:42. Jesus changed a murderer named Saul into the most prolific apostle of them all. Acts 22:6 through Acts 22:11. Peter was the rock upon which the God’s church was built, but Paul spread the Gospel further and planted more churches than he. Matthew 6:18, B.W. Johnson, The People’s New Testament, 1891 available on line and Pastor Jimmie Davidson from one of his sermons. Paul also wrote most of the New Testament. Id. This belief in the goodness and potential of all men is a liberal principal.
Jesus taught us to be merciful. He said “blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” and that if we do not forgive those that harm us that we should not expect to be forgiven by God. Matthew 5:7, and see Luke 10:30 through Luke 10:37.
Jesus is a Peace maker and believed in and taught Peace. He said “blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called children of god”. Matthew 5:9. He taught that we should love and pray for our enemies and that if anyone should harm us that we should turn the other cheek. Matthew 5:38 through Matthew 5:42, Luke 6:27 through Luke 6:31. You see Jesus knew that love was the most powerful force in the world and that it will conquer in the end.
We have seen this proven in our times. Just think about three of the most influential leaders of the last century: Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King and compare their effectiveness to the Arab terrorist. These were men of color on three separate continents in entirely different cultures who used love and non violence in the face of powerful entrenched government leaders and evil and hate to effect remarkable change. They were acting out liberal biblical principals in faith.
Jesus taught that Love was the most important commandment. He said love your God with all your heart body and soul and your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37 through Matthew 22:40.
I could go on and on from Jesus’ rejection of strict enforcement of religious law to separation of church and state, but I think the point is made. Jesus was a liberal two thousand years ago and remains one today; thank God for his grace.
So, West Virginia, please see that you need not fear Mr. Barack Obama because of his color or his liberalism and progressive thinking. He is less liberal than Jesus. Mr. Obama has already told us that he does not want our guns and will enforce the death penalty.
You, West Virginia, were part of Virginia at the beginning of the Revolution. See e.g. www.wvculture.org/HISTORY/. Your residents considered themselves Virginians because most of them had come to settle your beautiful Mountains from the Potomac watershed territory of Virginia. Id. Your ancestors were rebels for sure, as shown by the many Pension and Land Bounty Warrants that they filed post Victory. Id.
We like to think that Virginia is the birth place of freedom as a consequence of the leadership of her sons, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. They were liberals, indeed radicals declared criminals worthy of hanging by King George. John Adams, David McCullough, Simon Schuster Paperbacks, 2001 at 138 and 157. Patrick Henry declared “give me liberty of give me death”. Life and Times of Patrick Henry, William Wirt, 1817. Thomas Jefferson wrote our Declaration of Independence, the most liberal document of declared rights of it’s time. John Adams, David McCullough, Simon Schuster Paperbacks, 2001at 125 through 138.
West Virginia, so many of your brave sons fought and died for the liberal freedoms of America. Join us to make history once again. We must show the world that the truth and peace still matter to the Citizens of these United States and that we have progressed past petty prejudices.
I think it not a coincidence that Mr. Barack Obama, a Christian and a man of mixed black and white blood, has rose up to us as he has with such a strong belief that we can come together. We must do this. We must realize Dr. King’s dream. We will be better for it.
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