We don’t assume that I’m a clean person therefore I don’t need to brush my teeth. And when someone suggests to us that we’ve got something stuck in our teeth, we don’t say “Wh-what do you mean? I have something stuck in my teeth? I’m a clean person! Why would you–”

Being a good person is not a state of being but a practice. We are not good in spite of our imperfections: we are good because of how we deal with those imperfections.

In conclusion:


I know that this is no easy task, and race may be the most difficult sphere in which to apply this concept, but I think it’s where it could also reap the most rewards. And I hope that bit by bit, if we consider that and are mindful of it, we can shift away from taking it as an indictment of our goodness and move towards taking it as a gesture of respect and an act of kindness when someone tells us that we’ve got something racist stuck in our teeth.


from http://abagond.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/jay-smooth-on-how-to-talk-about-race/

To some people, you have to be a cross-burning, hood-wearing Klansman to qualify. To others, any attempt to inject racial concerns into the public square is evidence of racism, judging by some of the mail I receive.

Conservatives in particular complain that they can't be candid about race with blacks or our white liberal allies without being guilt-tripped or being accused of racism. I respect their complaint. We've all been invited to a "conversation" that turned into a one-way lecture. To avoid the guilt game, both sides have to relinquish some of their innocence. That's not easy, especially when each side sees injustice in the other.


from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-28/news/ct-oped-0328-page-20120328_1_racial-slur-hate-crime-laws-robert-zimmerman

Why is racism such a difficult topic and issue – including for Christians? Well, here are some of my reasons:
1.It’s hard work. And people can be lazy. And talking about racism is an exhausting conversation because it brings up some deep questions. Reconciliation is hard work. The need for reconcilation assumes that something is broken; something is not as it was intended to be.

2.Something called ‘Life.’ There’s lots of other things going on – umm, like the financial recession. There’s more important things going on.
3.And how is this part of the gospel?
4.Confusion. People don’t like confusion. Folks like clarity and certainty. We like answers.
5.Conflict. People don’t like conflict and well, the conversation of racism provokes conflict and strong opinions.
6.Fear. People are afraid. Afraid to consider the possibilities that we’re racist, prejudiced or implicated by our silence. Afraid to consider that we live as victims in a ‘victimized’ mentality. Afraid to consider that we need to “give up” something. Afraid to “count the costs.”
7.Apathy. People don’t care. We’re apathetic. And this is probably the scariest reason.
8.What? We don’t think it exists. What racism? What prejudice? And this is probably as scary as #6.
9.How? People don’t know how to talk about racism. We don’t have an agreed upon framework to engage the conversation and move towards peace and reconciliation.
10.We want to forget the past and just “move forward.” It’s over. Heck, Obama is President. It’s a new day.
11.[Insert your additional thoughts here...]



from http://eugenecho.com/2009/02/23/racism-and-reconciliation-why-is-it-so-hard/

You picked a hot subject to discuss,lol. I really think it's bad that when some people mention race,it's automatically assumed a white person. I've met just as many black people who are racists. With that being said, racism isn't always obvious. It's not always people running around being ' cross burning,hood wearing klansman'. I also think it's become too easy for people to throw up the racist 'excuse'. Why would someone say it's a difficult issue including Christians? It can be a difficult issue for anyone,especially for people who are just looking for an excuse to keep it going, to get away with things. They say that both sides need to relinquish some of their innocence and that each side sees injustice in each other, but really, it's not at all equal in racism. It seems that one side uses the term far too much and not even when it's actually an instance of racism.

I can only speak to # 3

When the Bible uses the word Man.....

It speaks to Mankind. NOT MEN!!!

That covers all men and women that God Created.

So.....Biblically speaking......

God created all mankind.
God sees his creation the same. Equally.
God says....."Love Thy Brother as thine own self"

Although by His own admittion.....He IS A Jealous God.......

He did not teach us to be that way.
Our own ignorance and jealousy is the source of racisim.

