GIVERS AND TAKERS ; ...Obligations of the Majority. Some Christians don't realize (or care about) how intimidated people from other religions (or atheists) feel when Christianity is practiced in the public square and religious prayers are brought into public schools, etc. People who have been persecuted for their race or religion never entirely get over that, especially when the majority is always getting in their face in everyday life, challenging them as "takers" or as "lazy" or "inferior" or "gang-infested," untrustworthy and having a "criminal profile." Being seen as "outsiders" or "non-believers" or "heathens" doesn't add much to one's self-esteem, either. To some, the White Jesus often appears to be mocking Black Christians rather than reaching out to them. Yes, this may be a minority of white people. Most Christians, aware of Jesus teachings, tend to keep a low profile for their religious practices and do not try to convert others. They may even agree that the majority of African and African-American citizens are Christians. Of course, the belief that President Obama is Muslim is a deep affront and an abiding insult. The belief that Atheists are somehow amoral or "lost" is equally arrogant and prejudiced.
Racism still exists. Its very presence casts a shadow on the lives of people who are minorities. Minorities can be racist, too, and that is not justified. However, there have been real traumas and when people are lynched because of their race, or gassed because of their religion, or decimated because of their native heritage, the world suffers for many generations. So, when we look around and identify who the "Givers" are and who the "Takers" are, we need to notice that the perpetrators of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, the betrayal of our homeless veterans and other prejudices (even closeted bigots) are "Takers." They are betting on the annihilation of those they scorn, and when their victims are resilient and brilliant or wounded and dis-empowered, these "Takers" are creating a social and economic deficit when discrimination persists over time.
We are paying a huge price for racism, sexism and other forms of bigotry. Yep, that's part of the social deficit that our nation is paying for today, the racism and bigotry of the past and the present, the misogyny and sexual orientation prejudice of past and present. Each new act of racism and religious oppression and sexual persecution clouds the future of humanity, leaving a debt for future generations to pay. The price of slavery in America has been incalculable for our entire country. The price of sexually abused children and teens, of women, of children in poverty and of mistrusted, disrespected minority groups will eventually be found to be a major part of our nation's financial deficit and a huge drag on our nation's productivity.
Bigotry must end because that is the only sane, rational path. It must end also because we are sick and tired of paying for their clean-ups, their psychic trauma and picking up the tab for all of the jackasses and opportunists who continue to victimize minority people and dis-empowered groups to create more trauma for us all to deal with. So, when someone who feels they are a "Giver," points their finger at a "Taker," be sure to hold on to your wallet. Until we all confront bigotry and bigots, we'll be paying big time to pick up the pieces of people's lives, and their broken dreams, after they were harmed by jackals who claim to be "Givers."
America Can Not Afford to Continue Paying the Costs of Bigotry - by Earon - Newsvine http://earon.newsvine.com/_news/2012/11/15/15197607-america-can-not-afford-to-continue-paying-the-costs-of-bigotry?lite
GIVERS AND TAKERS ; ...Obligations of the Majority. Some Christians don't realize (or care about) how intimidated people from other religions (or atheists) feel when Christianity is practiced in the public square and religious prayers are brought into public schools, etc. People who have been persecuted for their race or religion never entirely get over that, especially when the majority is always getting in their face in everyday life, challenging them as "takers" or as "lazy" or "inferior" or "gang-infested," untrustworthy and having a "criminal profile." Being seen as "outsiders" or "non-believers" or "heathens" doesn't add much to one's self-esteem, either. To some, the White Jesus often appears to be mocking Black Christians rather than reaching out to them. Yes, this may be a minority of white people. Most Christians, aware of Jesus teachings, tend to keep a low profile for their religious practices and do not try to convert others. They may even agree that the majority of African and African-American citizens are Christians. Of course, the belief that President Obama is Muslim is a deep affront and an abiding insult. The belief that Atheists are somehow amoral or "lost" is equally arrogant and prejudiced.
ReplyDeleteRacism still exists. Its very presence casts a shadow on the lives of people who are minorities. Minorities can be racist, too, and that is not justified. However, there have been real traumas and when people are lynched because of their race, or gassed because of their religion, or decimated because of their native heritage, the world suffers for many generations. So, when we look around and identify who the "Givers" are and who the "Takers" are, we need to notice that the perpetrators of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, the betrayal of our homeless veterans and other prejudices (even closeted bigots) are "Takers." They are betting on the annihilation of those they scorn, and when their victims are resilient and brilliant or wounded and dis-empowered, these "Takers" are creating a social and economic deficit when discrimination persists over time.
We are paying a huge price for racism, sexism and other forms of bigotry. Yep, that's part of the social deficit that our nation is paying for today, the racism and bigotry of the past and the present, the misogyny and sexual orientation prejudice of past and present. Each new act of racism and religious oppression and sexual persecution clouds the future of humanity, leaving a debt for future generations to pay. The price of slavery in America has been incalculable for our entire country. The price of sexually abused children and teens, of women, of children in poverty and of mistrusted, disrespected minority groups will eventually be found to be a major part of our nation's financial deficit and a huge drag on our nation's productivity.
Bigotry must end because that is the only sane, rational path. It must end also because we are sick and tired of paying for their clean-ups, their psychic trauma and picking up the tab for all of the jackasses and opportunists who continue to victimize minority people and dis-empowered groups to create more trauma for us all to deal with. So, when someone who feels they are a "Giver," points their finger at a "Taker," be sure to hold on to your wallet. Until we all confront bigotry and bigots, we'll be paying big time to pick up the pieces of people's lives, and their broken dreams, after they were harmed by jackals who claim to be "Givers."
America Can Not Afford to Continue Paying the Costs of Bigotry - by Earon - Newsvine http://earon.newsvine.com/_news/2012/11/15/15197607-america-can-not-afford-to-continue-paying-the-costs-of-bigotry?lite
ReplyDelete