Solidarity

It seems to me that solidarity is all tangled up with different opinions in what is rightfully celebrated diversity and what is inappropriate selfish racism. I find myself less concerned by the light-skinned boy staring unashamedly at the first dark-skinned person he has ever seen. I am nervous about even writing in those terms, yet I admit that is the way I think. I am what Woodley called the person who is outwardly politically correct, but inwardly racist. I cannot help but question whether that light-skinned boy is doing anything more inappropriate by staring at a dark-skinned person than by staring at the beautiful creation of Jupiter in telescope lenses for the first time. To take the analogy further, is it sinful to assume that the dark-skinned man will be able to jump higher, run faster, and sing better than I am able? What is celebrated diversity and what is evil - or at least inappropriate - racism?

In Israel, I realized how deep a racial tension can be rooted. I witnessed unchecked racism that leads to slander, violence, and even death. It seemed so obviously wrong and foolish. On the other hand, in Western Europe I witnessed pride of country like I’ve never seen in the U.S.A., and it seemed at some level good and right. Our melting pot has become so concerned with racism that we dare not cheer too loudly for our Olympic team, and I subsequently wonder if that is an unhelpful over-reaction.

I wonder if I will be able to live in the “real world” with any better perspective and understanding than my current understanding of racism. I’m afraid that I will hurt people because I don’t realize the context from which they come. I’m afraid that I will naturally be culturally, racially, politically, and socially arrogant in every aspect of my life. Is it wrong to herald the flag of a political party, because after studying I have found it to be the best manner of government? Is it wrong to assume that Africans will be able to jump, Germans will be stubborn, and the English will be snobby? How can my view of races, faiths, and lifestyles reconcile with a God who chose a particular nation to be His people? Did Paul show racism when he suggested that the gospel was to the Jew first and then to the Greek, and if so, how can that be reconciled as right?