Phillip Winn @pwinn@qoto.org

Today I saw two things online within the same 30 minutes, and I can't help but contrast them. First up was a screenshot of a tweet from someone who claimed that "major biblical" issues for Christians were firstly, defending the value and worth of white people against teaching that white people are by nature morally corrupt, and secondly, defending the unvaccinated.

Second was a paragraph in the middle of an essay on either skepticism or Ivermectin, depending on how you think about it, in which the author says, having not mentioned Christians up to this point: "I side with the Christians. There may be people so far gone into the outer darkness that they can't be saved, but you are forbidden from ever believing with certainty that any specific individual is in this category. Act as if everyone is one good deed away from falling to their knees and acknowledging the light of Jesus."

The first post was from someone with a Masters degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, right here in Dallas, Texas, where I *know* they teach original sin, which states that everyone is by nature morally corrupt, including white people. One might agree with that or not, but someone claiming to represent conservative Christianity definitely affirms that, so to reject it but only for white people is something, but it's not Christianity.

The second post was from an atheist, an avowed rationalist, who needed a way to state unequivocally in an essay why he spent so much time addressing arguments other rationalists said he should have ignored or even mocked. The example that came to his mind for that "never give up" approach was that of the Christian gospel: that nobody is ever beyond the grace of God, that there is limitless forgiveness for absolutely everyone.

How is that the atheist understands Christianity so much better than the SBTS grad?

Is it possible that these are issues with diversity initiatives crowding out the message of "Christ. crucified" in the church? Of course. There are definitely issues with "white supremacy" and right-wing political extremism pushing any consideration of Jesus to the back, so I'm sure it's possible that somewhere the reverse is probably also true. The former is clearly a larger problem than the latter, however, and more than anything, I'd say the issue is that churches ought to focus more on their founder and less on political power. The church is repeatedly reminded throughout the bible to focus on helping the defenseless, and those who can't take care of themselves, usually described as "widows and orphans" in that cultural context. The unvaccinated are hardly defenseless, and are more often the aggressors in any situation. Also, the best way to help them, ironically, is to provide vaccinations.

#blog #politics #Christianity

Here's a wypipo confession for you: when I first bookmarked today's playlist for Black History Month, I thought: this one will be interesting, Black history from one of the whitest sources around. But then I had more thoughts, and began to unpack some nonsense that had lurked in my head for years.

Is TED "white?" Well, yes. Right? Founded by a white person, run by a white person, I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I think the numbers of lectures delivered by white people is probably outsized relative to the population. But why? TED claims to be devoted to "ideas worth spreading," and it's hard to imagine ideas more relevant and more interesting than Black history. As already discussed this month, most Black people know more than most wypipo about large swathes of history, and often think differently about societal issues in exactly the way TED claims to be focused on. I follow many Black people I'm pretty sure could give better 18-minute-max lectures than the average TED lecture.

TED-Ed, specifically, is about "lessons worth spreading," and again, it's hard to imagine better lessons than those about Black History. Which brings me to:

Hidden Figures: Black History, from TED-Ed
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJicmE8fK0Ege5CYPbAS4QlvZQw7hbm5C

These 23 videos, including two added just this month, match up with what I think TED-Ed ought to be. And they help to bring my mental image of TED closer to my mental image of education in general.

Anecdotally, my most well-educated friends are Black. As already discussed this month, many Black parents do a better job educating their children about life as it really is than most wypipo do, in part to make up for failings in the school system to do so. Even today, I've already boosted @mekkaokereke providing the basis of what would be an amazing TED lecture about Black cowboys.

If TED is "white," then that's a failing of TED. If it's not, then my perception is off.

Since I fear I've libeled TED with baseless speculation, here are some bonus links:

11 Powerful Black TED Talks to Watch
https://itstheblock.com/11-powerful-black-ted-talks-to-watch/

50 TED Talks by 50 Talented Black Women
http://twentytentalent.com/50-ted-talks-by-50-talented-black-women/

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackExcellence #blog

Fellow wypipo, if you think supplying or consuming a seemingly-endless series of links for one month is exhausting, try living in a country whose entire existence claims to be predicated on a lofty ideal but has in fact spent its entire existence acting as if that lofty ideal didn't apply to you, but instead required your blood, sweat, and tears to make that ideal happen for other.

To a small degree, most of us have! But this isn't a month of posts about how wealthy Capitalist exploit the working class, it's Black History Month!

https://youtu.be/H0RaJDqZKqI

Black History Matters, from the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjVRz5S5oJ59kuWH_LAOiH0A6Yw7qsK7d

In addition to the intro video above, the Abolition Museum provides 25 videos of interviews and education about why Black history matters, and even how much voting rights are being restricted today.

Yesterday we were all able to see Rihanna deliver a stunning performance, an absolutely celebration of excellence, and it amazes me how this country can celebrate Black people with one hand, while expanding its oppression with the other. Joy and sorrow together.

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackLivesMatter #BlackExcellence #blog