Possibly white guilt's worst effect is that it does not permit whites--and nonwhites--to appreciate something extraordinary: the fact that whites in America, and even elsewhere in the West, have achieved a truly remarkable moral transformation. One is forbidden to speak thus, but it is simply true. There are no serious advocates of white supremacy in America today, because whites see this idea as morally repugnant. If there is still the odd white bigot out there surviving past his time, there are millions of whites who only feel goodwill toward minorities. — Shelby Steele, White Guilt and the Western Past, OpinionJournal
That's the next to last paragraph of an excellent article. Steele has explained, in straightforward terminology, the American and international political dilemma faced by western civilization today. Since World War II, the West has been wringing it's hands and wishing that the past few hundred years of bigotry had not happened. With the American Civil War and World War II, the West has come to realize, in utter horror, the depth of it's past mistakes in imperialism and western/racial supremecy.
However, there are many who aren't done feeling guilty yet for these sins. Expanding on Steele's point, I see this as a clearly spiritual issue. The western secularists have linked this white supremecy to Christianity. Most Americans say the words, "I'm a Christian," to mean "I'm a good person and try to do good things." That is, they are liars. "Christian" is not the same as "good," "Christian" is the same as, "I am a sinner, but God sought to pay for my sin anyway."
Most Americans are secular. Most would deny that what the Bible says is more important than all other things on any given subject. Well, they might agree to that statement, but if I were to link the Bible's statements on particular issues, most Americans would certainly take a stance apart from the Bible. For example, is genocide ever justified? The Bible says so. Was the earth created 10,000 years ago in just seven days? The Bible says so. Did Jesus rise from the dead? The Bible says so.
Thus, the west has placed itself in a position where forgiveness of this great sin is not even possible. What higher power is supposed to say to the West, "It's okay. You are forgiven?" The various cultures we sinned against? Certainly not. They stand everything to gain from a hand-wringing minimalistically powerful West. Some of them might, but how would we ask? Who is to represent them even if they were to forgive? The political leaders? Each individual? There will always be groups who hold this sin against us in the west. Even modern cultures today scorn and hold past cultures responsible for their great sins. As long as history remembers us, someone will hate us for our mistakes.
The answer is, of course, that the only way to forgiveness for this sin (or any other) is to seek such forgiveness from God. I recommend that the link between Christianity and white supremecy and imperialism be dissociated in our minds. Any link they could have is a false one because Christ certainly never advocated the primacy of race or the conquering of civilzations. He came to divide between God's people and the rest, which binds all nations together and declares that nationality is, at best, only a secondary division in the Kingdom of God.
Anyway, Steele's piece is excellent and I highly recommend reading it.
Cheers.
