tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.comments2015-07-08T07:42:39.725-07:00R is for RaceMarianne Modicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-71584563794468826222015-07-08T07:42:39.725-07:002015-07-08T07:42:39.725-07:00Why would we care indeed? "As you have done i...Why would we care indeed? "As you have done it to the least of these, so you have done it to me." That is reason enough. Not that Jesus was trying to imply that these "least" were lesser in worth, but least in social prestige and power. Now go off and memorize your new responses so you'll be ready for next time, LOL!Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600030574995481267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-53799348681682634432014-08-28T08:32:50.536-07:002014-08-28T08:32:50.536-07:00I can honestly say I agree with everything you are...I can honestly say I agree with everything you are saying. Perhaps, in worrying about "defending the truth," some Christians forget that all people- those different from us, those like us and even our enemies- are made in the Image of God and must be considered our brothers. <br /><br />I am sure you made the same point in the body of your blog post but I think I understand it more now....thanks for sharing and may we all remember we have a responsibility to show God's love to all!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-45466829275012516972014-08-28T08:08:32.729-07:002014-08-28T08:08:32.729-07:00To begin with, I understand what you're saying...To begin with, I understand what you're saying about the anxiety many white people feel in talking about race. I found that in my own research. In terms of the white evangelical response to the Michael Brown shooting and similar incidents, I don't know if "care" is the word I'm thinking of. I believe that white evangelicals care about black youth, but that caring is not informed by the reality those youth face at the hands of law enforcement. They care in an abstract way (Christians are supposed to care about everyone, right?), but they spend so much time defending their position as whites when terrible stuff like this happens that they don't allow themselves to be open and try to understand the perspective of their brothers and sisters of color. They don't try to understand the history that preceded this shooting and, hence, the angry response to it. So, they are silent. They show no support for a grieving family and community, regardless of the circumstances. Some people just don't "do politics" on fb, and I understand that. My point was that lots of them had no problem standing against homosexuality in their support for a fast food chain, but did not think of supporting a family and community in crisis.Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-19706102096336094572014-08-28T06:59:47.796-07:002014-08-28T06:59:47.796-07:00do you imply that white evangelicals don't car...do you imply that white evangelicals don't care about black youths? <br /><br />Perhaps they are silent because whenever issues of race are brought up and if you don't come out on "the right side of things," or if you just raise some questions then you are labeled a racist. Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-40034905502510826482014-08-19T13:45:13.206-07:002014-08-19T13:45:13.206-07:00Thank you for this, Marianne! (signed, your friend...Thank you for this, Marianne! (signed, your friend formerly in Scranton)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-82382379909816828752014-07-13T05:12:13.097-07:002014-07-13T05:12:13.097-07:00sounds like it would be a great book to read; I ha...sounds like it would be a great book to read; I have to add it to my list!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-62856402864025221372014-02-16T15:13:42.534-08:002014-02-16T15:13:42.534-08:00Hadn't been over here in a while. Thanks for t...Hadn't been over here in a while. Thanks for the post and your honesty!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-81374293928395596782013-11-17T01:30:02.869-08:002013-11-17T01:30:02.869-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03201475834372773134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-87232854177536909432013-07-18T04:45:06.087-07:002013-07-18T04:45:06.087-07:00His behavior? He was walking home from the store....His behavior? He was walking home from the store. His demeanor? He was wearing a hoodie, something pretty common among teens (my own included). In terms of whether or not Zimmerman is racist -- he may not be any more outwardly racist than I am. (Although I did see a news report about his old MySpace page, which had racial slurs about Mexicans on it.)<br /><br />However, it is a matter of record that he called the police on black males that he viewed as "suspicious" many times. As whites, we've internalized images of black males as dangerous and suspicious. The point of my post is that he profiled Martin, which led to a fight, which led to the death of an unarmed teenager. He disobeyed the order of the police dispatcher in following Martin, with tragic results. Accountability is required here.Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-78711010710789570672013-07-18T03:47:55.733-07:002013-07-18T03:47:55.733-07:00It could have been his behavior and not his color ...It could have been his behavior and not his color that made him look suspicious. From some of the stuff I read, Zimmerman was not a racists. This from the London telegraph:<br /><br /> "What's more, there were examples from his life where he'd engaged in notably un-racist behaviour such as taking a black girl to his high-school prom and mentoring black school kids in the community.(http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100226442/would-zimmerman-have-walked-if-hed-been-blond-white-and-anglo-saxon/)<br /><br />Also, he reportedly was a big Obama supporter:<br />"he also was a supporter of the very president who would later slander him by innuendo." http://www.examiner.com/article/ignored-by-media-zimmerman-voted-for-obama-tutored-black-kids<br /><br />The plain fact is you don't know if he would have followed a white person around. Zimmerman could have "profiled" him based on Martin's demeanor and not skin color. <br /><br />I believe the only reason why this case even went to trial was the public outcry and charges of racism, just because the victim was black. Once it went to trial, the jury found him not guilty. <br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-56038642630681899932013-07-16T12:31:23.605-07:002013-07-16T12:31:23.605-07:00Certainly no one here is advocating a dismissal of...Certainly no one here is advocating a dismissal of law. That is not the point of this post. Nor is public opinion the point. The point is that Zimmerman followed an unarmed black youth because he thought he looked "suspicious" and then shot him when they got into a fight. Zimmerman would not have followed this teenager had he been white-- he had a history of reporting "suspicious" looking males (read: African American) to the police. Another question is, would the jury have convicted him if he'd shot an unarmed white youth? That's a rhetorical, of course.Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-68240445573999177612013-07-16T06:23:31.679-07:002013-07-16T06:23:31.679-07:00I guess the jury was a bunch of racist...
