Judging the Stereotype

In a recent speech, President Obama stated that the black community’s experience with racial disparity in law and social prejudice influenced their reaction to the George Zimmerman trial verdict.  He gave examples of those social prejudices:

“There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me.

There are probably very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me -- at least before I was a senator.

There are very few African-Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off.”

I can’t pretend to understand how it would feel to be a black man in this country.  I can imagine I would also be angry if I were treated in the way he described in his speech.  But I started to wonder about the reasons why people might react the way the President described when dealing with a stranger who happens to be a black man.

Do people follow black men in department stores because they are bigots?  Do people lock their doors or clutch their purses because they are racist?  Or are these people passing judgment based on a stereotype?

While my experiences are nothing like those the President mentioned, I’ve been judged based on stereotype.  I am a white male and speak with a southern accent.  I’ve had people assume, because of my race, my gender, and my speech that I am both ignorant and racist.  In fact, I am neither, but until someone talks to me and gets to know me, they have no way of knowing that.  I would venture that most people are influenced into believing the stereotype of the ignorant, racist southern male because of incidences in the South during the Civil Rights movement or what people see on TV or in movies, and not because of their personal interactions.

What if people are reacting to what they believe are the characteristics of stereotypical black males?  Quite often, their roles on TV or in movies are as violent criminals, drug dealers, and the like, someone to be feared.  I understand how someone would be hurt and angry to be judged based on a stereotype instead of their own character.  Instead of being angry at society for judging, wouldn’t it be better to change the stereotype?

I can assure you that I present myself in a manner that dispels any indicators of ignorance or racism.  Most of the time, I am well groomed, well dressed, and well spoken.  My parents taught me to be polite and courteous, regardless of race.  I have a college education.  I avoid the use of racist language and don’t tolerate its use by others.  I hold myself accountable and I believe it shows in my demeanor and my actions.

The President mentioned trying to help black youths by saying, “how are we doing a better job helping young African-American men feel that they're a full part of this society and that -- and that they've got pathways and avenues to succeed?”  I don’t think he really understands that more social programs aren't the way to change the stereotype.  In order to change the stereotype, leaders of all colors need to encourage personal responsibility and education, and speak out against the negative influences in the media and society, especially those negative role models in music, cinema, and sports.  If we hold people accountable for their actions and encourage positive character traits, perhaps President Obama’s experiences will be a thing of the past.

Truth and Consequences

As a Scoutmaster, I quite often get questions from my scouts concerning current events.  One of my scouts asked me why Paula Deen was fired after admitting she had used racist language long ago when so many others use similar language without punishment.  This particular scout is a stickler for obeying the rules and the fair and impartial enforcement of the rules, so the Paula Deen situation seemed unjust to him.  However, his final comment really caught me off guard.  He said, “Seems to me she didn’t get fired for using racist words, she got fired for telling the truth.”

Sometimes telling the truth has unpleasant consequences.  And, quite often, the truth is unpleasant. Unfortunately, when it comes to race relations, it seems that no one wants to hear the truth.  I understand that for some issues, truth stems from the perspective.  I feel that race relations in this country are strained to a greater degree than I can remember.  I believe this is partly due to a media willing to underreport some stories and willing to sensationalize other stories.  But, I think the biggest culprit is a society that is so straight-jacketed by the tenets of political correctness that it is unwilling to speak their truth for fear of being labeled a racist.

George Zimmerman, labeled by the media as a “white Hispanic”, was found not guilty of second degree murder charges in the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen.  Both the police, who investigated the death and declined to press charges, and the jury found that Zimmerman acted in self-defense.  After the verdict was announced, there were several protests around the country about the verdict, and an NAACP petition requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate Zimmerman has over 1 million signatures. Many in the black community, including prominent black leaders, have spoken out against the verdict, demanding “justice”.  I am not arguing the verdict, only the response to the verdict.

Chicago has a homicide rate of 15.2 murders for every 100,000 population.  Statistics show that over 75% of the murder victims are black but greater than 75% of the offenders are black.  In New York City, 63% of murder victims are black and almost 54% of the offenders are black.  Why don’t we see protests against black-on-black crimes?  Why hasn’t the NAACP started a petition to request the DOJ do something about black-on-black crimes?  Aren’t these deaths as important?

In this country, black student high school graduation rates trail both Hispanic and white student graduation rates.  Fifty two percent of black students graduate from public high schools in four years versus a graduation rate of 78% for whites.  Many blame policymakers, educators, and legislators for the low graduation rate. 

Studies show more than 70 % of high school dropouts and more than 80% of incarcerated youth come from fatherless homes.  However, 72% of black children are born to unwed mothers while only 29% of white children are born to unwed mothers.  Why aren’t more prominent black leaders speaking out against uninvolved fathers or unwed mothers?

