White guilt.

In the December interview ("Racist like me"), Jon Nilson's philosophy is classic liberal angst that cannot accept people for being people. By saying racism is "America's original sin," Nilson implies we invented it here. Later he claims that "slavery begins shortly after the appearance of white people on this continent." That's plain false. The Incas, Aztecs, and Mayans all had slaves and sacrificed them frequently to the gods. However, Europe and America did develop the consciousness to eliminate slavery and embrace Martin Luther King Jr. and the goal of racial equality. Nilson barely acknowledges that.

Nilson is right about white benefits, except that they're not white. They're colorblind and depend more on social class, savings, and behavior than on race.

And most people who live in the suburbs didn't flee the inner city. They left because they actually like grass and trees and space between houses. I'm all for a countercultural church, but it should be focused on real issues, not artificial "guilt."

Save us from Nilson's self-indulgent navel-gazing. Instead get involved in your parish or community service club to help the poor, and you'll find all the black, Latino, and other friends you could want.

Pat Henry

East Longmeadow, Mass.

U.S. CATHOLIC is to be commended for publishing the interview with theologian Jon Nilson. And not a moment too soon either!

A theologian of the stature of Father Charles E. Curran acknowledges candidly in his memoir Loyal Dissent (Georgetown University Press): "I am aware that I have failed in my writing to deal with the issue of racism in our church and in our country.... Only recently have I become aware of the related and deeper problem of white privilege, which is systemic in our society. I enjoy many privileges because I am white, but these privileges come at the expense of Afro-Americans who lack them."

Thanks for making a contribution toward raising our consciousness in this important matter.

Father John B. Pesce

West Hartford, Conn.

Nilson has some good thoughts. However, if he truly wants to examine his tendency toward racism, all he needs to do is leave his comfortable post and relocate to an area where he is the minority--without the comfort of knowing his relocation is temporary. He would then have ample opportunity to experience firsthand the absence of Peggy McIntosh's list of white privileges.

It's easy to be tolerant from a safe place. It is much harder (and much more rewarding) to struggle daily to practice tolerance and charity as the minority in a racially and culturally charged atmosphere.

Kay Hockey

Albuquerque, N.M.