Ned-I agree with you about being compassionate and having mercy. The MAGAs who represent all economic levels and geographic locations are afraid of losing white privilege because of the “browning of America”. They have to be convinced that living up to America’s ideals involving “unalienable rights”, “freedom”, “justice” and “equality” is not detrimental but good for all of us.
Ned-I agree with you about being compassionate and having mercy. The MAGAs who represent all economic levels and geographic locations are afraid of losing white privilege because of the “browning of America”. They have to be convinced that living up to America’s ideals involving “unalienable rights”, “freedom”, “justice” and “equality” is not detrimental but good for all of us.
Agree. The solution you propose is hard work. Racism is a telling example for me. I am a racist or, at least, I am prone (almost reflexively) to pre-judgement of Blacks. Either I can justify it or I can try to live up to being the man my parents raised me to be.
To do the latter, I have to dismiss the pre-judgement every time it pops into my wretched little mind, uninvited. In effect, I say from me to me, "Oh, you, again. Stop putting your arm around my shoulder. You are not wanted here."
While I will never extirpate the prejudice, it is sufficiently dulled for me to grasp, albeit imperfectly, the feelings of those dreaded 'coloured others' and view the upcoming 'white' minority in the U.S. as a historical opportunity.
Gina, I agree with a very good friend of mine. Because of the racial tensions in this country, the U.S. is likely the least racist country in the world since the awkward questions and their inevitably conflicting answers are on the table, out in the open.
Yes, we all have our judgemental parts that are components of our "wretched little mind{s}". One thing that we can do, while endeavoring to be self-aware enough to recognize it when it shows up, is acknowledge, then accept and even appreciate that this part is a protector of sorts; or thinks it is; comes from a primitive part of the brain. This takes it's power away and we can then exert conscious choice in the direction of our values. Easier said than done, of course.
The hard work, for me, comes subtle intellectual legerdemains. For example, with racism, using terms like racialism, tribalism, or concrete data of lower test scores.
Ned-I agree with you about being compassionate and having mercy. The MAGAs who represent all economic levels and geographic locations are afraid of losing white privilege because of the “browning of America”. They have to be convinced that living up to America’s ideals involving “unalienable rights”, “freedom”, “justice” and “equality” is not detrimental but good for all of us.
Agree. The solution you propose is hard work. Racism is a telling example for me. I am a racist or, at least, I am prone (almost reflexively) to pre-judgement of Blacks. Either I can justify it or I can try to live up to being the man my parents raised me to be.
To do the latter, I have to dismiss the pre-judgement every time it pops into my wretched little mind, uninvited. In effect, I say from me to me, "Oh, you, again. Stop putting your arm around my shoulder. You are not wanted here."
While I will never extirpate the prejudice, it is sufficiently dulled for me to grasp, albeit imperfectly, the feelings of those dreaded 'coloured others' and view the upcoming 'white' minority in the U.S. as a historical opportunity.
Gina, I agree with a very good friend of mine. Because of the racial tensions in this country, the U.S. is likely the least racist country in the world since the awkward questions and their inevitably conflicting answers are on the table, out in the open.
Yes, we all have our judgemental parts that are components of our "wretched little mind{s}". One thing that we can do, while endeavoring to be self-aware enough to recognize it when it shows up, is acknowledge, then accept and even appreciate that this part is a protector of sorts; or thinks it is; comes from a primitive part of the brain. This takes it's power away and we can then exert conscious choice in the direction of our values. Easier said than done, of course.
The hard work, for me, comes subtle intellectual legerdemains. For example, with racism, using terms like racialism, tribalism, or concrete data of lower test scores.