A question of race

When I think about racist attitudes, I like to remember how my grandmother handled racism.

She spent most of her life in a working-class, all-white neighborhood. As she became older, though, the family became more concerned about the growing crime rate where she lived and her daughters finally convinced her to move ten or fifteen miles across town to be closer to them. She was reluctant to move because the area where her daughters lived was integrated.

But she finally agreed. She found a nice little house, and the family got together to help her move in. More importantly, after the actually met some black people she completely changed her ideas about race. She was in her seventies, but not too old to learn something new about people. I've always been impressed by her change in attitude.

That was in the 1970s. Everything was changing. Some of us thought that we could bring racism to an end.

But now it's stronger than ever. I just read about the very unfortunate comment made by a radio talk show host. I won't repeat the comment. It was reprehensible. And very, very racist.

Why does this country have such a problem with race? It is not a universal problem. It is an American problem. And it's getting worse.

In the Qur'an, Allah said, "We have created you nations and tribes so that you may know each other, not that you may despise each other. The best of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous."

It's really is that simple. We are different. But the differences are not meant to overwhelm us. How boring would that be, anyway, if we were all alike?

And the best of any of us is he or she who is sincerely righteous.