Over the last year, the Left has popularized the phrase “systemic racism.” What exactly does this mean? It doesn’t mean racism is widespread throughout America, or even that there are some racist individuals within the power structures of various social systems. Rather, it means that the very systems of our society and government are rooted in racist ideology, and thus necessarily result in discrimination against non-whites. That’s why some of those who claim there is systemic racism are also calling for us to tear down these power structures and start anew. They don’t want to eliminate the racist people from the systems, but eliminate the systems themselves. The systems are deemed irredeemable.
What is the evidence for this supposed systemic racism? One should be able to point to a current institution or law that is explicitly or implicitly based on racist ideology or has policies that treat people differently based on their race. I would be the first to condemn such institutions/laws, but I have yet to hear any identified. Typically, those who claim systemic racism still exists (there is no question that systemic racism existed in the past – the debate is over whether it still exists today) in this country appeal to differences in outcomes by race. For example, black people as a group make less money than white people as a group, and black people are overrepresented in our prison population compared to whites. It is assumed that differences in outcome are due to racism. This is a hasty conclusion, however. It could only be justified if racism was the only possible explanation for the disparities, or if it was the best explanation of the data. Neither is the case. Consider income inequalities. While it’s true that white people make more money than black people, if this is due to systemic racism, the system isn’t working very well because white people don’t make the most money in this country –18 other nationalities do, all of whom are non-European people of color, including those with black skin.
There are several more plausible explanations for disparities in racial outcome than racism. To demonstrate racism is the cause of income inequalities, one would have to show that (1) the inequity is due to specific laws/systems/policies, and (2) those laws/systems/policies were created in order to advantage whites and/or disadvantage non-whites, and (3) that personal behavior or life choices cannot account for at least part of the disparity. Why should we even expect income equality among all races? As black economist Thomas Sowell noted, “If you cannot achieve equality of performance among people born to the same parents and raised under the same roof, how realistic is it to expect to achieve it across broader and deeper social divisions?” At the end of the day, systemic racism has to be proven, not merely assumed.
The only law I can think of that is both racist (in that it treats people differently based on the color of their skin rather than their merits) and systemic (in that it is part of the power structure of society) is affirmative action, but affirmative action is an example of systematically discriminating against whites, not against minorities.
Oddly enough, in recent days, some additional examples of systemic racism have surfaced, but once again, the discrimination is against whites, not against minorities.
- In Oakland, CA, they are testing out a universal, basic income for the poor. However, it’s only for people of color. White people are not eligible because of the color of their skin. This is coming from a social power structure, and it is treating people differently based on race, and thus it is an example of systemic racism against white people.
- The governor of Vermont based Covid-19 vaccine eligibility on the color of one’s skin. Minorities can get the vaccine, but not whites. Once again, this is coming from a social power structure and treats people differently based on the color of their skin. As such, it is an example of systemic racism against white people.
- Senator Tammy Duckworth publicly stated that she would only confirm the President’s cabinet picks if they were racial minorities or LGBT, until he nominated Asians or Pacific Islanders for a cabinet position. She singled out one race to vote against, and that was whites. As a member of Congress, surely she is part of a system of power and is determining how she will treat people based on their race. That is systemic racism against whites.
- President Biden’s American Rescue Plan has a provision to forgive the loans to socially disadvantaged farmers, which means white farmers do not qualify.
So no, there is no systemic racism in this country unless you are talking about racism coming from the Left against whites. Call me old school, but I am opposed to all racism, systemic or not, and all racial discrimination, no matter which race it is directed against. Those in power should not be using their power to favor or disfavor any race of people. Personal merit, not the color of one’s skin, should be all that matters.
April 23, 2021 at 10:30 pm
Jason, you explained it perfectly and may I add that what The Left / Democrats are doing is Marxist racial warfare.
Even the George Floyd death is made into a racial issue, when race had nothing to do with it at all.
The Left / Democrats are trying to divide our Nation by turning races against each other with their fake narratives…….it’s wicked what they are doing.
Then we have reprobates like Bill Gates claiming that MATH is racist.
Every American should watch Dinesh D’Souza’s “Death of a Nation” to learn the long racist history of the Democrat Party…..the party who gave us Slavery, Segregation and The Klan.
The new Socialist Democrats care nothing about Black Americans…they pander to them for their votes…..it’s sickening and demeaning.
Thank GOD for Black Americans like Vernon Jones, Leo Terrell, Diamond & Silk, Candance Owens, Brandon Tatum, David Harris JR, The Hodge Twins, Joe Collins, Kim Klacik and so many others who have broken free from The Left’s plantation.
God bless them…..and by the way, I don’t need the Biden government to tell me how not to be a racist….that is the Lord Jesus Christ’s job.
