And she inspires me to open up similarly on this topic...

Freedom of worship and speech is the most important freedom there is.

And yes, I meant that in the singular. As the Framers did.

I'm white.

As such, living in this country, I can be or beome anything I want to be. I can be a Buddhist, or a Shinto, a Christian or Muslim, or Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian, Communist, Atheist or Scientologist. Beyond whatever conversation relates to the belief system itself, nobody attacks or harasses me or tells me what I should think or say or do, based on some externality, some group membership or birth trait over which I had no choice.

We've had systems like that in our history, and we have terms for them, terms like bigotry and racism.

Muslims are not free unless then can consider becoming Christians without fearing for their safety. And Christians are not truly free unless they can become an atheist without threat of bodily harm. And I say this as a Christian.

Sadly, somebody seem to have convinced many blacks otherwise. Somehow, if you're black in this country, it seems you're only supposed to say certain things, think certain thoughts, express certain opinions. How is that freedom again?

As an outsider, I've never considered it my place to comment, but the whole deal has always struck me as being to the great detriment of blacks.

Look, ideologies are like products, and the free world is like a grocery store. You can't tell if some idea is right or wrong, or judge it's merits, unless you are free to debate it, to try it and compare to another. If your store only carries one product, how are you supposed to be sure if it's the best one? And how can you expect find what ideas are true, or which ones work, if you're not allowed to consider them, debate them, try them on, try them out, or even dump them?

I know: Blacks are told not to talk about certain things "in front of outsiders" like me. Because some or most of us white people are racist. And if blacks admit there are problems in their communitites, us racist whites will jump up and down and say how inferior blacks are. This is the message Cosby received.

Got news: First, most whites already are aware of what's going wrong in the worst sectors of the black community. We know about literacy rates, we read the news, we weren't born yesterday. There's nothing you're going to say publicly that we haven't already heard or considered or discussed.

Racists are irrational. They've already made up their minds: Confirming data won't change them any more than contradictory data. You're not to going to create racists by being honest. Dishonesty is more likely to do that, I suspect.

I believe there are certain ideas that have worked for many groups, even those which suffered hardship and discrimination, such as Jews, Italians, and Asians.

I realized that attitudes in the black community were keeping many from doing these same basic things: (1) Keeping families strong and intact, (2) getting a good basic education, (3) learning a useful skill, and (4) investing.

Instead, the dominant narrative is that of socialism, with color replacing class: the "haves" have all the stuff, and keep it from the "have nots". We're all powerless until the revolution comes and brings us heaven. In reality, the "revolutionaries" always end up as the new upper-class, we end up worse, and it was all just a trick so you would give them your power and support. (See: Animal Farm, USSR, etc.)

I don't deny there's something to that, the "haves" and "have nots" -- just as there was something to class in Europe -- but the bible also tells us that God gives each of us, no matter how we start out, a number of "talents" to work with. Remember how that parable ends? Winners invest whatever they have, work around barriers. Losers sit there and complain it's all in someone else's hands, and that God has asked too much of them. In the end, God asks you to account for how you invested what you were given.

Guys like Farrakhan understand the importance of economics. Ignoring his virulent racism and religion, I wish more blacks would take his advice about business. You: Do you hate me because I'm white? Because you think I'm privileged or racist? Because I'm rich?

Actually, I'm not, but roll with me for the moment...

Then beat me at my own game! Turn that anger into making something of yourself! Go out there and get an education! Compete with me! Get more stuff than I have. Band together and make economic cooperatives. Send your kids to college. Or even a trade school. Keep at it for a couple generations: Do what Jews and Asians have done. C'mon, enter this great marketplace and compete, blast it! Oh, and stick together. Not just as a culture, but as friends and family, and especially as husband and wife.

Trust me, it's worked for other minorities, even despite the racism, and it will work for you. I don't care what your motives are -- do it out of anger, to beat me economically, for all I care: I simply want you to be better off.

I know, it's not my place to offer such advice...

As a white conservative, I can't say these things, I can't suggest that blacks pull ahead the same way those dreaded white conservatives have without being tarred as "racist". It's not my businesses, it's not our business, so we stand aside and watch, and pray when we remember to, hoping that God will raise up some voices in the black community who will finally start getting a clue about how white liberals, and their own so-called "leaders", have been exploiting them, selling them economic snake oil, and attaching them in servitude to the teat of socialist dependancy.

This change, if it comes, will have to come from inside.

As usual, it is the gospel which changes cultures, and is the vangaurd of deliveration to he sin-sick soul and all the social detritius that results. Jesus told his followers they are salt and light, people who will change the world, when they obey. And God seems to have done a work in LaShawn's heart, among others, and I have every reason to expect he will complete the good work he has started in you, wherever he takes that. (Phil 1:6)

Friend, sister if I dare, don't get discouraged because people hate you. Remember that we don't wrestle with flesh and blood, but an evil who deceives people for their own destruction.

So remember that our enemies are themselves deceived, and yet loved by God anyway, just as we are. And we know that anyone who loves truth will be persecuted for it, and truth touches on a lot of areas of life, including even economics and politics. So we try to love and pity our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us.

Hang in there.

God bless.
- Tim

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