Entering the discussion on race, class, whiteness and otherness

I've been thinking, reading, talking with those who are willing to engage. 

At this point in the discussion my goal is to listen well. 

I want this blog to reflect what occupies my mental space, values, activities, work, conversations. 

I don't know how to begin smoothly. So here we go, clumsily and without context, jumping in with this brilliance -- Dr. Anthony Bradley is my new favorite thinker:

"Because we have our preferred Other groups, we often miss the systemic oppression of groups that we don’t prefer. And so this conversation on race and class must extend beyond what we see on the surface...We have to be as culturally subversive as Christ was; Christ transcended race and class. What happened in the church in Galatians? Transcended race and class. We can’t be satisfied with simply cosmetically having something that looks a certain way when in fact it’s a variation on the same theme of curating a new type of Other, a new type of Us vs Them. So if we care about the poor, if we care about justice, if we care about mercy, if we care about the application of the Gospel to all of these things, then we have to care about the applications of those to every person and people group, every tribe, tongue, and nation all over the world that is suffering from oppression, no matter why, whether we prefer them or not."

Which groups are your preferred Other?

Who are the people different than you, but you favor them?

I'll tell you mine: Chinese, particularly Chinese women, and all Asians really, Chinese adult orphans, Chinese little orphans, Chinese prostitutes, nice Chinese beggars, ethnic minorities like the Hui, Dong, Uighur.

I feel for these people. I try to understand them. I want them to be well and I work toward that end.



Which groups are your unfavored Other?

Who are the people different than you, and you somewhat despise or at least ignore them?

Mine: Wealthy elite Chinese, particularly those who corrupt their power and money, foreigners in China having little respect for Chinese culture and Chinese people, particularly white males, aggressive Chinese beggars and peddlers, Chinese pimps especially if they are male, the occasional North American, African, European, Middle-Eastern person I might pass on the sidewalk, North Americans having a narrow, self-absorbed worldview.

I don't feel for these people, really. I don't try to understand them. I don't really concern myself with or work toward their welfare. I even harbor contempt for some of them. Honest, and not proud of myself for discriminating such and withholding grace when God would have it applied to all. But honest. That's necessary if we're really going to talk about this.

"...if we care about the poor, if we care about justice, if we care about mercy, if we care about the application of the Gospel to all of these things, then we have to care about the applications of those to every person and people group, every tribe, tongue, and nation all over the world that is suffering from oppression, no matter why, whether we prefer them or not."

counting the graces

thank you Father for

Thunder

neighbors

strength and health to carry out each day's tasks

Leslie took the boys and made apple pie together

Titus likes going to school, and I'm being humbled and adapting

Mr. Chen offered to take Mike on the preschool parent activity when Drew and I both could not

emails from people who care, and are cool

breathable air, no masks, little anxiety

Stacy's new song she wrote, Achor

 Wang Zhao's company and help

making plans to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge with Ethan, Ethan is almost here!