LikeLike
April 24, 2021 at 3:08 pm
well said ………… actually in Canada gov’t policies are anti-white. looks like America is similar.
but briefly on a “guaranteed income.” totally wrong if whites are not able to access the program. but as a social/fiscal conservative im not opposed as long as the corresponding gov’t programs would be eliminated, checks put in place to ensure fraud was minimized/people with problems didn’t fall through the cracks, the borders were secured, only citizens could access, sliding scale so people would still consider working, etc………… the gov’t wastes so much money giving out money we are not going to be able to keep up this system much longer.
LikeLike
April 25, 2021 at 7:03 am
Jason:
Do you mean Systemic Racism?
>
LikeLike
April 26, 2021 at 7:59 am
As usual, who will justify systemic racism or reject that it even exist, are white and the chart used shows what. The median income for nationalities…but I remind the white supremacists that not only does systemic racism exists, it permeates hence presupposes the mindset to erase it from the charts all together.
Just look at the Chart noted in the (–18 other nationalities) Is there any nationality on that chart that shows:
Black Americans – NO ,
Former Slave Americans, NO,
Descendants of Slave Americas, NO
You see, if you Blank Out the Black American; well, Systemic Racism just doesn’t exist anymore in the white mind.
And please explain what is the White Nationality and where is the White Nation from where White Nationals originate. Well I’ll tell you where White Nationals originate……..it is in a place we all well know…..that’s where White Americans in the chart live……..they live, reside and have their essence in Systemic Racism.
See the Chart of the Day and tell me if anybody can find “Black Americans” on it.
https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/chart-of-the-day-4/
LikeLike
April 26, 2021 at 8:19 am
Paul W
Says:
“the gov’t wastes so much money giving out money we are not going to be able to keep up this system much longer.”
But the syntax is missing a couple things, and should read
the gov’t wastes so much money giving out money(to Blacks)
and the self-fulfilling, prophetic-I-am-sure-declaration: “we are not going to be able to keep up this system(ic Racism)
Now where did I hear that saying: “Birds of a feather flock together”? hmmmm
Please give the Blacks some slack and I don’t mean on the lynching rope all you righteous whites or you can go back to your country where you came from.
LikeLike
April 26, 2021 at 9:21 am
This Leona a.k.a DOS has descended upon yet another conversation with her mean-spirit & big mouth making comments not worth reading.
According to Leona a.k.a DOS, I am supposed to either go back to my family in either Greece, Iran or Turkey.
Actually I love my country the USA and that is where I will stay, but perhaps DOS can move out of the USA and take her mean-spirit with her.
GREAT NEWS IS – Jesus Christ loves the little children, all the children of the world, Red, Yellow, Black, Brown & White, they are precious in HIS sight.
Meanwhile here is some enlightenment on this topic….
LikeLike
April 26, 2021 at 10:50 am
Brandon Tatum debunks systemic racism in America and explains his reasoning so perfectly…….
LikeLike
April 28, 2021 at 6:02 pm
Leona Last ………. that’s hilarious — as their isn’t a racist bone in my body.
LikeLike
April 28, 2021 at 6:18 pm
Hi Paul,
Leona is virtue-signaling…plain & simple.
People like her usually have their own strong racist tendencies, so they accuse & judge others incorrectly to cover their own short-comings & sins.
That’s all The Left does is talk race race race….and it’s only to cause division and strife and spread hatred.
We never have to explain ourselves to a Leftist….they don’t have the heart or the mental capacity to listen to anyone but their Marxist Racist Puppet Masters.
LikeLike
April 28, 2021 at 10:08 pm
I have no idea what virtue signaling is; I have no idea what DOS is; I do not know what a Leftist is, and I do not know what a Marxist Racist Puppet Master, who they are or what they do.
But I do know how a name-caller is used in the bible:
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire.
The simple moral fact is that words kill.
So be quick to listen and quick to hear; otherwise, you offer only the sacrifice of fools.
He then called the crowd together and said, “Listen, and take this to heart. It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up.”
In other words: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
To deny that Systemic Racism exists is to deny The Holocaust happened; is to deny Climate Control is the Imperative today; that Africans were captured, shackled and sold like chattel to the highest caucasian bidders in the United States and elsewhere to provide free labor for wealthy land owners.
That Blacks were not able to vote, drink at the same water fountains , eat at the same restaurants, go to the same schools. When generations are born into, grow up into, dedicated to an environment of a society with all the degradation and filth of a dirty human race and dredge up the worst words available to the inhuman tongue of deficient people to degrade the worth of their fellow man; that is systemic racism.
I was spared from that environment and grew up in a quiet village that farmed the land, had no paved roads and when you met a person you had the attitude and it was an expectation to look for and to see the good in everybody. This sentiment was expressed so beautifully and eloquently in the message by Chloe Zhao, winner of “Best Director” of the winner of “Best Picture” at the Oscars last week. Ms Zhao summed up Humanity as it should be, in six words (she translated words as “letters”) “People at birth are inherently good”
LikeLike
April 28, 2021 at 11:37 pm
Leona,
Nobody is denying that there was slavery in America……that is old news, and in case you didn’t know, it was abolished by mainly White People with the aid of Black people such as Harriet Tubman…it was called The Underground Railroad and both Blacks & Whites lost their lives to free the slaves.
