What you're referring to, Ana the lst, is the recent phenomenon of using words to mean whatever the speaker wants them to mean, even if it's patently nonsense.
Apparently no one is going to be sued if the defense is simply that the speaker holds that opinion and it doesn't refer to any specific action that could be judged false. So, we'll see more of this.
The absurdity in this one is that "White Silence is Violence" but "Cops in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon" is not a call for violence.
I don't know. my first knee jerk reaction was that the solution is to function in the lower rather than the higher. I have no faith in human systems. ;/
Heavenly Unity cannot be created bottom up. Unity of individuals that form X group is still a separation from other groups. To focus on your race is to not focus on God and the things that are eternal. In Heaven There is diversity. There can be no Union without separation. But race is part of the animal human which Fades away. It's only a theme so that we can either do good or evil with it. I am more my soul and my spirit than I am My Flesh. I think that only the radicalness of the Kingdom of Heaven truly solves these problems and so there is no point to play politics games or race games. I hereby renounce my whiteness. I don't care about it one iota nor about any color. Animals are dead and only actual persons are eternal. Anything concerned with race is now a filthy rag to me that I Cast Away From Me.
Thank you for the response. I'm just trying to point out that asking only white people what they think, is racist in it's premise. Not that you are deliberately racist for articulating it as such. Therefore the problem is with the term "racism/racist" when it is conflated with "race" in our psycho-linguistics. Please note choice number three: The fault of everyone regardless of race. We are all racist sometimes. That's conflating the two terms in the mind of the reader.Because I'm curious about how white posters on this forum view their role in racism.
If non-white posters respond, it won't tell me anything about how the white posters see things.
The thread is open to anyone.
They even call one another white when someone does something that they don't perceive as being black
I have noticed the irony of attacking people who share their opinions on the matter to the point where sharing an opinion can cost someone their job....then complaining that people aren't speaking out about the issues they care about.
It shows that they don't really want a discussion or even want to hear opinions. They simply want you to tell them they're right.
Redefining words and terms like "racism" and "white privilege" while also inventing new terms like "whitesplaining" to dismiss the views of an entire race of people is such a blatantly obvious attempt at controlling dialogue and discussion that it's hard for me to believe the people who go along with it don't really see it
That's not even including the digital shaming and humiliation of people on social media.
it's true that we are in this world to act. it's hard to come up with good Solutions when society as a whole is really not going to be willing to embrace big change. but it wouldn't be much at all to treat everyone as equals, we already often do that in our daily lives. Society tends to improve in small increments. So many humans are stubborn in their ways. So many are accepting of how things are. that's partially because disagreeing with the status quo can get you killed as those black men that resist often display.This is a noble attitude, but unfortunately it is not appropriate at this time. In order to deal with the real-world problems racism has caused we must FIRST understand the lived experience of those whose skins are a different color from ours. We cannot move to the glory of dessert before we've choked down our brussel sprouts.
If people hadn't been able to utilize the Bible itself to support their racist views we might have something there. I'm not saying that God likes slavery or racism (not because the Bible stands against it or anything like that) but rather that there have been well-meaning people who thought they were following God's words who used those same words to justify their own racism. They may have been wrong but it doesn't really matter, does it. God himself has not stepped in to keep George Floyd from being choked to death on the pavement. So we are left with taking actions ourselves.
I kind of don't get what whiteness is, or Blackness for that matter. aesthetically speaking, both colors look pretty nice. I think I prefer the extremes of Snow White and deep dark black. What does it mean to embrace my whiteness or to embrace blackness? Does it mean to be stereotyped? Does it mean to care for my race? I'm against both of those already because a stereotype is a lack of freedom and I'd rather care for All Souls like God taught me to.Did you ever embrace your whiteness? Do you have to renounce it if you never embraced it?
I admire the way you could of let that unfair criticism bring you down, or you could have conformed to it and tried to fit a mold...but you didn't.That’s true. I experienced it a lot growing up. I didn’t look the part. I spoke differently and my dress and manner weren’t the same. When they questioned my ethnicity I knew the issue. They wanted to be me but they couldn’t.
That was my first lesson in power. I never forgot it. The display of weakness and internal tumult that compelled them to articulate their thoughts ignited something within me.
My killer instinct emerged that day. I grew up playing chess at a young age. My aunt insisted on that, checkers or Scrabble. She’s 40 years older. That isn’t a fair fight. But it made me shrewd. That’s how I addressed the situation and those that followed.
