The "R" Word Resurrected...

 

 

"The only race I am concerned with is the human race..."

When I was 18 years old, Martin Luther King was shot. It was bad day for our country - a national tragedy. For a nation which had been deeply divided by race, to hear this great man extol us to judge others only by the content of their character and not their race, was very good medicine. Even though these famous words are often repeated, some seem to have forgotten their true meaning.

One of the benefits many of us took from Dr. Kings teachings was the only race we were going to be concerned with was the human race. That worked for awhile, but now we seem to have a new breed of racists emerging. In fact, the "R" word (racist) has been successfully resurrected. All the good work, all the blood which was spilled in the sixties to build a color blind society, is now in jeopardy.

Today, the vast majority of the time I hear the "R" word used (and I hate to say this), is by the Left. Not only the Left, but people his up the food chain on the Left. How high up? Last week it was reported that the President blames a big part of his sagging popularity on race. You know, some while folk just don't like him because he is of mixed race. The odd thing is, the only time I have heard that argument is from people on the Left. The only thing I have ever mentioned about the President's skin was its thickness. I think he is way too thin skinned for the job (as well as inexperienced).

We have now entered some kind of "lala land" where every time you have a disagreement with the President or another high ranking Administration official who is not white, you are a racist, or are using racial terms. The Left has even come up with a new term - and I LOVE this one! Any word, when used to discuss a policy, can be called a "dog whistle" of racism. You know, very subtle, but the racists in our society will know its meaning. Give me a bleeping break!

And of course, the two biggest racial pyromaniacs in our society are two reverends on the far Left. You know who I am talking about. They preach the polar opposite of what Dr. King extolled. Rev. Jackson has now called Representative Issa the "R" word for following House procedures in the IRS hearings. The reverend did not like the way Representative Cummings was treated, even though Issa has been treated worse than that in the past. The "R" word is thrown around like candy right now. Because of it's continued misuse, it is losing legitimacy of meaning.

In James 3, the Bible warns us about the dangers of the tongue. It can be used to promote evil. We do all of us, need to remember this most important teaching. As for me, I will continue to focus on only policies in politics, and only character in dealing with people.