tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post1836513901178293847..comments2023-11-10T09:15:40.084-08:00Comments on The Friends of Jake: Allies and assumptions: I'm not, but....Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10124314924693077453noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-4903666919583041212015-12-22T04:09:13.209-08:002015-12-22T04:09:13.209-08:00"I wonder how she would feel about a white pr..."I wonder how she would feel about a white professor wearing blackface to support “BlackLives Matter”?"<br /><br />Blackface has a unique cultural history which is one of oppression. I think the relevant comparison would be a *t-shirt* saying "Black Lives Matter". [And then I suppose opinions would vary, depending on both the particular white professor, and those individual persons who had an opinion about the professor (e.g., how well they knew the professor).]<br /><br />I note that the Episcopal Cafe has also been discussing non-Muslims wearing hijabs in solidarity (two non-hijab-wearing Muslim women have specifically requested this practice stop---it's mucking up their own intra-Muslim struggle w/ the practice!). Full-disclosure: if there were a specifically Muslim <i>bra</i>, I might wear that in solidarity. Other than that, I don't wear sex-specific clothing, and I'm not about to start! [Gotta be true to MYSELF, first, or I'm no damn good to anybody else. <- That's either Shakespeare or Billy Joel. ;-/]JCFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516376500318551838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-83674854577613481692015-12-18T13:54:27.544-08:002015-12-18T13:54:27.544-08:00Perhaps I should have said an ACTIVE example. Ver...Perhaps I should have said an ACTIVE example. Very few people have a platform to influence the whole world. But we all have the power to influence our own little corner of it. And no, I don’t think *believing* is sufficient for anything. <br /><br />“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion” - Paulo Coelho<br /><br />and I might add “nor you beliefs”.<br /><br />And yes, I agree, there are plenty of people who are allies. My point was that claiming the label does not necessarily make it so. <br /><br />While I understand that your point was the “Christian” part, you still often label yourself “a non-practicing” or “secular” Christian. I don’t understand the differentiation and I like to understand what people mean by their labels rather than making assumptions. Would still be very interested . . .8thdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-44133696764896739342015-12-18T12:05:07.824-08:002015-12-18T12:05:07.824-08:00As for practicing vs non-practicing, that wasn'...As for practicing vs non-practicing, that wasn't my point. It was the "Christian" part. IThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09605163506396013904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-11722125001166786772015-12-18T12:04:37.358-08:002015-12-18T12:04:37.358-08:00I'm a little more forgiving to the woman at Wh...I'm a little more forgiving to the woman at Wheaton (and I did note in the text that Wheaton claims it wasn't the hijab, Kevin, but her statement that it's all God), because she is deliberately choosing to put herself at risk. AND she also contacted a local Muslim organization to ask if they would be okay with it. <br /><br />I do agree that some who take on the word "ally" are taking credit unto themselves. But I know a lot of allies who wouldn't necessarily claim that word, yet who are incredibly active and helpful to the LGBT community--walking the walk, so to speak, and working for justice.<br /><br />Is simply being an example of justice sufficient? Is believing that the Muslim community deserves respect sufficient to ensure that they are safe? IThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09605163506396013904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-35530184494673744822015-12-18T11:06:53.733-08:002015-12-18T11:06:53.733-08:00I would be very interested in what you mean by let...I would be very interested in what you mean by letting people assume you are a “practicing Christian”? What (in your definition) is the difference between a “practicing” and a “non-practicing” Christian?<br /><br />I read the story about the professor at Wheaton suspended for wearing a hijab (or other theological reasons), supposedly to show support for the Islamic community. I wonder how she would feel about a white professor wearing blackface to support “BlackLives Matter”? Co-opting someone’s culture does not make that person an ally. (in my opinion)<br /><br />I don’t like the label “ally” because I think so much of what people think being an ally involves is proving to someone else that they’re a good person, whatever that means. So much vanity in those labels! When you read their statements it’s “I this, and I that.” The “let me prove to you that I’m your ally” shtick is usually just a way a allowing them to allay their own guilt and need to be recognized. I don’t believe that to be the case with every individual, but in my experience, that has been more the rule than the exception. <br /><br />How does one most effectively advocate for justice? I generally think by being a living example of justice, publicly and privately, everywhere and every time and with everyone.8thdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17139355263412766126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238382886103256219.post-62572347343728335032015-12-18T09:55:50.590-08:002015-12-18T09:55:50.590-08:00If I recall correctly the professor was suspended ...If I recall correctly the professor was suspended for saying that Islam and Christianity worship the same God. Kevin Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01192330313518885427noreply@blogger.com