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RACISM MEANS WHAT? Sloppy Language Threatens America

An acquaintance recently called me a racist for pointing out that about 10% of Muslims report they are sympathetic to violent Jihad, supportive of suicide bombers, and in favor of installing Sharia Law globally.  For stating a fact, the term “racist” was applied, as if all Muslims are of one race, as if facts do not matter, and words can mean whatever one chooses.

I challenged this acquaintance, asking how the term “racist” could even be considered in this context.  He schooled me.  He stated:  “Racism is a term applied to any form of discrimination–for race usually–but also sex, belief, or sexual orientation. It is all the same.”  (This acquaintance holds a PhD, believe it or not.  This person is vehemently anti-Christian, so by the logic, he discriminates based on belief, and is therefore a racist, opposed to Christians.  I see.)

This is one of the plagues of the modern world, the heart of the politically correct/ thought police notion of reality.  Words can mean anything, and they can be used as weapons against anyone with whom one disagrees.  People with an agenda arbitrarily decide what words mean, then throw them around indiscriminately.  No wonder these PC police appear unconcerned about suicide bombers: verbal violence is main stream, lying is normal, character assassination par for the course. 

Truth is irrelevant in these circles. The reporter at Rolling Stone proves it. She boldly tells us it doesn’t matter if she reported lies and destroyed the reputations of innocent people: the problem of sexual assault on campus must be addressed, even if done writing fiction, calling it journalism. 

No doubt the people at MSNBC fully agree, evidenced by their thoughts and deeds.

The boy who told police Michael Brown raised his hands saying “Don’t Shoot,” he admits he made it up, another example.  Words are powerful.  They are convenient weapons in an atmosphere stripped of values, accountability and consequences.  The boy who lied about Michael Brown, one who caused violence and riots and destruction, he recently landed a government job in the area.  He is not being prosecuted for lying to police and the grand jury.  He is being rewarded.   

The casual, even vicious use of words, cause strife in various directions.  So many people fail to realize that the constant, and frequently false accusation of “racism”, actually works against efforts to confront real racism.  It’s as if people have never heard the story of the little boy who cried wolf.  Strident repetitions of false accusations cause deaf ears, blind eyes and dull minds, or deep resentment, adding to the severity of the problem.  

Sharpton constantly aggravates racial tensions behind false accusations of racism, all in the name of supposedly combating racism.  False accusations of racism are his bread and butter.  Never expect him to seek a solution to the problem, for a solution means derailing the gravy train.  It is a vicious and very dangerous game, entirely selfish at the root motivation. 

Consequently, we have seen thousands of people in the streets protesting a largely non-existent problem (racist police) driven by an illusion, one fueled by lies given life by the irresponsible use of words. 

The Michael Brown killing had nothing to do with racism, and neither did the Eric Garner killing.  There is nothing in the background of the officer in Ferguson–Darren Wilson–to suggest he harbored even the slightest bit of racism. In fact, just before making contact with Brown, Wilson had responded to a call for help from a black mom with a sick child.  Wilson had a perfect record in law enforcement, and had received a commendation for his service.

The supervising sergeant on the scene during the Garner arrest reports no racism involved.  Yet you have activists and politicians and other low-lifes leveling the charge of racism behind the slogan “Black lives matter,” resulting in needless violence, destruction, injury and death, as if only Black lives matter.

It is absolutely incorrect to say the term “racism” can apply to any form of discrimination.  Anyone who tries making that argument is part of the problem. Racism: when one member of one race believes his race is superior to all others, or when a person holds one race superior to another, or when a person claims someone of another race is less than human.  That is the definition of racism: nothing more, nothing less. 

Our lack of precision in the use of words reveals our sloppy thinking, our tendency to promote falsehood and our irresponsible behavior, traits that put everyone at risk.  Civilized society dies when dishonesty, sloppy thinking and irresponsible behavior rule the day. That day has arrived.  

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Allan Erickson

Allan Erickson---Christian, husband, father, journalist, businessman, screenwriter, and author of The Cross & the Constitution in the Age of Incoherence, Tate Publishing, 2012.

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