FASHIONABLE RACISM AND UNFASHIONABLE RACISM

Racism has become fashionable among the Left, as long as it is directed against certain skin-tones. (I’ve yet to see a scale delineating which tones are given a pass. And where do Asians, Indians, and Jews fall by this racial measure? Evidently, racism only makes sense when it is not examined too closely.)

Huffington Press writes approvingly of a video of an interview of Muhammad Ali making a case in favor of judging according to skin color:

·       In a clip from a 1971 interview on the British chat show Parkinson (above) that’s now gone viral on Tumblr, boxing icon Muhammad Ali perfectly explains why the existence of some “good” white people isn’t always enough. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muhammad-ali-on-not-all-white-people_us_563a5e9ee4b0307f2cabb2e6

Here is what Ali stated in the clip:

·       There are many white people who mean right and in their hearts wanna do right. If 10,000 snakes were coming down that aisle now, and I had a door that I could shut, and in that 10,000, 1,000 meant right, 1,000 rattlesnakes didn’t want to bite me, I knew they were good... Should I let all these rattlesnakes come down, hoping that that thousand get together and form a shield? Or should I just close the door and stay safe?

Ali used this reasoning to justify not forgiving people who share a skin color like those who had committed heinous crimes against Africans under Jim Crow. Essentially, his rhetoric is racist. While his analogy makes good sense regarding rattlesnakes, whites aren’t rattlesnakes. Besides, it is difficult to exercise discernment when it comes to rattlesnakes. However, we can regard people as individuals and judge them accordingly.

Individuals are different and should be regarded differently. That’s the way justice should work. This also had been the ideal of M.L. King who affirmed the biblical ideal of judging people according to their character and not their skin color.

However, Ali had opted for judging according their skin color. While this was far more understandable back in 1971, it is not today. Nevertheless, our media and leadership continue to talk in terms of skin and not character, heightening racial division and hatred. If the skin-tone isn’t right, then it reeks with guilt. Huffington Press concludes:

·       Ali’s words are still a pretty powerful reminder of the reality of being black in America. It’s pretty amazing, if unfortunate, that over 40 years later his words still resonate.

Huffington talks as if racism remains unchanged. While these words should resonate during Jim Crow, they should not today. Yes, there still are racists, but they are found among all colors. Ironically, today, the only racist laws on the books are those that favor people of color.

However, this is not enough to satisfy the Leftist media, which has invented new “crimes” to shame and silence the people of less color, at least all of those who do not think like communists. Consequently, such “good” white people are guilty of “White Privilege,” and if this charge doesn’t stick, they are guilty of “Systemic Racism.” If that’s not enough, then they are also guilty of secret negative assessments of the people of color. And if they can’t admit to these, then they are in denial. And so how can you forgive such devious people? You can’t!

Those who are unwilling to forgive will always find “justification” for their inflammatory remarks. However, hiding behind unforgiveness is the belief that:

·       “I am better than you. I would never have done to you what you had done to me. Consequently, you do not deserve to be forgiven.”

Sometimes, racist rhetoric is purposely exploited to create division, using those who have suffered most as kindling for their fires of hatred and revolution. Instead, we all need to be forgiven. However, we often refuse to see this, prompting Jesus to teach:

·       For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Meanwhile, crimes must be dealt with legally, as designated by law, not as blanket denunciations against people of a certain coloring. Racism cannot be healed by more racism.