I refuse to read or listen to any thing on the subject outside of what I believe to be true in God's eyes.
So The reteric means nothing to me.
I don't care who you are, where you come from.....show me God in you and you are good with me!!!
JMO

Amen Ghostrider2u! Just love the way you put it especially this phrase, "I don't care who you are, where you come from...show me God in you and you are good with me"

The scripture you mentioned is from Mark 12:13 & it says, "The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

Racism is a warped mentality, somewhat based on a very primitive instinct, most have evolved beyond, if it doesn't look like them it's not human and poses a threat or is a source of food. Not that racist see others as food, but they are threatened by others in some way, due to the difference in skin tone and culture.

Unfortunately, we can't force people to evolve or better educate themselves.

Two of my best friends were black men. One brought me into the best job I had, and I brought the other into one of the best jobs he had. As far as women, I've had 2 women supervisors and I busted my butt for them, makes no difference if the person I report to is a male or female. I draw the line at bananas though.

I had to defend my friends against ignorance several times, not racist ignorance, but ignorance fueled because of their race. I.E. "I'm white so I know more than they do." ZZZTTT! Wrong, I'd much rather have them working on my projects. Hmmm, guess there isn't much difference in racist ignorance and ignorance fueled by race, is there?

I give everybody a chance and try not to judge by their cover. I did that in the past and it hurt me, when I was very young and I learned people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, height and disposition. I normally get along well with everyone! There are always exceptions though.

Msharmony, you know I tell you when I think you are wrong. I see you as more of a moderator trying to explain why things shouldn't be like they are, or giving viewpoint from another angle. A lot of it I agree with in some degree.

Then again, some things I hear (not from you) I think are plain silly. But what do I know? I'm just a mature sorta white guy who has fought all the battles he needed to and wants peace amongst people.

When we can have an uncensored, level playing field, honest and open discussion can commence.

Until then, I'm sure there will be a quiet hostility on all sides.

The taboos have to be abolished.

For most of my life I have kind of felt like I was in that never never land where what ever race was trying to argue discrimination would see me as on the opposite side because I have mixed blood and so do my children; some I had some I did not. And if you looked you would have a hard time knowing which; something that proved interesting more than once over the years.

I have still come to the conclusion racism comes from a feeling of frusteration and fear in most cases. People generally have had parental training or personal experience that made them feel discriminated against and with no other obvious reason to blame it on they slide into the trap of being a victim their entire life because they were at some point.

About a month ago I went to a bus stop near my home that I am very familiar with. Can tell you exactly how many steps from my door, every curb bla bla blah so I did not take my blind cane to negotiate getting there. But it is hot and I am tired and breathing heavy so I set down under the bus cover where I was joined by and elderly man. We chat politely for a while and I am thinking everything is fine. That maybe he has even moved off as a bus pulls up and moves away, and it is a younger person. Anyway I hear the distinctive sound of a cigarette package crackle and the tapping of a pack that means someone is lighting up.

So I turn, smile in the direction of the sound, and say "Please would you mind not smoking here?" Seemed like a reasonable request because it is actually illegal in our state. And benches actually existed away from the covered area with ashtrays so it was not like I had any reason to believe I was putting any great hardship on anyone.

Well for what seemed like a very long time I had to sit and listen to this big long tirade how I was discrimiateing against him, all the while making some of the most offensive economic and racial slurs he could muster.

Telling him I was in fact, at least partially a woman of color, didn't dissuade his tirade in the least and he probably said what was the crux of his anger that I was "pale enough (to pass) so why was I in his neighborhood".

Anyway I finally put my hand up and said "Sir if someone can't ask you politely to wait then you do what you got to do but I don't have to listen to this." I got my cane out of my purse and stood up and I don't know if it was fear I might wrap that cane around his neck, shame, or the collective gasp of the other people at the bus stop relizeing I had no idea what color he was and moving between him and me long enough for it to sink in to him also but he shut up and walked away from the bus stop after staring a while.

It makes me wonder what would have happen if I had verbally or even physically tried to defend myself without the cane, and I appreciate the fact that at least a few tried to defend me... for whatever reason.. but how often do we make unreasonable conclusions about a situation.

I wondered what some of the other people took away from the exchange. Especially the younger ones. I guess I hope by not acting the fool myself maybe it set some kind of example.

