So we are the same in our differences

There is an interesting article on the the effect of race in acceptance in a club.
http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/08/should_white_guy_get_to_join_the_black_caucus.php
I don't know what will make this problem lessen but it would be nice to find something

When equality isn't

There is an interesting article on CNN.com that talks about interracial congregations at church.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/08/04/segregated.sundays/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
I guess I just can't understand why a House of God is a place where race matters. I am familiar with the history of the Mormon church and it's relationship to African Americans but a lot of that attitude has changed and more and more there are people that stand up and say that we are ALL God's children, color isn't significant. Notice I didn't say anything about cultural differences. Our differences complete us, make us stronger. As a world, we should look for things we have in common and build on those. Differences don't have to separate us.

Why do we care about differences?

Interesting article on CNN http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/16/white.valedictorian/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Why is it that we can't be happy when someone succeeds if they are different than us? This is certainly not limited to race. I have known a few who were unhappy that some from their different economic class had succeeded. Even in sports it works this way. I have always lived in the West ( and Brazil) so I tend to cheer for sporting teams from the west, not just my geographical area. That even goes for the NFL where I am typically an NFC fan. I would root for Seattle over the Giants because Seattle is in the West. What makes us not only shun differences but make it an us/them mentality?

Pleasantly Surprised

Well, I just read an article from Roland Martin that was an excellent example of where it would be nice to be:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/08/roland.martin/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
I have to agree that for everyone to be represented, everyone has to be counted. Also, we can't do this as individual ethnic groups. We have to be united.

Bias is universal

Here is another simple article that is indicative of the problem.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/05/roland.martin.05.05/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Roland Martin comes across as totally biased in this article. To be honest, his arguments seem a bit contrived. He mentions that several white preachers (e.g. Pat Robertson) who shouldn't be allowed to have any influence because of how Reverend Wright has been treated. I wouldn't have a problem with his assessment except the examples that he cites from American-hating preachers don't include anything from Pat Robertson. Now, before you make any judgements, I do kind of think that Pat Robertson often (read most of the time) goes too far. But saying that Pat Robertson shouldn't have access to American Policticians because of what Rod Parsley said is like saying Franklin D. Roosevelt is a bad man because he, like Mussolini, was the leader of a country.

The bigger issue here is how to address the problem. Why can't we all be American? Why does color, race or ethnicity play such a large part in who me are and how we are percieved? More importantly, why does it play such a large role in how other people perceive us (you, me and all of us)? I wish there was an easy answer to any of those questions.

Not racism, but definitely prejudice

I received a link to a fantastic site called D-PAN: Deaf Performing Artists Network. They have a couple of music videos that are inspiring to watch. I would hope that my inability to high jump or drive race cars wouldn't stop me from the privilege of enjoying a quality education. Most deaf people have long been thought inferior regardless of their true value. Just one more example of a group of people that contribute much more to society than the "percieved" differences they have. After all, aren't we all different?

Inspiring Preacher

Now I realize that the blog's title should be redundant but in today's world where there are so many preachers that abuse their position, I feel the need to emphasize the difference here.

Here is a CNN article of a preacher, Bishop T.D. Jakes, in Dallas TX that just screams "Doing it right". I realize that he is responding to a critic in this article and I would never assume to believe most of what is written in the media but, the mission that he represents is extremely admirable and elevating. He speaks of benefiting all and raising those that are in a worse situation.

Here is a quote from Rep Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D-Michigan and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. (For the record, I appreciate the work that the CBC does, I just wish that it weren't necessary for that work to be done. One day, one day ...):

"Clay Academy is an extension of Bishop Jakes' central message of hope and healing. He and the staff are developing generations of leaders who will understand that when we embrace our common humanity and work together, we can change the world."

I love the term "common humanity" and the only thing that troubles me about it is how uncommon it is.

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