Man, how I wish I knew a roomful of people to talk with about this. SO many thoughts! But I'll limit myself to sharing something I read years ago that sprang to mind as I read your essay. This is from Frederick Beuchner in "The Hungering Dark": "...if another man dies so that I can live, it imposes a terrible burden on my life. From that point on, I cannot live any longer just for myself."
I am ashamed to admit that I spent the first three decades of my life oblivious to the fact that I was living in the "matrix of white supremacy". I was aware of the overt acts of racism but unaware of the less overt stuff, the systemic stuff baked into the structures of society. The first time I really thought about white supremacy as a system of power that "normalizes" white was in a community health class in which we discussed the colour of bandaids and why "flesh tone" was a single weird pinkish colour. I'm glad the bandaid section is more diverse now, but there is still a very long way to go. I hope that your words inspire folks on their journey of anti-racism, whether it their first step or millionth, it's never too late to move in the right direction building the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
Trey, Have you read any of Pete Hegseth's books. His book War on Warriors is his most recent which was on the NY Times best seller list and he has won 2 bronze medals among other honors. He is a seasoned veteran of many recent wars. Pete Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard's John F Kennedy's School of Government. He calls out the abuses by military brass of our military and speaks to the "taking back of our Pentagon and the war on meritocracy." Not all men who are white are are white supremacists and not all character is defined by tattoos, Trey. Pete is a warrior who put his life on the line so others might live.
Hi Suzanne! Thank you for reading, though I must confess: nothing you've said here really engages with anything I've said.
If it helps clarify the record:
-the NY Times Best Seller list measure book sales, not any commitment to common humanity
-if Pete Hegseth were indeed a white supremacist (which is not even the main argument of this article), he wouldn't even come close to the most decorated white supremacist in the history of our armed forces
-I don't know what relevance his alma maters hold here
-You could easily list an even more impressive resume for Robert E. Lee (and indeed, many people have), and that would say nothing of his stance on white supremacy
In summary, you have shared 120 words doing the exact thing that this article says we need to beware of, which is minimizing white supremacy. You did it by listing a bunch of unrelated feats, with the implication that no white supremacist could possibly do anything as honorable as go to war or graduate from an Ivy League school, despite the fact that history is riddled with white supremacists who've done exactly that.
I haven't once asserted nor suggested that all men who are white are white supremacists. What I have suggested is that our posture as a society often helps those who *are* evade accountability. This reply is a fine example of that posture.
Man, how I wish I knew a roomful of people to talk with about this. SO many thoughts! But I'll limit myself to sharing something I read years ago that sprang to mind as I read your essay. This is from Frederick Beuchner in "The Hungering Dark": "...if another man dies so that I can live, it imposes a terrible burden on my life. From that point on, I cannot live any longer just for myself."
https://www.frederickbuechner.com/quote-of-the-day/2017/6/2/such-a-gift?rq=Debt
Love this quote!
This very white guy, approves of this message!
Aubrey, you’re a trip 😂
Dude... I was like over 50 before I even knew there was a cookout! :) This trip is better!
Wise words, gracious words.
I am ashamed to admit that I spent the first three decades of my life oblivious to the fact that I was living in the "matrix of white supremacy". I was aware of the overt acts of racism but unaware of the less overt stuff, the systemic stuff baked into the structures of society. The first time I really thought about white supremacy as a system of power that "normalizes" white was in a community health class in which we discussed the colour of bandaids and why "flesh tone" was a single weird pinkish colour. I'm glad the bandaid section is more diverse now, but there is still a very long way to go. I hope that your words inspire folks on their journey of anti-racism, whether it their first step or millionth, it's never too late to move in the right direction building the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
Trey, Have you read any of Pete Hegseth's books. His book War on Warriors is his most recent which was on the NY Times best seller list and he has won 2 bronze medals among other honors. He is a seasoned veteran of many recent wars. Pete Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard's John F Kennedy's School of Government. He calls out the abuses by military brass of our military and speaks to the "taking back of our Pentagon and the war on meritocracy." Not all men who are white are are white supremacists and not all character is defined by tattoos, Trey. Pete is a warrior who put his life on the line so others might live.
Hi Suzanne! Thank you for reading, though I must confess: nothing you've said here really engages with anything I've said.
If it helps clarify the record:
-the NY Times Best Seller list measure book sales, not any commitment to common humanity
-if Pete Hegseth were indeed a white supremacist (which is not even the main argument of this article), he wouldn't even come close to the most decorated white supremacist in the history of our armed forces
-I don't know what relevance his alma maters hold here
-You could easily list an even more impressive resume for Robert E. Lee (and indeed, many people have), and that would say nothing of his stance on white supremacy
In summary, you have shared 120 words doing the exact thing that this article says we need to beware of, which is minimizing white supremacy. You did it by listing a bunch of unrelated feats, with the implication that no white supremacist could possibly do anything as honorable as go to war or graduate from an Ivy League school, despite the fact that history is riddled with white supremacists who've done exactly that.
I haven't once asserted nor suggested that all men who are white are white supremacists. What I have suggested is that our posture as a society often helps those who *are* evade accountability. This reply is a fine example of that posture.
Again: thank you for reading 🙏🏾