Slavery has existed for thousands of years. At one time or another, every race has either been slave masters or slaves and history shows that the Muslims have engaged in slavery up until this very day.
So since slavery and segregation have both been abolished…..why make it an issue now and point to White people now, who have absolutely NOTHING to do with what was done in the past? There were even Blacks in America who owned Black slaves….in fact there were Irish slaves too.
Why live in the past?
Leona, can you tell me an instance where nowadays Blacks are being lynched, told to use a different drinking fountain, told they cannot marry out of their race, barred from employment?….please tell me your sources because I don’t see that….in fact it is against the law to commit such acts.
If there was truly “systemic racism”, America would not have Black Mayors, Black Police Commissioners or Police Chiefs, Black Special-Ops, Black Professors, Black Medical Doctors, Black Principals, Black City Councilmen, Black Congressmen, Black Senators, Black Business Owners, BLack CEO’s, Black Surgeon General, Black Military Generals or a Black President….but guess what Leona?…… America has all of that and more.
So where is America’s systemic racism Leona?…please point it out and quit living in the past.
And quit telling people that they are going to hell simply for disagreeing with you…it’s very rude, arrogant and dangerous and it makes you look self-righteous.
LikeLike
April 29, 2021 at 8:20 am
Elaine:
“So where is America’s systemic racism Leona?…please point it out and quit living in the past.”
Individuals who “make it”, as you note, have nothing to do with systemic racism. All the Blacks who have overcome the built-in obstacles of the “system” have not overcome the barriers of poverty for the masses, have not stopped the knees on necks of blacks or the bullets in black backs.
Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is a form of racism that is embedded through laws within society or an organization. It can lead to such issues as discrimination in criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other issues. Institutional racism can have harmful effects on people, especially on students in school where it is prominent.
The term institutional racism was first coined in 1967 by Stokely Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton in Black Power: The Politics of Liberation. Carmichael and Hamilton wrote that while individual racism is often identifiable because of its overt nature, institutional racism is less perceptible because of its “less overt, far more subtle” nature. Institutional racism “originates in the operation of established and respected forces in the society, and thus receives far less public condemnation than [individual racism]”.
Institutional racism was defined by Sir William Macpherson in the UK’s Lawrence report (1999) as: “The collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour that amount to discrimination through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.
In the past, the term “racism” was often used interchangeably with “prejudice,” forming an opinion of another person based on incomplete information. In the last quarter of the 20th Century, racism became associated with systems rather than individuals. In 1977, David Wellman in his book Portraits of White Racism defined racism as “a system of advantage based on race,” illustrating this definition through countless examples of white people supporting racist institutions while denying that they are prejudiced. White people can be nice to people of color while continuing to uphold systemic racism that benefits them, such as lending practices, well-funded schools, and job opportunities.[6] The concept of institutional racism re-emerged in political discourse in the late and mid 1990s, but has remained a contested concept. Institutional racism is where race causes a different level of access to the goods, services, and opportunities of society.
You want references go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutional_racism
You’ll find 437 references, bibliographies and external links to research for your education.
“And quit telling people that they are going to hell simply for disagreeing with you…”
I never tell people they are going to hell because hell is not a place you can go to. You may say that I tell people that but you are lying and we both know you are lying. You have a habit of making things up.
If your attitude is tender, understanding empathetic, kind and considerate of others, heaven is within you; if not, then you have that other place within you.
And how do people know if heaven is within you or that other place is within you? Well easy. Because the words that come out of your mouth come from the treasure that resides in you. So you see, you don’t have to go to hell to be in hell and you don’t have to go to heaven to be in heaven. Those of us who have the Kingdom within know our own and know others. Jesus told you point blank, it is what come out of your mouth that defiles you or praises you.
Extrapolate from that and if the four letter words that come out of your mouth toward others; for example, Wish Well, Give Hope, Help Heal, your in business. I know that you know other four letter words,
GOOD, try using them for a change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
April 29, 2021 at 9:39 am
Leona, in honor of your last name, this is the LAST comment I will ever make to you.
You are unhinged, erratic and willingly brain washed by false doctrine and Leftist ideology….which in itself is satanic.
You are one of the most arrogant big-mouthed passive-aggressive females I have ever had the misfortune of engaging in.
You are pompous, unreasonable, unteachable and you continually spread lies & half-truths.
Since your “god” is the father of liars and the accuser of the brethren, that makes you a D.O.S.
Beware Leona Last, you sow deception and you shall reap deception (which is evident)
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” – Galatians 6:7
Any further comments from Leona Last will be completely ignored.
