But that’s followed by another 7 days. 
3 Likes
And another 7 days after that…, and counting… Geeeeesh…
2 Likes
Thanks, @Carmen.
I didn’t know that you were white, or Southern. Based on your surname, I imagined that you were ethnically Asian. 
I think our only direct interaction to-date was a little over a year ago, when you kindly complimented me, after I was interviewed on hip-hop and peacemaking. (Through your bio, I see you appear to possess an interest in systematic reconciliation.)
As well, I’ve seen some of your comments on this site; e.g., ones that moved me to recently deem you “a thoughtful and intuitive thinker and writer.”
That opinion is reinforced by this Q&A.
I was especially taken by this statement: “God is teaching me through Black people; me, as a Southern girl. … I think they’re telling us what we need to hear as white people.”
It’s fascinating, to me, how many white people do not, seemingly, share this opinion; i.e., that they have anything to learn from Black people, especially, ironically, about racism.
Indeed, some of the greatest outrage accorded many of the current racial conciliation models go to the parts that say white people should listen to Black people, and do so past their comfort levels.
I’m always energized, both as a Black person, and as one who has thought a lot about white supremacy, when I encounter white people with genuine questions; ones who want to listen. I’ve encountered a few, here, on Spectrum’s message boards. It’s always incredibly refreshing to see people act outside of, what you refer to as, a “Southern, ‘fear-based narrative,’” regardless of from where they actually come.
That said, I also wanted to say that I enjoyed the comments you and @TheAdventistPodcast shared on, what he calls, the “weirdness of washing feet.”
In the era when our Lord originated this rite, foot-washing was work performed by servants. By washing His disciples’ feet—few of us, even if we have “doubled up” for communion, have ever had to wash 12 pairs of feet!—Christ, their Master, in this act of inversion, demonstrated that, “If I can reach down from Divinity and serve you in humility, you can certainly serve those I made just like you, in humility.”
I strongly disagree with your colleagues who wonder if foot-washing is still relevant, or if we should wash each others’ cell phones. I think foot-washing, because of the changes in social mores over time, is far more compelling now than it even was then.
That is, it is even more an act of humility, because, in our modern era, we do not touch each other’s feet; not even the ones of those we are welcoming into our homes.
As anyone whose heard the opening dialogue of Pulp Fiction will recall, feet are off-limit, except for reasons of erotic intimacy or professional care. Because, in the foot-washing act, I give neither of these to a brother, I am breaking through far more barriers to touch his feet than even a 1st century disciple would have done.
I think that this is the genius of God’s concept: That it has become more powerful through the centuries, not less.
I believe this statement—“I think noticing racism and structural injustice would also be a part of that service of discipleship, that we can think about when we do the ordinance of humility”—possesses its own brilliance, also.
And, of course, not merely “noticing” these blights, but eliminating them, and replacing them with Justice.
HA
1 Like
Thanks, @Sirje.
There’s a fair amount in your post to which I would like to respond, and I’ll do so later.
For now, allow me to point out these one-and-a-half errors:
Please: What’s your evidence for this?
That is, someone once tried out your exact thought experiment. For example, most will recall the minority government of South Africa.
Under its apartheid regime, which, from 1948-1991, enforced one of the most brutal systems of racial mistreatment yet witnessed, white people—whose percentage of the population never ever went above 20%, and actually declined to 13% during this era—dominated the rest of the country’s non-white people with fists of iron, for even the most trivial of activities.
Consider, for example, this beach sign, in both English and Afrikaans:
Even today, nearly 30 years after the end of official apartheid, overwhelmingly, the mighty economic wealth of the nation is still in white hands. Today, they form 8.9% of South Africa’s people.
That was just the briefest, most cursory of outlines, obviously: Recounting the history of apartheid, in greater detail, would probably take centuries, if not millennia: Keep in mind that the apartheid period does not include the previous 300 years of mistreatment Southern Africans suffered under white people, beginning with the hostile incursions the Khoikhoi suffered from the Dutch.
However, based on what you’ve said above, and especially if it is true, there should be similar histories, perhaps all around the globe, where non-white people dominate white people for hundreds of years, until bringing the same to a fifty-year crescendo of blood in the 20th century; a coda that other white people, particularly ones running major corporations, gently abide.
I don’t think so, but, I could be wrong. Please kindly say where and when the same took place.
This is true: You were mocked for it.
You were mocked by George Tichy, who replied:
However, you were not mocked by me. Plus, I answered your question.
I’ll do so, again, here, below:
Put another way, racism is what the Boers were practicing on non-white people in South Africa.
The white people had the last word on anything “the blacks” did in economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and/or war.
By “the last word,” I mean that no non-white person could do anything, in these areas, that could not be overruled by one or more white people.
The reverse is not true.
