A reader takes very strong exception to comments I made during the discussion on interracial marriage. I respond that the denial of racial differences is used to excuse grave moral wrongs and is un-Christian. Below are her remarks and my response.
First, a little background on this exchange. The reader, Mrs. E., asked what my definition of race was and also what I considered to be the major races. I thought she was asking for the racial classifications I was using and thus what I considered to be an interracial marriage. I sent her a paragraph from an article by J. Phillippe Rushton, stating that there were three major racial groups, basically Asian, white and black, with many subdivisions of these. Unfortunately, I did not read the entire article, which was on the biology of race. It included this statement:
Unless one is a religious fundamentalist and believes that man was created in the image and likeness of God, it is foolish to believe that human beings are exempt from biological classification and the laws of evolution that apply to all other life forms.
I take strong exception to this statement. It implies that it is not possible to believe man was created in the image of God, as I do, and at the same time apply biological classification to human beings. For believers, any such classification is purely biological and does not speak to all aspects of human nature.
Mrs. E. objected to this quoted statement and I agree with her. Here are her other remarks, with my responses inserted among them.
Mrs. E. writes:
1. With regard to your vignette on being uncomfortable at the gospel choir event–you say this is evidence that “race exists.” But I wonder if you would have identical feelings in some setting among other Caucasians who are different culturally. For example, at a worship service among the Amish, where everyone dresses distinctively, speaks Pennsylvania Dutch, and interacts in ways that are different from your own. Or, if you entered a McDonald’s restaurant for a potty stop for your young children, and found the place jam packed with Harley-Davidson bikers, complete with lots of tattoos, black leather and chains. I just would like to posit the thought that it might be more accurate to say that the difference in culture made you uncomfortable at the gospel event. Any “race” of people can have a variety of cultures, some of which suit us, and some of which may not.
[Laura writes: Race brings its own cultural differences, but all cultural differences are not attributable to race. Some cultural differences stem from ethnicity, others from ideology or class or religion. The inherited differences between racial groups create some cultural distinctions. Human beings have historically felt some sense of connection to those who are racially similar, though this sense of connection is often superseded by ethnic bonds and is always less central than family and community bonds. This connection is not all-encompassing or the core of identity. Obviously individuals are capable of strong bonds with others of different races. Nevertheless, there is racial bonding. In the large metropolitan area in which I live, blacks and whites live for the most part in neighborhoods that are largely black or white. This is voluntary. Does Mrs. E. live primarily among whites? Would she feel at home in a neighborhood that was entirely black? The fact that she also might not feel at home living among the Amish or white motorcycle gang members does not negate the presence of differences in all these cases.]
2. There have been references made to research that proves that “race exists”, and that certain races share certain traits/attributes/weaknesses. There is also research to the contrary. Have you heard of the Human Genome Project? Here is a summary of their findings:
DNA studies do not indicate that separate classifiable subspecies (races) exist within modern humans. While different genes for physical traits such as skin and hair color can be identified between individuals, no consistent patterns of genes across the human genome exist to distinguish one race from another. (emphasis mine.) There also is no genetic basis for divisions of human ethnicity. People who have lived in the same geographic region for many generations may have some alleles in common, but no allele will be found in all members of one population and in no members of any other.
Here is more:
DNA studies indicate that all modern humans share a common female ancestor who lived in Africa about 140,000 years ago, and all men share a common male ancestor who lived in Africa about 60,000 years ago. These were not the only humans who lived in these eras, and the human genome still contains many genetic traits of their contemporaries. Humanity’s most recent common ancestors are identifiable because their lineages have survived by chance in the special pieces of DNA that are passed down the gender lines nearly unaltered from one generation to the next. These ancestors are part of a growing body of fossil and DNA evidence indicating that modern humans arose in sub-Saharan Africa and began migrating, starting about 65,000 years ago, to populate first southern Asia, China, Java, and later Europe. Each of us living today has DNA that contains the story of our ancient ancestors’ journeys.
These findings support my view, which is that there is only one “race”— the human race.
