What a Perplexing Moral Universe

In an expression of remarkable generosity of spirit, relatives of the AME Church members murdered in Charleston, S.C., arose one after the other to tell the accused killer of their loved ones, that they forgive him. It is here that I find myself at odds with reason and personal theology based on my Christian faith. That I do not agree with what they did in no way diminishes my ability to be moved by their gesture. But I do not agree with it.

First, consistent with my philosophical viewpoint, I do not believe that anyone but the actual victim has the right to forgive someone for the evil they have perpetrated. Now, I do think that those families who lost loved ones can pardon the assailant who is responsible for their personal loss, but they do so for themselves not the victims. Many Christians believe that their faith demands forgiveness of everyone for everything. Maybe it is just the humanity in me, nonetheless, I do not know why they believe this. Certainly that is not standard Christian doctrine. One may argue that Christ is the template for this position. Let there be no doubt, I am aware that Christ forgave those who crucified him. I am unaware of Him forgiving all those who crucified others.

Second, I am not aware of the accused having repented. And even God Himself does not forgive those who fail to repent and except Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Third, regarding whites, blacks and crimes, we seem to populate a perplexing moral universe. Pronounced numbers of black Americans seem to be unable or unwilling to forgive America (specifically white Americans) for sins committed by whites who are long time passing. But many seem to support the forgiveness of a white man who murdered nine blacks last week.

The families of the murdered blacks speak eloquently and movingly about preferring forgiveness to feeling anger and hate toward a man who murdered their loved ones just days ago. But millions of blacks seem to prefer feeling anger and hate toward a vast number of their fellow Americans who have never wronged them or any other black American. Indeed, most American whites do not even have ancestors who ever wronged blacks. The truth is that the vast majority of white Americans are not racist.

This is demonstrated by the lengths to which those who contend that white Americans are racist must go to "prove" their case. One such absurdity is that of “macroaggressions.” It is the notion that while overt racism in society has largely been done away with, innocuous-sounding questions or comments that may have no racist intent whatsoever are actually filled with anti-black virulence. One example of a "microaggression" is when a white person says, "I don't see color; I just see human beings." Even though such a sentiment is precisely the ideal to which all decent people should aspire - judging every human being by his or her character, not race and there are those who say we are supposed to judge this sentiment racist.

The writer Viktor Frankl once said, “There are only two races -- the decent and the indecent." According to current far left mainstream (both black and white) thinking on "microaggressions," Frankl's response would now be considered racist.

How is it that so many people can forgive an unrepentant mass murderer a week after he murdered a loved one, but not forgive a society that has repented, atoned and created the best place in the world for a black human being to work if they choose and live? Maybe this is a question best answered by Obama himself, who despite his misgivings about America exceptionalism has surely benefited from being part of it.