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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.
An e-mail response opportunity is below
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