dragonrider 6/15/08 8:30 AM | QUOTE(Rural Conservative @ Jun 14 2008, 11:55 PM) [snapback]401249[/snapback]
See, here's the thing people don't seem to really get. The whole idea of "black", "white", etc. is antiquated and entirely innacurate. There is only one "race," that being the human race. The differences that make us unique, be they skin color, culture, or just plain out individuality, should be things that unite us, rather than things that divide us.
I'm rather extensively well read, and the world we see in the writings of Samuel Langhorn Clemens, is not the world of today. The America of the 1960's in which there was great upheaval and an all out culture war unlike any ever seen in this country (or elsewhere for that matter), is not the America of today. Many of those of us who are younger, who were born after the upheaval of that time, do not see people by the color of their skin, but rather by their individual actions. I've been asked before whether I get nervous if I see a "black" man on a city street. Quite honestly, I've never been harmed by anyone who would fit that description, and so I do not see anyone of dark complexion as a threat. On the contrary, I've only ever been robbed, beaten, or had attempts upon my character by persons who would be considered caucasian. I can think of one occasion in college actually, where I had come under a vicious attack by another "white" student. One of the greatest supports I had at that time was a good friend of African-American descent who took time to pray with me and help me through the difficulty of the emotional struggle I was dealing with.
I also see things through the eyes of a Bible scholar (the area in which I have my degree, and no, I'm not a pastor, nor do I wish to be). Through my own study of the scriptures, I have come to the conclusion that since we all share a singular ancestral couple (that being Adam and Eve), we are all related. We are all brothers and sisters, whether our complexion be dark or so fair skinned that we burn to a crisp after a minute in the sun.
The antiquated ideals of men like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright, and anyone else you can name who throw around the words "black" and "white" in order to cause division and further their own bitterness and careers, are anathema to me. It makes absolutely no sense to me how someone who claims to be a minister of Jesus Christ, can be so full of vitriol for another. The teachings of Christ embody two unifying principles; love and forgiveness. Sadly, these two principles are sorely lacking in anyone who chooses to use their position of influence as a place from which they may sow division.
A; Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Jeremiah Wright etal did not create the politics of division that existed in the US for much longer than them. Our country was founded on the politics of division, slave/free, male/female, land holder/endentured servant rich/poor, and gay/straight. One only needs to listen to the subtle and not so subtle racism of faux news to know that these divisions are still present. Our schools are almost as segregated as they were in the 60"s. Blacks continue to have a far greater incarceration rate for drug crimes than whites even though the usage rate is equal. Unemployment for blacks remains almost double for that of whites. Inequality for gays remains almost unchanged in this new century. What has changed is many Whites no longer wish to see the issue and see the division as crossed and of no more importance. The vitriol of the 60's thru the 80's is gone but the division remains. |