Real Racism

If you are like me, perhaps you are tired of being bombarded from every angle in media; i.e. the news, movies, TV shows, and even sports figures talking about racism. It seems like no matter what you watch, read, or listen to racism is being talked about. The prevalent notion is if you are white than you are automatically racist and represent everything antithesis to an equal society.

Based upon my observation and experience, this is an unfair and just as equally racist mindset to have. Racism is alive in America today but it is not against blacks or Hispanics. It is towards white people.

The term "white privilege" has been tossed around for the last few years and I literally laugh at that term. I laugh because in my near 40 years of living, I have never had any privilege granted to me because I represent the "big bad white man". Every success and failure I have made has been on the basis of my decisions; not my skin color.

Perhaps because of my time in the Army I refuse to see racism the way the world is telling me to see it. After all, during my entire time in the Army the majority of my leaders were people of different skin color than myself. Two of my greatest First Sergeants were black. My section NCO was black. Another senior NCO was from the Philippines. One of my best friends I made in the Army was from South Vietnam. Ask them if their skin color prevented them from gaining their rank and leadership positions. Ask them if my skin color elevated me above them at any time. In fact, anyone serving in the Army during my tenure there would find it laughable that skin color privilege had anything to do with anything. The only color in the Army was green... Until it was grayish-green when they switched to those Advanced Combat Uniforms. Regardless, we treated each other as human beings, and we respected one another based on rank and position. So why can we not do in the civilian world?

Why do we have to have special days, events, channels, programming, etc., forcing us to recognize how different we are? But then the Social Justice Warriors wants us to see everyone as equal while at the same time celebrating being diverse. Well, are we equal or are we diverse? Pick one.

The notion that ALL white people are racist is as absurd as if one were to say all black people are criminals. And before anyone can cite facts about the prevalence of racism among the white culture, there are just as much facts-if not more-about the majority of prisons being filled with black people. Perhaps we should concede that facts and figures are skewed towards a certain mindset agenda?

Actor Morgan Freeman, an actor who happens to be black, once said that the best way to stop racism is to stop talking about it. Stop singling out one race over the other by having special recognition months, days, etc. He is correct. We also should not have special programs that benefit one race over the other because of the past atrocities committed. Let the past lie in the past. We should not be punishing one another for the crimes of the past.

Racism will never end because racism stems from hatred, and as long as humanity is allowed to exist on this side of eternity, then hatred will continue. Though we can never get rid of hatred, what we can do is stop listening to the lies social media, news media, anything coming from Hollywood, and especially everything coming from Capitol Hill (I am talking against all political parties), and instead listen to our hearts in regard to how we treat one another. Love is the only way to conquer hate.

Jesus tells us to love our neighbors just as much as we love ourselves. He cites this as the second greatest commandment right under loving God with everything we have. What Jesus is telling us if we truly love one another then we would not be compelled to be hateful towards one another because we would not want to be treated in such a way. Loving someone as much as we love ourselves means that just as we would want to be treated, so should we treat others the same way. If we treat ourselves badly then we need to change our hearts.

Bottom line, we need to shift our perspectives. We need to look around our neighborhoods instead of living through the media. Get off Facebook (I cancelled my account two months ago), get off Twitter every now and then, turn off the news, and get outside to interact with the real world. Knock on your neighbor's door, introduce yourselves, and build a relationship with them. Show love to those who are different, and do not deny those with differences the chance to succeed or fail on the basis of their own merit.

If we want to stop racism then just stop talking about it, stop promoting it, and silence those who continue to push true hatred.

Being Encouraged in a Discouraged Society

It seems no matter where you look and what you read, and no matter what you listen to or watch on TV, there are enough news articles, shows, and even music that describes how bad our society really is. I grow disheartened at times when I read even the headline of a news article. I don't bother clicking on it to read the full article because I don't want to be discouraged.


I don't want to be discouraged that my masculinity is toxic even though the American Psychological Association (APA) recently released an article saying it is. Is psychology really scientific or more philosophical?


The political spectrum has grown more and more frustrating. Political leaders are more concerned about proving who is right and wrong instead of actually serving the people they were sworn in to serve. Taxes are rising, the cost of living continues to soar, and just trying to simply live can seem like a drain on the finances. How can we possibly cope without some sort of anti-depressant, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil telling us how to feel, and safe spaces?


As I approach 40 years-old this summer, I am learning to find hope, peace, and joy in the everlasting and ever present love of my Heavenly Father. I have to focus on the things of heaven to overcome the discouragement of this world. Only in Heaven can I find the encouragement I so desperately need, and it is only by focusing on the things of God that the people of this world can truly overcome this world.


I am working on not reading the clickbait articles concerning new findings against masculinity, or social justice warrior-type issues. I am no longer as passionate about politics as I once was. Because in the end, none of it will matter. I am a man as God made me, and though the governments of this world will fail me, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will never fail me. He has not done so as of this writing, and my faith tells me He never will the entire time I am alive on this Earth.


So let not your heart be troubled. Do not be worrisome of what may or may not come. Instead, consider your life as the Father considers it. Be completely sold out to God through His Son Jesus Christ, and trod this world as if Jesus is walking before you.


Because He is...

Needless Recognition

We as a society have been entrenched in the ideology that everything under the sun deserves recognition.


Are you a nurse? Better recognize.


Are you a trash collector? That deserves recognition.


Are you a teacher? You better believe that deserves all kinds of recognition, appreciation, and honors.


Just about every profession now has a recognition date. April is Occupational Therapy Appreciation Month. October is Physical Therapy Appreciation Month. Black History is recognized in February. Breast cancer has its month in October. Secretaries... I mean "Administrative Assistants" even have an appreciation day.


Are we so lacking in self-esteem and self-worth that we have to be recognized and appreciated for every minute thing we do?


We are creating and issuing "trophies" for every day life. I am surprised there is not an appreciation day for efficiently cleaning the buttocks area after a bowel movement. This is the level of recognition ridiculousness we are living in.


By the way, as I write this, I recall there is an appreciation day for pizza. Now I love pizza but I don't need a day to appreciate it. I can appreciate pizza any day of the week. So why is there a holiday?


I have to believe we are desperately trying to fill a void of self-worth by having special recognition for everything under the sun. We void ourselves of a higher purpose by declaring there is no God, and then fill that void with every idol possible.


Heroes, veterans, soldiers, nurses, teachers, and the list goes on and on of the groups we lift on a pedestal. If you don't support any of those groups then you are considered to be heartless, unsupportive, and a poor excuse for a human being.


As a Veteran of the Armed Services myself, I could care less if I am ever recognized for my service. I did not join the military in my youth to receive recognition.


I wish we would stop being forced to appreciate and recognize every thing. By the way, if we are forced to recognize certain groups of people and conditions, is that appreciation/recognition really sincere?


I cannot make people love me so why am I being forced to appreciate that of which I may not sincerely appreciate?