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, blacks have an incarceration rate six times higher than whites.  Some will blame imbalance on a racist justice system. But DOJ statistics show that a disproportionate number of blacks are committing crimes that result in incarceration, not racial bias in the justice system.  Why aren’t people speaking out to stop the commission of crimes?

It’s time we stop blaming racism for these problems and start recognizing that many of the troubles in the black community, as well as other communities, are results of personal choices.  Drug use, criminal behavior, absentee fathers, and lack of education continue the cycle of poverty, regardless of race.  Although it may be politically incorrect to state it, the plain truth is that disparity in income, education, and opportunities between the races is more often the result of people’s behavior and choices, not how they are treated.

We need to stop worrying about being politically correct and start calling for accountability.  No more passing the blame and spawning a frenzy in the media.  We need to think beyond the teleprompted, coiffed newscaster on the evening news and seek an understanding of the real issues for ourselves.  People of all races need to realize that personal responsibility, hard work, and education are the pathway to success in this country.  Being accountable for our actions is a truth that will be unpleasant to many, but true nonetheless.  If we fail to recognize this truth, I fear for the future of this country. 

Flyover States

I recently had the opportunity to drive through some Midwestern states with a group of teenagers. We were able to see some really beautiful parts of this country and meet some really nice people.  We also saw some not-so-nice areas and not-so-nice people.  I am glad the kids had an opportunity to see a different part of America and thankful for the discussions we had as a result of our travels.

A recurring question in our discussions was “Why would anyone want to live here?”   To answer that, we focused on what would attract people to a region or cause people to stay once the area began to decline.  As we discussed these things, it became clear to the kids that, while we are all Americans, we have different values and appreciations for our surroundings and environment.  And, while our preferences differ, we all have the liberty to move to a new a neighborhood, state, or region to suit those preferences.  It was great to see the kids appreciate a liberty they had long taken for granted.

During our drive, one teen asked about the term “flyover states” and what it meant.  Fly over states are those states in the middle of the US that are not travel destinations, but are flown over by travelers seeking a more attractive destination.  When we explained the term, he replied, “Isn’t that disrespectful to the people who live there?”  Over the last few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about his reply.  He’s right, it is disrespectful, or perhaps I should say that the term is dismissive of the value of the land and the people who occupy those flyover states.

Those flyover states are homes to farmers that produce the corn, wheat, dairy products, and other agricultural products that we take for granted.  These flyover states are home to those companies and employees that put food on our grocer’s shelves, develop pharmaceuticals that save our lives; provide us with transportation, entertainment, insurance, tools and heavy equipment, even Big Macs.  These states, just like every other state in this great nation, are important.  And, it’s up to us to make sure our elected officials know that the country, as a whole, is important, not just a few states.

As intelligent voters, we must be cognizant of those issues that affect us all.  That requires us to be educated on the national issues, not just the hot button or regional issues. And, we must demand of our Congressmen, our Senators, and our President that they address these issues.  We must get past seeking solutions that are good for the South, the Midwest, or the Northeast.  Instead we need solutions that benefit the country as a whole.  It is time to remember that we are the United States, not red states or blue states, not border states or flyover states.  Tell your elected officials to do those things that benefit the United States.

Happy Independence Day!

Two hundred and thirty seven years ago, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, a formal documentation of the Resolution of Independence approved on July 2, 1776.  It began a grand experiment in self-governance, declaring “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  A radical notion in a time when monarchs ruled by a belief in divine right, this document became an inspiration and blueprint for other peoples seeking to overthrow tyranny.

One might ask what is there to celebrate on this 4^th of July.  Our government is rocked by numerous scandals, Benghazi, IRS targeting of conservative groups, and NSA phone surveillance, just to name a few; a Congress that hasn’t passed a budget in nearly four years and passes legislation such as Obamacare without bothering to read it,  taxes are increasing  and unemployment is still high. More and more people are beginning to view the President as incompetent according to recent polls.   It seems as if the Federal Government is a mess and our elected officials aren’t leading us anywhere but into a downward spiral.

This great nation has faced, and overcome many problems in the past.  Wars, slavery, economic depressions, terrorist attacks, internal strife, all overcome because we've pulled together as a nation.  And we can, and must overcome our problems again or our “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” may just become a footnote in history.

As you celebrate today, remember the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Let us re-adopt the Declaration of Independence, and with it, the practices, and policy, which harmonize with it. ... If we do this, we shall not only have saved the Union: but we shall have saved it, as to make, and keep it, forever worthy of the saving.”

Happy Independence Day!

