How I Can Tell I’m Racist

My gut tells me I’m not a racist. Not a homophobe. Not an ageist. Et cetera. But most of us are one or all of those things (et cetera) at least just a little bit. Here’s where I see mine show up…

It all starts with the Holocaust. Thinking of this event brings tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my skin. I cannot believe human beings can be so cruel, so heartless, so blind. This is true for you as well, I would guess. When a book is published or a movie released about someone’s inspiring story who survived the ordeal, I want to read/see it. Those people inspire us, don’t they? When I visited Washington, DC in 2010 there was only one place I really wanted to go experience: the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. And when I tell people that I visited there, they either 1) tell me they would love to go there, 2) have gone there are are eager to talk about it, or 3) say it may be too much for them to take in.

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Now as we all know, holocausts were not unheard of before WWII. In fact, even since then there have been others take place in our world. In Cambodia almost 2 million people were tortured and/or killed (most likely both) in from 1975-79. Anyone know the leader behind that? Yeah, me neither. But we all know Hitler. How about in ‘94 when the majority Hutus were calling the minority Tutsis “cockroaches” and killing them by the thousands and in unthinkable horrific ways? It was called “the quickest killing spree the world has ever seen” with almost a million people were hunted down and killed over a span of 100 days. I knew of this event, though the details I just gave you I had to look up. The amount of Jews who died in WWII at the hands of the Nazis? I don’t have to look that up. Six million.

Sreymoch Sareum in First They Killed My Father (2017)

Now let’s be honest. If we heard there was going to be an exhibit in a nearby city paying homage to those killed or displaced in Darfur, how quickly would we go see it? Or if one of the survivors wrote a book and would be giving a presentation with 3 other survivors, would we buy a ticket? It started less than 20 years ago, but somehow my heart remains with the holocaust of the 30’s and 40’s.

Yes, my country fought in World War II, but shouldn’t crimes against any human beings have the same impact on me? Yes, the holocaust “hits close to home,” (in spite of the fact that I’m not Jewish) but I’m hoping the “home” referred to in that statement widens for me. That my compassion for people and desire to see justice for the oppressed and disadvantaged would not increase or decrease according to who is more like me.

In 2013 I watched a movie with characters whose realities, experiences, contexts, and very lives were different from my own. And they were suffering. It made an impact on me and I hope it does for you, too.

Congratulations This is your week.

Best Actress:

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly in .

Best Actor: Matthew McConaughey in

Best Quote: “Don’t mind him. He used to be an Irishman.” — Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher Cutting in

Don’t mind me. I used to be a Scotsman.