I think there is substantive semantic difference between saying "All Lives Matter" and "It's ok to be white." The former sounds like an effort to be attentive to issues of equality and/or egalitarianism; the latter sounds like ploy by which White folks attempt to excuse themselves from proactive concerns about JUSTICE for everyone, everywhere.
Lately I have some of the following observations and insights.
1) Social Justice warriors like to play both sides of an issue, I believe this is just an elaborate game of what was called in the old book "Games People Play", as "Now I've Got You, You Son of a B".
It's a cheap power grab maneuver of putting people on the defensive for anything they may have done in the past, perceived to have done, or in this case what their ancestors might have done, or the system may have done. And what's worse about it is people are not even consistent. At one time, it is bad to ignore black/ African culture, but when that changes and white people begin to embrace various cultural things, then the reverse thing happens where people do the opposite and complain about "cultural appropriation", all of this just points to things just being a power game/ grab of manipulation by the offended.
And I got more to say, but that will start things off.
Games People Play (book) - Wikipedia.
It might be just a statement of fact. If one is white it is a nice thing to know. If one is not white it is a reminder.
Why would you start off a poll about negative prejudice with "white posters only"...? I'll be surprised if this thread is not closed according to the TOS.
Long ago I discovered that humans are insane. Everyone has a responsibility for themselves. Why should anyone depend on humans when they could depend on God? And yet we all co-exist together. I'm going to do my part but I'm not a statist. I'm not a collectivist. I don't care what color my skin or other people's Skins are. The solution is the kingdom of God, not human beings trying to dominate and gain advantages for their divided selves. Ultimate Unity is only possible by Unity with God.The problem here is that in the U.S. there have been social phenomena promulgated and acted upon by 'White' people, ranging from flat-out bigotry and lynchings to something instead that sounds more affable, like "White Flight," among other things.
The problem here is that as Christians, we're called to be proactive for justice as a part of our faith and not merely be passively un-bigoted.
In fact, I'd say that some of what White Christians have done in the U.S. historically is to work around their responsibilities to be more proactive in seeing justice done on behalf of all people groups, they've been more often than not neglectful to work to improve upon their ongoing negligence, a social debit which is (with the letter of James in tow) perhaps a form of sin.
I'd like this thread to be an honest open discussion about racism and the current iteration of the Black Lives Movement. I feel like that's something hard to do on this forum with all the flaming, and goading, and finger pointing. Please don't post some snarky 2 sentence joke or trolling statement, don't try to make this about Trump or any other politician. Please, try to make a thoughtful post that adds to the discussion.
In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a more aggressive and more direct tone and message from the protesters, BLM, and it's supporters. The title of the thread is a phrase I've seen thrown around a lot. The phrase White Silence is Violence. It's also written as To Be Silent Is To Be Complicit. For example...
Black Lives Matter: Silence is 'complicity,' say many white protesters | News24
I disagree with the message. That simply isn't how problems work. The problem, generally speaking, is racism towards blacks. The word complicit has a pretty specific meaning....
Definition of COMPLICIT
helping to commit a crime or do wrong in some way
If I told you that staying silent about Islamic terrorism made you complicit, you would probably think I had gone bonkers. Simply not talking about a problem doesn't make you a part of the problem.
I also think it's wrong that this statement is, in any meaningful way, directed at white people....as if racism is all our fault. In many cases, I think the people saying it want white people to speak up against the racism they hear from other white people. The reality is though, 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 work in law enforcement and I can honestly say I don't remember the last time any of my friends or coworkers said anything racist....even a little bit racist.
If you don't think this message is directed at white people....here's a recent example...
Steve Harvey Calls BLM Protests ‘One of the Greatest Movements Since the Civil Rights Movement’
Kimberly Jones is an Atlanta based BLM activist...
"I think the only way something is going to come out of this is if we start making the necessary changes ourselves," Jones said. "Because it's been proven time and time again that we're on our own. The saddest part about that is that racism is not a Black issue that white people need to empathize with. Racism is a white problem. They caused it. They need to fix it. But I don't have faith anymore that that's going to happen."
This is a view that a shocking number of people hold. It's been hinted at for years....when ideas like white privilege were used to shame white people. It's the subtext when the same people tried to redefine racism as something only white people are guilty of. It's implied in ideas like "white fragility" and "whitesplaining".
A couple of years back, research showed that only white people....specifically white liberals....are the only racial group with an out-group bias. That means out of each racial group, only white people viewed themselves in a more negative way than others. A lot of conservatives found this amusing....I found it sad.
No one should ever be ashamed of their skin color. No one should view themselves in a negative way because of their skin color. This is a relatively new phenomenon and I can only imagine that it's because of the constant shaming and blaming of whites that has been allowed to go on for so long.
The reason it's gone on for so long is that BLM and other activists and race "scholars" have pushed this viewpoint and they do not allow for any honest and open debate or discussion (like the one I'm trying to have here). If you don't agree with them, you're labeled a racist and part of the problem. This creates an echo chamber where only one opinion is allowed. That's why we're seeing openly racist statements about white people (like the one above). That's why black people are advocating for discrimination against whites in job hiring (which I also have a thread on).
This is why I cannot support BLM even though I believe in racial equality and accountability for police. Their methods are faulty....and their message is too often deplorably racist.
There shouldn't be anything controversial about saying "All Lives Matter" or "It's ok to be white". Those are simple truths that everyone should agree with.
I could go on...but I fear I've lost most readers by now lol. I look forward to seeing your thoughts about this issue.
Long ago I discovered that humans are insane. Everyone has a responsibility for themselves. Why should anyone depend on humans when they could depend on God? And yet we all co-exist together. I'm going to do my part but I'm not a statist. I'm not a collectivist. I don't care what color my skin or other people's Skins are. The solution is the kingdom of God, not human beings trying to dominate and gain advantages for their divided selves. Ultimate Unity is only possible by Unity with God.
Well, in that case, I believe that it should all start with revamping the "corrections" system. I think it's less of a color thing these days and more of a divide along the lines of green paper.
The problem here is that in the U.S. there have been social phenomena promulgated and acted upon by 'White' people, ranging from flat-out bigotry and lynchings to something instead that sounds more affable, like "White Flight," among other things.
The problem here is that as Christians, we're called to be proactive for justice as a part of our faith and not merely be passively un-bigoted.
In fact, I'd say that some of what White Christians have done in the U.S. historically is to work around their responsibilities to be more proactive in seeing justice done on behalf of all people groups, as well as be neglectful to work to improve upon this negligence which is (with the letter of James in tow) perhaps a form of sin.
I don't care what color my skin or other people's Skins are.
The solution is the kingdom of God, not human beings trying to dominate and gain advantages for their divided selves. Ultimate Unity is only possible by Unity with God.
I have read the letter of James. Found nothing about dividing people up into skin color groups there. Nothing about shaming whole groups of people based upon their skin color. Nothing about being "proactive for justice". The overriding message of the New Testament, including James, is to love your neighbor. How can I love my white neighbor if I insist it is not ok to be white? If you object to the idea that it is ok to be white then you must think it is not ok to be white. Just as if someone objects to the idea that black is beautiful or that black lives matter they must think black is not beautiful or that black lives don't matter. I cannot love my neighbor if I do not consider my neighbor to be a unique individual rather than a representative of a group.
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. ;/Are you questioning what I've written, Noxot? I can't tell if you're agreeing with me or disagreeing.
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.