May 17th, 2021: Oh! Please not that way

 


 

Some people have not done the fight against racism a favor by claiming to be oppressed because they don't share much in common with real victims of discrimination. For example, I would rather listen to hard-working folks who can barely take care of their family because of unjust treatments due to their races than wealthy and privileged people talk about racism to promote their brands. That is shameful behaviour.


Poverty exists in various racial groups in the US. If we want to fight racial injustice, we will have to go about it by addressing economic, educational, and other societal issues. Don't hide behind the term "systemic racism" in order to avoid our corporate and personal responsibilities toward others. Discrimination is more than just about skin colors or outward appearances. It is about cultural differences, educational opportunities, and economic backgrounds. 


Teaching about racism can not start with another form of oppression: the oppression of freedom in thoughts and learning. It is dangerous to approach it by saying that there is the only way to deal with it. It is like talking about murder and conclude that hate is the reason why people kill. We are willing to support a wide range of studies concerning murder, so let us not just propagate the term "systemic racism" and fail to explore the various aspects of human struggles behind our human suffering.


Privileged athletes, former politicians, performers, and others can do a lot to help instead of feeding the self-pity song. We can always encourage one another to get better, have goals, have self-respect, be good students, be committed workers, appreciate others' goodness, be disciplined, and don't play around with the victim mentality.


2 Timothy 1: 7

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline."

 

Popular posts from this blog

Aug 31st, 2024: Confession

Image
Dealing with pain sometimes affects our ability and flexibility. A physiotherapist friend gave me a set of home exercises to help with that. They are simple yet intense at the same time. Dealing with our human brokenness sometimes affects our ability to see and hear God. Our commitment to spiritual disciplines must be at the core of our relationship with God. One of the disciplines I have been trying to embrace more fully is confession. It’s not just about recognizing where we have gone wrong; it’s about how we have chosen to live our lives independently from God. It’s about whether we truly want God to be part of our lives. The absence of meaningful confession will damage our freedom to experience intimacy with God. "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." - Proverbs 28:13
Read more

Sept 4th, 2024: Praying in Images

Image
It has been a rough few days. Living in immense pain does not allow us much energy to think about anything. I ended up praying in images, and not many words came out of my mouth. Most of the images were of people I know. God knew that I was praying for them as their faces came to my mind. I did not need to mention the circumstances or situations of their lives—He knows. My heart was at peace as I ended my days with these images. He will take care of my body, and I know this because I was able to get some sleep. Tomorrow is in His hands.
Read more

Oct 1st, 2022: Be With Those Who Suffer

Image
  Listening to a young woman who shared her experience of being raped repeatedly by a family member for over four years as a teenager made my heart ache. The man who did that was a leader of a church. He was imprisoned for seven months and released. He was her stepfather. Her mother chose to pick him over her after his release. Her life has changed forever. She had to go to a foster home. Her foster parents helped her with her restoration and her faith in God. Her supervisor at work asked me to see her because someone at work was inappropriate toward her. That triggered many emotions within her. I did not expect the story I heard from her. The meeting took longer than I thought, and it was toward the end of the day. She kept talking about her anger and the pain she felt when men treated her like a subject. I knew that the best I could do was to listen. She told me she had not been able to tell anyone as much as with me. God reminded me of the true calling of being a pas...
Read more