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Quick to Listen

Proximity to Poverty’s ‘Destructive Culture’

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3622 Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2018

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Writer Rod Dreher’s recent comments on poverty and immigration have sparked intense criticism by Christians and non-Christians alike. In a recent post, Dreher wrote about his conflicted feelings on Trump’s derogatory remarks about African countries by drawing a comparison to immigrants from these countries and public housing: Let’s think about Section 8 housing. If word got out that the government was planning to build a housing project for the poor in your neighborhood, how would you feel about it? Be honest with yourself. Nobody would consider this good news. You wouldn’t consider it good news because you don’t want the destructive culture of the poor imported into your neighborhood. Drive over to the poor part of town, and see what a s---hole it is. Do you want the people who turned their neighborhood a s---hole to bring the s---hole to your street? No, you don’t. Be honest, you don’t. Russell Jeung has lived with his family for more than two decades in one of Oakland, California’s most dangerous neighborhoods. While Jeung loves his community, living in the Murder Dubs hasn’t always been easy. When he was a graduate student, his laptop was stolen. He’s also witnessed shootings and knows sex traffickers work out of his neighborhood. “Do we want the poor’s ‘destructive culture’? No, of course not. The poor don’t want the destructive culture in their own communities,” said Jeung, who is also the chair of Asian American studies department at San Francisco State University. “Nobody wants murder, violence, or theft...All God’s children long for his wholeness, long for life to be lived under his rule and to have that peace and justice.” Russell joined associate digital media producer Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss our tendency to overly romanticize or stigmatize the poor, the best and worst times of life in Murder Dubs, and how Christians should decide where they live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.

0:11.0

Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.

0:14.5

Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.

0:28.8

Music Michael Del Rosario at Apologeticsguy.com. You are listening to Quick to Listen.

0:31.0

Each week we go beyond hashtags and hot takes to discuss a major cultural event.

0:36.0

I'm Morgan Lee.

0:37.0

I'm an associate digital media producer

0:38.7

here at Christianity today, and I am joined by editor-in-chief, Mark Geli. Hello. Good

0:45.0

afternoon. Good afternoon. It is a good afternoon. Even though it's overcast and cold. Yeah,

0:50.0

we're having fun in here. We're having fun. Put in having fun in here. And this is the day the Lord has made.

0:55.0

Let us rejoice and be glad.

0:56.0

Wow, you sound like you're having to work to cheer yourself up.

0:59.6

Yes, Mark is just sad.

1:00.9

If you can't golf or fish, down in the dumps.

1:03.7

Exactly.

1:04.4

All right.

1:04.8

Well, Mark, who is our guest today?

1:06.2

Our guest today is Russell Jung. He is a professor at San Francisco State University. In fact, he's chair of the Asian American Studies Department. He's the author of a number of books. Most recently, faithful generations, race, and new Asian American churches, as well as a spiritual memoir, a guest in exile. We're really excited to have them to talk about a kind of controversial event this week.

1:29.3

Hey, Russell, how are you?

1:30.4

Good.

1:30.8

Good to be here.

1:31.8

Are you in San Francisco right now?

...

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