We can all make a better effort in bringing an end to racism

Like many of you, I have been irritated and somewhat offended by statements from defenders of President Barack Obama's policies that opposition to his plans is based in part on racism. For example, former President Jimmy Carter noted, "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's an African-American." Others chimed in similarly. Happily, Obama has repudiated these comments. However, a number of people, in defending their opposition to Obama and rejecting claims of racism, have sometimes themselves gone too far in denying that racism exists in the United States.

The issue of race in general, and particularly here in Utah, came sharply into focus for me last week as I was speaking with an African-American friend about the brouhaha over Carter's and others' remarks. The conversation took a startling, sad and revealing turn as we talked about his experience as an African-American in Utah. My friend is from Chicago but has lived much of his adult life in Utah, including his years as an undergraduate at Brigham Young University. He is an outstanding professional and widely regarded in his field, but over the years he has endured many insults, slights and outright hostile actions because of his race. Some of these comments and acts came from well-meaning associates who were simply thoughtless and didn't understand their offensive nature. Others were intentionally malicious. Some acts were a result of racial profiling.

My friend was not bitter, not angry, but very centered and even forgiving. From his perspective, his endurance without anger made him a better Christian. From my perspective, it seems impossible to fully understand the heartache and potential alienation one could easily feel if subjected to the same circumstances. For example, I mentioned racial profiling, which has a specific meaning with respect to police actions. But, in fact, almost every aspect of my friend's life is affected by others' assumptions and "profiling" of him. That my friend and many like him experience both hard and soft discrimination is deeply troubling these 30-something years since LDS Church President Spencer W. Kimball received his revelation.

Most of you reading these words are Latter-day Saints. I would guess that few, if any of us, think of ourselves as racist. Indeed, most people reading these words would regard themselves as not racist and possibly be offended that their views on this could even be called into question. It is very clear to me, however, not just in talking with my friend, but based on experience and observation, that many of us Saints have a long way to go to being genuinely sensitive to and understanding of the minorities among us.

There are a number of scriptural injunctions that apply here, not the least of which is to love our neighbor as ourselves. More specifically, there are scriptures that treat how we should feel about race. Paul taught, God "hath made of one blood all nations of men" (Acts 17:26). When Jesus told the parable of the man who "went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves," it was not the priest or the Levite of his own race who helped him "but a certain Samaritan, [who] had compassion on him." Jesus asks, "which now of these three was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?" (Luke 10: 30-37). Samaritans, of course, were hated and regarded as Other in Israel.

I believe Latter-day Saints in Utah have a special obligation to minorities among us. "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 22:21). In many areas throughout the world, we as Latter-day Saints are also strangers, very much in need of not being vexed and oppressed among those with whom we live. Here, where we are a majority, we should make special effort to remember and understand "that God is no respecter of persons."

Joseph A. Cannon is editor of the Deseret News. E-mail: cannon@desnews.com