LikeLike
April 29, 2021 at 2:49 pm
Elaine ………. no worries my childhood was perfect training for internet trolls like leona. they twist and pervert everything you say and use S. I. G. N. arguments. hilariously now i throw it (shame. insults. guilt. need to be right)back in their faces.
you won’t understand but leona reminds me of Leo The Greater/Son of Man that got kicked off of here some time ago. not saying that’s a sock puppet account of his but hilariously he was always changing his handle. hilariously
i thought we had some good conversations but when i disagreed with his cre cre notion that Jesus was a good guy even though He rode off into the sunset and let all of his people die horrible deaths he went bat sh!t crazy.
anyway enjoy but logic and reason doesn’t work on people like leona, derekmathais, scalia.
LikeLike
April 29, 2021 at 3:06 pm
WOW Paul, you are brilliant!
LEO /LEONA ….kinda like Bruce / Caitlyn who thinks that he is a she, but he will always be a he……..I bet Leona IS Leo!
The mystery is solved!!! 🙂
LikeLike
April 30, 2021 at 5:41 am
Post 13 is the perfect point and proof of the message of Jesus:
“Out of the treasure of the heart doth the mouth speak”
When the words are bitter and sour the whole tree is uprooted and thrown in the fire. Your words condemn you, not I.
Verily verily I say, no amount of slithering can now avoid the real invisible you and all who read your post #13 proof will see anything less than the exposure as clearly as a bat out of a bell.
All will beware and be saved from ever believing a word you say from hereon in.
Did you think you would escape the judgment? Of course you did. And Vander Wort’s conspiracy won’t help you one bit.
Praise be to the glory of safe harbor for the pure of heart from you ever again!
LikeLike
April 30, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Leona The Greater, no conspiracy just a guess based on your name and content/style of writing. i noticed you didn’t deny it.
funny you fasleiy calling me a racists then chastising others for name calling ……. pot meet kettle.
lol ………. but if you have anything intelligent to say about a guaranteed income i’d love to hear and nice hearing from you again.
LikeLike
May 1, 2021 at 10:31 am
Paul, I can give you kudos for perception on some counts but I did not explicitly call you a racist. If yo9u notice I did parenthesize words presumed to have been deliberately unsaid. I did however imply that anybody who can not and will not admit that systemic racism exists in North American society, is a racist because only a racist will deny its existence or somebody who had been paid off for saying so, especially if said so by people of color.
As far as a guaranteed income goes, where did you get the idea the idea that guaranteed income would not benefit caucasian; read, white, race?
I note that the Canadian government provided a guaranteed income during the pandemic start that ran about a year and anybody could apply based only on a few criterion; namely that employed people who lost their jobs due to COVID and who made at least $5,000.00 Income in the previous or current year(2019) or the then current year(2020); others had less conditions and the program, after a year, transitioned to Employment Insurance with less stringent criteria for a second year(2021). These programs also sparked debate on a guaranteed income supplement for everybody whether they work or not and is ongoing.
The guaranteed income debate in the USA started big time with the Presidential, candidacy of Andrew Yang and because Yang is democratic the Biden Administration will be working behind the scenes surreptitiously? Yang had become famous running for President as an evangelist for a universal basic income, and the new grants were intended to demonstrate the importance of giving people cash at a time of unprecedented crisis.
Yang is ow running for Mayor of New York City and I give him kudos for integrity and empathy.
Interview excerpt: “I told Yang about my conversation with Ferreyra: how she had learned about U.B.I.(Universal Basic Income) thanks to his efforts, and yet how she didn’t sound like she was going to vote for him. I’d seen Yang campaigning in Iowa, and spoken to many Iowans who had become convinced of the righteousness of his U.B.I. pitch. But he hadn’t, in the end, attracted many voters in the state’s caucuses. “I think that that’s the wrong way to look at it,” Yang said. “My goal has always been to help improve people’s lives. So the question for Ramona would be, did the thousand dollars help?” I said it clearly had.
‘You’re trying to draw a link which I frankly have never cared about,’ Yang said. ‘When I was in the Bronx yesterday, a young man came up to me and said, ‘Hey, my wife was one of the recipients of the thousand-dollar grant, and it made a huge difference to my family, and I really want to thank you.’ And I was super happy and grateful. But you know, it never even occurred to me to ask, ‘Are you going to vote for me?’ ”Yang said.
Cheers.
LikeLike
May 2, 2021 at 10:00 am
Leona………. so you didn’t call me a racist but you implied im a racist —– that’s a pretty thin hair you are splitting.
but now you do say if i disagree with you about “systemic racism” im a racist —- that’s hilarious. racism exists even blacks are racists but where i live the “systemic racism” is against me a white man. ive been told sorry —- this is a diversity hire and you are a able bodied white male Christian. and the only color that matters in the usa is “green.” the problem is stupid people do stupid things and most don’t want to accept their part so they blame others —- whitey, which is very human of them.
a guaranteed income has nothing to do with which party you belong
to/who you voted for. or it shouldn’t —— it should only be a straight up numbers game. either it is more efficient to give gov’t assistance that way or it’s not.
LikeLike
May 2, 2021 at 6:01 pm
If you disagree with systemic racism you are not disagreeing with me you are disagreeing about systemic racism.
