On Bigotry and Freedom

Claire Wolfe has recently returned from traveling/vacationing in parts unknown, and, after listening to her voicemail, has posted an essay under the heading Bigotry which is well worth reading.  Here’s a couple of excerpts.  Do you see yourself in Claire’s words anywhere?

Bigotry is prejudice that won’t yield to reason. Bigotry is blindness. In fact, bigotry is choosing blindness over sight. Bigotry is … well, it’s when all rednecks, or all blacks or all whatever are guilty of the actions of a few. Bigotry is when guns are not only scary, but evil. Bigotry is when you not only believe in global warming or the war on terror, but you think that anybody who disagrees with you should be locked up for treason. Bigotry is when you’re an atheist who thinks all Christians are benighted idiots. And bigotry is when you’re a Christian who smugly “knows” that your God will send every one of those atheists screaming into hell while you sit up in heaven, smiling.

And this.

Bottom line: We’re never going to have freedom until we’re ready to treat individuals as individuals, to take each person and thing on its own merits.

Freedom is about individual rights, individual deeds, individual integrity, individual responsibility. It’s not about group identity. Freedom has no room to move when we cling to unjust concepts about others and refuse to let them go.

Read the whole thing.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 03/17 at 06:15 AM

  1. Our first “African American” president should read this. I am tired of hearing about it. How about refering to yourself as an American (if you really are an American!) I am no “birther” but there do seem to be some questions that need to have an answer

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  03/17  at  11:53 AM

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