David Squires defends Jeremiah Wright's right to be an anti-Semitic, racist white hating, America damning, aids conspiracy believing bigot.

He begins by telling us that the Jeremiah Wright gave a good sermon that he enjoyed. He just doesn’t remember what it was about.

And Wright built a big church.

There are some people who are compelling speakers who can move large crowds. There are a few people who can build mass movements.

The history of the 20th Century was dominated by several men who managed to do that. The leaders of Russia, Germany and Italy are examples of men who could do that with literally catastrophic results.

There are two things to keep in mind about people like that. (1) They often create cults of personality that cause their followers to do very bad things. Think not just the previous examples, but add Jim Jones. (2) Jeremiah Wright built a large congregation because many people who were attracted to him believed in what he preached, including racial animosity, anti-Semitism, and conspiracy theories. To be sure, they were sprinkled in as spice in a meal, but they provided a definite flavor. And the people who attended his church liked the flavor.

Free people, people who want to create their own objectives, set their own goals and live their own lives are suspicious of demagogues, of people who draw adoring crowds that like the way something is said, but really can’t remember exactly what was said. Be very careful of those who hold a mirror before them so that their fans can see in that mirror exactly what they want to see; someone like Barack Obama and – perhaps – Jeremiah Wright.

I defend Wright’s right to say what he wants to say. His brand of bigotry should not be outlawed, but a society that applauds what he says is not a healthy society.