America’s ‘original sin’

The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments that could reverse the remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act. At the heart of the debate lies the role race plays in drawing voting district maps. The conservative majority argues that the law, passed in the 1960s, has outlived its necessity — that the era of segregation is behind us.

But time alone does not erase injustice.

In Christian theology, original sin marks humanity’s fall from grace — a stain that persists across generations until baptism. It is not a moment, but a condition. By analogy, America’s original sin is slavery. Its legacy is indelible, woven into the fabric of our history. No amount of time or policy can fully expunge its impact.

To suggest that human nature is blind to bias, bigotry or racism is a dangerous fallacy. We all carry, to varying degrees, a discomfort with “the other.” Recognizing this truth is not an indictment, it is a call to humility.

As we navigate the future of voting rights, we must resist the temptation to retreat into the comfort of white privilege, ignoring the lived experiences of those historically and currently marginalized. We are not separate. We are not immune. We are them, and they are us.

Lawrence F. Buettner

Inverness