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fyodor
Registered Member

Date Joined Dec 2002
Total Posts : 179

Posted 1/13/2004 8:28 AM (GMT -6)

Quest-

For the most part, I think that is a fairly accurate depiction, however, at its core it may be cultural, but I think a very general consensus of americans would use the term racism to describe these cultural prejudices. Not that it hasn't developed into more of culturalism issues than a racism issue, but I think the American culture for one, is still using the term racism to categorize these types of prejudice. Academic and Social Scientific circles would be more apt to use a more linguistically appropriate term.

Personally I prefer the term ethnicity over race because traditionally ethnicity encompasses race, culture, religion, etc.

†††"One rarely finds an exposition of which it holds true that the exposition is that which is expounded." – S. Kierkegaard

quest for truth
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479

Posted 1/16/2004 4:56 AM (GMT -6)

Tigress

quote:
Yes we have a race problem in America and we always will until Christ returns

Fyodor

quote:
Throughout the growing of our relationships, one of the best things to tear down the walls between us has been the "why does it seem like black people do this...." "why are white people always saying this...." types of conversations. Laying it all out on the table and saying the most uncomfortable prejudices you have to someone from that ethnic group can be very healing, especially if there is some base of a confortable relationship first.

S.B.G.

quote:
Part of it has to do with a laguage barrier, another part of it has to do with an understanding of a culture which is so very different than America. From what I've seen among the Liberian culture, so many have suffered and witnessed the violent deaths of their loved ones, that they have a certain comraderie that I could never enter into.

In some ways it has more to do with differing cultures than skin color.

John Earp

quote:
Obviously, ethnicities and subcultures do in fact exist in Western Civilization, but strictly speaking it is quite remarkable how much genetic homogeneity exists among humanity.

Fyodor

quote:
Personally I prefer the term ethnicity over race because traditionally ethnicity encompasses race, culture, religion, etc

Seems to me the two main obstacles we face are judgmentalism and cultural barriers. We notice differences and judge people on (how they look, the color of their skin, the way they dress, their employment and educational levels, sexual orientation...) and then categorize/generalize people into groups according to the differences.

We also have a tendency to categorize/generalize people into distinct groups when we are limited in our ability to communicate due to language barriers or cultural unawareness -- this has become a huge problem with all the immigration in the United States. A way for people to simplify their understanding of the world is by saying, "All _____ people act this way" "All _______ people enjoy this activity"

The more we get to know and confront our prejudices the less we will need to abhor to this mindset of categorizing/generalizing. The more we know and understand, the more we can embrace the differences and acknowledge that God made ALL people unique. No person fits into "a" category hence when we acknowledge this we can allow people their own uniqueness without judging and generalizing according to race, sex, values, beliefs. When we choose to become aware we open ourselves up to love people not on their differences but for their unique value the way Jesus commanded us to love.

Galatians 3:28 "For there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Tigress
Registered Member

Date Joined Feb 2003
Total Posts : 1252

Posted 1/20/2004 6:08 AM (GMT -6)

I always wonder what the world would be like if people didn't have the ability to see. How would we "view" each other? (Excuse the pun.) Would we be any less apt to believe stereotypes and discriminate against people? Or would we find other excuses to show prejudice like by the sound of people's accents or the way they smell to us. I think the fallen human nature makes it inevitable that we're going to use whatever differences we have to separate "us" from "them."

I wrote a poem once (rough draft) saying something to the effect of:

If the white racists blamed all the non-whites for the world's problems and so killed them all,
they'd then have to turn the blame on lower-class whites.
Once they were all dead, they'd have to blame someone else, so they'd kill all the whites with disabilities.
Once they were gone they'd have to kill all the whites who had dark hair and eyes.
Once they were gone, they'd have to kill all the whites who weren't intelligent enough.
Once they were gone they'd have to kill the whites who lived far away.
Then they'd have to kill the whites who weren't in their own community.
Then they'd have to kill the whites who weren't kin.
Then they'd have to kill all the "weaker" whites so all the women would be killed.
Then all the imperfect male whites would have to be killed, until one day only one man was left.
"Ah, now the world is perfect," he delluded himself.
For he failed to see that all the world's problems started from within himself. Once there's no one left to blame, we're faced with the reality that we must take personal responsibility for how things are in the world or else we'll be left all alone and pitiful.

Tigress

"Name a shrub after me. Preferably one that's prickly and difficult to eradicate."

-Captain Jack Aubrey
"Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World"

S.B.G.
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2003
Total Posts : 143

Posted 1/23/2004 3:25 AM (GMT -6)

To me, the topic of race boils down to respect.
People are people are people. They are formed in part by their culture, family of origin, life experiences and inborn disposition. Generalizing just doesn't work.

We need to listen to one another, and discover what is important to that particular person, and what we can do to show Christ-like love to that person in the way that best speaks love to him/her.
I find similar challenges and rewards in relationships with my Catholic friends, my homosexual friends, my African friends, my Latino friends, etc. and in each of these categories there are differences and individuality, so we're back to being just people again with various needs and goals within the context of our world views. The walls are torn down in that we can all be ourselves and speak freely with mutual respect, without having to change each other before we can love each other.

To me, racial reconciliation is not pretending differences don't exist, but loving and accepting people with all the differences they bring. I share just as many differences with my "white" friends as I do with my "black" friends.

sbg

I LOVE this guy!

"We need every different bead on this same string." Nicole Nordeman

might-be-don
Registered Member

Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 830

Posted 1/26/2004 1:50 AM (GMT -6)

For the sheep lovers... www.sheepcomics.com

peace, don

"Life is a gift from God, but the years have weight in them."
Terry Scott Taylor

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