” but now you do say if i disagree with you about “systemic racism” im a racist —- that’s hilarious. racism exists even blacks are racists but where i live the “systemic racism” is against me a white man.
I’ll try to make this as simple as possible because you seem to have a habit of making dangling comments.
I said “anybody who can not and will not admit that systemic racism exists in North American society, is a racist because only a racist will deny its existence” Now what is systemic racism? Systemic racism IS NOT “racism exists even blacks are racists”. That notion is not systemic racism, that is merely preferential bias akin to family feuding.
Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is a form of racism that is embedded through laws within society or an organization. It can lead to such issues as discrimination in criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power, and education, among other issues.
Carmichael and Hamilton wrote that while individual racism is often identifiable because of its overt nature, institutional racism is less perceptible because of its “less overt, far more subtle” nature. Institutional racism “originates in the operation of established and respected forces in the society, and thus receives far less public condemnation than [individual racism]”.
When you mention even blacks are racists, you are only referring to individual racism not system racism which is buried in respectable institutions.
In 1977, David Wellman in his book Portraits of White Racism defined racism as “a system of advantage based on race,” illustrating this definition through countless examples of white people supporting racist institutions while denying that they are prejudiced. White people can be nice to people of color while continuing to uphold systemic racism that benefits them, such as lending practices, well-funded schools, and job opportunities.
The concept of institutional racism re-emerged in political discourse in the late and mid 1990s, but has remained a contested concept. Institutional racism is where race causes a different level of access to the goods, services, and opportunities of society.
When you say “where i live the “systemic racism” is against me a white man”, shows that you are ignorant about the definition of systemic racism, and if not ignorant, oblivious to its influence on minorities and therefore become a whiner, me, me, me, in lieu of understanding because you didn’t get hired if companies are forced to engage a quota system to hire a percentage of minorities. You see it’s not just about you.
This is the way Christian speculators yap about other Christian denominational yappers and disparage, each believing that their Father is better than their Father and therefore the sons deserve greater. When you can avoid death then you’ll have the gonads to tell me how to live. Until that time shut up whining all the time.
Now, if you were not afraid to say you “don’t know” something, which is a rarity in the believer’s world-myth of speculation then ask me how you can avoid death and I could tell you, not that I would necessarily tell you just because you asked me because I do not entrust myself to any man because I know what a man is. Do you know somebody else who said the same thing?
LikeLike
May 7, 2021 at 12:32 pm
Hey Jason, this post is pretty is intriguing because I’m interested in the varying views on race. Your post provides this insight, it’s especially useful for me to see these views considering I also run a political site.
LikeLike
May 7, 2021 at 5:04 pm
“So since slavery and segregation have both been abolished…..why make it an issue now and point to White people now, who have absolutely NOTHING to do with what was done in the past?”
This is a common claim made by people who don’t study history–it’s over and done with, so let’s just move on!
However, black people today still have to live with the LEGACY of slavery. A great deal of white wealth was built on the backs of slaves, during which time blacks were unable to accumulate wealth for CENTURIES.
Even after emancipation from slavery, black Americans were prevented from earning wealth. They suffered voter suppression for decades, thus losing out on representation and the services that would have helped them accumulate wealth. They weren’t allowed to take advantage of the Homestead Act or the GI Bill. They were not permitted to purchase homes in neighborhoods with good schools and business opportunities (“redlining” kept blacks out of white neighborhoods even up until the modern age), further limiting their ability to build household wealth. Thus it is no surprise that black Americans have only a tiny fraction of white wealth per capita.
Yes, the government support for racial equality, Civil Rights Acts, Voting Rights Act and integrated schools in the 1960s helped the black community tremendously, but centuries of systemic poverty have taken their toll and continue to do so. Even today, police who need to meet a ticketing quota will specifically target blacks because they know they will most likely just pay the fine rather than lose work going to court to fight the ticket. Police tend to avoid ticketing wealthy whites because they know there’s a good chance lawyers will contest the ticket.
More: https://www.epi.org/blog/the-racial-wealth-gap-how-african-americans-have-been-shortchanged-out-of-the-materials-to-build-wealth/
So before you say let bygones be bygones, consider that black Americans have a long way to go just to reach the same level of opportunity as whites (even poor whites).
Furthermore, I have to say I’m baffled when I see Christians show such callousness toward the poor. After all, doesn’t the Bible remind Christians over and over again to give everything to help the poor?
• Mark 10:21-25 “GO, SELL EVERYTHING YOU HAVE AND GIVE TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “HOW HARD IT IS FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD! … IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
• Luke 6:29-30 If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. GIVE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU, AND IF ANYONE TAKES WHAT BELONGS TO YOU, DO NOT DEMAND IT BACK.
• Luke 12:33 “SELL YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND GIVE TO THE POOR.”
• Luke 14:33 “ANY OF YOU WHO DOES NOT GIVE UP EVERYTHING HE HAS CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.”
