"Lord Knows"

I guess it really depends on what you mean by "honor":

Local black leaders are decrying a recent performance by three white men at a church who wore blackface while pantomiming traditional black hymns.

The performance at Pilgrim Baptist Church was meant to honor gospel music history and was not meant to offend anyone, said the Rev. Thomas Holbrooks Jr., pastor at the church.

"It was in no way making fun," Holbrooks said. "Lord knows we love the old spirituals they sing. That's why they did it."

Welcome to Gastonia, NC, where it's still 1927!

Of course, to prevent people from getting the wrong idea, one of the three explained to the paper, "I have some real good black friends." Uh, yeah, probably not anymore.

But the most amazing bit of willful cluelessness comes from the pastor's wife: "A little tiny blond woman sang Randy Travis. So I guess Randy Travis should be offended. My husband pantomimed playing the piano. So I guess the piano should be offended." Maybe she should learn to sing that old Sesame Street ditty One of These Things Is Not Like the Others.