Finally an "emerging" voice that gets it. Of course, he isn't a white guy like %99 of the conversation. This quote is so dead on I couldn't pass up sending it along to you all. The Emerging/Emergents want so badly to get theology and mission right, but usually stop as short as the more traditional folks when it comes to race. Emphasis is mine.
Let me say this as clearly as I can. We cannot be the church of Jesus Christ until or unless we confront the sin of racism that exists in our churches and our culture. All the good theology in the world won’t mean anything if we don’t wade into this issue.
Right on Andre. Notice he says our culture as well. Bob may not want to get outraged because "Kramer" is not a believer, but that goes against the "engaging culture" piece of the conversation. They'll engage the culture on issues like post-modernism, sex, and the best beer in town, but race, nah, they are just unbelievers who don't get it. I'm not trying to degrade and beat down Bob, but he is a major voice, with a high traffic blog, and an editor for an emerging magazine. If he can be so outspoken about some of the folks he has posted about, I don't think he'll mind a little coming his way.
Folks, we gotta confront this race issue. Living missionally will mean nothing if we continue to ignore the many injustices still prevalent in this society.
Link: emerging mosaic � Blog Archive � race, culture and the michael richards thing.
Ah, selective outrage. Pet sins we hate and ones we ignore. Ah, the human condition... God help us.
Boycotts are funny things; almost always a two-edged sword. As far as calculating who it hurts, a toughy indeed. Did any of the Whites Only diners in the South - c. 1960's - have Black clean staff that got laid off when there were sit ins, less business? Did lower bus ridership cost Blacks cleaning jobs? Certainly, that was a MUCH different cause than the current spat with Wal-Mart, but it just got me thinking how hard it is to gauge the impact and imprint of protest. Using war language: what & how much calateral damage is acceptable? YUK!
Sadly & right or wrong probably few folks knew about the racial videos incident. Again, key "leaders" pick & choose the issue of the month & many good people follow.
Racism is often too hidden from us (ie White Folks). In an area that is 96% White, we can get lulled into thinking it is not a problem; much like I am not worried about volcanos - the don't happen here. Out of sight... Though not "fun" it is good to reminded of this ongoing tragedy.
Posted by: kerry doyal | December 02, 2006 at 01:08 PM