{"id":4566,"date":"2024-01-22T03:59:51","date_gmt":"2024-01-22T11:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/?p=4566"},"modified":"2024-01-13T11:28:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T19:28:48","slug":"macys-confederate-generals-and-stumbling-blocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/2024\/01\/macys-confederate-generals-and-stumbling-blocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Macy\u2019s, Confederate Generals, and Stumbling Blocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

What do Macy\u2019s Department Store and Confederate generals have in common? They\u2019re both stumbling blocks that retraumatize people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>

Jefferson Davis Statue at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. Photo from Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n**
** Recently, I spent some time with my much-loved Uncle Ron, who is eighty. <\/strong>He\u2019s a Vietnam vet who retired from the US Army after a full career of active duty. This loyal service member is as patriotic as they come, never one to completely retire from service to his nation. Even at this age, he continues to work full-time for a branch of the government I might or might not be able to name. I\u2019m extremely proud of this man. He also frustrates me to no end.<\/p>\n
** **\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Benign Racism?<\/h2>\n****
** Though he would deny my assertion, my Uncle Ron is a racist.<\/strong> Of course, he would never say that he hates people of color. But whenever a \u201cBlack TV show\u201d comes on, he conveniently finds something else he\u2019d rather watch. Living in the American South, he gets angry when municipalities remove Southern iconography from the American Civil War. And he talks about going on lunch breaks with \u201cmy Black coworker,\u201d when his colleague\u2019s race has nothing to do with his narrative. Some would call it benign racism\u2014but I don\u2019t think racism is ever benign.<\/p>\n
** ****\u00a0<\/p>\n

Society is Changing<\/h2>\n****
** On a recent trip to Richmond, Virginia, Uncle Ron and I visited Civil War battlefields where he recounted histories as if he had been there.<\/strong> Truly he is a great student of the Civil War. But obviously, his sympathies lie with the South. We visited the grave of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. Gazing up at the statue, he complained, \u201cOf course, they\u2019re no longer flying the Confederate flag over his grave!\u201d It offends Uncle Ron that society is changing and no longer values the heroes and ideals he grew up cherishing.<\/p>\n
** ****\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trying to Erase the Past<\/h2>\n****
** ****\u201cThey\u2019re trying to erase the past,\u201d he lamented.<\/strong> I tried to help him see that nobody is deleting the names of his beloved Confederates from the history books. It\u2019s just that society no longer sees them as heroes. What\u2019s more, many see them as villains akin to Nazis of the Third Reich. \u201cYou won\u2019t go to Germany and see Fuhrer Avenue, or a statue of Hitler at a town square,\u201d I have pointed out to him. \u201cYou\u2019ll never go there and see a nostalgic Swastika flying over a government building, to celebrate German heritage and not hate.\u201d But he refuses to see the parallel. That\u2019s because the trauma of African Americans isn\u2019t his trauma. <\/em>(More on that later.)<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\nAunt Jemima and Uncle Ben<\/h2>\n******

Uncle Ron\u2019s struggle with a changing society manifests in other ways<\/strong>. Ron complains that Aunt Jemima<\/a> pancake syrup and Uncle Ben\u2019s Rice<\/a><\/span> have changed their names and logos. He denies that the depictions of Ben and Jemima were stylized to depict stereotypically racist imagery. He also overlooks the fact that \u201cUncle\u201d and \u201cAunt\u201d were used as pejorative honorifics by White Southerners who refused to give African Americans the honor of calling them \u201cMr.\u201d and Mrs.\u201d All he can see is that society is changing, and he doesn\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Confederate Statues and Holidays<\/h2>\n

What\u2019s more, Uncle Ron frequently complains about Richmond\u2019s removal of its city-owned statues of Confederate generals on Monument Avenue<\/a><\/span> and other places. <\/strong>He doesn\u2019t see how these lost cause narrative<\/a><\/span> symbols were designed as a daily reminder to the African American population that members of the racist old guard still kept their eyes on them. All Ron can see is that his heroes are being removed.<\/p>\n

