By now, most readers are quite familiar with the controversy surrounding President Obama's remarks concerning the arrest of the Harvard professor by a Cambridge police officer. It's not my purpose here to get into the specifics of the arrest nor to get into commentary on the President's remarks.......
Rather, I bring this topic up to comment on a sad reality: Race remains an issue in this nation despite the many tremendous positive gains that have been made. We ALL still have a lot to learn in terms of living out the ideal of equality and living with each other as children of God. Strong feelings remain and, in many cases, for many people, are just simmering beneath the surface of their lives. All it takes then is what we saw last week------one comment or one action- and then it all explodes!
Last year, the United Church of Christ embarked on a project to engage in 'sacred conversations' about race. The need for these conversations continues. The importance of trying to walk in the shoes of people whose background is different from our own is as crucial as it ever was.
There are those who argue that it's time to just put the issue to rest, that we have all been subjected to diversity awareness and multicultural education and it's time to move beyond all of that. I've got a different take!
I think this nation and its institutions even when fulfilling the letter of the law have not always embraced its spirit. I also think that a lot of what passes for diversity and multicultural awareness has been extremely weak educationally. In short, I think we have got a long way to go.....
The good news is that there are conversations going on out there....In my view, it is incumbent upon clergypeople and educators to draw upon this recent Cambridge experience to continue serious conversations about race and other related issues in this nation and in this world. In tough economic times, fear is never far away and when fear is handled improperly, bad things can happen.....
It's important that Christian leaders press forward with Jesus' vision of human reconciliation and understanding.......the kind of contribution that can make a difference in our all too divided nation...
PB
4 comments:
Perhaps the most important part of a dialogue is listening, really trying to hear and understand what the other party is trying to say. It seems to me that that is what is most needed in healing wounds incurred over our long history of racial discrimination. We have to hear the stories- particularly those of African American men. And hear them over and over again - as often as they need to be told- without comment or criticism or intent to heal. It is only after one feels they have been truly listend to, truly heard that real healing begins. And African American men in particular have not had much of a voice in this arena in this country
You are so true.......REALLY LISTENING isa n act of profound human respect.
In this fast paced world, with its quick news cycle, it has become a lost art...
PB
Good topic Bob. Racism has no moral basis in Christianity and Christians should expose it for the evil it is. I believe racism is dying in our country despite the recent incident in Boston. It has been my experience that racism is strongest with the 50+ age demographic as evidenced in Boston. As those racist people who fought through our civil rights era back in the 50s and 60s die, racism will die with them. I lived in the South for several years. One has not experienced racism in the USA until you have lived in the South. Generally, its the older folks there who harbor the most hatred toward minorities and believe me when I state that they don't hide their feelings. I believe education has benefitted those under 50 the most. The older racist folks are "set in their ways" and no amount of education will change their seered minds and hearts. The good news is that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changes hearts of stone to hearts of flesh no matter how old it is. As the gospel spreads and sinners are saved, racism will be eradicated.
Dave
Dave-
I really appreciate your insights........
I hope and pray things are truly changing....
In Jesus,
Bob
Post a Comment