[Laura writes: A great deal of evidence supports genetic differences in the races. All biological characteristics do not stem from race, but some do. I cannot account for this one statement by the Human Genome Project. Anthropologists can determine the race of the skulls they unearth. Forensic scientists can decipher the race of criminals by blood, hair and semen samples. Some diseases are more prevalent in certain races. The age of sexual maturity varies from one race to another, as do facial characteristics, skin color, skeletal structure, and hair. There is a large degree of variation within races, but still the races show certain general characteristics. The greater athletic ability of blacks, for instance, is more than just a cultural phenomenon. There are cognitive differences between the races as well. For instance, East Asians as a group out-perform whites on IQ tests.
The fact that all humans are descended from common ancestors does not mean humans evolved along similar lines. The races were formed when certain groups of humans lived in isolation for many thousands of years, and developed in response to their environment. This is not to say they were only shaped by environmental and evolutionary forces.
You could use the same evidence of common ancestors to argue there is only one human personality and there is no such thing as psychological differences in individuals, that we are all essentially the same individual replicated over and over again. But such a claim would be absurd in the face of observable evidence.
Mrs. E. 's statement, "These findings support my view, which is that there is only one "race - the human race" suggests that the alternative view, that there are indeed races, carries with it the conviction that some people are not human. I reject this implication that to recognize the existence of races is to dehumanize some people.]
3. I think Laura H.’s children will be perfectly fine. Many commenters seem to feel that the children “must” choose one race over the other, thereby rejecting one aspect of their parentage. For well-balanced families who have helped their children find their place in the world, this need not be the case. They can identify with all aspects of their parentage, and studies show that this is a far healther option, from a psychological point of view, than identifying with just one aspect of their heritage. Here is a link to a discussion of a study, published in the Journal of Social Issues, that bears this out.
Along the same lines, we should not assume, upon meeting a person of “mixed parentage,” that the person has rejected one aspect of their heritage, and actually hates that portion of their ancestry. Each person should be assessed upon his own merits as an individual, and not lumped together on the basis of physical appearance. After all, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.”
And regarding election issues, how can we assume that every black person that voted for Obama “hates white culture”? Many voted for him because of his promises of better health care, or because he promised to bring an end to the war in Iraq…and for other reasons. Not every black person is some sort of militant “Blacks Rule” type of person. And what are we to think of the many, many Caucasians who voted for him? Are they, too, to be feared as enemies of white culture? Should all Caucasians, then, check with fellow Caucasians to be sure they “voted properly” before spending time with them? Not trying to be facetious here, but rather trying to understand this train of thought.
[Laura Wood writes: Laura H.'s children, judging from what she has said, have a great home and a lot going for them. The children of interracial marriages are not doomed. I agree it is not necessary for them to hate one aspect of their parentage, but I think it likely they will identify more with one aspect of their ancestry. I will read and consider the link Mrs. E. sent. Of course I believe people should not be judged solely by outward appearance, neither whites or blacks.
I never stated that every black Obama voter hates white culture, but that these voters generally did not openly reject, and indeed appeared to embrace, Obama's claim that blacks continue to be held back by whites, to the point of being placed in prisons because of hostility by whites. Black leaders, with a few un-heard exceptions, did not denouce these claims by Obama and there was no audible voice of protest from the black community. I condemn whites who accept these views as well and, yes, unequivocally view them as enemies of white culture. The fact is, proportionally more blacks support this viewpoint. If some blacks purely supported Obama for his stance on health care or the war in Iraq, why didn't they speak out publicly against Obama's racist views? I know there are blacks who reject these views, but there seem to be very few. I attribute this to a sense of racial solidarity. In many, if not most cases, it is simple unthinking group loyalty. I believe this is natural and will never go away. This is political solidarity that does not necessarily mean an anti-white way of life for these voters. Many blacks who hold these views are able to have comfortable relations with whites in their daily lives. But they feel a sense of allegiance to other blacks.
Should all Caucasians check with fellow Caucasians to be sure they voted properly before spending time with them? As a Christian, I cannot form any kind of deep friendship with someone who supports open hostility toward any racial group. Supporters of Obama, both white and black, are in many cases openly anti-white. This is evil.]
