by Henry Ngura
Do You Think
that Racism Ever Break Off?
Racism can be defined by the
formula prejudice + power = racism.
Racism is when racial prejudice is turned into action that harms others.
Racism is the belief that one race of people is superior to another because of
their color or race. It destroys community cohesion and creates divisions in
society. Racism is an enormous problem in society today; it is causing much
conflict in many parts of the world.[1]
The Time Magazine journalist
Hannah Beech announced that the
Looking back to May 28, 2012, ethnic Rakhine woman, Ma Thida Htwe, was raped and murdered by a group of
three Muslim youths near her village. The locals claimed the culprits to have been Rohingya
Muslims and they killed ten of them. It is the starting point of conflicts and
clashes primarily between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in northern
Rakhine State, Myanmar. As of 22 August, officially there had been 88
casualties – 57 Muslims and 31 Buddhists. An estimated 90,000 people have been
displaced by the violence. About 2,528 houses were burned, and of those, 1,336
belonged to Rohingyas and 1,192 belonged to Rakhines. The following year in
The Biblical Responses:
In the Old Testament, God
divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jews and Gentiles. God’s intent was
for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations.
Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised
the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of
hostility (Ephesians 2:14). All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination
are affronts to the work of Christ on the cross.[5]
The Parable of the Good Samaritan obviously
illuminates racism (Luke 10:25-37). The main character of the story was a
Samaritan, a race extremely hated by Jews. The Samaritan knew well how to treat
and take care of his neighbor in spite of the fact that he was probably
compromised in religious matters unlike the priest and Levite who passed by the
fatality person without giving a helping hand. The Samaritan
did not care the same race instead he met the needs of the person who was
desperately in need. I strongly believe
that we Christians must treat all people equally no matter what the colors,
races, religious and backgrounds are different. According to (2:1-9), showing
favoritism to one group is definitely wrong.
Please kindly
leave your comments:
11. Supposed you
were both in the same boat whether the majority of Buddhist or minority of
Muslim, how do you react the racism clash?
22. How do you solve it in the Biblical ways?
33. Do you believe
that Christian can destroy the diving wall of hostility between the two
religious and racism conflict? If so, how?
44. What is the best
way to end racism?
55. What kind of
place would the world be if there were no racism?
[1] “Racism and Christian Teachings
About It”, http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=122843, (Accessed July 26,
2013).
[2] Hannah Beech, “Time
Magazine”, The Face of Buddhist Terror, How Militant Monks are Fueling
Anti-Muslim Violence in Asia, 2013, 16.
[3]
Rd Magazine, Politics, Burma Bans Time Magazine’s “Buddhist Terror” Issue, http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/7180/burma_bans_time_magazine_s__buddhist_terror__issue/
(Accessed July 30, 2013)
[4] Wikipedia, “2012 Rakhine State
riots”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Rakhine_State_riots (Accessed July
30, 2013)
[5] S. Michael Houdmann, “Got
Questions Ministries”, [Christian United for Israel], http://www.gotquestions.org/racism-Bible.html(Accessed
July 30, 2013).
4. Ending racism is no easy matter. It is simple, but not easy. The more I look into it, the heart of racism, people arguing so much is a lack of moral values. Or lack of the moral absolute truth.
ReplyDeleteIn the Bible. The Jews were supposed to be the more mature race to help and share with the Gentiles the salvation given to man by God. The things stem from wrong motives, bitter hearts and small wrongs done to the other people.
We need to be generally good. But in order to be good, one should go back to moral values, character, exposure to a culture that promotes a shared community and of camaraderie.
It's simple because we can take small steps. It's not easy because people have their own will.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt is a self decision to practice racism. Any individual that feels it is a problem, then it will be. But for me, I am accepting different kinds of people, no matter who they are, then it will not be a problem for me then. In the bible, Jesus sets an example in accepting everyone, whether poor or rich, whether black or white, and especially those who are sinful or followers. AS a christian, it is our responsibility to share the goodness Jesus shared to us. We are obliged to give an example to others who are feeling outcast, or those who are feeling proud. Be like what Jesus did, we may start in our small little ways, to families and friends.
ReplyDeleteThere is no absolute way to end the racism because of people's belief and background but as christian we can practice and show others by valuing as all human beings are created in image of God. The Christians are not yet practicing what the Bible says. If Christian does not practice it how can other people can practice it because their scripture itself teaches about racism.
ReplyDeleteJesus is the peace and he came to preach the peace. so the wall will be tear down. people can come to agreement by mutual benefit, which is called win-win strategy. however, the strategy only last as long as the benefit distributed according to the contract. Only God can bring the ultimate peace.
ReplyDeleteLun Khai:
ReplyDeleteUN Declaration of Human Rights and Social Justice’s Article 1 says, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Apart from this fundamental premise of inborn human right endowed by God are a violation of human rights in forms of racism, favoritism, nepotism, fanaticism, social discrimination, religious persecution, and the likes. Dictators often turn on ethnic minorities: witness what Hitler did to the Jews, what Saddam Hussein did to the Kurds, Burma’s ethnic cleansing plan, etc.
In all honesty, I do not know exactly how I would see myself reacting toward the Burma’s inherent racism clash (as you perceive it is) if I were in their shoes being either a Burmese Buddhist or a Rohingya Muslim – simply because I belong to none of the groups. Rather, as I assume, Burma’s issue basically is more of tribal conflict between the indigenous Rakhine people and illegally-hosted Rohingyas from Bangladesh (though there could have been a few number of indigenous Rohingyas since colonial periods) sprung from social misconducts which have been magnified as so-called “religio-politico issue” as the worldwide medias are presenting. At any rate, this has obviously developed into a religious riot. The said major culprit U Wira Thu, an ultra-nationalist, can be ascribed to one of the causes of the public commotions and that tarnish the image of widely-revered Buddhist monks. All the successive leaderships endowed with at-will authority seem ready for “Patriotic Act” which may anyhow nullify the constitutional rules and regulations. The undeniable fact is that racial and religious chauvinism of the majority Burmese people is an integral part of most of the conflicts that occurred nationwide.
