On 'racism'...

Ok... I want make a note here concerning my thoughts on 'racism'. I've been accused of being racist before. But I promise you, I am not! Until now, I never actually put into words my defense for what I do believe about this over-used and abused word.

This exercise has actually been harder than I imagined. It's one thing to understand what you believe in your heart. It's entirely another thing to put it down in writing.

For the sake of my children, I will try my best to give them this, my defense: my response to any presumed assumption of 'racism' by well-intentioned, though ultra-sensitive persons who are probably exercised in the verbiage and caution of the politically correct culture in which we live now. I have never taught my children political correctness, but rather honesty and sincerity.


Here goes...


I Googled the definition of the word 'racism'. The first definition that popped up...

Racism is a "belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races."

I don't believe this way!

I believe that every human being has the same ability to put forth effort, be creative, study, etc. and accomplish, or become, whatever they set their minds to... regardless of color or race.

Another definition I found went like this...

Racism is a "belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others."

Hmmm... "race determines culture" ? I don't believe this way either!

Differences in one's race do not determine one's culture. However, there are differences in culture that tend to be more prevalent among one race of people than another. Is this racist? I don't think so! I consider it pure observation.

One's race does not make a human being more or less capable of leadership or any other character trait: good or bad. However, one's culture might very well effect how one's character develops. This, again, is a matter of fact.

Let's think about Arab culture for a moment. Arab culture views women as lesser than men and treats them according as their sharia law demands. Arabs, in a culture typical of many Arabs, read the Koran, pray toward Mecca, and teach their children their beliefs concerning all non-Muslims. Does this mean that every person of the Arab race believes or abides by the dictates of the culture common among them? No. There are some very devout Arab Christians. But if you were to tell me that you were going to take a trip to any of the Arab countries, I would tell you to be careful and I would pray for your safety. Would you call me racist? My knowledge of Arabs, and the culture most prevalent among them, does not impress me. I would discourage a naive trust of any Arab without first taking time to find out what kind of person they are and what culture they were raised in. Am I judgmental? No. I am cautious. We have seen a lot of pain from Arabs in the last few years. Would I advocate segregating them in society? No. That would be racist. I believe in one of the principles we, as Americans, held from the founding of this nation; a man is innocent until proven guilty. Sadly, we live in a warped state of being. One is now guilty until proven innocent or else guilty and yet declared innocent as a result of a technicality regarding rights.

I have known some Oriental families. They don't let you wear your shoes through their house. So...if I am talking to you, and you mention that you have been hired to clean for an oriental family, I might, based on my limited circle of oriental friends, say, "I bet you only have light cleaning duty at that place." Am I racist? I think not. I am aware of a cultural trend common to many oriental persons. I made an innocent comment. But what if this particular family had been born American and had no such cultural customs as taking shoes off at the door? Would you say, "Wow, what a racist comment!" Maybe you would, if you had a chip on your shoulder and thought you were so much more loving a person than most. But you could just as well recognize that my comment regarded a typical oriental cultural custom. It does not mean that I am ignorant enough to think that there are no Americans of other race groups with this house rule. But to be classified as racist I would, by definition, have to hold the belief that taking one's shoes off at the door is a preference born into all Orientals. If I came to your house and you asked everyone to take their shoes off at the door and I said, "Were you raised oriental or something," I might be racist. But maybe I am offhandedly giving you a complement out of my regard for an oriental tradition. You'll never know, unless you get to know me. If you took offense at something I intended as a complement, you better believe I will hold our relationship at arm’s length. If you found yourself offended by my transparency, you will eventually find out that you are segregating yourself from sincere genuine people like me by your own intolerance.

What would be the difference if I had had a negative experience with the cultural characteristics of someone of a different race? To expect a person to have no effects regarding their emotions or thinking in response to a negative experience is both naive and ignorant. If you are a person who believes you hold to a higher love or estimation of people, then would you not demonstrate this by finding out what was the cause of my response which appeared to you to be negative? Would you not care to truly understand the person in front of you before making a judgment? Hmmm... This sounds like the same problem a 'racist' has.

"...in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same thing..." ((Rom. 2:1-3)

There are many things I observe as typical to specific cultures. But I am not ignorant to the point of believing that a particular cultural practice is observed by only one racial group. I have cousins that can speak Ebonics. I did an internet search on 'Ebonics' and Google's first link called it an African American Vernacular English. But my cousin is not African American. Is Google racist? No. But Ebonics IS typically spoken by African Americans. It's just a matter of fact. I grew up having never known a black individual. When I went to college, I met an absolutely beautiful person who cared deeply for me through my whole college experience. She was a black woman. When I got married and moved to Virginia, we lived in a section of the city where the local Wal-Mart was predominately run by black employees. My children went to school across town where there was another Wal-Mart run predominately by white employees. The stores were obviously managed differently. There was more attention to detail at the store across town. I would say that the store across town was more 'high-speed' and the one on our side of town more 'laid-back'. Interestingly enough, I have observed this same contrast in the attitudes and lifestyles of the black and white people with whom I have made acquaintance. Does this observation make me racist? What if I said something positive; like, black athletes tend to have greater physical ability than white athletes. Or... black people have a history in which they sang as they worked and gave us some amazing gospel songs. I can't say the same for the factories where white children were overworked and treated abusively. Am I being racist? Or is it racist only if I express a negative observation? Is it only racist to you if the comment is negative AND regarding a characteristic of black culture AND if I don't care for that culture? But what if I like black people? What if I like something about their culture? What if I were to tell you that I have an opinion that blacks tend to have a natural gift for rhythm more than most white people? Am I racist? Is it wrong to have an opinion? Does it offend you if I happen to have an opinion different than you?

