I can't for the life of me imagine that God would say, 'I will punish you because you are black; you should have been white. I will punish you because you are a woman; you should have been a man. I punish you because you are homosexual; you ought to have been heterosexual. I can't, I can't for the life of me believe that that is how God sees things.
Interpretation
The quote conveys the idea that God does not judge individuals based on race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Desmond Tutu's quote challenges societal prejudices by expressing a belief in a compassionate and inclusive God. He emphasizes that divine judgment should not be based on superficial characteristics such as race, gender, or sexual orientation, suggesting that God values the essence of a person over societal biases. This perspective encourages acceptance and love among all individuals, irrespective of their identities.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about equality and civil rights.
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
There's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year.
I don't think I should accept other people's suffering because I suffered. Just the opposite, because I suffered I don't want others to suffer.
Heaven cannot but be high. Earth cannot but be broad. The sun and moon cannot but revolve. All creation cannot but flourish. To do so is their TAO. But it is not from extensive study that this may be known, nor by dialectical skill that his may be made clear. The true sage will have none of these.
I cheat him, I deceive him, yet the world does not sink in sulphur-colored mists. Madness conquers. I can no longer put my mosaics together. I just cry and laugh.
I believe that men are generally still a little afraid of the dark though the witches are all hung, and Christianity and candles have been introduced.
How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.
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