[Vision2020] I followed Eric's advice
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Thu, 5 Feb 2004 03:49:16 EST
-------------------------------1075970956
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Language: en
Dear Visionaries and CC Lurkers,
=20
In the interest of fair play, and harkening to Eric=E2=80=99s call to educat=
e=20
ourselves, I attended Steve Wilkins discussion of racism this evening. No d=
oubt=20
reporters from the DN and the Trib. were also there. They will offer one ver=
sion,=20
but I offer, perhaps, a different one. I offer ambiance, a historical=20
critique, and personal impressions.
=20
Rarely, if ever, have I been in a room where the odor of sanctity was so=20
powerfully diffused. It was heady stuff. The audience seemed primarily be=20=
made=20
up of earnest NSA students (who must have gotten extra credit for attending,=
=20
because it is doubtful without a stick being applied they would have grabbed=
at=20
this carrot). There was a significant number of adult church members (?) the=
re=20
too. (I based that observation on their similarly sincere aspects and=20
enthusiasm applause. Besides, many of them seemed to know by heart the psalm=
that=20
was sung at the beginning of the lecture.) I am hopeless at crowd numbers=20=
but=20
it seemed like thousands of Saints (really maybe 250-300) were jammed check=20=
to=20
jowl to listen, learn, and digest what they were supposed to think about=20
racism. What was missing from the audience were any vocal nonbelievers. Ma=
ybe it=20
was their night to rearrange their sock drawer or clip their toenails, but=20
without CC and NSA folks it would have been a mighty thin crowd. And, as it=
=20
turned out the stay-awayers probably had it right.
=20
Frankly, I was hoping for a good old fashioned Southern preacher. Instead,=20=
I=20
heard a pedantic, dictionary-reader-type speaker, who lectured with the=20
mildest of enthusiasm from a prepared text. It must have been a rough trip=20=
from=20
Dixie because this guy was just plain tuckered out, and it showed.
=20
As usual, I will not discuss the doctrinal issues, lets just say that he=20
holds a very pedestrian understanding of the bible. (In some ways a litera=
l,=20
inerrant perspective of the bible is the easiest way to tackle complex text.=
It=20
doesn=E2=80=99t require sophisticated or nuanced reading =E2=80=93 its just=20=
there like a menu=20
in a cheap diner, and you get what you pay for.) The majority of his speech=20
dealt with his understanding that the bible is against racism because we are=
=20
all the children of Adam and Eve. Since we share a common genetic and spiri=
tual=20
heritage it is silly and sinful to be racist toward our literal brothers and=
=20
sisters. He also shared his notions of the Fall and the Redemption.
Sadly for Mr. Wilkins, he could not resist very briefly sharing his=20
perspective on Christian history, the Crusades, Native American, and Islamic=
history. =20
I have read his work on these topics before, but it was mind-boggling to hea=
r=20
it. The man appears to be totally unaware of documented history. I *learne=
d*=20
for example that the =E2=80=9CSioux=E2=80=9D called themselves the =E2=80=
=9CHuman Beings.=E2=80=9D They=20
hated all other tribes and gave them degrading names thus making it difficul=
t=20
for historians/archeologists today to identify those other natives. (Wilkin=
s=20
clearly has no understanding that the word Sioux is a white term which ignor=
es=20
cultural differences between distinct Nations under the umbrella term Sioux.=
=20
Wilkins understanding of native history is framed around an ethnocentric bia=
s,=20
laced with a great deal of just plain stupidity that seems to me to be=20
unequaled since the mid 19th century. If he were smart enough, he would be=20=
ashamed,=20
but he doesn=E2=80=99t even make that cut.) Suffice it to say that his take=
on=20
medieval Christianity was just as simplistic and I won=E2=80=99t even touch=20=
his view on how=20
the theory of evolution is the cause of racism. His understanding of Islam=20=
is=20
shallow, hateful and inaccurate. Do you sense a theme developing? =20
His claim to Celtic ancestry and their *barbaric* habits, including=20
cannibalism appeared to me to be based on a recent Discovery Channel show. =20=
Most=20
historians, by the way, don=E2=80=99t consider Discovery channel offerings t=
o be a good=20
foundation for understanding ancient cultures. Wilkins would be treating hi=
mself=20
if he would at least take a glance at Nora Chadwick=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CThe C=
elts,=E2=80=9D which=20
while not a recent work, would at least give him an authoritarian basis from=
which=20
to start his studies.