I didn’t play their game, react or apologize. I outwitted them. The goal was my diminishment. So I raised the stakes and scaled higher. Beyond their reach.
Sometimes you have to play offense against your environment. Satan throws many things in our path to trip us up. Keeping a cool head and responding in wisdom is the difference between success and an apology or whipping post.
~Bella
I have a very negative view of some of what is currently going on, since I've seen white progressives refer to black conservatives as effectively race traitors who are profiting from an unjust system at the expense of their own people. If a predominately white social movement is policing what black voices are and are not considered legitimate, that's colonialism, pure and simple.
I don't love the "white silence is violence" shtick, since I think it conflicts with the idea that we're supposed to listen to what the black community (i.e., all of it, not just the voices that already agree with us) is saying without just wandering around screaming our own opinion to the four winds. I do think we should be engaging with these issues and not pretending that they have nothing to do with us, but making it all about white people just reintroduces the white savior complex under a new guise.
You think white people shouldn't offer their opinions on the problem of racism and how to work on it?
I admire the way you could of let that unfair criticism bring you down, or you could have conformed to it and tried to fit a mold...but you didn't.
My girlfriend has had a tough time finding a job. She blames it solely on being black and says none of these interviewers want to hire her. I tried to mention in a delicate way that developing exceptional communication skills is a way around that. I also offered to do practice interviews with her and said to her it would be good for me to practice too
But it only led to her getting angry at me and verbally body slamming me through a table!!
So i do truly admire the strength and wisdom God blessed you with!! And you Aunt as well
I appreciate your honesty and your insight. I wish race wasnt brought up so often because like you i dont believe anyone should be put into a boxMy parents were adamant we were leaders not followers. They reinforced that and the necessity for excellence constantly. We learned black history at home and at school (from K through 6th grade). I had a clear sense of my identity. My mother's family emphasized gentility and ladyship. Being well mannered was expected at all times. When others acted out of turn we were expected to keep our cool and rise to the occasion.
Fitting the mold was never an option. I knew my place and that was the difference. I didn't see color as a hindrance or color at all to be honest. I knew my history and roots and embraced all facets of my makeup. I didn't esteem one over the other. The French, English and Jewish parts of me are evident.
I don't understand race-based ideologies. I can't think like that at all. Seriously. Someone once told me I was too white and had too many white friends. But when Satan was kicking my butt and trying to keep me in his camp my Caucasian friends jumped in and took the blows with me. For the sake of love and my welfare. You can't drink the koolaid.
That would not do! There's a fine line between flippancy and disrespect. Both are out of bounds. There must be a line you don't cross. I've dated outside my race since I was 19. Life is hard enough without justifying my race. I can't.
I am not responsible for the choices of my forefathers. They worked cohesively towards a vision for my betterment. I won't apologize for their forethought or sacrifice. I won't feel guilt because they wanted to smooth the path for my benefit. I'm not ashamed of their work ethic or willingness to pay it forward. I'm adding to the heap.
I'm purpose driven and legacy minded. I'm chasing His mark. That's my priority.
~Bella
Collective guilt is always a wrong way to go. Learn from Europe after the WWII, how they supported Germany to become strong and peaceful nation instead of blaming it again and again.
You can never blame somebody for something that happened 200 years ago, because there is nobody alive who is guilty of it.
To be honest I personally don't see the problem of racism in this country.
You has said...." that I along with many other white people, don't hear any racism from the people we are around the vast majority of the time." I would be in the same situation.
So, where do I see racism? As it should be no surprise, on the main stream media. Racism in the USA is pushed as an agenda.
You can have the exact same happen to an Oriental, Native American, Latino, Caucasian or an African American...who ever they may be....and only the African American story will make the news. I'm sure someone can find the exception to the rule but for the most part what I have said is true.
I would add a 4th option to your survey....The fault of a particular group creating racism in the country.
The question is who is stirring the pot and advancing racism and division in the USA and why are they doing it?
I have my suspects.
I appreciate your honesty and your insight. I wish race wasnt brought up so often because like you i dont believe anyone should be put into a box
Its sad anyone would expect or think you should apologize for your forefathers sacrificing for future generations. You are blessed with great ancestors that would not let the future generations fall into a pit. They built there house on rock instead of sand