Comments on: Post-Racial America: Thoughts on the Election of Barack Obama

By: Emmett

Emmett — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:59:10 +0000

Hi Alex, thanks for visitng my blog. I enjoyed reading your post. Some interesting thoughts. I would agree that things are wrong because they are wrong and right because they are right. Hopefully Scripture guides us in making those determinations. I will be back

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:06:08 +0000

Hey Alex,
Ok so this has nothing to do with this post… I was just thinking back today on some things and Steve and Deana Watson came to mind… and Max… I prayed for them this morning. Actually… everytime I see Cash Cab on TV I think of Steve, But do you know how they are doing?

If so can ya send me a quick email update?

Thanks
Brian

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:10:25 +0000

Sweden — Muslims are exposed to the most racial harassment in Sweden, according to a new report from the Board of Integration. My sense is that the EU (I think the Scandanavian countries may be the same here) is far more xenophobic than even the US. But even they, because of the influence of Christ followers in the west, are ahead of many. Besides xenophobia, their relative weakness compared to the USA in the area of race may be because they have had less tension, conflict, violence and resolution than we have experienced here over the issues of race and culture. The next time Sweden elects a Muslim or Black person, we’ll take another look. Also, If memory serves me correctly, Sweden supplied the Nazis with weapons. That begins to cover Sweden with regards to race–at least with regard to Muslims and Jews. Here’s the point, America may be bad, but bad may be relatively good when you step back and look at the big picture.

Canada, on the other hand, is perfect.

Next…since you asked…one reason on How America leads…

By: KARLA ELISA

KARLA ELISA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:06:31 +0000

Gee Alex,

After 8 years of being told to fear Arabs and Muslims
I can’t possibly see how you arrive at the conclusion
that America is way ahead of anybody in the world with
regard to understanding race and culture.

If I had to pick a country for that honor I would probably
choose Canada or Sweden or perhaps another Scandic
country.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:45:43 +0000

It’s easy, Karla. But before I give a reason, let me say some words about your first statement.

What if you were listening to a group of people between 350 and 400 pounds give testimony to the wonderful effectiveness of their diets. Would you say to them, I can’t see how you arrive at the conclusion that your diets work?

Of course not. [Especially if said with the undertone of, how in the world could you think that your diets work?] Why? Because you don’t have enough info to know whether they work or not. The effectiveness of their diets is relative to both their starting weight and the comparison to other diets among a like group of people. This may be a group of people who have healthily lost between 100 and 150 pounds…compared to another group who had only lost 20 pounds.

Doesn’t your first statement make this same mistake? For the sake of argument, let’s assume that that you have been told to fear Arabs for eight years by America. That’s simply not enough info to know whether or not America is a leader in terms of race and culture. It may just be an indicator that you’re listening to the wrong people. It may be an indicator that the people you’re listening to have a way to go. [This last statement is true of all of us and of all nations including the USA, of course]. It may be an indicator that America fears Muslims. But none of these indicators tell us America’s position of leadership relative to the rest of the world in this. Perhaps the rest of the world is even worse.

Wow. I was going to give some reasons for actually thinking that America leads the world, and some thoughts about your choices, but this comment is way too long already.

I trust you hear a very amicable and almost happy tone in my comments. I love your very, very challenging ides.

By: andrew

andrew — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:18:37 +0000

Wow, Alex,
“America is way ahead of most if not all on understanding race and culture”.
Really? That’s sounds rather an American statement, if you don’t mind me saying. Translate that as you wish. I didn’t think old UK was doing too bad on the multiculturalism front… Am I mistaken?

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:13:09 +0000

Andrew, Thanks for the comment. I would agree about the British. Is it a rather British statement when you say that the “UK wasn’t doing too bad on the Multiculturalism (not what I’m talking about by the way) front”? Or, are you really trying to discern that relatively speaking the brits are not doing too bad (presumably when compared to others)? The issue is not whether it is an American statement or not. The issue is, does it reflect reality?

By: Ramon

Ramon — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:33:29 +0000

Hello Alex,

I enjoyed reading your thoughts on the election of Barrack Obamah as President of the United States and on post racial America. I agree with you particularly with the idea that Obamah’s election has to do more with timing and the fact that Obamah presented a set of values and ideas that were more in context with our current shift on culture. Nevertheless, I believe that the real work of educating America on race and culture begin now.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:47:33 +0000

Ramon, So true. Every generation enters the world in need of education. As the scriptures say, we’re always one generation away from ignorance. ok, so I paraphrased that.
However, don’t you agree that in terms of the whole world, America is way ahead of most if not all on understanding race and culture?

Thanks for your comment.