We say black lives matter, not because other lives don't, but because black lives are not treated as though they matter.
Do you agree with that last statement?
Or do you think that our society has progressed beyond judging people and interacting with them based on their skin color?
In all language, context is key. This is one of the big rules of learning to interpret the Bible...but it's ALL communication in general.
ReplyDeleteObservation - What do they say?
Interpretation - What do they mean?
Application/Intention - What is the desired action or effect they desire?
The counterargument against "Black Lives Matter", to say "All Lives Matter" ignores this concept.
The speaker who says "Black Lives Matter" (observe what they say) does not mean that other lives don't matter. The speaker says it in response to a devaluing of Black life. (context) The intention/application is the restoration of placing value on the lives of black people.
Some (typically those who lean to the right) object to "identity politics", the idea that if you are in a victim group, your opinion is more valuable, and if you are in an oppressor group, your opinion is less valuable and you just don't get it.
I agree with the objection against identity politics...truth is truth, no matter whose mouth it comes out of. So who said it really matters not. The merit of an argument is found in the argument itself, not the speaker.
Some (typically those who lean to the left) speak of white privilege. I think, in my opinion, that to pretend that white privilege does not exist is naive. However, to dismiss someone's thoughts and opinions completely because they are white breaks the golden rule. Again, the argument's merit is found in the argument, not the person.
So there are the two problems I see, common on opposite sides of the aisle: Identity politics (reverse racial prejudice, honestly), and dismissal of white privilege.
The humility to self-analyze and identify one's own biases is a powerful tool. :-)
I appreciate you taking the time to craft your response that states your case very clearly and in a fair minded way. I do not disagree with what say here. Thank you again. Would you be willing to show up with a name?
DeleteTo shorten...no. I think that our society's judgment is still affected by skin color. I do, however, think that progress has been made in the last 60 years.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. I agree that there has been progress.
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