I got this from someone on the desperate preacher's website.
http://d21c.com/scratch/holidays/egg.swf
Enjoy! Oh, and Happy Paschal Sunday!
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Alma Familia
Being a Duke alumnus, I often feel a real connection to the university and my fellow Duke graduates. It is a small school, and it can be difficult to get your foot in the door. The academics were rigorous, but the intellectual climate was unparalleled. Every day in class I felt like I was learning from giants and sitting beside future bishops, national politicians, and professors. It was such a great and unique experience. Overall, my wife and I did not like North Carolina, but I found identity and community in Duke. That doesn't mean I liked everything that came from Duke, but like any family you take the good with the bad.
The Duke name carries a weight, too. I didn't think much of it until I got back in Indiana. I'd say, "I went to Duke," and people would be like "Oh, wow!" It felt good to be a part of something big and special. As I mentioned before, I have even become a Duke basketball fan. I consider myself a Dukie!!!
Lately, being a Dukie has been not so fun. Usually, I'm proud to be a member of the Duke family, but recently I have been a little down about it...I am still Duke, and I always will be. In Durham, Duke students are being attacked and being called, "Rapist!" One student even had to go to the hospital after being beaten in the Durham community. All of this anger follows the alleged assault and rape of an African-American woman by the nearly all white Duke Men's Lacrosse team. By being a part of the university, part of the Duke family, all students, all athletes, the professors, the administrators, even the alumni suffer, the consequences of one night's events. Being a part of the family, I am saddened that this could and would occur. I am angry that young men representing my family allegedly acted in such ways. I am shamed that the coaches and athletic department were unconcerned with an athletic team of which one third of the athletes had alcohol related misdemeanors. I am also defensive as I hear people proclaim that Duke University hasn't done enough and is a racist institution. Pending the outcome of the legal system, what more can Duke University do beyond the suspension of the Lacrosse team?
This violent crime has touched off an underlying problem present in Durham, North Carolina, the South, and even the entire United States. Racism is a living and thriving part of U.S. culture. From our neighborhoods to our churches from our politics to our entertainment, Americans divide on racial lines. In Durham, much like many other U.S. cities, the races are also split along economic lines. After the Civil War and all the way to the 1970's, Durham was a thriving tobacco industry town. Tobacco employed thousands, and it was the major industry of the entire state. When the quit smoking campaigns began making strong gains, the industry began to dry up, and the jobs left. Many uneducated, unskilled (besides tobacco) employees were left jobless and without income opportunities.
By 2004, the memories of Durham that I will always carry with me will be the poverty, the crime, the gangs, the drugs, the prostitutes, and the silent racial divide. It was a sad situation that seemed to be getting worse. As a teacher in the poorest of Durham's schools, my wife saw first hand the environment in which the children of Durham are being raised. We'll never forget the loving students who were crack babies, children of prostitutes, nor the gang-initiated 'trouble-makers.'
This rape has become a crack in the dam that separates our calm, peaceful society from the reality of violence, poverty, and cultural wars taking place in our cities. My hope is that Duke University isn't made a scapegoat as was the initial reaction by CNN. Duke pours millions of dollars into the Durham community. It is the largest employer in Durham. It is a leading catalyst for change in a very prejudiced state. The divinity school requires all students to take classes in Black Church History/Studies as it understands faith being a bridge for understanding.
Our real concerns ought to begin with why this young woman felt she had no recourse but to make money as a stripper. Why did these affluent white men feel like they had the right to force themselves on anyone? Why did they even want to throw out the racial slurs before, during, and after the attack? Why are our impoverished community schools failing? What are underlying issues involved in poverty? Are programs like affirmative action working? These very difficult and VERY controversial issues are the real battle ground...not Duke's suspension of athletes. Maybe I'm protecting my family, but I think the media has been unfair. After all, they too are the ones who have been silent concerning the racial tension present in Durham. Perhaps, they are ready to shoulder some of the blame.
When my wife and I were in Durham, our car was stolen, another broken into, someone was shot in our apartment complex, we saw gangs and drug deals going down in our parking lot, and we saw children being neglected in very damaging ways. The white people silently mistrusted and disliked the blacks, and the blacks silently mistrusted and disliked the whites. When we voiced our concerns and frustrations there were usually two different responses. One aimed against black people, and another aimed against our ability to "live in ministry." To us it seemed a complete lack of true meaningful engagement with the real issues at hand.