• Matthew 25:41-46 Then He will also say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I WAS A STRANGER, AND YOU DID NOT INVITE ME IN; NAKED, AND YOU DID NOT CLOTHE ME; SICK, AND IN PRISON, AND YOU DID NOT VISIT ME.” Then they themselves also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?” Then He will answer them, “TRULY I SAY TO YOU, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME.” THESE WILL GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT, but the righteous into eternal life.
Yes, I know there are those who argue that these claims are mostly metaphorical…but there’s no evidence that’s how these passages should be interpreted. That argument appears to me to be the desire to keep one’s wealth and dismiss the plight of the poor.
LikeLike
May 11, 2021 at 8:01 pm
Sidney Poe,
Yes, it should have been “systemic.” Corrected.
LikeLike
May 11, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Leona,
Pointing out that black Americans (as opposed to black Africans) do not appear on the chart only shows that black Americans make less than white Americans. First, that alone says nothing about why whites make more than blacks. But more importantly, the whole point is to show that if the system was racist, so that it favored whites, then we would not expect all of those non-white people of other nationalities to be doing better than white economically. And if the system keeps everyone with black skin down, then how did people with black skin (Nigerians) manage to beat the system but black Americans cannot?
You said “To deny that Systemic Racism exists is to deny” and then proceeded to list a bunch of racist atrocities (and some non-race-based atrocities) from the past. No one is denying that systematic racism exists. What is being denied is that it exists at this point in time in this country. Of course it existed in our past, but it does not exist in our present. There is not a single social system or law that discriminates against people based on race (except for those that discriminate against whites, as already mentioned). Those who claim there is systematic racism always point to disparities in outcome as evidence of racism. But, if those disparities can be explained by differences in personal choices or behaviors, then there is no reason to think racism is involved. Let’s take laws for example. Is we find that there are racial disparities when a particular law is enforced, it could be evidence of racism. Perhaps the law itself is racist. However, if the wording of the law does not discriminate based on race, then there is no reason to think the law itself is racist. It is race-neutral. But one could argue that while the legislation itself is race-neutral, those who passed the law had racist intent for passing the law. But to demonstrate this, not only would you have to show that the legislators knew the law would adversely affect one race more than others, but that the reason they passed the law was because they wanted to hurt the race that they knew would be adversely affected by the law.
To illustrate what I mean, consider a law that criminalizes certain drugs. Those who passed the legislation may have known that blacks use those particular drugs more than whites, and thus, that blacks would be disproportionately affected by the legislation should they choose to continue using those drugs after the legislation is passed. However, this foreknowledge of a disparity in racial outcomes alone does not make the passage of the law racist. It could very well be that the legislators passed the law because they saw the harm that these drugs were inflicting on America, and they wanted to minimize that harm. In an alternative universe, in which whites used these particular drugs more than blacks, these same legislators would have passed the same legislation, knowing that it would have disproportionately affected whites. Simply put, if there is no demonstrated racist intent behind the passage of a law that leads to disparate racial outcomes, there is no legitimate basis on which to conclude that the legislators (or the system they run) is racist. In fact, it is a rational mistake to make such a conclusion, and yet this mistake accounts for virtually every “evidence” put forth for systematic racism.
Let me say one more thing about intent. If black people are part of the system, and those black people within the system also supported this legislation, that’s good reason to doubt that the law was racist. Otherwise, you would have to conclude that none of the black people who voted for the law could foresee the disparities in racial outcome that the law would produce (only the white legislators could see that), or you would have to conclude that they foresaw those outcomes just like their white counterparts but voted for the law because they, like their white counterparts, were doing so for the benefit of society rather than to oppress a particular race. And unless you want to say that those black legislators were stupid or deceived, the second option is more rational.
Perhaps it is not the law itself that is racist, but the enforcement of the law that is racist. One could agree that the language of the law is race-neutral and that the legislators had no racist intent when they passed it, but that law enforcement officers are racist in how they enforce that law. Instead of policing white and black communities equally, the cops choose to ignore white neighborhoods and over-police black neighborhoods. That’s possible, but to prove that, one would have to show that whites and blacks are committing the same amount of a particular crime, but being arrested at differential rates. One would also have to show that the situations were largely the same. For example, it could be that cops only arrest people for drug use when that drug use is in conjunction with another crime (e.g. robbery). If 80% of white people who take a particular drug are not committing any other crimes when they are caught by police, whereas 80% of black people who take a particular drug are caught by police while they are committing an additional crime, this could explain why 80% of white people are not arrested whereas 80% of black people are. I’m not saying this is true, but just using it as an example because I know that very few people are in jail due to drug offenses alone.
Or, perhaps it is not law enforcement that is racist, but the criminal justice system. Maybe judges are sentencing blacks at a higher rate for the same crimes as whites. Perhaps, but this would have to be demonstrated. And once again, one would have to show that the situations are similar. A man who is being charged with both robbery and drug possession will surely be given a stiffer sentence than a man who is only charged with drug possession. One must also consider the past history of each person. The man who has been in and out of jail his entire life will probably get sentenced differently than a first-time offender.
