ALL-IN SIN

RIP: Mr. David Dorn, Age 77, murdered by rioters in St. Louis.

It seems some of the fuel behind the recent riots in US cities is a belief by some that all Whites are racist against all Blacks. Whiteness has been labelled evil, depite the simple biological fact that it is as involuntary as is Blackness. 

The all-in sin of slavery is considered by some as the original sin that all White Americans are born with. This is, of course, childish and illogical in a country comprised of descendants of 20th century immigrants and an 19th century White population which sided against slavery with the spilling of its own blood. And how about freed slaves who then bought slaves themselves during the period of American slavery?

So much of these reactionary mob tantrums are illogical and childish. There is nothing illogical or childish about being sickened by the brutal behavior of police against George Floyd. Granted. That incident was not simply Whiteness against Blackness. It was misplaced power against powerlessness.

Rioters found power in their looting, killing and burning. In fact, they found the same intoxication with power that the police most likely experience when they are being ruthless and lawless. It is hormonal. Their behavior is also sickening and despicable.

None of this is about Whiteness or Blackness. All of it is most essentially about personal consciousness, personal choices and personal behavior. 

The broad brush of all-in sin, such as "White privilege" or "toxic Whiteness", is as racist as all-in sin placed upon all Black Americans for the high crime rates in poor Black areas of American cities. Poor White areas of America are also plagued with higher crime rates associated with unemployment, poor education, alcoholism and drug abuse. 

Would it be seen as acceptable in polite society to say "All Christians are homophobic?" or "All Jews are homophobic?" or "All Muslims are homophobic?" The all-in sin of homophobia could well be used as a broad brush against anyone who chooses to identify with any organized religion. How about "All Roman Catholics are pedophiles?". Now there's an all-in sin of merit, if you want one. Of course, it is ridiculous. But so is the general all-in sin mania of today's social-networking hive minds. 

It would be prudent to refrain from absolving some prejudices while vehemently condemning others. It would also be prudent to stand away from the mob at some point to figure out who you are in all of this. What are your failings? What are your privileges? What are your behaviors? What are your contributions?