And so it went. I would like to emphasize that after listening to him I hav=
e=20
changed my opinion of him.(Thank you, Eric) Here is a man so lacking in=20
insight and knowledge that he is absolutely sincere in saying he is not a ra=
cist. =20
It is my firm sense that he lacks the malignant personality of Dr. Michael=20
Hill (president - director or whatever of the Lost Our Slaves organization,=20=
and=20
a trained historian who does know better). Steve Wilkins is no doubt=20
completely baffled and dismayed that anyone would think that he had a racist=
bone in=20
his body. He is like some elderly relative who has been unable or unwilling=
to=20
reconsider lifelong, bigoted beliefs. After all, they =E2=80=9Cknow what th=
ey know.=E2=80=9D
He is the terminal product of the privileged ruling class of the Old South=
=20
(and I don=E2=80=99t mean monied ruling class) who would use the phrase peop=
le =E2=80=9Cknew=20
their place=E2=80=9D without wincing, because he does not understand how off=
ensive=20
(and telling) it is. He is Archie Bunker come to life, being feted in Mosco=
w=20
like a second-rate politician on the fried chicken circuit. What we have he=
re is=20
more than a =E2=80=9Cfailure to communicate.=E2=80=9D Wilkins doesn=E2=80=
=99t even know that he=20
doesn=E2=80=99t know. And so, my final observation, which I am pretty sure=20=
you won=E2=80=99t=20
read in the Trib is this: What on earth is the matter with the brains at=20
Credenda Agenda that they would place him in this position? With *friends*=20=
like=20
this Wilkins doesn=E2=80=99t need any enemies, and the good folks of Moscow=20=
don=E2=80=99t have=20
to worry a whole lot about Wilkins winning any converts. YIKES!
Rose Huskey
=20
=20
=20
=20
-------------------------------1075970956
Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Language: en
<HTML xmlns:o =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 =3D "u=
rn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD>
<META charset=3DUTF-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charse=
t=3Dutf-8">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2734.1600" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Dear Visionaries and CC Lurkers,</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3DArial s=
ize=3D2></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>In the interest of fair play, and harkening to Eric=E2=80=99s=
call to educate ourselves, I attended Steve Wilkins discussion of racism th=
is evening.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>No doubt reporter=
s from the DN and the Trib. were also there.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes=
"> </SPAN>They will offer one version, but I offer, perhaps, a different one=
.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I offer ambiance, a histori=
cal critique, and personal impressions.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Rarely, if ever, have I been in a room where the odor of sanc=
tity was so powerfully diffused.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </S=
PAN>It was heady stuff.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The a=
udience seemed primarily be made up of earnest NSA students (who must have g=
otten extra credit for attending, because it is doubtful without a stick bei=
ng applied they would have grabbed at this carrot). There was a significant=20=
number of adult church members (?) there too.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: ye=
s"> </SPAN>(I based that observation on their similarly sincere aspect=
s and enthusiasm applause. Besides, many of them seemed to know by heart the=
psalm that was sung at the beginning of the lecture.) <SPAN style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am hopeless at crowd numbers but it seemed=
like thousands of Saints (really maybe 250-300) were jammed check to jowl t=
o listen, learn, and digest what they were supposed to think about racism.<S=
PAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What was missing from the audi=
ence were any vocal nonbelievers.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </=
SPAN>Maybe it was their night to rearrange their sock drawer or clip their t=
oenails, but without CC and NSA folks it would have been a mighty thin crowd=
.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And, as it turned out the s=
tay-awayers probably had it right.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Frankly, I was hoping for a good old fashioned Southern preac=
her.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead, I heard a pedan=
tic, dictionary-reader-type speaker, who lectured with the mildest of enthus=
iasm from a prepared text.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It=
must have been a rough trip from <st1:place>Dixie</st1:place> because this=20=
guy was just plain tuckered out, and it showed.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">As usual, I will not discuss the doctrinal issues, lets=
just say that he holds a very <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPA=
N>pedestrian understanding of the bible.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&n=
bsp; </SPAN>(In some ways a literal, inerrant perspective of the bible is th=
e easiest way to tackle complex text.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
; </SPAN>It doesn=E2=80=99t require sophisticated or nuanced reading=20=
=E2=80=93 its just there like a menu in a cheap diner, and you get what you=20=
pay for.) The majority of his speech dealt with his understanding that the b=
ible is against racism because we are all the children of Adam and Eve.<SPAN=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since we share a common genetic a=
nd spiritual heritage it is silly and sinful to be racist toward our literal=
brothers and sisters.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> He also share=
d his notions of the Fall and the Redemption.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></FONT>=
</P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">=
Sadly for Mr. Wilkins, he could not resist very briefly sharing his perspect=
