Friday 24th August 2007
At Voldemort's evil encouragement the pure-bloods are at last out in the open, determined to persecute the Muggle-borns. If you know your Harry Potter you'll know what I'm talking about. These remarkable stories contain enough human dilemmas to fill an RE syllabus, and racism is just one of them.
The pure-bloods are the Aryans of the Harry Potter mythology and they don't like these ordinary mortals, some of whom have wizardly powers.
Just as the pure-bloods of every race have resented those who fail to live up to their feigned purity.
Why is it that some sections of every racial group believe that only they are as humans are meant to be? Why is diversity a danger? Why is colour, ethnic background, religion, gender, parentage and everything down to left-handedness, football team and shoe size (I joke, but only just) why is it that each of these differences is such a threat?
After all, what is colour? Mere skin pigment; I have a particular mix, just as you do. What is ethnic background? Mere accident of birth. What is gender? A particularity to be enjoyed. What is religion? 'If you prick us do we not bleed?' says the Merchant of Venice. 'If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?' Ah, now there's the rub. Those we persecute are not allowed to revenge themselves. That makes us furious. They should accept their inferiority and be thankful when we throw them morsels of respect.
It's an old, old story, and the news is full of modern repetitions. Sunni and Shia in Iraq; Africans and Arabs in Darfur; Bosnian Muslims and Christian Serbs; Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda; Republicans and Loyalists in Northern Ireland you name it, we can split over it. Because we're superior.
And Jesus would have none of it. 'Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.' And Paul would have none of it. 'There is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.' And we should have none of it.
But neither the world nor the Church is as it should be. The Church can't point the finger at the world when so many of its talented brothers and sisters feel under-valued, under-used and under-represented as they do (ask the Commission on Racial Justice in this diocese just a few years ago, or read the report before General Synod last July).
The words of Jesus still challenge me: 'Let anyone who is without sin cast the first stone.' I fear I would be one of those slinking away with a stone still in my hand.
Racial Justice Sunday is on September 9 and don't miss the podcast on Racial Justice available from 4th September.