Original Sin

I like to watch, once in awhile, CSPAN2 and CSPAN3. Sometimes you can catch a history lecture or history discussion or even a book or political discussion. I recently saw on the TV guide that there was a book discussion on “leadership” so I tuned in. Wow, what I got was two authors not talking about leadership. And these two authors were racist/racial/race relations/equal rights (or whatever they call themselves – not trying to insult) activists and they were only talking about racist/racial/race relations/equal rights activism.

OK, got it. One author/lady came from a family of activists and wrote a book about her parents’ activism. Apparently she is a college professor and lawyer as well. Cool. But when asked about the results of our recent 2024 elections her comments confused me. She believes that the election results were a win for white supremacy and these results were indicative of the fact that the US has not REPENTED for its Original Sin. And what is that sin? Slavery.

You see, I thought slavery was “invented” thousands of years ago in many if not all cultures. Not 1619 with Europeans settling in North America. Ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, ancient Persia, the Mayans and Aztecs, the Zulus, etc. all had slavery. Even American Indians (sorry, Native Indigenous Americans) had slaves. So how is this a US “original sin?”

I am an abolitionist. Not a white supremacist. I went to Sunday School and learned that Original Sin came from Adam and Eve and Baptism absolved you of that one sin. No one in my family, as far back as I can go, ever had slaves. So how is this sin of slavery my fault? We fought a Civil War over 150 years ago to end slavery. I repent only for MY sins (and Heaven knows I do a lot of repenting). And we continue to strive to end prejudice. Perfect? No. Working on it? Yes.

And this lady talks as she does. Of course she doesn’t explain how we should repent or what repenting would look like. Can I do my 10 Our Fathers and ten Hail Marys and call it good? And BTW: she admitted she had a black father and white mother. Does this mean she only has to do 5 Our Fathers and 5 Hail Marys? She is only guilty of half an original sin? She is one-half white supremacist?

Such talk confuses me. I don’t understand how these views help our country. They seem to be popular words liked by some people but mean nothing.

But then again – I’m an old guy and I don’t get it…..