Kethuvim

Last week, a video surfaced of Obama's ex-pastor giving a vitriolic sermon on why Obama should be the next president, and not Hillary.  In his sermon, he stated that, "Hillary's never been called a n*****."  I watched the video and I thought, "You know, you're right, but how does that qualify Obama for the presidency?"  Is this guy suggesting that this country owes it to Obama because he's black?  Basically, he was saying that Obama's color qualifies him for the office of president.  How is that considered color-blind?

Then Geraldine Ferraro, a Clinton supporter, opened her pie-hole up and said that Obama is only in this position (meaning the Democratic front-runner) because he's black.  I can't understand this line of thought.  Could it be possible that Obama is in this position because people like what he has to say?  Could it be possible that he's in this position because people like him more than they like HIllary (because, let's face it, she isn't all that likable)?  How is this considered color-blind?

Watch a comedian sometime (regardless of their race) and see how long it takes for them to stereotype a race of people (i.e. white guys have no style, Asians can't drive, etc.)  I hear black comedians talk disparagingly about white guys all the time.  I heard Dane Cook talk about how different races of people fight.  There isn't a hint of color-blindness in this country, regardless of what bumper stickers people have on their cars telling you the opposite.  

Here's the thing: color-blindness isn't possible unless you're blind.  The fact is that when I see a black person, I see a person who has black skin.  That isn't racist, it's just an observation.  When a black person sees me, they see a pasty white guy.  That isn't racist either, just an observation. We can't avoid seeing people's various skin tones.  Our minds just don't work that way.  The question isn't whether or not we notice someone's skin tone, it's about whether or not we start making all sorts of other judgment calls based on their skin tone.  If I see an Asian, there's nothing wrong with thinking, "That person is Asian."  There's nothing racist about that at all.

I don't think that color-blindness is even the goal of society.  I think the goal should be to acknowledge our differences and be okay with them.  Are you black?  Ok, celebrate that.  Are you Latino?  Great.  Are you Asian?  White?  Great, celebrate all of that.  The question isn't whether or not a culture can erase the lines that make us different, the question is whether or not we can co-exist with our differences.  We should be seeking oneness (something the Church is supposed to be all about), all the while acknowledging that we all have different backgrounds.  

This is actually what I love about the Church.  It isn't color-blind at all, it's never been about that.  It's about different people realizing that although we may be ethnically different, we're still brothers and sisters brought together under the banner of Christ.  We're one because he makes us one.  The Apostle Paul said, "Now there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus."  The colors (and ideas) are all still there, but no one rules over another.  No one is better than another.  In Revelation, there is a beautiful picture of people "from every tribe, nation, and tongue" coming together to worship God. That's the ideal.