“The Problem with Racism and Isms in General”
DTEB, “The Problem with Racism and Isms in General”
The problem (or at least a problem) with racism and other isms is that isms are a form of laziness. This applies to “Christianism” as well as atheism, to sexism as well as racism. It also applies to ageism, whether this refers to the labeling of the old, the middle-aged, or the young.
Racism and all isms are a form of laziness because these isms pretend that we can simply lump people into certain groups, and then make certain assumptions and judgments about them.
But humans, and perhaps all other creatures, resist such lumping together. Even dogs and cats can’t be lumped together. “I like dogs better than cats because dogs are friendlier!” Oh, really?! You’ve never met Gracie, then! She is a friend’s gray cat. She likes to sit on my lap and purr while I pet her.
“Baptist ministers all like fried chicken!” Oh, really?! I was a Baptist minister for many years. Yes, I did in fact like fried chicken. However, some of my colleagues hated it.
The truth is that people are themselves. They are messy, unique individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, with their own likes and dislikes. Isms are a lame and lazy attempt to find a shortcut to actually knowing people.
Of course, racism and other isms are deadly. You may think that “laziness” is too mild a word to use for something so horrible and fatal. However, you may be underestimating how serious laziness itself is.
I once knew a lazy homeowner. He knew that the railing around his upstairs veranda was getting rotten. However, he was too busy (or lazy?) to fix it. A guest, not knowing the danger, leaned on it, and fell to the concrete below. He was paralyzed from the neck down for the rest of his life.
Lazy racism and other isms are a serious matter. I refuse to allow myself or anyone I love to bask in such laziness without a challenge.
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