On Racism

My sister and her hubby, my bff, turned me onto Flight of the Conchords (from HBO), and loaned me the first season on DVD. If you haven't seen the show, you really should try to. It provides great joy through being absurd, clever, and absolutely hilarious.

Earlier today, I watched the episode in which the Indian guy who runs a fruit stand gets extremely "racist" against Jermaine and Bret (the two white guys who make up the novelty band, Flight of the Conchords) because he thinks they are from Australia. Apparently, the fruit vendor has great hatred towards Australians; so much so that he adamantly refuses to sell them any fruit at all, and even has the apple that Bret touches destroyed. All turns out fine, however, when the Indian guy finds out that they're actually from New Zealand and not from horrible Australia. After that, they become friends.

This is a fantastic example of how stupid racism is. Racism is not based on judging an individual based on merit or character, but rather on negative stereotypes or assumptions of a group. Racism is a pitiful character flaw, often based in ignorance. And while it is perfectly natural for people to fear what they do not know, as healthy fear helps keep us safe, fear of unfamiliar races and cultures is not rational, since it is based on unenlightened, and oft unexamined, negative emotional responses. But then again, how can ignorance be anything but irrational?

But ignorance isn't always the problem. Sometimes, highly-educated and worldly people are extremely bigoted, because the other source of racism is low self-esteem. People who feel bad or insecure about themselves (and usually lack morality or common decency), tend to want to insult or diminish the value of others so that their own stock rises. Obviously and objectively, that doesn't work, and only makes the racist appear sad, desperate, and truly pathetic (to which the racist is almost always oblivious).

The differences in race and culture of the people of the world are not at all scary, but are beautiful, interesting and intentionally created by God. And no, it is not racist to point out that certain people are a different color than you (or even joke about it). That's not racism, that's descriptive dialogue. Racism only enters into the equation when anything negative (in thought, word, or deed) is attached to the difference.

I know that, eventually, in our growing global community, racism will atrophy until it will only be found in history books. But we can only get there if we all strive to be enlightened and accepting of all others. Play your part in getting us to this better future. Stay rational and embrace the differences amongst God's children. And remember: God loves us all the same and won't judge us on the color of our skin, but on the content of our character. Emulate God always.