I'm not racist, but....

[RZehr]

Most victims of crime (or people trying not to become victims) care much more about the WHAT than the WHY.

I don’t really care WHY someone would want to murder me, steal my car, etc. I would be much more focused on simply avoiding the situation happening at all.

If you care at all about reducing crime (either in the aggregate or in the individual). And if you care about making the world a safer, more peaceful, orderly, and just place for our children. Then perhaps you should care about the why as well.

I think of livestock. Cattle will behave and stay where they belong, with minimal fencing, providing that they have good quality feed, and shelter, and no danger (pack of wolves chasing them through the fence).
If a cow doesn’t have food or water or safety, it will for sure cross through a minimally constructed fence.

People are not animals. With a knowledge of right and wrong, we always make a choice to do right or wrong, regardless of our circumstances.

On the other hand, if some people have devolved into “brute beasts” (2 Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Acts 20:29, Matthew 7:15), then I suppose we are left with searching for solutions to keep them where they belong, and out of reach from harming other people. As such, maybe enticements, and environmental manipulations are worthwhile. But, it certainly is not the way things should be.

Like brute beasts, some people will turn to crime in times of need, greed, weed & speed. Some of these people will behave when their needs are met. Others, motivated by greed or weed or speed, may just have to be contained, like a wild beast, with massive walls, until something changes.

So maybe there is a place both for environmental manipulations, and for prisons. But merely offering carrots and changing one’s environment will never works exclusively.

[Ken]

Most victims of crime (or people trying not to become victims) care much more about the WHAT than the WHY.

I don’t really care WHY someone would want to murder me, steal my car, etc. I would be much more focused on simply avoiding the situation happening at all.

If you care at all about reducing crime (either in the aggregate or in the individual). And if you care about making the world a safer, more peaceful, orderly, and just place for our children. Then perhaps you should care about the why as well.

I think of livestock. Cattle will behave and stay where they belong, with minimal fencing, providing that they have good quality feed, and shelter, and no danger (pack of wolves chasing them through the fence).
If a cow doesn’t have food or water or safety, it will for sure cross through a minimally constructed fence.

People are not animals. With a knowledge of right and wrong, we always make a choice to do right or wrong, regardless of our circumstances.

On the other hand, if some people have devolved into “brute beasts” (2 Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Acts 20:29, Matthew 7:15), then I suppose we are left with searching for solutions to keep them where they belong, and out of reach from harming other people. As such, maybe enticements, and environmental manipulations are worthwhile. But, it certainly is not the way things should be.

Like brute beasts, some people will turn to crime in times of need, greed, weed & speed. Some of these people will behave when their needs are met. Others, motivated by greed or weed or speed, may just have to be contained, like a wild beast, with massive walls, until something changes.

So maybe there is a place both for environmental manipulations, and for prisons. But merely offering carrots and changing one’s environment will never works exclusively.

Well…OK

But that doesn’t address the WHY of why there is more black crime compared to white or Asian crime.

[RZehr]

If you care at all about reducing crime (either in the aggregate or in the individual). And if you care about making the world a safer, more peaceful, orderly, and just place for our children. Then perhaps you should care about the why as well.

I think of livestock. Cattle will behave and stay where they belong, with minimal fencing, providing that they have good quality feed, and shelter, and no danger (pack of wolves chasing them through the fence).
If a cow doesn’t have food or water or safety, it will for sure cross through a minimally constructed fence.

People are not animals. With a knowledge of right and wrong, we always make a choice to do right or wrong, regardless of our circumstances.

On the other hand, if some people have devolved into “brute beasts” (2 Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Acts 20:29, Matthew 7:15), then I suppose we are left with searching for solutions to keep them where they belong, and out of reach from harming other people. As such, maybe enticements, and environmental manipulations are worthwhile. But, it certainly is not the way things should be.

Like brute beasts, some people will turn to crime in times of need, greed, weed & speed. Some of these people will behave when their needs are met. Others, motivated by greed or weed or speed, may just have to be contained, like a wild beast, with massive walls, until something changes.

So maybe there is a place both for environmental manipulations, and for prisons. But merely offering carrots and changing one’s environment will never works exclusively.

Well…OK

But that doesn’t address the WHY of why there is more black crime compared to white or Asian crime.

Because their “pasture” was all dried up, and some still may be. As such, they have learned to go through fences.
A wild moms cow, usually creates a wild calf. These cattle can be placed in a herd of tame cattle, and the minute the farmer starts to herd them towards the barn, the wild cow and calf’s head and tail shoots up, and they start nervously off to the far end.

Learned behavior doesn’t disappear overnight just because they are now placed in ideal conditions.

But they aren’t animals. They still have the knowledge of right and wrong, and the freedom to choose one.

And I believe good old fashioned racism plays a part in certain areas of the country. Police unevenly enforced the law harder on poor people. And maybe black people.

[Sudsy]

The 'why' is quite obvious to me. We all need to be born again and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. God is able to radically change anyone from any background.