4. Where in Scripture are we told to guard and defend our ethnic/racial culture? We are told many times to defend our Christian faith, and to guard and protect it. But our “culture”? Of course, the parts of our cultures which honor the Lord should be preserved. But I don’t understand the pattern of thinking I am seeing here, which says that we must see other “races” and cultures as the enemy against which we must barricade ourselves, being certain that their goal is our demise. As a Christian, I am thankful that the Lord did not maintain the separation between Jew and Gentile, but rather offered salvation to all, allowing Gentiles to be “grafted in” to receive the blessing and salvation promised originally to the Jewish people. Also, I think of Jesus, our divine example—who interacted with the Samaritan woman, despite the fact that the Jews and Samaritans were “at odds” with each other. His love and concern transcended barriers of race and culture, and as believers, we should imitate him. Can we really say that this attitude of “I spend as little time with ‘them’ as possible”, which I am picking up here, is a reflection of God’s heart, and truly His will for us?
Additionally, rather than see other cultures and “races” as the enemy, Scripture exhorts us that our true enemy is Satan and his demons—not flesh and blood human beings.(Ephesians 6:12) We should be ardently defending the faith against his lies, and “overcoming evil with good”(Rom 12:21) Satan loves to deceive us into thinking the enemy is other human beings, and to sow seeds of distrust and discord. Our God is bigger and stronger and able to help us with this.
[Laura writes: First, Scripture abundantly and repeatedly recognizes the reality of culture. The fact that Jews as a people are chosen to convey God's Word is in itself a recognition of culture and its significance in human affairs. The Old Testament is replete with references to tribal, ethnic and cultural division and continually reiterates the idea that human beings often act as groups to reject God or to sin or to seek renewal. The Jews are exhorted by God to defend themselves as a people lest they lose their way as individuals.
The fact that Jesus' love transcended race and culture and his salvation was offered to all, Jew and gentile, does not mean he did not recognize the existence of culture. The account of the Good Samaritan acknowledges the reality of ethnic differences and is an admonition not against culture itself but against callousness toward individuals. I remember once driving alone as a young woman on an icy winter night on a high-speed highway near the city of Camden, New Jersey, which is primarily black. The car in front of me lost control, spun around and flew into an embankment by the side of the road. It was a horrible sight. I immediately pulled over and ran to the other car. There was a black man who stumbled out. I stayed with him to make sure he was well enough to drive away. At moments like this, there is no race. Does Mrs. E. really believe I am advocating the abandonment of kindness, charity and acts of love towards those of other races? Such a charge is outrageous. I do believe, however, that in extending acts of charity we need to recognize the reality of culture and race. It is not, for instance, necessarily humane to take children out of their native culture to adoptive homes many thousands of miles away simply because they will experience poverty in their homeland.
I don't see other races and cultures as the enemy. I see racial hatred as the enemy. If another race or culture expresses hostility toward my own people, it is wrong to countenance it. We should not barricade ourselves against other races unless we have cause to.
Satan acts through other human beings. Does Mrs. E. believe there are no human perpetrators of evil?]
5. You say: “Meanwhile, every day of the week, whites are the victims of black robberies, rapes, and violent assaults. There are no articles saying that whites are being discriminated against by blacks or collectively mistreated.”
Do you really believe that blacks “discriminate” against whites with regard to crime? That would mean they never commit crimes against other black people. But, have you heard of “black-on-black crime”? It’s real. The majority of black people in this country are good people who care about their families and the world. Most of the troublemakers are young men. But angst among young men of all races is not uncommon. Young men of all races often grapple with issues of authority, self control, impulsiveness, etc. Sheila said it well when she spoke of her own son: “I don’t think I’ll fully exhale in this regard for another 5-10 years (my son is not quite 18, genius IQ but somewhat ADD and headstrong and impulsive and all that goes with being a male and a teenager) I’m just trying to make the point that reaching maturity, behaving responsibly, etc. is something with which young men of all races struggle, often into their late 20’s. It is unfair to discredit an entire race of people based on the poor behavior of some of the young men.