But I had to wonder how many times this elderly man truely had been discrimnated against, I know the reality is it probably did happen many times (I am old enough to lived in a time when I could not legal live with in city limits myself) , but how long would he carry that into every exchange? And how bad did what happen that day make him feel? Would it change anything for him? We can only hope.

What does something stuck in your teeth have to do with race relations?

Well, if you read my post, perhaps it has to do with a primitive instinct. :P

I think it was more of an analogy to help convey the message of her post though. ;)

I read your post and that doesn't make the analogy make sense to me. Perhaps the OP will explain :).

its an analogy

basically, just because someone might point out a particular flaw they observe in a moment, doesnt mean they are attacking you as a person

just like someone explaining you have something in your teeth, in this moment, shouldnt be taken to mean that you are dirty. but just that we may need to clean them up and then take action to KEEP THEM CLEAN in the future

likewise


people pointing out racism they observe in a moment, statement,, or whatever,, shouldnt cause us to feel that we are 'bad' people,, but rather that something may need to be done to 'clean up' that particular moment and keep those that come after it clean as well

Yes, I did get that it was an analogy. Still seems like an odd comparison, but thanks for explaining a bit more.

NO PROBLEM

Racism is not only found in Caucasians. Whoever is in the majority, usually, has some amount of "we're better than the rest of you". Having traveled the world (last job I had) I've seen this in every continent on earth.

It is said that when the only tool in your tool box is a hammer, then all problems will look like nails to you.

The problems that life gives us are often complex. Whenever faced with a complex problem that it doesn’t know how to deal with, the human psyche will try to simplify the problem by creating a simple cause for the problem, even if such a simple cause does not actually exist.

For example, if one is dealing with a wood screw, and if the only tool that one has is a hammer, then one may strike the screw with the hammer while claiming that the screw is a nail. Others who are equipped with several tools, including screwdrivers, with think that it is wrong to strike the screw with the hammer. The one using the hammer, in turn, will claim that the others are blind to the existence of the “nail”.

The others do not deny the existence of nails, which is why they keep hammers in their tool boxes. Yet, the others see wood screws as wood screws, not nails. It is not enough to claim that an object must be a nail because it is straight, has a pointed end and is made out of metal, because a wood screw is also straight, has a pointed end and is made out of metal.

Regarding acts of racism, nobody (to the best of my knowledge) is claiming that acts of racism no longer occur. What is claimed is that alleged acts of racism have to be proven with evidence that is specific, not vague. A charge of racism has to be falsifiable, and the party charged is to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Yet, what often happens is that a charge of racism is based on evidence that is vague, and the party being accused is treated as if that party were guilty until proven innocent.

Again, a charge of racism has to be falsifiable. Whenever one claims that racism is “subtle”, one is using an ad hoc hypothesis, rendering the charge of racism unfalsifiable. This makes it impossible for an innocent party accused of racism to fight such a charge.

Yes, at times, a charge of racism can be true. Yet, at times, a charge of racism can be nothing more than an ego defense mechanism. If you want people to acknowledge the former, then you need to acknowledge the latter in order to be fair.

If you want to combat racism, then don’t look at yourself and others through a prism of race. Consider your people to be people who share your beliefs, not your physical features.

I Agree, and its not so much as a physical majority, the english are not the majority in Great Britain but they gained the power,, likewise on the AFrican continent where minorities held the power for quite some time historically

I agree, its not at all a uniquely american problem, bigotry is a sad reality of humanity, but that doesnt mean we cant be constantly trying to do better,,,,

I have no problem acknowledging that some people use racism as an ego defense. Perhaps someone can start a different thread dealing with that issue too. But what I am focused on in this thread is the inability to even get people to talk about the REALITY of racism in all its forms (institutional, personal, subtle. blatant) without trying to shut the discussion down by insisting its just a 'card' or that some type of tangible proof be presented as to peoples intentions and beliefs via black and white text on a screen.

My point is that it is so hard to get people to even DISCUSS racism without it turning into a fest of denial instead of one of understanding and aknowledgement.