Certain holidays spark Uncle Ron\u2019s racism.<\/strong> Every year on Columbus Day<\/a><\/span> he gripes that history now sees the namesake as a villain. Virginia used to celebrate Lee-Jackson Day, in honor of two Confederate generals. Later, the Commonwealth added Martin Luther King<\/a>, Jr<\/span>. to the mix and for a while there was Lee-Jackson-King Day. That is until people realized the hypocrisy of honoring those men on the same day, and Lee-Jackson Day was eliminated<\/a>.<\/span> Ever since Virginia dropped Lee and Jackson, and elevated King to hero status, Uncle Ron has been complaining. These and related topics have been the subject of rants for years. To some extent, it\u2019s just curmudgeonly grumbling about society changing in ways that he can\u2019t control. But to another extent, it evidences his benign<\/span> racism.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat Damned Red Star\u201d<\/h2>\n***********
** While watching television one day, he harumphed at a Macy\u2019s commercial.<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019ll never shop at Macy\u2019s!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
** Curious, I asked, \u201cWhy is that, Uncle Ron?\u201d<\/p>\n
** He looked at me with a mixture of disappointment and distaste, as if he couldn\u2019t believe that his Beloved Youngster didn\u2019t already know. \u201cBecause their logo is a communist symbol!\u201d<\/p>\n
** A lightbulb went off in my head. I said, \u201cOh? Tell me more\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
** ***********\u201cI\u2019ve been shot at by men wearing that damned star on their helmets,\u201d he said.<\/strong> \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t believe how it makes veterans feel when they see that logo. A lot of veterans have written to Macy\u2019s, asking them to change their logo, but they just won\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

I imagined that Uncle Ron must feel the same about Heineken\u2019s red star<\/a><\/span>, but I didn\u2019t want to confuse the conversation. I also inconspicuously Googled Macy\u2019s red star logo as we talked, learning that it has nothing to do with Communism. It has to do with a tattoo Mr. Macy got on his travels<\/a>.<\/span> But I didn\u2019t mention that, either. I wanted to stay on point.<\/p>\n

I said, \u201cWow\u2014I never thought of that before. You\u2019re saying that there\u2019s a whole group of veterans who served their country and deserve to be honored (I agree)\u2014who feel triggered when advertisers force this communist symbol upon them. They\u2019re made to relive their trauma of being targeted by people who wore this star.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, it would just be good business,\u201d I said, \u201cIf companies that used the red star as their logo were to change their images, so they didn\u2019t retraumatize potential customers. Not to mention that it would just be the kind thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, he agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see where you\u2019re going with this,\u201d I told him. \u201cIt\u2019s just like African Americans who feel retraumatized every time they see the Confederate flag, or when they see Southern generals touted as heroes. It\u2019s just like BIPOC folks who don\u2019t want to purchase a product that has a racist depiction of servile Black people on the label.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game, set, match.<\/strong> But the tennis ball went flying right over Uncle Ron\u2019s head.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Macy\u2019s, Confederate Generals, and Stumbling Blocks<\/h2>\n

Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 18:6-9<\/a><\/span>. <\/strong>In these verses, Jesus talks about causing people to stumble. Here, I use the NRSVUE, which translates the Greek words \u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03b1\u03bb\u03af\u03c3\u1fc3 (skandalis\u0113<\/em>) and \u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b4\u03ac\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd (skandal\u014dn<\/em>) as \u201csin.\u201d Then, in the footnotes, the NRSVUE clarifies that the word actually means \u201cto stumble.\u201d Jesus says:<\/p>\n

"

\u201cIf any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things are bound to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cIf your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire.*<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Matthew\u2019s Jesus uses the Greek word<\/strong> skandal\u014dn<\/strong>. <\/em>This differentiates it from \u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03b1 (amart\u00eda<\/em>), which is Greek for \u201csin.\u201d Despite mistranslations, stumbling and sinning are not the same. Jesus is talking about doing something that causes the downfall of others, or something that might bring yourself down. Rather than causing yourself or others to stumble, it\u2019s best to remove the stumbling block. That way, everyone can share the road in safety.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Focusing on the Needs of the Traumatized<\/h2>\n