All of this is to say that racism must be demonstrated, and it could be demonstrated at any number of levels. But it must be demonstrated rather than assumed. A disparity in racial outcomes, by itself, demonstrates nothing. And yet, those who believe that systematic racism still exists in this country hang their entire case on this rational mistake.
LikeLike
May 11, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Paul, I, too, think “Leona Last” is the transgender reincarnation of Leo, the Son of Man. If so, he’ll be banned again…and again…and again. I thought banning his IP address would take care of him, but apparently he has a lot of computers.
LikeLike
May 11, 2021 at 8:03 pm
Derek, you are parroting a claim I hear often, but is demonstrably false. Very few whites made their wealth on the backs of slaves. Those who did, used a lot of backs to do so, but they were few in number compared to the U.S. population. They were largely plantation owners and farmers, and mostly contained in the south. Slaves were used for farming, and that did not generate a lot of money compared to industry. Industry is what brought great wealth to this nation, and industry was centered in the north, where slavery was abolished. If anything, the continued dependence on farming and slavery is what handicapped the south financially, and helped the north to win the war.
I will concede the larger point, however, that slavery (and the Jim Crow laws that followed) had a lasting impact.
However, the bigger impact is personal choices. As I noted already, there is a whole group of people in this country with black skin that do very well for themselves. Not only do they have black skin, but most of them are first generation immigrants (another huge economic barrier to overcome). How is it that they are more economically successful than whites, and achieved this in one or two generations? For the same reason that the other nationalities outperform whites, and the same reason whites outperform blacks: marriage. Marriage is the single biggest indicator of economic success. Asians and Nigerians are more likely to wait to have children until they are married, and more likely to stay married than white people. Likewise, white people are more likely to wait to have children until they are married, and more likely to stay married than blacks. Not only do the children benefit from the two incomes of their married parents (married parents don’t have to unnecessarily spend money on two houses, etc.), but they also benefit from the stable family environment that brings discipline and structure to a child’s life, enabling him for success. Only 30% of black kids have married parents. That’s why they are poorer than whites. If blacks changed their behavior to delay having children until after they were married, and if they stayed married at a higher rate than whites, they would most certainly begin to outpace whites economically. If Nigerian immigrants can do better than whites in one generation, surely American blacks can do so as well. It’s not the system that is keeping them down, but personal choices (although I would argue that the welfare system is partly to blame for keeping blacks down, but this is not by design). Black economic prosperity was booming in the early 1900s when black marriage rates were higher than whites. When did that slow down? When the government handouts started and incentivized single motherhood. Marriage declined, and so did economic growth.
As for the poor, I won’t say much, other than to say that I think we all agree that the Bible has something to say about caring for the poor. However, the Bible says this is the responsibility of individuals, not the government. When I choose to help the poor, that is charity. When the government takes my money from me to redistribute it to the poor without my consent, that is theft. Yes, we help the poor, but no, we don’t cede that responsibility to the government.
LikeLike
May 12, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Theosophical Ruminator:
Who illustrates his own scenarios skews it to his own biasism, subconsciously or otherwise; in your case, it’s unconscious, because you act on belief and lack knowledge,
“Pointing out that black Americans (as opposed to black Africans) do not appear on the chart only shows that black Americans make less than white Americans. First, that alone says nothing about why whites make more than blacks. But more importantly, the whole point is to show that if the system was racist, so that it favored whites, then we would not expect all of those non-white people of other nationalities to be doing better than white economically. And if the system keeps everyone with black skin down, then how did people with black skin (Nigerians) manage to beat the system but black Americans cannot?”
No it does not! You’re perpetuating the fraud. Pointing out that Black Americans do not appear on the chart because they make less than White Americans is worse than myopic. The truth if you knew truth is, what Black Americans that do not appear on the chart shows, is that the chart was made by White Americans for their own biasism. Why? To obfuscate the racism they are too ashamed to admit to, in public.
Black Africans came here only recently, with wealth. Don’t you know that? Black Americans came here as slaves. Don’t you know that? Nigerians you say beat the system; again, is blind sighted, when they immigrated here they came with wealth, business professionalism, education; in other words, they came with suitcases full of money, credit cards, bank accounts, education and business interests. Black Americans came without a suitcase carrying only shackles and chains like animals, cattle; you know, not with chattel, THEY THEY WERE THE CHATTEL, chattel assets of White Americans and they could never look forward from that dreadful, disgusting side of humanity, the same disgusting, selfish evil that allows the war in Yemen, black lives matter protests in American streets and around the world, and the Palestinian slaves of Israeli domination flaring up again for justice to be released from bondage. A Moses figure needs to lead the Palestinians out of bondage in that barren, hopeless dessert
Obfuscation, cover it up, hide it, smoke and mirror it out of sight. That’s all you are supporting by denying slave retention by racism and then blame the victims who pee on the floor because a sanitation toilet is denied to them.
