There is an over simplistic tendency to try to unite the population against racism by the liberal left.Christians should obviously find no merit whatsoever in racism but it is about time the liberal church began to look at the greater picture.
The problems attributed to racism are very often more to do with tribalism.
Tribalism is what has guaranteed problems from Iraq to Sierra Leone.
Tribalism in such societies can often be clear cut across boundaries of ethnicity, language, colour, religion, location and of course, tribe.
In our mixed up conglomeration which passes for a society, all the above may apply but the tribalist boundaries extend much more widely. For example, we have divisions caused by: politics, class, football teams, city versus rural, fashion, school attended, salary level, mason or non mason and countless others too trivial to mention.
These all cause defensive posturing and worse but are part of human nature as we all have inherent preferences based on our own experiences.
It is a foolish government which will try to expunge such factors which are already incredibly complex. You cannot change the nature of man by legislation.
The Army in days gone by used to have a saying; "They can give you a baby but they can't make you love it."
In view of how many identifiable tribes we all belong to, it will be rare indeed that two individuals will belong to precisely the same 10 - 20 - 30 or even more tribal groups.
The crossovers are immensely complicated.
Interfering, do-gooding busybodies of the liberal left simply leave people irritated and resentful by their intrusive nonsense. From the old Race Relations Board to the bevy of replacements today including the Commission for Racial Equality, it is most arguable that more harm than good has been the outcome.
Even that vociferous 'liberal' Trevor Philips has backtracked considerably in the last two years as he at least, seems to recognise the damage done by the 'guardianistas' and those of their ilk.
If you want to find a way through the mess, it would be better achieved by showing people the love of the Saviour, as the love of Christ transcends all such pettiness and unprofitable attempts of man to dig himself out of his self created pit.
Jesus or legislation? - I know which I prefer!
