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.

Del.icio.us : Hope

Interesting Thoughts from Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck has posted an interesting article concerning America.

America needs a 12-step program

which seems to recommend a way for Americans to take control of the current situations in America. I think this applies as much to the racial atmosphere as it does to the economic downturn. Thoughts?

How do you do this better?

Today's post is less about the problem and more about the possible solution. Here is the situation:

The Black Student Union at the University of New Hampshire hosted a campus event titled "Black Family Weekend". The intent of the event was to get more inter-racial interaction gong on. Specifically, they wanted people of all nationalities and colors to get together and enjoy one anothers company. What a wonderful, intellectually stimulating idea!!!! I am not being facetious. I think it is a great idea. Too bad it didn't work.

For details on the event go to:

Black family weekend exemplified multiculturalism

Make sure to read both pages and then decide how this event could have been used to reach it's lofty goals. My only thought is if they wanted to have a community wide gathering, it's title should proably be something like "UNH Family Weekend" and the BSU would be the primary sponsor.

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Sick and Tired

Today I read another example of racism. Or really not-racism. In the Opinion Journal (the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal) I read of Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski who referred to children playing in trees as "monkeys". Since she was a delegate for Barack Obama, he had to ask her to step down due to her racist views. I am sure that it will be obvious to everyone that this was a blatant rascist attack when I mention that the children were African-American. I don't see what that has to do with anything, much less racism. It is so tiring to hear of people being offended when there is no offense intended. Even more, if someone says something to offend you, let that be their problem. We make issues and problems worse by giving them credence. I am NOT suggesting that racism is not real. It is all too real a problem. But finding instances of it where they do not exist doesn't solve the problem anymore than ignoring it makes it go away. The way to make the issue of racism go away it to make it of little importance. Ignore the fools. Teach the children that race and color are not important factors in determining the worth of an individual. I don't think this will take much effort. Let me give some background and a story as illustration.

I am your "typical white, male American". In other words, I am descended from Europeans. I grew up in South East Idaho and am currently living in Utah. I didn't know many African Americans growing up. In fact, I can only think of 3 that I went to High school with. As far as other ethnicities, I had a few Hispanic friends and lots of "white" friends. I was not exposed to much in the way of ethnic diversity. You would think that would have made me a bit biased. In fact, it did. To this day, I have yet to personally meet an African American I haven't really liked. I can't say the same for all the non-African Americans. This came from the way I was raised.

I served a mission for my church in Brazil and while I was there I met thousands of people of various shades of white, black, grey, yellow, orange (you get the point). Some didn't impress me much but most of them were just wonderful, caring people. One of the things that I loved about Brazil ( and there are too many things to name here) was that most, if not all, of the people had mixed ethnicity. This resulted in everyone being black and white. It was nice that no one cared. This is the point we need to get to here in the US. I had a room mate once who said he refused to put his ethnicity on his drivers license. When asked why, he said,"It doesn't matter anymore than my eye color does. That's enough of an identifier for me." I couldn't agree more.

Now is the time when I would like to point out all of the recent "perceived" injustices when there were none but the list would take too long to compile. Suffice it to say that my wife and I are working very hard with our kids to help them know that ethnicity doesn't determine what kind of person you are; you do. How people percieve us isn't our problem; it's theirs.