Why Liberalism Needs Racism and Other Forms of Group Acrimony

Liberalism, like other Statist philosophies, requires the identity of societal classes, whether the distinction of those classes is race, gender, sexual orientation, education level, economic or a myriad of other possibilities. The purpose of these distinctions, however, is not for the innate value of the groups themselves, nor for the true Statist, is it even about a certain favoritism for one particular entity at all times. For the Liberal it is a case of the ends justifying the means and the ends is power and the means is pitting one or more groups against another or multiple groups. In Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, in quoting Niels Bohr, he wrote "(t)here is not much hope if we have only one difficulty, but when we have two we can match them off against each other." Alinsky further enforces this by stating, "(t)his grasp of the duality of all phenomena is vital in our understanding of politics. It frees one from the myth that one approach is positive and another negative.... The description of any procedure as 'positive' or 'negative' is the mark of a political illiterate."

The atheist and Communist Karl Marx also saw value in distinguishing societal classes for the purposes of forming opposing forces in an interminable struggle as he identified the "proletariat" and the "bourgeoisie" as the latest in the "history of class struggles" for the purposes of what he hoped to be an imposition of his humanist moral order. An order which Alinsky himself states that the wealthy "is beginning to learn that he will either share part of his material wealth or lose all of it.... This is the low road to morality. There is no other."

This "low road to morality" is being experienced again as we see the rhetoric of Liberal politicians and media reporters infuse the issue of race into the current American political debate as a means to continuously stir national emotions over an issue which has been gradually improving over time with succeeding generations of her citizens. Despite the progress, Liberal leadership has decided to re-open old wounds and introduce new ones to a generation of citizens for whom racial bias is generally frowned upon; but now, in an attempted onslaught by those who seek power, these young citizens are having it pushed upon them for the sake of an elite class who sees it as their purpose to socially engineer their utopian fantasy. This same ideal was given life by the pagan Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party during 1930's and 40's Germany. Economist and Philosopher Dr. Thomas Sowell recently stated on Fox News Channel's "Glenn Beck" program, regarding this mindset of a Liberal/Statist tactic, "(r)acism does not have a good track record, it has been tried a long time, and you (would) think by now that we would want to put an end to it instead of put it under new management."

From a Biblical perspective, God demanded that the Israelites treat foreigners (often distinguished by race or ethnicity) fairly because they themselves were "aliens in the land of Egypt" (NRSV), although those distinctions were recognized as valid distinguishing characteristics when it came to legal issues (Exodus 12:48), and naturalized citizens were treated under the same law as native inhabitants (v. 49). While God did order the annihilation of an entire society when the Israelites entered the Promised Land occupied by Canaanite tribes, it was only after that society's sins had accumulated over a sufficient period of time (Genesis 15:16), while those who repented were given mercy (Joshua 2; 6:17); although, as the Bible shows, this annihilation of the Canaanite inhabitants was never fully implemented or achieved (Joshua 9:3-27), causing the Israeli nation problems for successive generations.

Likewise, Jesus showed these same characteristics when dealing with people of another ethnicity or race as demonstrated with the Centurion Guard (Matthew 8:5-13); the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7: 24-30); and the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-42). Also the Apostles Peter (Acts 10:9-47), Paul (Philemon) and Jesus' brother, James (James 2:1-7) all dealt with the issues of ethnic, class and economic disparities respectively, criticizing those who engaged in such biased behavior.

Liberalism and its adherents are now placing its innate character on display, those who observe it should remember it so as not to mimic its shallow yet influential existence.

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Grand Rapids: World Publishing, 1989.

Alinsky, Saul D. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. pp 15, 17, 23.

Marx, Karl, Frederick Engels, tr. Martin Milligan. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 and the Communist Manifesto. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1988. p 209.