And further, regarding crime: Should we assume, then, that the heinous murder of the young Asian woman at Yale earlier this year(a crime committed by a young Caucasian male) was a discriminatory statement against Asians? I think not. It was pure, raw, sin.
I also disagree with the commenter who said that a young man she knew was “acting black” by skipping school, getting poor grades, and having poor family relationships. Again, these negative behaviors cross all racial and ethnic lines, and it is inaccurate to claim that such behaviors are traits limited to just one racial/ethnic group.
Thanks for allowing me to participate in this discussion.
[Laura writes: Let me start with Mrs. E.'s last point first. While skipping school, poor grades and weak families are found among whites, they are statistically more prevalent among blacks. That is a well-documented fact.
I brought up the many articles about black crime in comparison to an article about blacks having difficulty finding jobs. In the latter case, it was considered acceptable by the New York Times to assume this problem was caused by racial hostility. In the former case, even though whites are clearly the victims of hostility of some kind, it is not acceptable to even question whether this might in some cases be a form of racial hostility. Black crime is a terrible scourge for both blacks and whites. Who is responsible for this crime? The individuals who commit it; the men and women who refuse to raise their children in families; and black (as well as white) leaders who blame this crime on economic oppression of blacks. There is evidence that blacks sometimes choose their victims because they are white. Though whites have often claimed collective responsibility for slavery and segregation and Jim Crow laws, black leaders have rarely claimed any sort of collective responsibility for this crime. Yes, it is committed by only a small portion of blacks. The majority of blacks are decent people. The majority of whites were decent people during the years of slavery and segregation. Many black communities are experiencing a devastating collapse of moral values. Since blacks are equal in moral worth to whites, we owe them the highest respect by granting them moral responsibility for their actions. If we are Christians we must call this collapse of moral values what it is: sin.
The victims of these crimes deserve our compassion. Since I do feel some natural sense of solidarity with other whites, I say this to blacks: Let my people go. Fifteen thousand white women are raped by blacks every year in America, as opposed to 900 black women by whites. Let my people go. If you think it is trivial and un-Christian to care about the many people brutally murdered and assaulted by blacks, I ask what kind of morality is it that you embrace? Did Christ countenance murder? Does the account of the Good Samaritan say it's okay to overlook rape as long as the Samaritan commits it? These criminals are usually punished and whites too are guilty of crime, but too often black crime is blamed on poverty (caused by whites) and not sinfulness, and as a result there is not a deep accounting within the black community for the trends and actions that are causing this crime and for a pervasive atmosphere of tolerance for it. The black man who shot four white police officers last week in Washington announced at a Thanksgiving gathering that he was going to go out and shoot a bunch of cops. Not one of his relatives reported this statement or tried to prevent him from carrying out his promises.
There is a dangerous strand of thinking that runs through black culture today. It is visible in the music, films and public pronouncements of black leaders. This thinking demonizes whites in the same way the Nazis demonized Jews. This anti-white ethic has one aim: power. There is not, by any means, the same tolerance for anti-black sentiment among whites. Whites who display hatred for blacks as a group are ostracized from society.Whites who dare to question favoritism toward blacks are fired from their jobs and vilified while blacks who display open contempt for whites in rap music or pseudo-Christian sermons or black studies books are celebrated. I know there are, as Mrs. E. says, many, many good blacks. I hope more will come forward and disavow this thinking.
I am a Christian. I believe Christ stands for love and mercy. And for justice. To love others we are not required to hate ourselves. Any black who denounces anti-white sentiment is a potential friend of mine. Any black, or white, who promotes this sentiment is not. I sincerely hope I would never embrace hatred of blacks, but if I do I will be called to account for it and face the flames of hell. I believe I am a greater friend to blacks then those who treat non-whites like children and victims or who believe they somehow cannot be fully human unless they are in all ways like whites. Non-whites are human beings capable of their own glory and their own downfall in the eyes of the Lord.
I appreciate the spirit of Mrs. E.'s criticisms and her concern that any recognition of racial differences will automatically spawn intolerance and division. But I cannot accept her belief in the non-existence of races. I recognize also that I have probably not succeeded in convincing her that these views do not represent something much more evil than the evil I have described above.]
