Lets be real about race and cultures. Since the beginning of man different cultures formed their own prejudices. And understandably so. It does not make one racist to study or judge another culture. Personally speaking it has made me uncomfortable at times, and I have found myself wanting to run back to the arms I know.
When I was in 9th grade a girl from the deep south started her first day of school in the far north. I wanted to make her feel welcome and befriended her right away. She was white like me, but we both judged each other. We were at times uncomfortable with each other. How we spoke, what we ate, how we dressed. All so different. I was Presbyterian and she was southern Baptist. Worlds and cultures apart. We only shared white skin, same sex, and same age.
You find the same among rural versus urban. Maybe 15 miles apart but different worlds, different manners of dress, different tastes.
Have I judged people my whole life? Of course! Not in a racist judgement, but a cultural judgement. Am I more comfortable with what I know and where I feel I belong. Yes. Emphatically so. As they are also.
Our melting pot has worked for 250 years because the one thread that joins us together is being An American or wanting to be American more than bringing the old world with them.
Lets be real about race and cultures. Since the beginning of man different cultures formed their own prejudices. And understandably so. It does not make one racist to study or judge another culture. Personally speaking it has made me uncomfortable at times, and I have found myself wanting to run back to the arms I know.
When I was in 9th grade a girl from the deep south started her first day of school in the far north. I wanted to make her feel welcome and befriended her right away. She was white like me, but we both judged each other. We were at times uncomfortable with each other. How we spoke, what we ate, how we dressed. All so different. I was Presbyterian and she was southern Baptist. Worlds and cultures apart. We only shared white skin, same sex, and same age.
You find the same among rural versus urban. Maybe 15 miles apart but different worlds, different manners of dress, different tastes.
Have I judged people my whole life? Of course! Not in a racist judgement, but a cultural judgement. Am I more comfortable with what I know and where I feel I belong. Yes. Emphatically so. As they are also.
Our melting pot has worked for 250 years because the one thread that joins us together is being An American or wanting to be American more than bringing the old world with them.