Image: Peter Rukavina, https://flic.kr/p/4H9gCb
I’m kicking around a blog post (I know…gasp!) on race, what we can and should learn from the happenings in Missouri, and our response, and I realized I need at least 13 disclaimers just to set up the post. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
You didn’t ask, and you’ll probably roll your eyes, shake your head, shrug, and say, “Who cares?” But here’s the list of disclaimers so far, in no particular order of importance…
- I’m a white, middle-aged, Southern man.
- I’m conservative (in the classic sense, not the current media caricature) in my political thought, leaning hard toward libertarianism.
- I’m not a conscious “racist,” although my standard, throwaway line is: “I’m pretty convinced the HUMAN RACE is superior to all others on the planet.”
- I’m a Christ-follower, a Jesus-apprentice. Not a very good one most of the time, but I try.
- I’m cynical (at best) about government “fixes” to problems in our society, believing that often, the “fix” is worse than the purported problem.
- I’m an “individualist,” believing that the individual and his or her character is superior to the GroupThink that pervades our contemporary society.
- Right now, I don’t have any close friends who are African-American (or black or people of color, or whatever the current term of choice is). Oh, and I don’t say that to be flippant…I’m just not sure what the preferred nomenclature is today.
- That said, I don’t bear any animosity toward black/African-American/people of color as a rule (see disclaimer about the individual above). I just haven’t created or been availed of the opportunity to befriend them.
- That also being said, in two of my three current jobs, I have the opportunity to interact with black/African-American/people of color. I think I do OK in those interactions. (They might think differently, but you’d have to ask them.)
- Come to think of it, I have to admit I don’t have many of what I would consider “close friends” of any ethnicity. (That’s another issue for another time.)
- I do consider myself a teachable learner, who is open to learn from the perspectives of others those with whom I may disagree and with whom I see eye-to-eye.
- I believe the old adage: “All truth is God’s truth.”
- I’m a lover and not a fighter. I would prefer to find common ground and get along than live in open hostility and disagreement.
Stay tuned…
