Some
of my best friends are dead white guys!
This
blog’s delivery problems had the silver lining of hearing from a lot of
subscribers about your appreciation of its posts. Thank you!
But
I received one negative comment, and of course, like Jesus’ parable of the
shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to pay attention to the one, I felt compelled
to respond. It stuck in my craw, as a grating grain of sand an oyster
defensively covers with pearl. Well, this post ain’t no pearl.
This
live white guy wrote, “Your blog is a real low point for ‘progressive.’ How
about sourcing it with someone other than dead white men?”
He
did not sign his name, but I had his e-mail, and could figure out who it was. I
waited a day to respond, considering whether I should. But I wrote back that
actually I did “source” it with other than dead white men, offering multiple sample
names he could find using the blog’s search engine in its upper left corner.
Then I wrote:
I also think dead white men have much to offer, especially as I am nearly one myself. And they include Jews, gays, and other marginalized groups that have perspective on the spiritual life.
I
could have added the many who died of AIDS, perhaps my single largest source of
contemporary spiritual wisdom and inspiration.
Of
course he had struck a nerve. Believe me, I’ve noticed how much a product I am
of my European/British/American heritage. But I read outside that genre, and
sometimes others’ words and actions stick and sometimes they don’t.
I
also think it’s a mistake to think of dead white men monolithically. It reminds
me of my church during college years thinking the Chinese family and the Korean
family would want to sit together at social functions—after all, both families
were Asian! Church members were blissfully
ignorant of their (sometimes hostile) differences historically, culturally and
ethnically.
Neither
are dead white men of one piece. I’m not even of one piece. My Irish ancestors
were treated harshly when they immigrated to the U.S., giving me empathy for
immigrants today. “The luck of the Irish” was among the ethnic slurs used to
describe them—after all, an Irish man or woman could only achieve success
through luck because we didn’t have the skills or brains to do it on our own.
My
German ancestor left Germany in the 1800s, because, he wrote in a letter, Germany
was becoming too militaristic and he did not want to serve in its armies. Given
my last name, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that he was a Jew who felt
compelled to assimilate when coming to the U.S.
My
Swedish ancestor came to the U.S. because she fell in love and married someone of
the “wrong” class, unacceptable to her family.
And
I’m a gay man, meaning I have always viewed the dominant culture as an outsider
and as one who doesn’t meet my gender “specs.”
Obviously
the person I “source” most is Jesus. To some he’s just another dead white man.
But for most of us, each of those designations is up for discussion.
P.S.
The subscriber responded to my e-mail with a thoughtful and considerate one
that included some thought-provoking questions about my beliefs, which I
happily answered in kind. All’s well that ends well! (I know, quoting another
dead white guy named Shakespeare!)
+++
Progressive Christian
Reflections is an authorized
Emerging Ministry of MCC.
You are its sole source of financial support. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Perhaps
your congregation might include it in your mission budget. Thank you!
You are encouraged to
use a post or quotes in personal reflection, worship, newsletters, and classes,
referencing the blog address when possible: http://chrisglaser.blogspot.com. Check out past posts in the right rail on the blogsite,
catalogued by year and month. For specific topics, use the search feature in
the upper left corner of the site.
Copyright © 2014 by
Chris R. Glaser. Permission granted for non-profit use with attribution of
author and blogsite. Other rights reserved.