The apostle Paul is a fine example. A Pharisee of the Pharisees very zealous to stomp out Christianity. As Saul, he was very racist. As Paul, he could love non-Jews, the Gentiles. How amazing that God chose Paul and gave Paul the grace needed to minister to the Gentiles upon his conversion Romans 15:16, Gal 1:15-16.Eph 3:8. Again reminds me of my uncle as hating all black skinned people and then how his conversion to Christ made him the opposite.

When we are born again, I believe, God gives all of us the ability through the Spirit to rise above any, carnal racist attitudes. His grace is sufficient to give us what we could never overcome in our carnal minds. And He will solve any fear issues too regarding any race of people.

[Ken]

The 'why' is quite obvious to me. We all need to be born again and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. God is able to radically change anyone from any background.

The apostle Paul is a fine example. A Pharisee of the Pharisees very zealous to stomp out Christianity. As Saul, he was very racist. As Paul, he could love non-Jews, the Gentiles. How amazing that God chose Paul and gave Paul the grace needed to minister to the Gentiles upon his conversion Romans 15:16, Gal 1:15-16.Eph 3:8. Again reminds me of my uncle as hating all black skinned people and then how his conversion to Christ made him the opposite.

When we are born again, I believe, God gives all of us the ability through the Spirit to rise above any, carnal racist attitudes. His grace is sufficient to give us what we could never overcome in our carnal minds. And He will solve any fear issues too regarding any race of people.

So you are saying that Blacks are less Christian than Whites?

[Sudsy]

The 'why' is quite obvious to me. We all need to be born again and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. God is able to radically change anyone from any background.

The apostle Paul is a fine example. A Pharisee of the Pharisees very zealous to stomp out Christianity. As Saul, he was very racist. As Paul, he could love non-Jews, the Gentiles. How amazing that God chose Paul and gave Paul the grace needed to minister to the Gentiles upon his conversion Romans 15:16, Gal 1:15-16.Eph 3:8. Again reminds me of my uncle as hating all black skinned people and then how his conversion to Christ made him the opposite.

When we are born again, I believe, God gives all of us the ability through the Spirit to rise above any, carnal racist attitudes. His grace is sufficient to give us what we could never overcome in our carnal minds. And He will solve any fear issues too regarding any race of people.

So you are saying that Blacks are less Christian than Whites?

Sorry, I don't get why you are asking that. I don't see anything in what I posted that would suggest that. I believe a Christian in regard to colour of skin, should be colour blind.

[Ken]

The 'why' is quite obvious to me. We all need to be born again and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in the way that we should go. God is able to radically change anyone from any background.

The apostle Paul is a fine example. A Pharisee of the Pharisees very zealous to stomp out Christianity. As Saul, he was very racist. As Paul, he could love non-Jews, the Gentiles. How amazing that God chose Paul and gave Paul the grace needed to minister to the Gentiles upon his conversion Romans 15:16, Gal 1:15-16.Eph 3:8. Again reminds me of my uncle as hating all black skinned people and then how his conversion to Christ made him the opposite.

When we are born again, I believe, God gives all of us the ability through the Spirit to rise above any, carnal racist attitudes. His grace is sufficient to give us what we could never overcome in our carnal minds. And He will solve any fear issues too regarding any race of people.

So you are saying that Blacks are less Christian than Whites?

Sorry, I don't get why you are asking that. I don't see anything in what I posted that would suggest that. I believe a Christian in regard to colour of skin, should be colour blind.

The question not why crime exists, but WHY crime rates are higher for Blacks compared to Whites. This sub-thread started in response to this exchange with Chris:

It's not racist to say "African American commit more crimes than whites per capita". It's a fact of life.

Ah, but the racism comes out when one asks WHY that is the case.

Some answers to that question are, indeed, racist. Other answers are not.

[Sudsy]

So you are saying that Blacks are less Christian than Whites?

Sorry, I don't get why you are asking that. I don't see anything in what I posted that would suggest that. I believe a Christian in regard to colour of skin, should be colour blind.

The question not why crime exists, but WHY crime rates are higher for Blacks compared to Whites. This sub-thread started in response to this exchange with Chris:

It's not racist to say "African American commit more crimes than whites per capita". It's a fact of life.

Ah, but the racism comes out when one asks WHY that is the case.

Some answers to that question are, indeed, racist. Other answers are not.

Sorry, I guess I was responding to the statement 'Learned behavior doesn’t disappear overnight' in a previous post and I was saying that it can disappear over night in a life that is born again. I have witnessed it.

Why a certain sin abounds in one race more than in another likely has a variety of reasons. But wherever sin abounds of any sort, grace abounds all the more. I'm more interested in the solution than in what sin is abounding where.

[joshuabgood]

It is more accurate to say African Americans are charged and convicted of more crimes per capita than white people. Why that is is the first question.

[justme]

And I believe good old fashioned racism plays a part in certain areas of the country. Police unevenly enforced the law harder on poor people. And maybe black people.

It is more accurate to say African Americans are charged and convicted of more crimes per capita than white people. Why that is is the first question.

i think your question was answered before you asked it.