An American Apology……..

The current trendy saying seems to be….”WWJD”… What would Jesus Do? The latest version of this has transformed into …”WWJD” ….or What would Jesus Drive? I’d like to change it again into ….”WWJLL”…or What would Jesus look like?

Now, in opposition to those who would have us believe otherwise, I don’t think Jesus was blond with piercing blue eyes and fair skin. No, let’s not forget that he was Jewish and as such would have Semite features…dark skin, dark eyes and dark hair. Very similar to the photos we see in the newspapers today of those wanted for terrorism. I can’t find anywhere in the Bible where there is a description of Jesus Christ. In fact I can’t find any descriptions of just about anyone in the Bible.

Except for descriptions of Satan.

Now, the point of all of this is that no matter what we look like on the outside, we all look the same on the inside. Our bones, muscles, organs and blood are the same no matter what race we are. That’s the commonality of all mankind. Now the purpose of this discussion is simply to say that you and I are alike inside, no matter what we look like on the outside.

So, having said this let me tell you: My great-grand parents lived in the South during the time of the Civil War. Nothing I have found leads me to believe they were anything other than hard working farmers, carpenters, laborers or whatever it took to stay alive during those hard scrabble years. I can’t find anything that indicates that we owned a plantation or sat on a cool porch sipping mint juleps. To my knowledge none of my family ever owned any slaves of any kind at any time. These were common folks looking for a better life than the ones their parents and grand parents had when they were living in Ireland or wherever. The fault I see and for which I am telling you this is to apologize to you as a white person and tell you I am sorry for any wrongs that have befallen you during your lifetime.

The Spanish should have stood up and said something when the Conquistadors came to Central America and decimated the Inca and Mayan cultures. They didn’t. The Catholics should have stood up and said something when thousands were being tortured during the Inquisition. They didn’t. The English should have stood up and said something to protest the millions of Irish who starved or died during the Great Potato famine. They didn’t. All Americans should have stood up and said something when the Native Americans were forced off of their lands or systematically murdered. They didn’t. The Germans certainly should have stood up and said something when millions of Jewish men, women and children were being transported to death camps during the Holocaust. They didn’t.

My great grand parents should have stood up and said something when slavery was the common practice of the day…For reasons which I can’t explain, they didn’t. My grand parents should have stood up and said something when segregation was the common practice of the day…. For reasons which I can’t explain, they didn’t My parents should have stood up and said something when racism was the common practice of the day… For reasons which I can’t explain, they didn’t.

I am standing up and saying that segregation, racism and discrimination are wrong….no matter who you are or what race you belong to. We are all brothers and sisters under the skin and we’d better accept it.

My children and their children will stand up and say that segregation, racism and discrimination are wrong….because they have been taught that way and they know better because I told them so. And it wasn’t because my father told me so, but because Jesus told me.

And I told my children.

Obviously I am not in a position to offer excuses for my ancestors nor can I change what they did or didn’t do. I can change me and make changes to my children and their children.

As a young boy growing up in Texas in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s I was a product of the society, which was in effect at that time. As a result of that society I either thought or said things which Jesus certainly would not have thought or said. I can only give this to you and say that I am sorry for what has happened in the past from the bottom of my heart. I truly believe we have to heal this country. I truly believe that our racial differences are a tool that is used by Satan to keep us apart and from saving the souls of our friends, neighbors and loved ones. We are so busy concentrating on what we look like and our appearances that we lose sight of the bigger picture, which is the battle between our Almighty Lord and the Devil himself.

If Satan can manage to keep you and I tied up in our squabbles over things in the past that neither of us can change or have any effect upon, then he wins by taking our minds and efforts off of what the real battle is all about.

We know who wins, we know who is successful…we don’t know how many will be in Heaven with us when it is all over. I don’t know if any white person has personally told you he was sorry for what has happened to you in the past, but I am here now doing so. I ask that we work together to get moving into the future and concentrate on the task at hand and work for the salvation of every human soul..no matter where they live or what color they happen to be. Our jobs starts here and now. The Bible tells us when we get to Heaven; we’ll have a new body. It doesn’t say what that body will look like. We don’t know what God looks like or how Jesus looks or what we will look like in the New Jerusalem.

But, I’m willing to bet we’ll all like how we look……. So, in closing I’d just like to say that if you and I are going to live in eternity with new bodies until the end of time…we’d better start trying to get along with each other now.

We all want to be in the sweet bye and bye……but to do so we have to exist together in the nasty now and now…….

Peary Perry Austin, Texas January 6, 2003

-- Anonymous, February 24, 2003

Answers

your story was interesting until i read the part that said "because Jesus told me" and then my spirit bore witness to your spirit and my heart rose into my throat. Thank you for the apology; I accept. But we African Americans too have to forgive so that we can heal and move on! And we all must be reminded that "no weapon formed against us (the children of the Living God) shall prosper." We can conquer racism, sexim, and every other -ism satan tries to throw at us by relying on God's word and obeying his commandments and living a life of holiness and righteousness.

BTW, isn't it going to be interesting if when we all get to heaven God looks like ALL OF US! Be blessed my brother.

-- Anonymous, July 11, 2003