Why is there still so much separation between races in America? I see it so vividly on college campuses, both at UT and Eastern. There are different levels of separation at both places, but why should that matter? The fact is that there is still racial separation amongst our young generation. I am guilty of assisting in the separation by staying within my comfort zone. Humans are more comfortable around people who are most like us, but who is to say that you won't have a lot in common with someone who doesn't seem (outwardly) like you would have any commonalities? I am making an honest effort to stop using terms and sayings such as "ghetto" or "hood" or "gangsta" when describing someone, their actions, their clothes, the way they speak. I hate it. I hate that I have an accent that my friends call my "ghetto accent." It makes me sick to my stomach that I let myself do that. It's putting down other people. It's making fun of others. I'm so sorry. It may be funny to some people, but it's offensive to others. I should only aim to speak words that are pleasing to the Lord. It's easier said that done, but I am going to make a conscious effort to lift up others and stop using those phrases and my accent. It's only encouraging separation amongst people. We claim to be a Christian school, but I don't see a diverse body of Christ functioning and loving each other as Christ loves us. There's separation within the body on campus. I'm not saying that everyone has to be best friends, but a level of respect and openness must be reached. We can talk about it till our faces turn blue, but nothing's going to happen until our words and actions CHANGE. We must be conscious about our thoughts and actions, striving to hold all captive to the Lord. There is hope. We have so much potential. It's not going to be an overnight process, but it is possible. Will you join me? Can we strive to eliminate our preformed thoughts and erase stereotypes and prejudices and get to know people for who they are regardless of outward appearance?
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Why?
Why is there still so much separation between races in America? I see it so vividly on college campuses, both at UT and Eastern. There are different levels of separation at both places, but why should that matter? The fact is that there is still racial separation amongst our young generation. I am guilty of assisting in the separation by staying within my comfort zone. Humans are more comfortable around people who are most like us, but who is to say that you won't have a lot in common with someone who doesn't seem (outwardly) like you would have any commonalities? I am making an honest effort to stop using terms and sayings such as "ghetto" or "hood" or "gangsta" when describing someone, their actions, their clothes, the way they speak. I hate it. I hate that I have an accent that my friends call my "ghetto accent." It makes me sick to my stomach that I let myself do that. It's putting down other people. It's making fun of others. I'm so sorry. It may be funny to some people, but it's offensive to others. I should only aim to speak words that are pleasing to the Lord. It's easier said that done, but I am going to make a conscious effort to lift up others and stop using those phrases and my accent. It's only encouraging separation amongst people. We claim to be a Christian school, but I don't see a diverse body of Christ functioning and loving each other as Christ loves us. There's separation within the body on campus. I'm not saying that everyone has to be best friends, but a level of respect and openness must be reached. We can talk about it till our faces turn blue, but nothing's going to happen until our words and actions CHANGE. We must be conscious about our thoughts and actions, striving to hold all captive to the Lord. There is hope. We have so much potential. It's not going to be an overnight process, but it is possible. Will you join me? Can we strive to eliminate our preformed thoughts and erase stereotypes and prejudices and get to know people for who they are regardless of outward appearance?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment