New Year's resolution: End racism in 2016

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson

A prominent civil rights leader has an original way to end racism forever in 2016 – by simply admitting it never existed in the first place.

"My hope is that we are able to dispel the idea of racism being real," said Jesse Lee Peterson. "It is an illusion. Racism does not exist. It has never existed. It's a lie."

Peterson, a WND columnist, argues the concept of "racism" artificially divides Americans of different skin colors and provides an excuse not to address the real causes of social problems. As the founder and president of BOND, a nonprofit dedicated to rebuilding black families, Peterson told WND issues need to be confronted on a moral basis, rather than seeing everything as a result of race.

"I believe that if we can get rid of that idea that racism exists, then we start to clean up the mess," Peterson said. "Unite the races. That's what I’m hoping for this year. I want to see the races come together as one, as Americans.

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"And then we can start dealing with real issues in life, like rebuilding families, making sure kids get a good education, respecting authority, loving one another as Americans, uniting as one. That's what made this country great and that's what's going to return it back to greatness. We have to come back as Americans."

How to do that?

Peterson argues any effort to solve inequality, poverty and social problems has to begin by confronting out of wedlock births and the collapse of traditional family values. It's a theme he expounds on in his new book, "The Antidote: Healing America From the Poison of Hate, Blame, and Victimhood."

"I'd like to see parents getting married and setting a good example for their children," said Peterson. "They can set an example for their children and their children can see the right way to grow up and the right way to live and treat themselves and treat others."

According to the most recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 40 percent of all births in the United States are to unwed parents. The black community has been especially hard hit, with an astounding 71 percent of black children born out of wedlock.

Researchers from both the left and right political positions have found a strong two-parent family is "the best environment to rear children."

Peterson believes the lack of strong families, especially among many black Americans, is at the root of "hateful" protest movements such as Black Lives Matter.

"It's easy to deceive them because their angry," said Peterson. "In my book, I show what happens when children don't have mothers and fathers to guide them."

Peterson also shared some of his other hopes for the new year. He identified three critical issues where he wanted to see progress.

First, he identified the lack of jobs as undermining the ability of many Americans to be proud and self-sufficient.

"I want to see jobs come back," he said. "A lot of folks are out of work in this great nation. I deal with them all the time, and they are suffering due to the lack of work and opportunities in America today. I want to see come back."

Second, Peterson called for lower taxes as part of a larger effort to help the economy.

"Lower taxes mean more small business can start and those that already exist can hire more people," he argued.

Third, Peterson said he wanted to see strong action when it comes to protecting America's national security, especially when it comes to fighting Islamic terrorism.

"We don't feel safe in America today," Peterson said. "We're under attack. We're at war with radical Islam. Terrorists want to kill us because we are a Judeo-Christian nation. In their eyes, we're the Great Satan.

"At any point, we could be attacked. At a mall, at a movie theater, on a crowded freeway, anywhere now. A lot of folks don't feel safe, and we want to feel safe again."

However, Peterson charged all of these issues are simply smaller parts of a larger moral crisis. Americans face a "tough year" ahead, Peterson warned. But he suggested if Americans overcome artificial divisions, especially those surrounding the concept of race, "we can change it."

"My hope is to get rid of the idea that racism exists and let people know that it's a moral issue; it's battle between good and evil, right versus wrong," Peterson explained. "And you have some folks on the side of good and some folks on the side of evil. And so the good folks unite together, never mind the color, never mind male or female. As long as you're on the side of good, come together as one and stand against those who are on the side of evil. And good can defeat evil.

"We need to be destroying things that are hurting and dividing the country and restoring things that unite us like economic opportunity, lower taxes, and people uniting as Americans, not African-Americans, or White Americans, or Asian-Americans or Hispanic Americans, but Americans. We need to become one, as it was when I was growing up."

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