But you know something you can take to the bank?
Know this presents:
You will never know the truth if you only believe the truth because believing the truth extends no further than the boundary of your opinion. Hmmm. Now where did I hear that before?
Said Pontius Pilate,
“Art thou a king then?”
Jesus answered,
“You say that I am a king, and the others, but you and the others do not define me, uh uh. But I will tell you this. I was not born to be a King, it was to this end that I was born and for this cause came I into the world, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH! Everyone who loves truth hears my voice.”
Said Pilate nonchalantly with a care-less attitude,
“What is truth?” Nevertheless Jesus words impacted Pilate clearly.
And when he had said this, he went out again unto the cocksure religious Jew believers, and saith unto them,
“I find in him no fault at all.”
And they were furious with the Governor for not siding with their TRUMPed up lies and false agenda.
LikeLike
May 19, 2021 at 5:16 pm
“Derek, you are parroting a claim I hear often, but is demonstrably false. Very few whites made their wealth on the backs of slaves. Those who did, used a lot of backs to do so, but they were few in number compared to the U.S. population.”
Ah, but the problem is that you’re clearly viewing this from a white perspective. Sure relatively few whites made their wealth from slavery…but most whites were still able to accumulate wealth, property, connections, etc. that they passed along to their children. Meanwhile, nearly ALL blacks were completely unable to accumulate any wealth for CENTURIES. They have had to play catch up ever since. For long after emancipation so many blacks worked in what was effectively indentured servitude, with few opportunities beyond the most menial jobs. THAT is the basis for systemic racism. THAT is why blacks overall have such a wealth gap, which limits their opportunities more than anything else. So I don’t think my claim is false at all.
“Marriage is the single biggest indicator of economic success.”
Correlation does not equal causation. Wealth is a greater predictor of marriage than race. Reduced opportunities mean worse education, shorter lifespans and less priority placed on marriage.
“Black economic prosperity was booming in the early 1900s when black marriage rates were higher than whites. When did that slow down? When the government handouts started and incentivized single motherhood. Marriage declined, and so did economic growth.”
It’s true that black men married at slightly higher rates…but that was between 1890 and 1930, after which white men had a higher marriage rate: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/working-papers/2012/demo/sehsd-wp2012-12_presentation.pdf. But welfare expansion began in the 1960s, AFTER black marriage rates had already dropped: https://people.eou.edu/socwelf/readings/week-2/welfare-expands-in-the-1960s/.
“As for the poor, I won’t say much, other than to say that I think we all agree that the Bible has something to say about caring for the poor. However, the Bible says this is the responsibility of individuals, not the government.”
Actually, no. Government has been a critical part of distributing Christian wealth to the poor: https://theconversation.com/taxing-the-rich-to-help-the-poor-heres-what-the-bible-says-88627. After all, how else to ensure donations are distributed appropriately to those in need?
• Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
“When I choose to help the poor, that is charity. When the government takes my money from me to redistribute it to the poor without my consent, that is theft. Yes, we help the poor, but no, we don’t cede that responsibility to the government.”
Really? That’s not what the Bible says. Just a few examples:
• Romans 13:1-7 “Every person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God. The person who does not obey the leaders of the land is working against what God has done. Anyone who does that will be punished. Those who do right do not have to be afraid of the leaders. Those who do wrong are afraid of them. Do you want to be free from fear of them? Then do what is right. You will be respected instead. Leaders are God’s servants to help you. If you do wrong, you should be afraid. They have the power to punish you. They work for God. They do what God wants done to those who do wrong. You must obey the leaders of the land, not only to keep from God’s anger, but so your own heart will have peace. It is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things. Pay taxes to whom taxes are to be paid. Be afraid of those you should fear. Respect those you should respect.”
• Titus 3:1-2 “Remind your people to obey the government and its officers, and always to be obedient and ready for any honest work. They must not speak evil of anyone, nor quarrel, but be gentle and truly courteous to all.”
• 1 Peter 2:13-16 “Therefore, be subject to every human ordinance that is of the Lord, whether it be to a king or to a superior, and unto governors as unto those that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those that do well. For this is the will of God, that in well doing ye may silence the ignorance of vain men, as being free, yet not using your liberty to cover maliciousness, but as slaves of God.”
Without government collecting taxes and distributing wealth, inequity becomes inherent in the system, with donations given to those preferred by individuals and churches, rather than those most in need.
LikeLike
May 19, 2021 at 6:54 pm
Derek, you told us you were going to leave…….don’t go back on your word.
LikeLike
May 19, 2021 at 10:12 pm
“Derek, you told us you were going to leave…….don’t go back on your word.”
Read my post again. I said I was done with that THREAD, not this site.
LikeLike
May 20, 2021 at 2:22 pm
Derek, can you let us know when you will be done with THIS thread too?
LikeLike
May 20, 2021 at 6:51 pm
This is some good stuff here!!!
https://home.frankspeech.com/video/why-dems-are-still-trying-blame-trump-january-6th
LikeLike