Dr. Michael A. Battle, the president of Interdenominational Theological Center, gave a keynote address titled “Things Fall Apart” during the recent James A. Gray Endowment Symposium in the R.J. Reynolds lecture room.
Speaking before an audience of about 100, Battle said, “The war in Iraq is senseless, ill-conceived, not well planned and is based on lies.” He added that “we [the U.S.] provided Iraq with weapons of mass destruction.
“Our nation has not won an ideological war since World War II. Unless you are extremely stupid you don’t believe Saddam Hussein committed the attacks on 9/11.”
Iraq and the “N” word are among the things that Battle said are falling apart. He chastised those who use the word “nigger,” saying “our ancestors fought, bled and died for us, but today we have a culture that says its okay to be a nigger again.”
He also criticized the hip-hop industry, which he said has been taken over by gangster rap and has no social, cultural or historical redeeming value.
“There is no originality when every video has the same scenario,” referring to cars bouncing up and down, guys in “thugged-out” clothes, and women with almost no clothes on. Battle said he is glad that some women are taking a stand against sexually explicit rap lyrics. “Women have drawn a line in the sand and have demanded respect, honor and to be lifted up,” he said.