[Vision2020] Steve Wilkins on Racism

[Steve Wells]

Did you attend the David Irving talk in December, Erik? Would you attend 
a Fred Phelps speech? If not, why not?

Irving and Phelps crave and depend on attention. As long as people are 
willing to attend Irving's talks and Phelps' church, Irving will keep 
promoting the idea that the holocaust never happened and Phelps will 
erect monuments celebrating the murder of Matthew Shepard. They will 
stop when people stop listening to them.

The same is true of Wilson and Wilkins. In their Southern Slavery 
booklet, they explain that "the reason why many Christians will be 
tempted to dismiss the arguments presented in this booklet is that we 
will say (out loud) that a godly man could have been a slave owner."

Until they admit (out loud) that they were wrong about slavery and 
apologize publicly for the booklet, those who abhor slavery should not 
listen to what they say. Let them praise slavery in secret.

Steve Wells

Eric Engerbretson wrote:

>
> On Jan 29, 2004, at 8:16 PM, Steve Wells wrote:
>
>>
>> But what about Steve Wilkins? Does he still agree with Doug Wilson on 
>> that? If so, then I won't be
>> attending his talk. I don't want to support those views.
>
>
> I am completely baffled by this line of "reasoning". The only way that 
> attending a talk would support Wilkins' views
> would be if you bought a ticket, and the ticket sales were going to 
> Wilkins or his organization. Or if you attended the talk wearing a 
> "Wilkins Power!" T-shirt.
>
> You don't sign a card or put on a pin showing whose side you're 
> supporting when you walk in the door to hear a speaker.  By going to a 
> talk like this you (and the community) have everything to gain and 
> absolutely nothing to lose.  I believe that this "I'm not going--- 
> neener, neener" attitude is part of the problem in this community!  It 
> simply breeds ignorance and inhibits understanding and progress in unity.
>
> If you attend Steve Wilkins' talk, after it is over, you will be 
> wiser-- period.  You will either be completely reinforced that the man 
> is an idiot, and have all sorts of new ammo to use in a conversation 
> against him, or you will realize that perhaps the subject is more 
> complex than you understood, and you will gain some new insights. The 
> point is: if you go, you will simply be a more educated person. If you 
> don't go, you actually lose something-- because the next time you are 
> having a discussion with someone about the man or his views someone 
> will ask you "did you go to his meeting?" and you will have to say 
> "no"-- instantly admitting that you are not as educated on the subject 
> as someone who went to the meeting. AND you risk coming off as a 
> stubborn, bigoted person who refuses to hear all sides on a subject 
> and just wants to remain in his position regardless of any facts or 
> new developments.
>
> If you go to a meeting like this and hate the guy more than ever-- 
> well, you will have a better understanding of why you hate him. And 
> when someone asks you "did you go to the meeting" you can say "yes, 
> and it confirmed all my suspicions."  But to actively decide not to 
> communicate, not to hear arguments and to close one's mind, is to do 
> the very thing that people accuse people like Wilkins of doing!!  And 
> then to try to continue opinionated conversation on the topic after 
> brazenly boycotting a major educational seminar on said topic is 
> ridiculous.
>
> If you go to a talk you make your stance more viable. If you don't go, 
> you make your stance less viable.
>
> Childishness will make a further mess of our community. Humble 
> attitudes and willingness to listen and discuss will make things 
> better for us all.
>
> Eric E.
>
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