Racism

Racism is hateful and does great harm. Racism is part of a human characteristic of prejudging and generalizing based upon limited information.  It is usually a generalization that categorizes people in a negative light. It causes the person doing the judging to react negatively towards the person being judged. In Grand Rapids our social structure is separated in large part by race in our social, religious, and family organizations.
Racism is a negative judgement based on the geographical origin, physical, and social characteristics of the person.  The basis for the negative judgement is usually personal bad experience with someone who looks like the person being judged.  Negative judgements can originate from second hand sources like a friend's opinion or public media sources.
Racism can be a positive judgement based on the geographical origin and physical characteristics of the person.  The basis for the positive judgement is usually personal good experience with someone who looks like the person being judged. Positive judgements can originate from second hand sources like a friend's opinion or public media sources.
Since racism is based upon limited information, it can be changed by stimulating more thought and providing more information.  The persons being judged negatively can stimulate change through the concentrated efforts to project positive images.   
In Grand Rapids there are increasing efforts to combat racism in schools, churches, and through the electronic and print media.  Racism is a world-wide human characteristic that will always require effort to control, the survival of a compassionate society requires control of this human weakness. 
Racism is such a serious problem that Jesus Christ was a pioneer in the anti-racism effort when he went outside his own ethnic group, demonstrated love toward other people and shared the message of God with them. 

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