ive on Christian history, the Crusades, Native American, and Islamic history=
.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I have read his work on the=
se topics before, but it was mind-boggling to hear it.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spa=
cerun: yes"> </SPAN>The man appears to be totally unaware of documente=
d history.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I *learned* for ex=
ample that the =E2=80=9CSioux=E2=80=9D called themselves the =E2=80=9CHuman=20=
Beings.=E2=80=9D <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They hated a=
ll other tribes and gave them degrading names thus making it difficult for h=
istorians/archeologists today to identify those other natives.<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(Wilkins clearly has no understanding t=
hat the word Sioux is a white term which ignores cultural differences betwee=
n distinct Nations under the umbrella term Sioux.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes"> </SPAN>Wilkins understanding of native history is framed aroun=
d an ethnocentric bias, laced with a great deal of just plain stupidity that=
seems to me to be unequaled since the mid 19<SUP>th</SUP> century.<SPAN sty=
le=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If he were smart enough, he would be=20=
ashamed, but he doesn=E2=80=99t even make that cut.)<SPAN style=3D"mso-space=
run: yes"> </SPAN>Suffice it to say that his take on medieval Christia=
nity was just as simplistic and I won=E2=80=99t even touch his view on how t=
he theory of evolution is the cause of racism.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: y=
es"> </SPAN>His understanding of Islam is shallow, hateful and inaccur=
ate.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Do you sense a theme dev=
eloping?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">=
<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>His cl=
aim to Celtic ancestry and their *barbaric* habits, including cannibalism ap=
peared to me to be based on a recent Discovery Channel show. <SPAN style=3D"=
mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most historians, by the way, don=E2=80=99t c=
onsider Discovery channel offerings to be a good foundation for un=
derstanding ancient cultures. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>Wilkins would be treating himself if he would at least take a glance at Nor=
a Chadwick=E2=80=99s =E2=80=9CThe Celts,=E2=80=9D which while not a recent w=
ork, would at least give him an authoritarian basis from which to start his=20=
studies.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3></FONT=
> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: 166.5pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Ro=
man" size=3D3>And so it went.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>I would like to emphasize that after listening to him I <U>have</U> changed=
my opinion of him.(Thank you, Eric)<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
</SPAN>Here is a man so lacking in insight and knowledge that he is absolut=
ely sincere in saying he is not a racist.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&=
nbsp; </SPAN>It is my firm sense that he lacks the malignant personality of=20=
Dr. Michael Hill (president - director or whatever of the Lost Our Slaves or=
ganization, and a trained historian who does know better).<SPAN style=3D"mso=
-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Steve Wilkins is no doubt completely baffled a=
nd dismayed that anyone would think that he had a racist bone in his body.<S=
PAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is like some elderly relati=
ve who has been unable or unwilling to reconsider lifelong,<SPAN style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>bigoted beliefs.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: y=
es"> </SPAN>After all, they =E2=80=9Cknow what they know.=E2=80=9D<SPA=
N style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is the terminal product of th=
e privileged ruling class of the Old South (and I don=E2=80=99t mean monied=20=
ruling class) who would use the phrase people =E2=80=9Cknew their place=E2=
=80=9D without wincing, because he does not understand how offensive (and te=
lling) it is. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is Archie Bu=
nker come to life, being feted in <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></s=
t1:City> like a second-rate politician on the fried chicken circuit. <SPAN s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we have here is more than a=20=
=E2=80=9Cfailure to communicate.=E2=80=9D<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&=
nbsp; </SPAN>Wilkins doesn=E2=80=99t even know that he doesn=E2=80=99t know.=
<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And so, my final observation=
, which I am pretty sure you won=E2=80=99t read in the Trib is this:<SPAN st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What on earth is the matter with the=
brains at Credenda Agenda that they would place him in this position?<SPAN=20=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With *friends* like this Wilkins d=
oesn=E2=80=99t need any enemies, and the good folks of <st1:City><st1:place>=
Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> don=E2=80=99t have to worry a whole lot about=20=
Wilkins winning any converts.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>YIKES!</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: 166.5pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New Ro=
man" size=3D3></FONT> </P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;=
mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman">=
Rose Huskey<SPAN style=3D"COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p></o=
:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN><=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN><=
/P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman"><SPAN style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style=3D"COLOR: bla=
ck"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN><=
/P></BODY></HTML>
-------------------------------1075970956--