Prejudices...we all have'em

I want to use the blog entry to post my thoughts on a controversial topic - racism and our role in it. This is part one of two entries. I hope these entries will challenge you to take a good look at yourself in order that you might determine wherein lies your prejudices so that you might be able to better overcome them. Let me start with an assumption. I assume that we all have prejudices when it comes to race. The American Heritage Dictionary defines prejudice as an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. This doesn't mean I think everyone is a racist or a bigot. I just believe that all people in all ethnicities, including myself, have beliefs about others belonging to different ethnicities that would classify as stereotypical, which means we have formed them based on biased information (e.g., our personal experiences; what I was raised to believe; etc.), not the facts. Now many of you might not be able to articulate your beliefs on this issue without some serious thought. However, despite whether you are aware or unaware of your own prejudices, these preconceived opinions, which were probably unfairly and inappropriately formed, your interactions with others. Look how the disciples acted when they found Jesus (a Jew) - the Lion of Judah, God in the flesh, their Savior - conversing with a 4-time divorced, adulterous, Samaritan woman. They were appalled. Samaritans were seen as worse than dogs by the Jews. Additionally, Jewish men didn't speak to women in public. Based on what they had been taught, they had every right to question Jesus' behavior. But it was Jesus' behavior that showed them the right way. And because of Jesus' socially unacceptable efforts, many Samaritans accepted the living water Jesus offered.

I think the reason we struggle with this so much is because gathering the facts is a lot easier said than done. In fact, one can never have all the facts. Therefore, we rely on our own experiences or experiences of others (i.e., 2nd, 3rd, 4th-hand "knowledge" - ignorance might be a better term here) because it is just easier. It is easier because there is no mental/cognitive/intellectual/perceptual challenge. Because when our perspective is challenged, that means we might have to rethink how we believe about something. If we convince ourselves we have been believing the wrong way all along, then we have to change. And if we change, we run the risk of stirring the pot. And changing your mind on an issue so controversial, often means relationships change. It means you automatically put yourself at the receiving end of ridicule and persecution. Some relationships will simply be altered and adjustment will come easily. On the other hand, other relationships will be damaged and friendships will be lost. For instance, after I became aware of some of my prejudices, all of sudden, racist jokes became appalling to me. So when someone close to me cracks one, I am torn because I want to laugh in order to avoid an awkward situation, but at the same time, I really wouldn't be acting with integrity if I did laugh. So, I sometimes feel I am being judged by my behavior, which is influenced by my perspective change regarding this matter. It would have been easier for me to just maintain the status quo. No challenge. No change.

Most of us grow up being inadvertently taught these ignorant, biased opinions by our parents and family members, whether by word or deed. I am sure one fine day my own son will be challenged by something on this matter and realize what he believes is wrong....he'll realize that, out of my ignorance, I unintentionally taught him something inappropriate about a particular race or ethnic group. I hope these realizations will be minimal for him though. I said all that so you might see that I am empathetic when it comes to changing your worldview on an issue like race. It is an issue that everyone faces; no one can escape it. Hebrews 5:13-14 states, "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." I think our prejudiced beliefs are the milk, so if we want to grow, we've got to give up the milk and start looking for the solid food. I believe it is our responsibility to put our biases aside and gather more facts, even though we know we could never attain them all.

I have more to say on the matter, but I would like you to chew on these thoughts first. Be looking for part 2 in the near future. Take care and I look forward to reading your thoughts.