...or ma...I guess the jury was a bunch of racist...<br />...or maybe the jury made an honest assessment based upon the facts of the case.<br /><br />I wasn't in the courtroom, nor, frankly, did I follow the case very much but I cannot believe the jury would go against the CLEAR public opinion against Zimmerman unless they believed him to be not guilty.<br /><br />If you remember the Boston Massacre, the British soldiers were acquitted (thanks to their attorney John Adams) even though the public opinion was so against the soldiers.<br /><br />We are a nation of law.<br />Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-24031182974572486072013-07-10T19:00:42.569-07:002013-07-10T19:00:42.569-07:00Very interesting perspective. Lots to take in from...Very interesting perspective. Lots to take in from Drew's post. His points are definitely not actively discussed / debated today in America. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing Marianne. <br />DaveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06382872794768722956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-86180582679648869672013-03-08T15:55:20.371-08:002013-03-08T15:55:20.371-08:00Just the dissertation -- don't know if they...Just the dissertation -- don't know if they'd be interested in that!Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-5499247629554120022013-03-08T14:33:13.140-08:002013-03-08T14:33:13.140-08:00well, if that's the case, you need to come bac...well, if that's the case, you need to come back to my congregation because once is not enough :)<br /><br />Any new material to share?Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-44853465655311261592013-03-08T14:17:54.811-08:002013-03-08T14:17:54.811-08:00Well, it's not really about repeating informat...Well, it's not really about repeating information, it's about taking the time to read, think about, and process information, and to deal with the emotions that information brings up.Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-12850903674672354722013-03-08T12:30:07.719-08:002013-03-08T12:30:07.719-08:00So what has to happen is diversity education as pa...So what has to happen is diversity education as part of a year round program. That makes sense. Education is all about repeating information till it sticks. I would have thought more schools already had programs like that.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-25191498158974541382013-03-08T11:47:00.502-08:002013-03-08T11:47:00.502-08:00A consistent effort over an extended period of tim...A consistent effort over an extended period of time would show they have an understanding of the complexity and importance of the issue of racial inequity in education.Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-168874380000996452013-03-08T07:26:31.712-08:002013-03-08T07:26:31.712-08:00In your view, what should have been done besides a...In your view, what should have been done besides asking for 20 minutes? what would have been a sign that the white administrators were not merely offering lip service?Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-32679499329724385672013-03-08T04:16:04.506-08:002013-03-08T04:16:04.506-08:00That's my point -- 20 minutes is not a lot of ...That's my point -- 20 minutes is not a lot of time. So, while I'm glad for any time at all to talk about ways of improving education for students, and I'm glad for any opportunity to talk to teachers about white privilege, culturally responsive teaching, etc., it's problematic if white teachers and administrators think there's an easy fix. If that's the case, their efforts may be another form of tokenism. Marianne Modicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13654063420243244070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-4637121848200553292013-03-08T04:03:20.910-08:002013-03-08T04:03:20.910-08:00Yeah, Marianne, but you gotta start somewhere. Are...Yeah, Marianne, but you gotta start somewhere. Are you complaining because it was only 20 minutes? Or did you sense an attitude of "This one program will solve all our race problems?"<br /><br />To change people's minds about anything, takes time!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-54912104419047881312013-03-08T04:00:22.350-08:002013-03-08T04:00:22.350-08:00Man, I don't think I'd have the nerve to f...Man, I don't think I'd have the nerve to frisk Idi Amin! <br /><br />It's sad, that this still goes on. Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-54472400483584094622013-02-17T14:49:21.755-08:002013-02-17T14:49:21.755-08:00I think I sat through quite a few of these 20 minu...I think I sat through quite a few of these 20 minute presentations on race during grade school and high school. It seemed like a February ritual.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15688155488626278699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-64132974989077266412012-12-23T03:15:39.636-08:002012-12-23T03:15:39.636-08:00that's the great thing about your novel, Maria...that's the great thing about your novel, Marianne; it introduces the subject that people may not have thought of before. Whenever you get someone to open their eyes to something new, that is a good thing!Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7679733813213007170.post-18135787554078548452012-12-03T07:04:30.518-08:002012-12-03T07:04:30.518-08:00because I am not thinking in terms of race at all....because I am not thinking in terms of race at all. Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18023716101668315942noreply@blogger.com