I’ll get to the rest of your post—and these others—after Sabbath.
Blessings,
HA
1 Like
George @GeorgeTichy
When I read your post reminding @Sirje that time was of the essence regarding the definition of racism, I thought, what a wonderful and thoughtful psychologist we have in you, especially considering your emoji sign. Then I read:
I thought to myself, there was no way George would intentionally mock Sirje. But then I see the world through a different lens.
1 Like
Thanks, @elmer_cupino.
@Sirje said she was “mocked.” This was her word.
When you look at her posted statement, there are only two responses to it: The one by George Tichy—which you referenced—and mine.
In its entirety, I said to her:
Then I reproduced the definitions that you see, above.
Now, @Sirje never said who mocked her.
If you think, based on my written response, that I did, please say why.
However, because you are a reasonable person, I doubt that you do.
And, unless @Sirje was being communicated with by some other means—off-site, say—it seems that you should have a discussion with George and/or @Sirje.
HA
1 Like
Elmer, you are right. Mocking is not part of my behavior in conversations or any kind of interactions.
May be what was said here reveals some transference happening when I was accused of mocking Sirje @sirje. Knowing each other here on this forum for many years, I am sure that Sirje did not read any mocking or disrespect.
It seems that some bullying is taking place here, again, but I am out of this conversation. It’s obvious that the conversation in this thread is being killed too, aborted for the same reasons as it happened elsewhere before. It appears to be the “new normal” now, with the site’s blessings.
See you again on another thread.
3 Likes
I know she said it but how certain are you that she was referring to our friend George @GeorgeTichy who mocked her especially when George made his post after she said she was mocked? That is quite a leap of faith or is it bias instead? Like you would frequently ask, “give the evidence.“
2 Likes
You are quite the prophet. You predicted it and here it is.
3 Likes
I have no idea what Harry posted. I don’t read him period. But I know you and George to be accepting and balanced people so I can read you two and get a pretty good idea. I refuse to be a part of his game and it is a game because last I saw he is pretty much alone in his posting. Like others have said, I’m just not participating in games.
4 Likes
Well George, as of right now, you have only 5 days to figure this out.
1 Like
Thanks, @elmer_cupino.
One way, and the shortest, most direct way to determine this would be for you and/or George Tichy to turn to @Sirje and say, “Sirje, when you said, ‘I had mentioned not being able to find a definition of racism, and of course was mocked for it,’ to whom were you referring?”
Do you agree, and/or disagree?
As for your claim that “George made his post after she said she was mocked,” let’s walk through this together:
A) According to the site’s internal chronometer/date-time stamp, @Sirje’s statement:
…was posted on September 10, at 8:59 am.
B) George Tichy’s response, which “mocked” her:
…was posted 1 hour and 23 minutes later; September 10, 10:22 am.
C) @Sirje’s 2nd statement:
…was posted on September 12, 7:22 am.
In other words, your statement—“George made his post after she said she was mocked”—is not true.
George made his post 1 day and 21 hours before she said she was mocked.
That is: She said she was “mocked” nearly two days after George Tichy made his mocking statement.
What other evidence do you desire? 
Or do you, George Tichy, and @2humBaby want to continue to suck the oxygen out of the room?
HA
I don’t have to ask @Sirje anything particularly when George @GeorgeTichy made his post after Sirje’s post. The longitudinal progression is what is important unless Sirje has been transformed miraculously as a prophet.
2 Likes
Whoooo…whoa…whoa… man… 
I’m sorry, I’m sorry…I’m…
O.K. …
O.K. …
O.K. …
O.K. …
O.K. …
…sigh…
…whewww…
ALL RIGHT!!
Back to Racism!!
HA
Gonna just keep my pale wack poetry too
far out of this melee of a milieu.
Ooooopps, there it is, too late.
Sometimes you just gotta let the haters hate.
Biases are mere reified delusions
based on pet confirmation illusions
2 Likes
Hey Harry, give it a rest - focus Harry, focus.
3 Likes
Based on your statement about racism, above, and my “It’s-a-thing-of-beauty…” response to it, YOU should focus.
Trust me: I’m the most focused Black man you will ever meet. 
HA
Or as i suggested in early comments to him-“breathe”.
Cleansing breathes-imma gonna go back to my breather
3 Likes
LOL
Sirje, Don’t say these things unless you are prepared to be accused of mocking me… 
3 Likes
No, no “Sirje Prophet” on this forum. There is only one prophet that, so far, has been always right on the money. Now, I fully agree that she qualifies for AP (Assistant Prophet), because it appears that she made a prophecy about mocking without even knowing it. Hmmm, this may be “inspirational”… 
But we have to first verify if there was any plagiaris…, I mean, borrowing involved!
@Sirje
3 Likes