Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
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La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
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Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
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Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
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Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
Racism in the English Language: A Matter of Opinion or Fact?
A Definition of Racism in the English Language
Of course not everyone will agree on a single definition of what racism in language is. Disagreements arise from honestly seeing things from a different viewpoint, from personal experience, and from mind sets that already are against or for a certain belief, life style, or whatever the subject may be. We might, however, start with a "loose" definition of racism in the English language that probably could also be used when considering the choice of words used to refer to various ethnic groups in languages other than English.
It is accepted by the overwhelming majority of people that racism is roughly a hatred and/or prejudice against an ethnic group based solely on race. It is a good idea for people to be very careful in their accusations of racism, because simply put, the majority opinion of a true racist is one that is so low that such a label can, and does bring shame and ruin to someone's reputation. That is not something that should ever be done unjustly. However, it does happen, because sometimes simply telling the truth about the majority of the members of an ethnic group will invite a strong accusation of racism.
Example of Racism in the English Language
Sadly, some people who are NOT prejudiced against any specific ethnic group make the mistake of "promoting" racism in language--at least in the opinion of some people. For example, most native English-speaking students in the United States, who take classes to learn the Spanish language, are taught how to "properly" refer to their nationality. They are taught that residents, particularly native ones, of the U.S.A should not call themselves "American" when asked their nationality by Latin Americans. Why? Supposedly, this is racism in language, because there are three Americas: North, Central, and South America. They are instructed to say that their nationality is "Norteamericano/a (North American)," instead of simply "American." Such an answer is said to show respect for the fact that Central and South Americans also are Americans, not just the residents of the United States.
In all honesty, how can there be racism in language when a native of the United States refers to himself as an American? Is he not telling the truth? Why should the native of the United States always be forced to refer to his nationality as "North American?" Does his statement that he is a North American somehow belittle someone who wants to call himself a Central American or a South American? The one thing that is unfair to the native of the United States is the pressure to always say "(Norteamericano) North American" instead of just American. However, the native of Guatemala can call himself a Central American or a "Guatemalteco." The native of Venezuela can call himself a South American or a "Venezolano." The North American, on the other hand, cannot switch back and forth between "North American" and the non-existant "United Stateser." What is more is that most native residents of the various nations of Central and South America refer to themselves by their specific country, not by a region. Why then does the "North American" have to refer to his nationality by region only? Sometimes in the fight against racism in the English language or in language in general, we go too far.
Other unjustified accusations of racism in the English language relate to minorities/people of color becoming angry when they are asked, "Where are you (originally) from" by Caucasian Americans. What crime has been committed in asking such a question? Are not fair-skinned people who speak with an accent also often asked, "Where are you from?" Racism in the English language does exist; use of the "N" word is proof of that. However, when it is constantly watched for, it shows up even when it's not there.
True Racism in the English Language
A Caucasian lady ran into an old acquaintance with whom she struck up a conversation that eventually led to her speaking about her cat and her neighbor. One day when she, her cat, and her neighbor were outside, the cat took off running towards her African American neighbor who showed a little fear of the approaching pet. Her response to her neighbor was along the lines of asking him why he was afraid of the cat. After all, "You're both black," she said, jokingly.
Was such a comment really necessary? Was there anything funny in it? If her cat had been white and her neighbor Caucasian, would she have said, "Why are you afraid, after all, you're both white?" Sometimes, racism in the English language creeps into sentences "innocently." After much racial tension in the United States, there seems to be a needless--and harmful trend towards saying silly and unnecessary things that only confirm that the speaker is not even remotely color-blind.
Related Reading:
The Apostle Peter Accused Of Racism
What Does the Bible Say About the Power of Words?
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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