Quote:
| Originally Posted by HARVEY COLA Once again, ignorance rears it's ugly head. How can there be unity amongst us? How can any man call himself a mason, who harbors racism in his heart? Any mm out there reading this and uses his T#$^@L, What ties could there possibly be? HE IS A HIPPOCRATE. |
Bro. Harvey,
I hope you were not refering to me as a hippocrate. If you were perhaps it is because I did not explain my point of view clearly.
Based on my personal experiences, education, and religious convictions, I harbor no hatred or bias for anyone based on anything beyond their control. This includes race, sex, sexual preference, life style, religion, culture, or creed.
This is my view on life though. I can not begrudge anyone for having a differing view, because I have not experienced life as they have, nor, have they benefited from enjoying the lessons of life that I have.
Bro. Harvey can you say without hesitation that if you were born white and brought up to believe without a doubt that you were superior, and then had that philosophy reinforced in your adulthood to the point of being ostracized by your friends and family if you went against it, that you too would not have been a racist?
I honestly don't know If, under those circumstances, I would have the personal fortitude to think the way I do now.
As far as Masonry having no room for racism...
Racism is not new to Masonry. How many Masons owned slaves in the past? How many Masons fought for the confederacy in the civil war? How many Masons were for segregation regardless if they were up north on down south?
How Many Masons assisted in the slaughtering and forced removal from their lands of the Native American people?
There were at the same time Masons opposed to all these things while it was going on. When the numbers of those opposed out number those who are for it, change takes place.
The point is we are all still brothers, we just have drastically differing views on what is right and wrong.
I long for the day that mankind is truly free to live how his own conscience dictates he should live. Unfortunately that will never happen.
Mankind will always have one group forcing their beliefs on another. This in my opinion is the greatest unmasonic behavior.
The truely rightious path in life, is the one that the majority supports! Is the battle cry of todays society in America.
Where as when our country was founded we had thoughts like this one:
"I may not believe what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it" - Alexander Hamilton
Fraternally,
Bro. Arthur Peterson
P.S. Bro. Harvey if you are in this part of town and need a brother, I am here.