SCHOOL APOLOGIZES FOR 81 YEARS OF RACISM

Among my many, many, many virtuous qualities is my ability to forgive. Heck, everyone makes mistakes except for me, so second chances are important.

But it has to be done right. And sneaking a statement onto the “about” page of your website to apologize for decades of racism — as Bob Jones University did overnight — in response to a Facebook petition is probably not in that category. Here’s the school’s apology:

For almost two centuries American Christianity, including BJU in its early stages, was characterized by the segregationist ethos of American culture. Consequently, for far too long, we allowed institutional policies regarding race to be shaped more directly by that ethos than by the principles and precepts of the Scriptures. We conformed to the culture rather than provide a clear Christian counterpoint to it.

In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.

So about that whole “no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level” thing, umm… yeah. I’m going to have to ahead and called BS on that.

You know, the whole interracial dating ban that lasted until 2000 and the non-admittance of black students for 20 years after desegregation kind of contradicts that statement.

Nice try, though. They almost had me fooled!