A friendship held together solely because two people think the same way about everything won't last long. This actually is the cause of some ended marriages as well. A great friendship is one that has been through offenses and disagreements and pain and separation and is even stronger. A friendship like this is based on a love for people more than ideologies. Do you love the people who make the life you live colorful, or do you love yourself and surround yourself with your own personal cheering section?

A personal test: What if you had a choice between calling a taxi service owned by a Muslim Arab or one that was owned by a Japanese family. Honestly, if you had nothing to prove, which would you be most likely to call first? Today, one might be a bit nervous in a taxi driven by an observing Muslim. But in World War II, there were those who would have been more frightened by one who looked Japanese. The feelings that determine one's decisions or comments are based not only on how informed that person is concerning current events and the larger world scene, but also on that one's personal experiences.

If you are easily offended by another person over anything, how truly informed are you? Are you not yourself sheltered in your own way?

Paul declared in Titus 1:10-14, "...One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This saying is true...”

Wow! Did you catch that? Paul declared this statement true...'Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.' Is Paul racist because he agreed with the expectation of a typical character trait observed in people from the island of Crete? Their culture bred dishonesty. I am sure Paul did not think that dishonestly was peculiar to only to this people group or that this race of people was incapable of being honest. Otherwise, if Paul were racist, he would not have sent the message of the gospel to them and told Titus to appoint elders there. Paul believed that they were capable of better than the expectations their reputation embodied.

I'm still thinking...

How else can I explain what my heart feels about this topic?

What about this? I expect black choirs to sway while they sing and white choirs to stand rather stationary. Why did I say 'black choirs' and white choirs’? Well, because I am referring to churches where the members are predominantly black or predominantly white. Are you offended? What should I have said? If I made a comment like this in the course of a conversation with you, it means I had come to trust you and our friendship, and took for granted that our relationship was such that you would not choose first to assume ill intent on my part. If you know me, could you honestly think I believe a white person incapable of desiring to sway to music while singing in a choir? Oh well. What can I say? If you are that quick to judge my character from a comment I make or the way I express an opinion or by a lighthearted jest expressed in a non-confrontational conversation, I ought to guard myself with you. I must have felt comfortable enough with you to be myself. If that trust is damaged by your sensitivity, it is likely you will not regain it. I will guard you from me because I don't care to make you uncomfortable. You evidently have not had to witness true bigotry, hatred, or racism, because it does not look at all like me.

No, I am not a bigot. Race and color do not determine a person's character, but their culture might. And it just so happens that people of like race or color tend to embrace similar cultures as well. It is culture that determines many characteristics, not color or race. I am not racist for expecting a cultural characteristic from the racial group that has typified it. I would be racist if I thought an individual's race or color determined their behavior.

I will repeat what I said at the beginning of my defense... Those who are quick to label others 'racist' simply because they dared voice an observation or opinion are no better than the 'racist' they assume another to be. WHY? Because they did not take the time to understand the person in front of them. They draw conclusions without asking questions. They make assumptions concerning another's belief system and predict behavior without regard to proven character. Hasty labeling of an individual is a form of bigotry very akin to racism. What should be most important is how we treat the people we find our lives coming in contact with. Which is worse? One who expresses an expectation of a culture typical of a race or the one who, because he is quick to take offense, destroys a relationship with a proven friend? Judge a man by his actions more than by his words. Words can be easily misunderstood. Actions cannot be mistaken. After all, is someone a Christian simply because he claims to be, or knows the lingo, or because he lives as Christ lived and treats others with the love of Christ. Proverbs 22:24 says, "Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man." That's good advice. And Proverbs 12:16 says, "A fool's vexation is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor." Hmmm....

For those who think they are extra special because they have mastered politically correct lingo or because they pride themselves in being able to quickly recognize and label people, be careful...

Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, "Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools."

I believe this applies to taking offense as well. One ought to be careful lest, in labeling someone a bigot, he becomes a fool of one himself. Bigotry is "intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself." Is bigotry any less offensive than racism? This applies to many areas of life. I am not endorsing some weird 60's love and peace philosophy toward all belief systems and opinions and life practices. I am a Christian. And I form my opinions concerning character traits and behavior from what I read in my Bible. But before you presume to judge the character of my love for people, please get to know me...and have a little mercy in the process. Maybe we each have some insight or experience or viewpoint that might benefit each other in this colorful walk of life.

NOT UNDERSTOOD

Not understood, we move along asunder;

Our paths grow wider as the seasons creep

Along the years; we marvel and we wonder

Why life is life, and then we fall asleep

Not understood.

Not understood, we gather false impressions

And hug them closer as the years go by;

Till virtues often seem to us transgressions;

And thus men rise and fall, and live and die

Not understood.

Not understood! Poor souls with stunted vision

Oft measure giants with their narrow gauge;

The poisoned shafts of falsehood and derision

Are oft impelled 'gainst those who mould the age,

Not understood.

Not understood! The secret springs of action

Which lie beneath the surface and the show,

Are disregarded; with self-satisfaction

We judge our neighbours, and they often go

Not understood.

Not understood! How trifles often change us!

The thoughtless sentence and the fancied slight

Destroy long years of friendship, and estrange us,

And on our souls there falls a freezing blight;

Not understood.

Not understood! How many breasts are aching

For lack of sympathy! Ah! day by day

How many cheerless, lonely hearts are breaking!

How many noble spirits pass away,

Not understood.

O God! that men would see a little clearer,

Or judge less harshly where they cannot see!

O God! that men would draw a little nearer

To one another, -- they'd be nearer Thee,

And understood.

–Thomas Bracken