Participation Awards

Another post from John Galt

We have gone too far.  Our group-hug mentality is causing a social mess with our kids.  It is apparent in the popularity of Facebook, the “need” for instant messaging, and how people drive.  Just so you know, and before it is lost in the following, everything you do or say is not a pearl.  And, everyone doesn’t need to plug into your train of thought.  You are not as interesting as you think.  You are not as good a driver as you believe.  Maybe your mom lied when she said you were her favorite or you were the best kid on the team.  Moms have said those things for years—it’s in the mom’s handbook—but in the past, you didn’t get a participation trophy just for showing up.  To get a trophy, you had to excel, and yes, that means when measured against others, you were better than they were.

Now, the parenting handbooks have gone crazy with cautions that your self-esteem will be forever damaged unless we tout your every action.  If you merely show up for school every day, you get an award.  Now, you don’t have to participate in class or turn in your homework; you only have to be present in the school building for the majority of the day.  If you show up, you’re a member of the team, no tryouts and no cuts.  If you are a member of a team, you get a participation award.  Not that you work hard in practice, participate in the game, conduct yourself in a sportsman-like manner or score, just that you are present.  How low have we set the bar to be rewarded?  Shouldn’t we expect more?

Maybe this practice of rewarding “I was present, thus I contributed”, has permeated our social practices.  Some people only participate if there is a physical or financial reward.  What happened to doing something for the good of others, or just feeling good because you helped someone—more so, what if you did a good deed and didn’t tell anyone?  If you haven’t done a good deed for a while, try it.  The warm feeling inside will last much longer than the $20 gift certificate.

Some people act as though they are autonomous when driving.  I’m thinking this is a fall out of the entitlement mentality that comes from thinking everything you do is a gem.  Well, I was in traffic with you yesterday and you really cannot text and drive safely, no matter how many times your mom told you that you were the best at everything.  And, when you are in a hurry and drive manically, you put me at risk.  Manically is not a compliment, just in case you are unfamiliar with criticism. 

So, I offer some criticism in hopes that you reassess your abilities, your interactions with the world and your self-image.  Average is not a good thing to be.  Normal is a vanilla-flavored, beige-walls average.  Average says you are so similar to everyone else as to be indistinguishable.  If they (your mom, your coach, your teacher) are telling you that you are outstanding, are they also telling everyone else the same?  Hate for anyone to feel left out in the group-hug-everyone-is-satisfied-world.  But, there are truly outstanding people.  They tend to be intelligent, curious, courteous, kind, mannered, gracious, trustworthy, and moral and they walk a different path than the rest.  Notice that in none of the words would this person think they were the center of the universe.  They are also the people that do the right thing even when no one is watching and don’t spend the day talking or Facebooking about it.

A culture that rewards average, sufficient, and just enough doesn’t provoke us to aspire to more.  We each think that we are a winner (hey, I got a trophy), yet collectively, we are the “normal” without any outstanding character.  So, question if you really are a good driver when you are texting or is that constant honking because you keep crossing the line.  Question if you should be more involved in your community than just being a member with a common address.  Step up and step out to find your true potential.  You may not get an award, but as I read recently, “The only thing a man can have on this earth and take with him when he goes is a good name.”  How good is your name?  Or are you just one of the faceless, nameless in the crowd?

BSA Turmoil

Because I am a scoutmaster, I have been asked by a lot of folks about the recent change in the policy of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) concerning the inclusion of gay youth.  This change allows openly gay youth to join Scouting units, but still prevents openly gay adults from serving as Scout leaders. 

While some groups applaud the change, others say it doesn’t go far enough.  And others say it went too far.  I personally believe that BSA changed the policy because of losses of donors and financial support, and by making this change, hope to regain some of that support.  While I can understand why it happened, it appears to me that BSA caved to public pressure.  It’s hard to teach a Scout to do the right thing in spite of peer pressure when the national organization does the exact opposite.  But, that’s a subject for another post.

BSA has changed the policy; now, what will be the impact of this change?  Days after the policy change, my local newspaper carried the headline BE PREPARED FOR BOY SCOUTS IN TURMOIL.  A pastor of a church in Birmingham is quoted as predicting an exodus of “a significant number of participants and evangelical church-based organizations. “  That is a disturbing prediction given that approximately 70% of Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops are sponsored by churches.  Unfortunately, the exodus is already occurring.

At least three churches in the Birmingham area have already stated that they will no longer sponsor troops or packs after the end of this year.  Southern Baptist leaders, at its upcoming convention, will vote on a nonbinding resolution urging congregations to cut ties with BSA.  Southern Baptist churches sponsor nearly 4,000 Scout units, so cutting those ties will be a huge blow to Scouting. 

Not only will Scouting lose sponsors, it will also lose members.  Many parents are pulling their kids out of Scouting and enrolling them in other programs such as Royal Ambassadors, Christian Brigade, Pioneer Clubs, and AWANA.  Many of the churches that are breaking ties with BSA have stated that they will affiliate with and focus their efforts on these programs.

