Thoughts on Race

So... sure enough, this week's events concerning race have brought me out of blogger aloofness and into blogging engagement.

First - if you have not read the transcript of Obama's thoughts on race in America, please check that out anywhere on the web. google it.

Second - if you have only heard Jeremiah Wright's comments based on the small fractions the media has been feeding you, please check that out on the web as well. Google the whole sermon and you will find the context - always important when considering what any pastor is trying to convey.

And now for the rant.

America - wake up. The reaction over this past weeks remarks only convince me more, that not only has the United States of America forgotten its history, here I mean years of oppression and slavery leading to jim crow leading to MLK and the civil rights which only occured less then 50 years ago leading to a continued quited institutionalized racism, but has chosen to ignore present realities that continue to oppress millions of Americans and hold back this country from being a truly great nation - indeed this week reminded me that we are far far far from that.

If the remarks that were aired, realites that people of privilidge continue to gain privlidge whiles those who are poor and oppressed - regardless of skin color or ethnicity - only remain poor and oppressed -or the notion that God might not be pleased, even disappointed, in a nation that has so much - but does so little to help those in need and continues to oppress, manipulate, murder, with hold, betray, and humiliate these under class brothers and sisters...- if these remarks make you upset, possibly even rattle you a bit- good. They are meant to - beacause they are true. If truth is hard for you America then don't vote for Obama, because evidently that's what you are going to get. Something we as a country have not seen in a long time, even past the Bush monoarchy.

And something, unfortunatley, this week America is starting to ignore again. The fact is, America can't handle the truth and that statement is one that every American should weep and nash teeth over.

On another note - a much calmer note.
The church has a role in this. Christians have a role in this. Jesus was the one who said - I am the truth. Our calling is simple, love. What an opportunity we have - to say as communities of faith to one another and the world, what does this mean for us? This does not mean that we trun our heads and avoid the question or the conversation- no matter how uncomfortable you might feel. What does it mean to be a people who say we love our neighbor? Who is your neighbor friend? Not the one who lives directly beside you - who looks like you, acts like etc... but the one who you are afraid of because they are different. Because their skin is a different shade then yours. When you truly love your neighbor, then friend - you are truly - truly a Christian and understanding the Truth that provides transformation and reconcilliation. If the church has anything to say - now is the time to stand up and claim = instead of forgetting we will listen, instead of ignoring we will remember, we will choose to walk in the other shoe instead of throwing it in the river, we will choose to love instead of hate...because only when we love do we choose to live.

There is no other solution. So if you think you might turn it off or drown it out - you're wrong. There is no turning back now. Stop talking, start listening, choose love.

May God help us all.