Thursday, January 19, 2006

just a thought

I heard again today about how the mayor of New Orleans said New Orleans was going to be a "Chocolate City." I had to wonder what kind of outcry there would be if a white mayor of a American city said his city was going to be a "white" city. Sure seems to be racist to me.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't you think Spokane is more or less a white city though? I don't see too many non-white people around here. I mean, just look at our church! Of course, I wouldn't call it a "Creme city", as opposed to chocolate.

Unknown said...

Recognizing a fact concerning population is one thing, setting a course or acting as if we only want one color is another thing. True, Spokane is mostly white but our church has a number of "chocolates" as the mayor calls them. In fact for a suburban Spokane church I am quite proud of the carmelness of our church, I hope it continues. We have an African pastor on staff, that's pretty diverse for Spokane, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

To be honest, I don't expect much better from him. New Orleans is a city best known for a catholic holiday where the premise is to commit sin. They aren't exactly on my list of places to visit.

Anonymous said...

Another view, with all due respect and love.

I believe he was responding to residents expectations that the disaster was a chance for people to remove blacks from the area. To "clean up" the city. To get rid of it's poor, not by elevating them but by moving them out. The context of what is said is more important to understand the meaning of one sentance. I'm sure we could all take a sentance or two out of our daily lives and it would sound awful put into another context. And it's also important to realise we don't live on a clean slate, blacks have been the subjects of oppression in America for longer than you or I can remember, and it continues despite the politically correct idea that racism no longer exists. I bet there were a lot of people that needed to hear that "chocolate" statement said. It may not have been us. -Matt

Unknown said...

Interesting side note...the mayor has since apologized for his statement. I respectively disagree Matt, I think the statement was very racist in context. Nor do I believe that God was angry with America and punishing us with Katrina as he also said. I think the guy is a loose canon in the same vein as a Pat Robertson. They have a platform to speak but should keep their opinions to themselves instead of speaking for God, a city or a nation.

Anonymous said...

Once again not to bring distaste or be upsetting...

Do you believe that God uses natural disaster biblically as a wake-up call for man? Do you think that New Orleans has been made great in part by it's black history? If you answer yes to either of these questions you may have something in common with the mayor's opinions. -Matt

Anonymous said...

I'm just curious why you would think God wouldn't? Historically God has used nature to obliterate cities, destroy whole nations, and even kill nearly every last human on earth. Why would it be so hard to believe he wouldn't bring a hurricane to a city today? Or a tornado? Tidal waves? Earthquakes? Are they all just random or could they have had a purpose?

The Jews weren't the only ones with a story about the great flood, but how many survivors thought it was just weird weather and how many thought it was God? Would they call Noah crazy for thinking God would do such a thing? Wouldn't you? I'll be honest, I would have told Noah he was crazy.