The Bible is crystal clear on the matter of racism. The solution is justice, social justice: “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 6:24). God charged Israelites of their social injustices. The metaphor for God’s protocol in solving this is a “plumb line” He gave to Amos in order for it to “measure” whether Israel was “straight” by His standards. Throwing back to centuries before, Israelites were the victims of racism in which pharaohs settled them down in Egypt but later, clamped down on them being threatened by their growing population (and that’s exactly what the Burma government is doing in which the former corrupted generals illegally let the Rohingyas in to Burma and now cracking them down).
(con't)
ReplyDeleteThe root cause of racism is prejudice or biased supposition. Joseph was a victim of Egyptian prejudice in which an Egyptian would not eat the same table with a Hebrew for they despised shepherds like Hebrews. To solve racism problems in biblical ways entails to aware the sin of partiality. To efface the power of partiality is to eschew “distinction between Greek and Jew... slave and freeman.” considering God’s all-encompassing grace. As a Christian, you are not to “hold your faith ... with an attitude of personal favoritism” (James 2:1). Christians is viewed as western religion and that it doesn’t have a powerful voice to address these sensitive issues mainly triggered by Myanmar leaders’ political schemes. Hence I reckon what Christians can best do to demolish the “walls” between this two religious groups is PRAY – praying that God will raise up a good leader who will genuinely implement the ‘rule of law’ in the country. The “best way” to terminate racism is means of applying Jesus as PEACE who “made both groups [Jews and Gentiles] into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall” (Ephe 2:14). There is no partiality with God (Rom 2:11)!
I do not believe in a utopian world on this earth where there is no racism since it was visible from the onset of the biblical world: the account of Cain and Able where vengeance took a form of racism, favoritism practiced when Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob even in the family, Jacob favored one wife over the other and favored his son Joseph that his other sons plotted to kill Joseph, etc. This world is under the power of the Enemy whose reign will prolong until the Return of Jesus. That being the case, racism is a part of the Evil’s schematic plots to hinder God’s sovereign power ruling the world He created. The bottom line is, where there is human race, there is racism. Period. Notwithstanding, God will finally put an eternal end to all malevolent systems of the Enemy and hence no more racism yonder! (Hallelujah!)
Usually we do use our racism to stimulate our emotional feeling, that is totally wrong for me.
ReplyDeleteTo pin point the what is the best answer for this clash could be very hard, but I strongly believe that God never intend to end the races, rather he chose a race to be a light to all nations or we are commission no matter what is our race but to make disciples them. Jesus breaks down our humanist that hinder other people to accept them as our brothers and sisters.the Bible clearly said how to act on those who not our races or foreigner, to remember that once they are in a foreign country...the best way to cure them is, let them known that we all are one in Christ alone otherwise we remain in our humanist...what would be the world ah ha.. yes the world would be no beauty, just a blank sheet, or just males gathering....
There's too much racism in this world that some we barely even notice. In our day to day lives... roles as our gender, in the corporate world, certain group of people, religious groups... etc. We tend to classify or group people and expect them to behave in certain ways. If the expectation is not met, we tend to react, sometimes over react, causing chaos. The Bible's answer is just one. We are all one. Came from one blood. How different are we if we all came from one father? Therefore, we are brothers & sisters. And God commands us to believe in Him; & love our brothers & sisters. That is the one and only solution to end racism.
ReplyDeleteThere is not way to end racism except from the Bible which is found NT. I wish all people in the world could apply the Biblical principles so that racism would not be found. Practically speaking for the people in Myanmar, of course I don't agree with people killing each other but I don't also encourage giving citizenship to the Muslim people who always historically has been trying to destroy other religions by force after getting power in governments or community. Look around the world, now many country are influenced by Muslim people who just came as refugees at the beginning but took power intentionally by increasing their numbers and political powers. So it will be good united nations or others who really care for the Muslim in Rakhine come and take them to be their citizenship. When we do ministry, we should do wisely with love for God and people.
ReplyDeleteRacism within one’s own heart, like a foul breath, is hard to detect, but much easier to detect on others. Racism is a delicate issue because often times land and ownership is the core issue. Perpetrators of racism will have their own reasons, and will often be so-called ‘holy and patriotic’. It was, is, and will be a problem always. This is an imperfect world.
ReplyDeleteHow far can one go to protect one’s land/people/culture ?
No easy answer.
I have experienced racism. It’s bitter.
I must have propagated it in some ways. I am sorry.
Sometimes there is a tug-of-war right in my heart.
I want ‘love of God and neighbor’ to win.
Namcham
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment on question No. 5. If there were no racism, the world would have been a much much better land to live in. There would be no war cos everyone will be and will live like one family with mutual love and respect.
To end racism seemed to be very impossible for me because it is very natural for others to insult other people or putting others down. They insult others even the color of their skin whether it be black or white,the hair whether it be straight or curly. Sometimes racism leads to a violent reaction that they hurt other people without any reason.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, we have our responsibility that although we cannot prevent racism, it is the time for us to share the love of God because God Himself first loved us. It is the time for us to make people believe that in Christian realm, these are not being practiced so they will believe that God is alive with us.
To end racism is as easy as putting this commandment in practice:
ReplyDelete"The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (NAS, Mark 12:28-31)
However it is easier said than done. Only by the Spirit of God and only by His grace will we truly understand what it means to love Him with all our heart and to love others.