What is Racism?

Racism must be the most popular word of our times. Every other word coming from the mouths of the right and the left, and even those in between, which is directed at their neighbor, is the word, racist. Do people today even know what that word means? If they do, perhaps they need to look in the mirror when they say it. This word seems to have lost its meaning. Racism has been so politicized that it no longer refers simply to racial discrimination. It has many political agendas: race, creed, sex, gender, age, and religion. Racism today, often refers to those who are Trump supporters, Republican, Christian, Catholic, Jewish, priests, white, heterosexual, in the womb, super wealthy businessmen, natural citizens, policemen, pro-life, etc. Even those who are opposed to abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, or illegal immigration are often referred to as racist.

Prior to Roe vs. Wade most people believed that taking the life of an infant in the womb or out of it was murder; infanticide. They knew this instinctively. No one had to teach them. They knew that it was immoral to destroy or kill anyone; especially, the innocent. They knew what authentic love was because they saw it modeled in others. They knew that love could never mean selfishness or killing another person. They knew that babies in the womb were real persons because they saw how much mothers grieved when they lost a child during pregnancy; as well as women who could not conceive a child. They also knew that the end can never justify the means. It is crazy to think that anything good could come of aborting a child for the sake of the mother’s freedom. The logic is that you can do evil to obtain a good end. This is the same logic used in the movie, “Sophie’s Choice”. Sophie was forced to choose between her two children, which one would live, and which one would die. In the end, both children were killed, and Sophie died spiritually and mentally, finally succumbing to suicide.

As a senior citizen, I was surprised by the recent reactions from people to the latest media reports regarding the governor of Virginia. Most people my age would not take offense by seeing someone dressed as a black man with a friend dressed as a KKK member on Halloween. Halloween is a time we don costumes to hide our own identity. We choose costumes that represent saints and sinners, good and evil, those who are victims and those who are predators, historic figures and science fiction figures. The costume does not represent us anymore than heroes and criminals represent the actors in a movie. Every race and every ethnicity have been represented in costume by those of all races. The costumes are not intended to make a political statement. This recent reaction seems to show a departure from reason, and good common sense. We no longer seem to be able to see events in context. Political correctness has turned us into robots who no longer can use their reason or understanding. Those of sound mind who are unable to reason are immature little children or lost. At least it was before we became politically correct.

It is becoming more and more difficult for anyone to speak a single sentence without being labeled a racist; whether it is said today or was said forty years ago. The whole English language has become distorted and foreign to us, like babel. Perhaps this generation needs to check out the original definition of racism, prejudice, bigot, and predilection before they call anyone a racist. (In my opinion the most racist action today is to label anyone a racist without knowing them or their intention, based on superficial evidence). We look for the speck in our neighbor’s eye when we have a log in our own (Mt 7:3). Perhaps the greatest sin of our times is hypocrisy; Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone . . . (John 8:7). Words and pictures do not always mean what we see and hear; especially when they are taken out of context.

Definition of racism

1: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

2a: a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles

b: a political or social system founded on racism

3: racial prejudice or discrimination

Definition of Prejudice

Prejudice is prejudgment, or forming an opinion before becoming aware of the relevant facts of a case. The word is often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable, judgments toward people or a person because of gender, political opinion, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality, or other personal characteristics.

I wonder who is responsible for replacing our common language with a “politically correct language” that makes the common language immoral or illegal? What was their purpose? Perhaps they thought it would bring unity. Instead, it has brought disunity, division, confusion, and chaos into our United States of America; a nation that used to be one and indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We no longer even know what this means. We have become mindless; no longer able to use our reason; to listen to each other or understand each other. Is it too late to change? Is it too late to return to where we were before we fell, or before we became politically correct?

I recall an incident when I was a little child when I saw an Afro-American man in Church and asked my father: “Daddy, is that man a nigger?” My father was furious and scolded me, saying: “Don’t you ever use that word again.” I never heard that word spoken in my home, I heard it outside my home. My parents never displayed any signs of prejudice against the black race. That incident, however, and the scolding I received caused me to want to know and understand those who were Afro-American; to befriend them. Was I a racist because I uttered that word?

My father was Polish and very proud of his heritage, yet he loved Polish jokes. He was always looking for the latest Polish jokes to share with his cronies. He never minded being called a Polack, either. My father taught us not to be quick to take offense, and to be able to laugh at ourselves. We knew the difference between slang, parody, and hostile prejudice.

Everyone has some prejudices. This is only natural. We love our children more than our neighbor’s children; our friends more than our community; our community more than our country; and our country more than other countries; and our culture and traditions more than others. If we don’t, there is something amiss. Prejudices are immoral when they go hand in hand with hostility, hatred, or revenge; with wanting to see someone fail, suffer, or be destroyed; with wanting to inflict pain, suffering, or loss on others.

It is not immoral to want to exclude someone from our company. There are many exclusive relationships and events in life; including Marriage. We no longer know the meaning of the words, inclusive and exclusive, or when they apply. There is a time to be inclusive and a time to be exclusive.

Some people use racist language simply out of ignorance, with no intention to demean another person or group. Like little children, they repeat the words they hear from their leaders and peers without even knowing what the words mean. For some people, this can even become a habit, like certain cuss words. Some people add to that by picking up the prejudices of others without understanding the implications and consequences. Scripture says: “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Certainly, kindness and charity require that we try to become more sensitive to language and actions that would hurt or offend others. To deliberately hurt others is simply mean and cruel, but not necessarily racist. For those who should know better, intentional racist language and behavior is the result of pride and arrogance; of thinking we are better than someone else; of not accepting anyone who is different than we are or anyone who does not agree with us; of believing that we are always right; of refusing to see the whole picture; of making rash judgments without considering all the facts; of anger and hostility; of wanting revenge; of wanting to always be first; of not being willing to listen to others; of a lack of respect and honor for authority and for God; of blaming others or other groups for everything that goes wrong; of always needing to find a scapegoat; of selfishness and self-indulgence; of greed; of the love of violence; of hatred for the innocent—babies in the womb; of hatred for the poor and defenseless; of the lack of self-knowledge; of suspicion and the lack of trust in anyone but ourselves; of low self-esteem; of constantly seeing ourselves as victims; of the fear that others will deprive us of our rights or something we want or love.

We can also increase or revive racism by constantly picking at old wounds, and refusing to forgive those who have hurt us. Racism really has nothing to do with color or ethnicity. It has to do with the desire for power over others, as well as God. All nationalities and all races have been victims of slavery at one time or another. Unfortunately, this list of causes just about includes everyone: Democrats and Republicans; every race and ethnicity; men and women; old and young adults; the rich and the poor; the educated and the illiterate; citizens and emigrants; and believers and non-believers.

We are no longer a free nation under God. We have squandered all our freedoms, and become a nation of racists, regardless of our skin color. Our form of government, along with our Constitution, have become almost unrecognizable. It is beginning to look like we have been primed for a new form of government, and a dictatorship by an Anti-Christ. Unless we repent and change, our country and our world may be headed for self-destruction.