That is Durham. That is North Carolina. That is the United States, and until we are ready to grapple with the real issues that is where we will stay. One of our rays of hope in Durham: The biracial couple living next to us. A white male married to a black female living together in peace and love. They loved their family, and they were great neighbors. My Duke family has something to learn from them...as does my American family.
The Duke name carries a weight, too. I didn't think much of it until I got back in Indiana. I'd say, "I went to Duke," and people would be like "Oh, wow!" It felt good to be a part of something big and special. As I mentioned before, I have even become a Duke basketball fan. I consider myself a Dukie!!!
Lately, being a Dukie has been not so fun. Usually, I'm proud to be a member of the Duke family, but recently I have been a little down about it...I am still Duke, and I always will be. In Durham, Duke students are being attacked and being called, "Rapist!" One student even had to go to the hospital after being beaten in the Durham community. All of this anger follows the alleged assault and rape of an African-American woman by the nearly all white Duke Men's Lacrosse team. By being a part of the university, part of the Duke family, all students, all athletes, the professors, the administrators, even the alumni suffer, the consequences of one night's events. Being a part of the family, I am saddened that this could and would occur. I am angry that young men representing my family allegedly acted in such ways. I am shamed that the coaches and athletic department were unconcerned with an athletic team of which one third of the athletes had alcohol related misdemeanors. I am also defensive as I hear people proclaim that Duke University hasn't done enough and is a racist institution. Pending the outcome of the legal system, what more can Duke University do beyond the suspension of the Lacrosse team?
This violent crime has touched off an underlying problem present in Durham, North Carolina, the South, and even the entire United States. Racism is a living and thriving part of U.S. culture. From our neighborhoods to our churches from our politics to our entertainment, Americans divide on racial lines. In Durham, much like many other U.S. cities, the races are also split along economic lines. After the Civil War and all the way to the 1970's, Durham was a thriving tobacco industry town. Tobacco employed thousands, and it was the major industry of the entire state. When the quit smoking campaigns began making strong gains, the industry began to dry up, and the jobs left. Many uneducated, unskilled (besides tobacco) employees were left jobless and without income opportunities.
By 2004, the memories of Durham that I will always carry with me will be the poverty, the crime, the gangs, the drugs, the prostitutes, and the silent racial divide. It was a sad situation that seemed to be getting worse. As a teacher in the poorest of Durham's schools, my wife saw first hand the environment in which the children of Durham are being raised. We'll never forget the loving students who were crack babies, children of prostitutes, nor the gang-initiated 'trouble-makers.'
This rape has become a crack in the dam that separates our calm, peaceful society from the reality of violence, poverty, and cultural wars taking place in our cities. My hope is that Duke University isn't made a scapegoat as was the initial reaction by CNN. Duke pours millions of dollars into the Durham community. It is the largest employer in Durham. It is a leading catalyst for change in a very prejudiced state. The divinity school requires all students to take classes in Black Church History/Studies as it understands faith being a bridge for understanding.
Our real concerns ought to begin with why this young woman felt she had no recourse but to make money as a stripper. Why did these affluent white men feel like they had the right to force themselves on anyone? Why did they even want to throw out the racial slurs before, during, and after the attack? Why are our impoverished community schools failing? What are underlying issues involved in poverty? Are programs like affirmative action working? These very difficult and VERY controversial issues are the real battle ground...not Duke's suspension of athletes. Maybe I'm protecting my family, but I think the media has been unfair. After all, they too are the ones who have been silent concerning the racial tension present in Durham. Perhaps, they are ready to shoulder some of the blame.
When my wife and I were in Durham, our car was stolen, another broken into, someone was shot in our apartment complex, we saw gangs and drug deals going down in our parking lot, and we saw children being neglected in very damaging ways. The white people silently mistrusted and disliked the blacks, and the blacks silently mistrusted and disliked the whites. When we voiced our concerns and frustrations there were usually two different responses. One aimed against black people, and another aimed against our ability to "live in ministry." To us it seemed a complete lack of true meaningful engagement with the real issues at hand.
That is Durham. That is North Carolina. That is the United States, and until we are ready to grapple with the real issues that is where we will stay. One of our rays of hope in Durham: The biracial couple living next to us. A white male married to a black female living together in peace and love. They loved their family, and they were great neighbors. My Duke family has something to learn from them...as does my American family.
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