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Sheila Coyne writes:
Please accept my deepest appreciation for your thorough, courteous, and reasoned response to Mrs. E regarding miscegenation, black on white crime, racism, etc. She typifies the liberal viewpoint – there is only the human race, and to acknowledge racial differences is the same as preaching racial hatred and therefore evil and sinful. I actually mentioned, in the course of a conversation with the other mothers at my son’s Christian school, that scientists can determine the race of skeletal remains (i.e. racial differences are not merely skin deep, but bone deep – and all that implies) and was met with an extremely uncomfortable silence. They literally did not know what to say or how to process the implications that the races are different and these differences can and do extend to the brain. I also reject Mrs. E.’s assertion that defense of my own race and acknowledgment of racial differences automatically determines my actions towards others. While I have decided to draw the line at marriage and future descendants, Mrs. E. seems to compare this to a refusal to recognize other races as human beings – not so, and I utterly reject the accusation and the usual apologetics (the “some of my best friends are black” canard). I do not choose to associate socially with other blacks at this stage in my life, because they almost exclusively support Obama, his racial hatred, his hostility to America, and his policies which are aimed at destroying the nation I love. As I stated before, if one is forced to walk on eggshells or self-censor, there is no real conversation or friendship. This does not presuppose unprovoked racial animosity or even mere incivility, to counter an argument I’m presupposing Mrs. E. would make.
I also appreciate your cogent statement that our God is not only loving and merciful, but also righteous and therefore judgmental. What a shame that judgment (and shame itself!) has become a dirty word. God’s holy nature itself demands that He judge our sinful natures and reject that sin, and only through His love and mercy can He admit us to His presence. Being a Christian does not mean being a liberal, and Christian tenets are not public policy statements. Just as taking individual feelings and extrapolating national policy from them (my maid is such a good person, therefore opposing illegal immigration is wrong; my gay friend is such a decent human being, therefore opposing gay marriage is hateful) is a fallacy, so too is equating Christian belief to liberal racial views and policies. I reject the notion that I cannot be a Christian and recognize racial differences. I reject the notion that I cannot be a Christian and acknowledge the existence of nations and cultural differences. I reject the notion that I cannot be a Christian and also a patriot. These are the standard assumptions behind the cry of “Racist! Bigot! Hater!” that I hear in Mrs. E’s comments. I reject the labels and the thinking behind them. Your comments on her views show a patience I no longer possess and demonstrate a presupposition of good will I will no longer make. As you note at the end, it is unlikely Mrs. E. will acknowledge the legitimacy of your arguments or logic. I do not try to reason with or convince others of the rightness of my views; I merely do not choose to associate with those who reject them and I, instead, reject their entire structure of “correct” thought and actions.
Mrs. E. responds:
I would like to interject here that in saying, “There is only one race, the human race,” I am in no way implying that Laura or anyone else is convinced that some people are not human.
My personal view on race is that “races” developed when groups of people lived in close proximity with another and began to take on similar characteristics. At the same time, each cluster of people developed unique cultures.
I think genetic research shows we share a common ancestor. And I see what I will call “culture” as more important than “skin color/eye shape/hair texture.” I personally don’t see the races as being created by God as something static that must remain so until the end of time. This is what I mean when I say, “There is only one race, the human race.” I think race is something that has evolved over time, and I think it is fluid.
I am a strong believer in culture, though. Within each race are many different “cultures,” from Greek to African to Aborigine; from Amish to Harley Davidson biker to violent gang member; from liberal to conservative to libertarian and everything in between. A white person can be a druggie or a gang member; a black person can be politically conservative; an Asian person can be a Harley Davidson biker or a murderer. I hesitate to make judgements about a person’s culture based on physical appearance alone.
While this is my view, I don’t use to to excuse immorality or injustice. So I am lost when you say that my view of race is un-Christian.
The other way I look at people is based on their relationship with God. Is the person a Christian? Or someone who has good values, but does not yet know the Lord? Or is the person someone who is living in blatant defiance to God’s ways and to decent moral values?