While these churches are free to cut their ties with BSA, I believe they are missing out on a great opportunity, an opportunity to make lemonade with the lemons dealt by the policy change.  The General Council on United Methodist Men estimates that in every troop sponsored by a United Methodist Church, 25% of the boys come from families that attend a United Methodist Church, 25% come from families that attend church of another denomination, and the rest come from families that do not attend church.  It is this last group where the churches can have a huge influence.

Jesus Christ gave Christians a great commission. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:   Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. “ (Mat 28:19-20).  If a church sponsors a Scout troop and selects men and women of good moral character with a belief in Christ, then they have an opportunity to draw families not otherwise associated with a church into a position where the family can hear the teachings of Christ.  Is that not what Christ wants us to do?  When a church refuses to sponsor a troop because of its position on gay youth, are we not reinforcing the stereotype of church hypocrisy?

Many churches don’t want to be viewed as endorsing the gay lifestyle and that is understandable.  But, by disassociating from BSA, churches will miss a great opportunity to provide positive moral adult role models to kids that may be lost, confused, or simply seeking attention and miss an opportunity to spread His teachings to those who may not otherwise hear them.

After Christ called Matthew to be one of his disciples, he ate a meal at Matthew’s house.  When the Pharisees complained about Christ eating with “publicans and sinners”, Christ responded, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."( Mat 9:12-13)

Christ did not commission us to spread His Word to only those with the same lifestyle, same skin color, or same language.  He commissioned us to spread His teachings to all nations.  Instead of cutting ties with BSA, churches should use the policy change to show that Christians truly love the sinner and hate the sin, that we are all sinners and fallen short of the glory of God, but through Christ we can all be redeemed.  Let’s not lose this opportunity to spread His word, to make Scouting available in our churches to provide Christ-like examples for kids that would otherwise have no positive role models

Capitulate?

Sixty-nine years ago this week, Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France.  Now commonly known as D-Day, the Normandy Invasion involved over 160,000 troops in both an airborne and amphibious assault on the French coast.  General Eisenhower, in his Letter to Allied Forces, outlined the purpose of the invasion.  He said, “…you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”

By the end of the day, June 6^th, 1944, over 10,000 had been killed or wounded.  That same day, President Roosevelt, in a radio address to the country, asked the nation to join him in prayer.  He said, “Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.”

As we acknowledge those who fought and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Western Europe of the tyranny of the Nazis, I can’t help but to compare the words of President Roosevelt with those of President Obama.

Obama, in a recent speech, spoke of ending the existing Authorization to Use Military Force “to determine how we can continue to fight terrorism without keeping America on a perpetual wartime footing.”  He further stated, “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue.  But this war, like all wars, must end.  That’s what history advises.  That’s what our democracy demands.”

Ending war is a great thing.  I don’t want any more of our servicemen and women wounded or killed.  I want them all to come home safely.  But the thing is, war doesn’t end until one side or the other capitulates.

And it’s pretty evident that the terrorists haven’t surrendered.  The attack on the US Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi, Libya, the bombing attack during the Boston Marathon and the death of a British soldier, hacked to death outside the Royal Artillery Barracks in London are recent examples of terrorist attacks in the nightly news.  However, car bombings, suicide bombings, rocket attacks and other terrorist attacks occur weekly around the world.  A US Embassy guard was killed in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this year by a suicide bomber and the Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber claimed ten lives near the US Consulate in Pakistan, in March.  Several of the terrorist attacks and many that were foiled have links to the Taliban or al-Qaeda.

Make no mistake, there are people and organizations that resent what we have, resent our freedoms, and resent our way of life.  They are willing to wage war against us, to attack and die to make us surrender our freedom and dignity or wipe us off the face of the Earth.  Our president should not give them any indication that we are willing to back down, that our government’s policy is to appease, negotiate, or capitulate.  I think Winston Churchill said it best when he said, “You ask, What is our policy? I will say; ‘It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.’ You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory—victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”

Ben Stein, in a recent television commentary said, “Peace, while the other side is still attacking, is not peace. It is surrender.”  Let the President, your Senators, and your Congressmen know that you aren’t willing to surrender.  Surrender is a sign of weakness and even perceived weakness tends to be a magnet for bullies.  Terrorists are bullies.  War needn’t be fought on the battlefield, but we should be willing to take the battle to our enemies, wherever they may be. 

They should fear our potential.  Admiral Isoroku Yamamato, architect of the attack on Pearl Harbor, supposedly said after the attack, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.” We, as a country, must be resolved to fight these bullies and our leaders, starting with the President, must project strength and determination to prosecute war against those who would do us harm in spite of the hardships. To do otherwise will only encourage more attacks.  

Regardless of the strategy employed, continue to support those servicemen and women who keep this country safe for democracy.  They are and will always be a critical element to our war on terrorism.