Constantly bemused as I am by the odd coalitions that form the "left" and "right" in this country — coagulations of folks whose goals seem widely disparate to me — I am even more confused by the alliances one finds on the fringes of those wings.
So it is that, when I receive an e-mail containing an essay headlined "The NAACP is the Klan with a tan," I find myself wondering, Why is this being offered as though it somehow falls within the realm of ChristianExodus.org? Mind you, I could not find the article starting at the Web site itself, but the HTML message I received presented it within that context.
What’s that all about? Is it that both arise from separatist impulses, or what?
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The article is on the Christian Exodus website. It’s just not on the first page.
Go to the website, click on the “Search” key, and type in NAACP.
I missed something here. First of all where’s the Christianity? When I ask myself what Christ wants, it never comes to “wave a flag that embodies oppression at the opposition.” Secondly, I have to question the plain sense of it. Their Christianity doesn’t sound like what I mean by Christianity…as a matter of fact, it sounds rather oppressive. They claim that the right to prayer has been taken away. I’ve heard of people being taken off the streets for praying both loudly and offensively to others (e.g. praying loudly that a specific person be sent to hell), and I accept that intrusive prayer at an inappropriate time would be cause for removal of a student from a class; but I have yet to hear of any instance of quiet prayer that has caused the removal of a child from a classroom. I have heard of times when prayer dissimilar to a child’s heritage has been foisted upon that child by the (public school) administration. We have enough Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Buddists, not to mention assorted others as part of our diverse country, to the point where “we pray in Jesus’name” effectively disinherits them. Somehow I don’t think this group would accept an occasional prayer to one of the Hindu gods or a “There is but one God, Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.” Come to think of it, I don’t think they’d abide a “Hail, Mary.” This group’s connection with a slogan like “The NAACP is the Klan with a Tan” has, at its source, total intolerance to any other version of religion or culture, or even expression. Their approach is simple; it states that ‘You, too, can be equal to me as long as you look like me, go to my church, talk like me, celebrate holidays exactly like I do, keep the same social circle I do, accept my version of sexual destiny,and as long as you are willing to insult, condemn, and exclude anyone I don’t like or trust.’ As I said, I find something missing here.
The Klan tortured and murdered people with brutal violence, and they created a climate of fear and brutality by lynching, whipping, beating, cussing, and all manner of disgusting behavior, all the while hiding themselves behind pointy hats.
The NAACP works for social justice through legal processes, is dedicated to inspiring all people to achieve their fullest potential, and is completely open and forthright, all the while dressing in suits and ties, without disguise.
How in the world can someone claim that their feelings are hurt if someone calls for taking down the flag AND at the same time say such disgusting and ridiculous garbage? The amount of horrific vitriol that spews from such imbeciles scares me to death.
But I will no longer live in the fear that they create. I am free. I will speak. I will live.
Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Columbia, SC
I came across this quote from the article being discussed and I think it explains why Christian Exodus posted the article and it also reveals that they (CE) really are Christians who practice what Christ preached: to love our neighbors; including those of all colors and religions:
“The NAACP has lost any legitimacy it might have claimed as a ‘Civil Rights” organisation. They have forsaken the Black community, and its problems of drug abuse, illigitimacy, broken homes, education, abortion, AIDs, and the breakdown of Black families and Black Churches. Instead, they have chosen to adopt the Marxist model of racial conflict in order to further the economic interests of their leadership”.
The article is absurd and disgusting and shares nothing in common with Christ’s teaching.
The author smugly declares that the NAACP, and everyone at King Day at the Dome, is a Marxist. Did he interview everyone? Isn’t that a gross generalization, based on nothing?
The author thinks that he is following Christ’s teaching by saying that the NAACP is 1) racist and 2) the Klan with the tan?! And then he is appalled that any NAACP member would request that the Confederate flag be removed from the flagpole on the place where we make our laws?! Ridiculous.
The NAACP is making a reasonable request about the Confederate flag on the Statehouse grounds. Instead of listening to the request and discussing it, the author blasts the NAACP as racist, and declares that the NAACP is fomenting racism. The NAACP is pointing out the racism that already exists, not fostering hatred between the races.
The author laments, “I do wish that the ‘sons of former slaves, and slave owners, could sit down at the table of brotherhood’ and find a path to real ‘liberty and justice, for all.'” The way I see it is as follows:
The NAACP made the food and the table and the chairs and the seats and decorated the hall and sent out invitations. The author received his invitation, declared that the NAACP is racist and illegitimate because the invitation wasn’t engraved, and then picketed and protested the dinner instead of joining in the feast of discussion.
How do you honor Martin Luther King by filling the air with empty accusations and generalizations? Why do you want protest against the NAACP? If you feel that they are not up to the job of achieving social justice, well, then, step up to the plate.
Regards,
Michael Rodgers
Columbia, SC