In bringing up the points in my response, my intent was not to praise Obama (I don’t like him, didn’t vote for him), or to defend the mindset that says the cause of black crime is poverty, racial oppression, economic oppression, or anything along those lines. Crimes in the black community cannot be blamed on anyone but the criminal, and on a culture that supports such wrong thinking. I emphatically disagree with this trend in the black community. Like you, I grieve over the crimes committed, and also the way black (and often white) leaders seem to fan the flames. It is wrong, evil, and unjust. And I consider the “anti-white ethic” to be evil and from the pit of hell.
I am glad to hear Laura say this: “Any black who denounces anti-white sentiment is a potential friend of mine. Any black, or white, who promotes this sentiment is not.”
My thoughts echo hers. And the same goes if a person promotes anti-(fill in the blank with a race or ethnic culture) sentiment of any kind. I grew up in a multi-racial/ethnic area, attended multi-racial/ethnic schools, and live in a racially diverse neighborhood. I have friends and associates of all races. I have seen some of the good, the bad, and the ugly in all races. I have a lot of experience with various cultures within the different racial groups. So, my perspective is a bit different than that of the average person. I can know the race of a person, but until I know their culture, I know nothing beyond their basic physical attributes.
I jumped into the discussion because it appeared to turn from an even-handed discussion about race and marriage into a forum for voicing what I will call an “anti-black ethic,” much milder than the anti-white ethic we have just touched on, but equally as disturbing in its own way. For example, I took issue with the commenter who spoke of her neighbor’s son “acting black” by getting poor grades, etc.
Let me put it this way. The blond kid next door to you is playing loud music, skipping school, and screaming curses at his parents. When you describe him to another person, do you say, “Johnny is acting black”? Probably not. You would probably describe his behavior. And by the same token, if the black child earlier described as “acting black” cleaned up his act, started being more responsible and became more respectful towards his parents, would you then say he is “acting white”? LOL. No, he would be a black child with good manners and good values. I just don’t like to see people boxed in by labels. I think it doesn’t allow for God’s work in their lives, and also, it doesn’t acknowledge that the person is making choices for which they are responsible before God and man.
Laura writes:
Mrs. E. should be encouraged that most Americans agree with her philosophy regarding racial generalizations.
I don’t mean to be cryptic, but let me say simply this in response: To believe in everything is to doubt everything. To doubt everything is to affirm nothing. To affirm nothing is to fail to love.
Terry, who is black, writes:
Up to today, I thought we were simply disagreeing. Until I read Laura’s statements regarding the admittedly disproportionate percentage of crime among young black men. It hit me that you and many of your commenters view me, a black woman, as inferior to you. I am embarrassed that it took me so long to see it, frankly, but it seems that the word “culture” is in effect code for “we are better than them and we shouldn’t ruin our superior white race” by intermarrying with them. It’s as if your commenters believe that the disproportionate crime rate among minorities is due to our genetic makeup. I believe it is due to sin first and foremost, liberalism and feminism all rolled into one, with a healthy dash of public schooling, gullability, and the race hucksters such as Sharpton and Jackson thrown in for good measure. And let’s not forget the racist white Democrats of the sixties who granted equal rights as they simultaneously legislated depedency to keep the newly freed underclass under control and voting for them.
The welfare state is the worst thing to have ever happened to black America and it saddens me that many cannot see it. Sadly, even today there are people in the leadership of this country who are willing to sell their mother for a vote. I wonder if it is coincidence that the heyday of the feminist movement happened right along with the advent of the welfare state as black women are more educated and well off than most black men, yet they can’t find a husband of any race. But I digress. I wrote about these problems here and here, and you will note that much of what you consider “black culture” was not actually black culture before the advent of the welfare state. Black folk and white lived lives with much of the same values. There was low black illegitimacy and high employment, and a high regard for hard work, morality, and faith. It saddens me that what is in effect an increase of sin has been accerdited to one ethnicity of people as a genetic disposition. Is it even sin then? Let God be true and every man a liar!
