Foxhole and Racism

Most of what I remember about my dad was that he was a rough, hardworking man before dementia buried him years before death put him in a coffin. Dirt poor, and too young to enlist, he somehow finagled his way into the Army. Though my dad spoke three different languages, he spoke little about his WWII experiences.

Let me set up a preamble before delving into dad’s Foxhole principle. In my many years of living, I’ve run across black racists, white racists, and racists of every shade between. I shrug off the racism as it applies to pigmentation, as racism knows only the heart of man. Black through white racists are merely dolts with polluted hearts. Isn’t that how the Word of God calls it? Isn’t it the heart that controls what bellows out of the lips that are attached to some facial covering with its own unique pigmentation?

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matt 15:18 KJV).

One day, my dad said, “Son, when you’re in a foxhole, and the enemy is all around, you don’t care who is in the foxhole with you, as long as he can shoot. Don't start caring when you step out.”

I believe my dad’s point is that anyone can plop down and into my foxhole at any time. And when we both emerge, I should love that man as I loved him while in the foxhole. I also believe dad was speaking to respect. Respect transcends racism, and it goes both ways. It is akin to relational communication where communication isn't just a Ping-Pong match.

Experience has taught me that racists are so mixed up in the head that the only way to help them change their mind is to surgically remove and replace their brain; that, or a change of heart that only God can provide.

I volunteered at a homeless shelter for over twenty years. During one shift, a black man came into the shelter needing help. I was on duty. Since I am a white male and him a racist, he initially refused to work with me. Maybe the young man had been taught by his peers to be a racist. Maybe some white man had treated him badly, whichever, he bunched all “white males” into one group. Nonetheless, if he wanted shelter or food at my facility, he would need to talk with me.

Ultimately, he needed someone to rely on, and I volunteered. I decided to jump into his foxhole. We shared life experience over a span of several weeks. Sure, communication was rough at first. Eventually, he would serve a short jail term. I kept my word and visited him during his jail term. Ultimately, I accepted the invitation to attend his baptism.

It is not about pigmentation; it is about the heart. E.g., I consider Lt. Col (Ret.) Allen West a true leader. Why? His heart! His heart speaks to patriotism and honor. It speaks to getting the job done to protect his men. It speaks to integrity. Believe me, integrity is about as colorblind as you can get. And I've met other leaders like West. Men and women I was blessed to serve under and with.

When facial pigmentation control’s a man’s heart, so be it. Ultimately that man will need to justify his toxic heart’s master to God. Good luck with that one, lamebrain.