skin color

we have some friends from college whose son is 2 days older than Caleb. it so happens that their son J is 1/4 African-American, so apparently that makes him "black." sadly, he and his family was the center of recent racist hatred on a racist's blog, which came to the attention of many of us here in blogland, which touched off quite a firestorm (I wont be providing links, since it will give the fools yet more attention).

anyway, the kids and moms got to hang out the other day, and of course they had a grand time and got some cute pictures. as I looked at them it became quite clear: Caleb's skin color is pretty much the same as J's, even though Caleb's heritage is 50% dutch and 50% mixed-anglo. yet Caleb will likely never be subject to all the crap that many will deal out to J and his family. in many fool's eyes, Caleb will have a "nice tan" and J will be "black."

I'm not sure what to do with these thoughts. it makes me angry and sad that they'll suffer hate and we wont. yet I know in my heart that I judge people based on appearances and prejudices too. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!