In the end, none of this should matter to one whose heart has been truly convicted of sin and made new by Jesus Christ. To the truly converted Christian, the first loyalty is to fellow belivers, with whom we have a connection ad a unity of spirit that far transcends any ethnic or cultural connection. If I have to choose between a white Christian sister and an unbelieving black sister with whom my only connection is physical similarity or cultural background, for me this is a no-brainer. The Bible says my first responsibility is to those of the household of faith. Period. This is why the most recent election was a no-brainer for me as well. Do I vote for the black man, who thumbs his nose at Biblical truth on any number of issues, or do I vote for the alternative, which frankly wasn’t much better, but better than what the black man had to offer?
As I have sadly and slowly come to realize that I am attempting to convince carnal people of spiritual truths, I am kindly bowing out of this discussion. This is the last comment I will be making on this issue. For the record, we are encountering some of this same foolishness in our “real” lives with black believers who are just as carnal in their thinking. I pray for everyone who thinks they are of God as they are actively subverting His word by elevating the fleshly above the spiritual.
Mrs. E. continues:
Laura writes: “If some blacks purely supported Obama for his stance on health care or the war in Iraq, why didn’t they speak out publicly against Obama’s racist views?”
Good point. Some may have spoken out, but certainly none of the big-name black leaders. There is the possibility that more spoke out than we know of, but were silenced by the liberal media. This is a real possibility, and it would be a very grave matter if this were the case.
“I know there are blacks who reject these views, but there seem to be very few. I attribute this to a sense of racial solidarity. In many, if not most cases, it is simple unthinking group loyalty.”
I would go further and say that unthinking group loyalty is wrong when it leads to injustice. I think God calls us all to account individually for our choices, and that going along with the group is often a cop-out that will need to be explained to the Lord.
“I believe this is natural and will never go away. This is political solidarity that does not necessarily mean an anti-white way of life for these voters. Many blacks who hold these views are able to have comfortable relations with whites in their daily lives. But they feel a sense of allegiance to other blacks.”
I think this is fine, except when it leads to injustice, covering up sin, making excuses for sin, etc. Do you agree that this sense of allegiance can sometimes be a bad thing? Do you think people should choose truth over racial allegiance when they know what the truth is?
Later, the discussion turned to the belief that blacks committing crimes against whites is a form of discrimination. To me, this sounds like you believe the black community has en masse taken up arms against the white community. I don’t believe this is true. I think there are black criminals out there who, with their minds warped by sin, sometimes choose to pick white people as their victims because of racial hatred. I see the foundational problem as sin, not racial hatred.
Laura said: Fifteen thousand white women are raped by blacks every year in America, as opposed to 900 black women by whites. Ok, yes, I agree this is disturbing. But, to get a truly balanced perspective on this issue, we would need to know this: How many black women are raped by blacks every year? What if 100,000 black women are raped by black men yearly? Could we then look at the rapes against white women as automatic statement of racial hatred? I’m not sure that we could.
Satan acts through other human beings. Does Mrs. E. believe there are no human perpetrators of evil?
Of course I know there are human perpetrators, LOL. But here is how I see it. If a crime is committed against a person of my race by a person of another race, I don’t see it as a threat to “my race” as a whole, unless the perpetrator makes it clear that the crime was a “hate crime.” I see it as a horrible sin, first and foremost, against the Almighty Lord of the universe, against the victim, and then against all ideals of justice and righteousness and those who hold to them. I desire comfort and assistance for the victim, and punishment meted out to the criminal. When it comes to crime and other negatives happening in our country today, I tend not to feel a sense of “us against them” with regards to race. In my mind, “us” is all moral and law-abiding citizens, and particularly fellow believers in Christ; “them” is all criminals and those who would pervert justice and morality.
Yes, there is a lot of racial strife in our nation, and in the times in which we live, things may get far worse. I think, though, if we develop knee-jerk responses to people who look different from us (based on visible racial characteristics alone), we may be doing two things: 1) stirring up strife and dissension, and creating animosity where none would otherwise exist and 2) depriving ourselves of potential allies/associates/friends. And I know for myself and my family, I want as many allies as I can get in these troubled times.
