Newspapers / The lance. / Jan. 1, 2007, edition 1 / Page 10
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10 Editorials I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire Things are not Always Black and White Samuel Hemingway ITI This letter is a rebuttal to Union (WSU) was established? an article published in the October Would it be any different from my 2004 issue of The Lance entitled, regular course work that I study “Things are not Always Black and daily? Every day I am bombarded White.” This information is for all with mainstream culture and St. Andrews students who left the Euro-centric values. I would be club fair this fall without knowing one of the most loyal members about the Black Student Union of the WSU depending on what it (BSU), and were disappointed that fostered. The author mistakes the students needed their skin color club with racial identity, which to form a union, ask yourself the could have been remedied if he following; Did I speak with the asked questions pertaining to the woman at the BSU booth? Did BSU. The author then begins I ask her any questions? If you to focus on multiculturalism, didn’t then you should have. What which is the doctrine that several is the Black Student Union? What different cuhures can co-exist does this organization promote? peacefully and equitably in a An important thing to remember, single country. The author writes, or to become aware of, is that this “multicuhuralism is bad for club does not base its membership America and that race and culture on race. It is open to all students are two mitigating factors”. What if enrolled at St. Andrews. If the this country, or world had only one author of The Lance article had worldview? The question sparks asked the above questions, or my memory to George Orwell’s had been to any Black Student book, 1984. The government of Union meetings, he would have Oceania systematically enforced known what this club represents, uniformity, forcing individuals to This club, to the best of its ability, forsake past history and culture, intends to inform people of the uq differences struggles and contributions of African Americans. I cannot help Cire whcit make bm agree with my colleague on unique bit Stitt certain issues and assumptions, “ but I disagree with my colleague Atnevican. ” on his impression of the Black Student Union and his conception Our differences are what of multiculturalism. Why have make us unique but still American, such a club? The question can be I love all types of music, however, compared to another question; when a nice slow R&B song grabs Why do I read? The answer would my ear, I can’t help but get to be to become informed. The name my feet and dance. To watch the black in the title Black Student sisters dance at the BSU parties. Union is by no means a way to reminds me of the deep tribal separate people. However, the ceremonial dances of Africa, name is centralized on what the On the opinion of race, I agree club studies and focuses. The club with Alumnus Gilbert Abraham, promotes knowledge for the sake “Race doesn’t exist,” and what this of knowledge. I am overjoyed means is that in a so-called race that St. Andrews has such a club, you have a variety of complexions. When I was in High School we One white male may be pale and didn’t have a Black Student Union, another white male may be tan. The only time I was informed Hence, to classify them both as about African Americans was the same color (race) would be during Black History Month in ideally unfair. I also agree with my church. Three Sundays out of author Toni Morrison, “Race is the year I was taught black history, the most insignificant information In High School, the only time we to know about a person”. The learned of blacks was in history author of the article, however, class, while studying Pre-civil writes, “And those with a non war and Post-civil war periods, American worldview have as their and when we examined the Civil foundational identity not only in Rights movements, where we ideas themselves, but in the race of only focused on Rosa Parks and the person who holds them”. This Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. open-ended statement implies that “What if a White identity is in collaboration with culture. Race and culture are two very different things, which the author recognizes but doesn’t Wha. if a White Student and ideas have nothing to do with Student Union was formed? ” one’s race. The act of racism is hatred of someone based on his or her race and race alone. To dislike a person of a particular color because of their opinions, beliefs, and worldviews is not an issue of race, it is an issue of culture. The conflict of worldview is an individual freedom to disagree. To connect one’s worldview to one’s race is to accept that all people of a race think the same. The author also writes a scenario of racial discrimination. A black atheist requesting a leadership position in a Christian church that is predominately white is a situation worth thinking about. The church refuses the black atheist. Can the black atheist sue the predominately white Christian church on racial discrimination? Suing the church would be justifiable if race was used in the decision making process only. The author is addressing affirmative action in this last scenario. Remember that affirmative action is a policy that tries to remedy past and present discrunination through means of equal opportunity in education and employment. As I said before, if the predominately white Christian church denied the black atheist employment based upon his race alone, then grounds for a lawsuit are present. The author writes, “In the multicultural mind’s eye, as a black person, they should think black thoughts, which are assumed to be liberal or non- Christian.” Here is where the author and I mainly disagree. His conception of multiculturalism is inaccurate. Race has nothing to do with multiculturalism. The appreciation, tolerance, and equity of culture have nothing at all to do with race. People’s actions are not a product of their race. If I am a white male who plays basketball like Michael Jordan, am I acting black? Or am I a white male who plays basketball well? If I am a black male who loves wearing Abercrombie and Fitch instead of FUBU and Sean John, am I acting white? Or am I a black male who just loves wearing such attire? The above statement is again a misconception of multiculturalism because it assumes that multiculturalism views all blacks as both liberal and non-Christian. In disagreeing with the author, I find that the above statement is mirrored as a stereotype and prejudgment of blacks. Multiculturalism does not mean that I think the same way as another black male or female. One black person may believe that ganja (weed) is the coolest thing in the world. Another may believe that it is horrible. One person of a particular race does not represent the entire race. Again, this is not a racial issue. It is one that deals with individual preference. Even if multiculturalism assumes that black persons have black thoughts, which it doesn’t, how in the world were those black thoughts, thought to be non- Christian, especially in America? Remember that before slavery, blacks were thought of as being heathens because they did not worship the same God as their white counterparts, which was one reason for society’s acceptance of slavery. Once we were in America, blacks were forced to worship the God of America’s forefathers. Thanks to the bent backs and worn out knees ofblack ancestry, through their prayers and supplication, an end to slavery was created through the thirteenth amendment. To assume black thoughts are non- Christian is laughable. A Judeo- Christian worldview, which is what many African Americans had been forced to accept, is the same worldview that led to reasons for slavery (The “Curse” of Canaan/ Ham). This so called “curse” is found in Genesis 9: 20-27 when Noah’s son Ham finds him drunk in his tent and sees his fathers’ nakedness. What people don’t realize is that (a man’s nakedness) in those biblical days meant his wife unclothed. You can find the meaning of this in Leviticus 18: 7-8. However, in Leviticus 20: 11, “to uncover a father’s nakedness” is to lay with his wife. So, Ham had had intercourse with Noah’s wife, his mother. When Noah woke and realized this, he didn’t curse Ham or his wife, however, Canaan was cursed, Ham’s offspring who are said to be people of dark complexion. I am not against Christianity by any means. My father is a Missionary Baptist Pastor so I was in church every time the doors opened because 1 unlocked them. So, to end my rebuttal I would love to invite each and everv member of St. Andrews, regardless of race or religion to the Black Student Union meetings. I would also advocate that each student dwell on my and my colleague’s comments and develop your own f>erception of multiculturalism. Racism as opifjjofig expressed on this page do not reflect those of The Lance or St. Andrews Presbyterian College*********
Jan. 1, 2007, edition 1
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