Further, Jesus advocates focusing on the needs of minorities, rather than focusing on the wants of a majority that is already in a safe place.<\/strong> In verses 10-14<\/a><\/span>, the Good Shepherd says:<\/p>\n

"

\u201cTake care that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For that one little lamb, getting lost is traumatic.<\/strong> Jesus tells his followers to focus on the needs of the traumatized\u2014even if they are as little as one percent, rather than guarding the safety of the rest\u2014though they be as many as ninety-nine percent. In Uncle Ron\u2019s case, this would mean that companies like Macy\u2019s and Heineken should consider changing their logos to accommodate the PTSD of the nation\u2019s veterans. In other cases, it means recognizing that society must move on from heroizing conquistadores, Confederates, crooked cops, and anybody else who oppresses others. To focus on the needs of minorities, we must learn the principles of trauma-informed care.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jesus and Trauma-Informed Care<\/h2>\n

In my article, \u201cJesus and Trauma-Informed Care<\/a><\/span>,\u201d I discuss how Jesus understands our pain.<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s a bit of an oversimplification, but not off the mark, to simply remember that the Golden Rule guides Trauma-Informed Care.\u201d If we want others to be sensitive to our trauma and make accommodations to avoid triggering our pain, then we should do the same for them. If we want people to be sensitive to avoid the red stars in our lives, then we must take steps to remove the flags, statues, and stumbling blocks from theirs.<\/p>\n

I encourage you to read \u201cJesus and Trauma-Informed Care<\/a>\u201d<\/span> to learn principles that guide us to treat others with compassion rather than judgment. <\/strong>Perhaps, like my Uncle Ron, you\u2019ve had a tough time adjusting to changes in society. Adjusting is as simple as following the Golden Rule, and treating others the way you\u2019d like to be treated.<\/p>\n

Or maybe you\u2019re like me and you have Uncle Rons in your own life.<\/strong> You might have a clever zinger that you hope will help them see things from your perspective. But your words, like Confederate cannonballs, may go right over their heads. If we want them to focus on the Golden Rule, the best thing is for us to start with that as well. Have compassion for their inability to change. Find out what trauma in their lives created their defensiveness. By addressing their pain, you may be able to help them heal and learn.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

To read more, check out these important websites:<\/h3>\n\nCharlottesville\u2019s Robert E. Lee statue melted down through Swords Into Plowshares initiative<\/a><\/span><\/li>\nSwords Into Plowshares<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n*******************
** *******************\u00a0<\/p>\n

Note:<\/h3>\n

*Contrary to widespread belief, Jesus\u2019 reference to a hell of fire does not indicate a damnation of eternal conscious torment. Click here to read my article, \u201cFun-Damn-Mentalists: What I Don\u2019t Believe About Hell<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What do Macy\u2019s Department Store and Confederate generals have in common? They\u2019re both stumbling blocks that retraumatize people. Recently, I spent some time with my much-loved Uncle Ron, who is eighty. He\u2019s a Vietnam vet who retired from the US Army after a full career of active duty. 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Smith","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca2ee2013d5109deb11b902c4746d9f1?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca2ee2013d5109deb11b902c4746d9f1?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Gregory T. Smith"},"description":"Gregory T. Smith lives in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia and works in social services in northern Washington State. Before this work, he pastored churches in Virginia for more than twenty-five years, while writing the long-running newspaper column \u201cSpirit and Truth.\u201d He is a regular blogger at Patheos.com and a contributing author to Quoir books including Sitting in the Shade of Another Tree: What We Learn by Listening to Other Faiths, and Quantum Theology, Vol. 2. Greg holds a degree in Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and pursued additional theological studies at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He is married to Christina, and together they have seven children and a growing number of grandchildren. His book, \"Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Way of Love\" is scheduled for publication this fall.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/revgregsmith\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gregsmithbreathingspace\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ca\/revgregsmith\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/revgregsmith1"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/author\/gsmith\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4628"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/breathingspace\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

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