- Home
- News Grid
- Local News
- Green Hawk
- Business
- Politics
- School Zone
- Nonprofits
- Missing Pets
- Multimedia
- Arts
- Movies
- Outdoors
- Sports
- News Releases
- Columnists
- Blogs
- Opinions
- Classifieds
- Advertise
- Donate
- Partners
Harris Sherline: Judging Others By the Content of Their Character
Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy is exemplified by his historic “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington, D.C., that contained the frequently quoted line: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
This famous statement became one of the rallying cries of the movement to abolish segregation in America and continues to serve as the theme for people who still suffer the indignities of prejudice.
Although it has been more than 45 years since his “I Have a Dream” speech, we have yet to see a colorblind society in America. Unfortunately, however, it’s more than color that underlies much of the discrimination that continues to bedevil us. Sadly, all too often our differences — physical, social, ethnic, intellectual or cultural — become the basis for making judgments about others. Not the rationale, but the basis.
King also said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” However, it’s often hard to be patient as we continue to watch events play out over a period of many years. Everywhere we turn, in spite of all that has been accomplished, we still see injustice, ranging from excluding people from social groups or organizations to discrimination in employment, education and more.
Evidence of bias is found nearly everywhere in America, including what is called “reverse discrimination.” It is evidenced by the recent case of white and Hispanic firefighters in New Haven, Conn., who were denied promotions by the city notwithstanding the fact that they had passed the necessary written examinations, only because none of the blacks who took the same exam passed.
Discrimination cuts in every direction and negatively affects everyone in its wake, including those who are guilty of bias against others as well as those who are the object of prejudice.
I don’t profess to be free of bias, and I believe everyone is biased or prejudiced in one way or another — sometimes against people of color, sometimes against whites or Hispanics, sometimes against Native Americans or Asians, or people who speak a different language or come from a different culture or another part of the world and, of course, various religious beliefs.
Not surprisingly, many of those who experience discrimination in this country are equally biased against other groups in their own societies. For example, the Japanese are biased against the Koreans and the Chinese while, in India, Muslims discriminate against Hindus, and Muslims in general discriminate against Christians and Jews. So it goes, on and on, endlessly spreading various forms of prejudice everywhere around the world.
In America, there are also biases against the disabled, ranging from simple paternalism to barriers to education, employment and housing. The obese are another group that experiences significant discrimination in this country, often suffering unreasonable limitations on employment and social opportunities.
And, interestingly, there is often a type of discrimination by people of average intelligence against those with a high IQ.
So, how does or should our society deal with the many forms of discrimination that seem to plague us? Unfortunately, laws are often passed that legislators believe or hope will prevent it. However, I believe such legislation does little or nothing to change attitudes.
Although King observed, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” it doesn’t mean that legislation such as hate-crime laws is the answer. They may reduce or prevent overt expressions or displays of discrimination, but my sense is that they accomplish little or nothing to change the hearts and minds of those who discriminate. Rather, they only cause them to be careful of what they say to whom and where without actually altering their views.
The result is that prejudice simply goes underground with the risk that, much like a pressure cooker, it continues to heat up until the lid finally blows off in some overt — sometimes violent — act.
King had it right, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But it requires patience, which can sometimes be hard for Americans to accept. We are an impatient lot, always looking for instant answers and results.
— Harris R. Sherline is a retired CPA and former chairman and CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Hospital who has lived in Santa Barbara County for more than 30 years. He stays active writing opinion columns and his blog, Opinionfest.com.
Comments
Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules as part of Noozhawk's shared online community. Please keep your comments civil and helpful. Don't attack other readers personally, and do not use vulgar, abusive or discriminatory language. Use the "Report Abuse" link if a comment violates these standards or our Terms of Use.
» on 01.03.10 @ 05:27 AM
There is a myth (mostly among among white persons) that racism is only a white thing. It leads to guilt, self-hate and the over-correction of ultra-tolerance and political correctness, even though this type of racism has for the most part been left with our ancestors, and we are not directly responsible. Despite our emphasis “inclusiveness and diversity” as a modern culture it causes us to ignore true active racism such as that of Mexicans against Blacks, which is pervasive in Los Angeles and forcing black people to leave Los Angeles:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/220107mexicangangs.htm
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 01.03.10 @ 10:30 AM
Well said, and can you iterate any solution beyond education, which costs money that our taxpayers are unwilling to spend? Or eliminating private schools and sending every child to the public school system, where exposure to all members of society can take place?
It is well known that the teachers in the education mode are only half the education that our children get , the other half coming from fellow students, so exposing our children to the community at large will be beneficial, and perhaps raise the standard for all.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 01.04.10 @ 10:26 AM
Allan, are you inferring that private schools do not expose students to all members of society? Sounds like the school you sent your kids to might need some work. Most of the private schools I know of (most are religious) have very diverse populations. What they usually don’t have is what your public schools have, gangs, drugs, truancy disrespect for the teachers and a total lack of interest in true objective academia. I know many a youth exposed to your “community at large” and they never survived the experience. My heart goes out to their parents who made the same naïve assumption you do in believing public education is the best way for children to learn. To bad you cannot get a single liberal/progressive elitist to send their children to a public school. It would make your statement so much more sincere if those espousing it actually believed it.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 01.06.10 @ 09:01 AM
Instant answers? Seems to me the emancipation proclamation is nearly 150 years old, and yet we still have stops/arrests for `Driving While Black or Brown’.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
» on 01.06.10 @ 10:56 AM
Yes Mr. small p, but then again most of the crime is committed by those of color. Would you suggest that law enforcement ignore that vital statistic and take the same insane route the TSA has, strip searching grandma while allowing terrorist free passage so we don’t appear racist? How about they just pull over white people exclusively and harass them? You can then vacuum your guilt ridden racist conscience and let crime go unabated.
Those of us who practice what MLK preached don’t have your guilt. We don’t see skin color, but character. We don’t have a problem with profiling. If you want to dress like a damned gang banger then expect to be treated like one. I feel bad for Middle Eastern looking Muslims. They will be singled out, if not by our insane and inept government then by us citizens. If terrorism was being conducted by blond haired, blue eyed, white skinned, Christian business men I would be in trouble. I would be getting singled out and I would not like it very much at all. But then I would rat out a blond, whitey, Christian in heart beat if I thought they were involved in some sort of cowardly, murderous terrorist activity. Until I see Middle Eastern Muslims doing the same they will get little sympathy from me. Either they police their own or we do it, the same goes for your apartheid inspired, multicultural, separate but equal ethnic minorities. They either drop the separation of race and join the melting pot, police their own or suffer the consequences. Ignoring this so you can counter your own vile bigotry and prejudice is not an option. At some point we have to apply some common sense. That’s easy for those of us looking at character rather than skin.
You don't have permission to flag this entry.
More Local News »
Harris Sherline: Obama Administration’s Contempt for Law at Core of Energy Policy
White House's worst offense has been to ignore a ruling denouncing the restriction on offshore drilling
Harris Sherline: Asset Forfeiture Laws Amount to Legal Theft
Forfeitures should be treated as cost recovery for law enforcement agencies, not as a revenue source
Harris Sherline: Outsourcing Is Simply a Part of Doing Business
In the long run it's a good thing in our ever-changing world
Harris Sherline: Let’s Hear It for the Good Kids
Meeting with Santa Ynez Valley Union High School students restores faith and respect in today's youth
Harris Sherline: Zealots Take Beliefs to Ill-Guided Extremes
Violent fanatics are nothing more than spoiled brats who use their particular cause as the rationale for temper tantrums
Weather: Fair 44.0º
Search Noozhawk »
