An Apology to Conservative White Americans

Well, this is a difficult message to deliver, but it’s necessary, given recent events in America.I’ve done a good deal of painful soul-searching over the past two weeks, facing the truth about my past and coming to terms with my failures as both a human being and as someone who aspires to be a leader.After many hours of honest reflection, prayer, and the support of wise counsel, I feel that in order to stay true to my convictions, I need to be completely transparent, regardless of the cost to me, both personally and professionally. They say the truth will set you free, and I hope it will set others free as well.As a member of the woke, radical Left, I wanted to apologize from the bottom of my heart for preventing Conservative white people from catching their fish, drinking their beer, driving their trucks, cutting their grass, feeding their dogs, wearing their boots, watching their games, and saying their prayers.Until the Turning Point Super Bowl Halftime Show, I never considered the plight of those across the aisle whose journeys have been so filled with adversity and hardship. Yet, seeing country singer Lee Brice bravely bare his soul in one of his people’s dudebro spirituals, inventorying the terrible injustices he’s had to carry through his life, I was shaken to my core. And later, as I watched the ageless, godly, perpetually relevant, jorts-adorned Kid Rock badly lip synching the word “Bawitdaba,” which I assume must be the mother tongue of his people, I found myself brought to tears. There in the purifying glow of red, white, and blue fireworks, I began to understand the ways my calls for equality and representation for every human being have been so hurtful toward white Evangelicals in America all this time; how my efforts to create a diverse and just nation where everyone was seen, heard, and respected must have served as a fresh reminder of their never-ending persecution.In retrospect, I can see how my actions and those of my fellow liberals have made the already Herculean task of being a straight white Christian in America that much more challenging, and I regret that. I am working behind the scenes to educate myself so that I can be more sensitive and self-aware in the future.I am terribly sorry for the harm I have caused, and I humbly ask for forgiveness. I hope this can be the start of a journey of healing and recovery for this oppressed, vulnerable, and obviously extremely fragile people group.And so, with a contrite heart, an awakened mind, and a steadfast commitment to building an America where beer-drinking, truck-driving, gun-toting white Christian people can finally, after 250 agonizing years, live freely and unfettered, I say to you, Bawitdaba, my lightly pigmented friends, Bawtidaba. You shall overcome.May this be my turning point…Sincerely,John Pavlovitz, The Beautiful Mess by John Pavlovitz is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnpavlovitz.substack.com/subscribe