Month: March 2022

Posted in Current Events, Philosophy, Political

The Taproot of Racism Runs Deep…Don’t remain silent

Posted on by simplebender

In a Nation founded on the premise of White dominance, it is little wonder overt and covert racism runs rampant. This, unfortunately, is manifested so profoundly in our schools. This should be an embarrassment to and a lesson for every one of us. We and our children weren’t born racists. Racism is taught. We taught them, as our parents taught us. And our social, financial, legal, and educational systems support those incendiary teachings. To be clear, we are all racists, to some degree or another.

There are only a few types of racists. Those who are flagrant and overt and those who are silent and covert. Both racists, but one more troublesome than the other. I am less incensed by those who are flagrant racists and homophobes than I am with those who sit silently by and let the chastisement and harassment continue. The first is a group who are hardened and feel aggrieved by any minority advancement and want only to turn the pages of history back. The other stands idly by giving support and approval by their silence. It’s said a stupid person is the most dangerous type of person. However, a strong case can be made for a knowing person who remains silent in the face of abuse and harassment is much more dangerous and perpetuates the offense.

To the students and youth of the Nation. You represent our future. You have access to information your parents and grandparents never had, can’t understand, or arrogantly choose to ignore. Listen, observe, critique, and analyze everything you have been, and will be, taught. Don’t rely on anything, or anyone, without critically assessing all sides of the issue. Determine for yourselves what is right, just, and fair and then continue to viscously challenge your own conclusions. Above all else, take your school and community back. Don’t be silent. Silence is tacit support and approval. Let your voice be heard. Call out and be intolerant of racial and gender slurs and harassment the second they happen. Support and befriend those who are targets. Be intolerant to this abuse as you would any abuse. Use the tools uniquely at your disposal. Utilize social media, in your school paper, and your school clubs and organizations to support the victims and take the power away from the perpetrators. Express your disapproval of teachers and administrators who fail to act. Expect more accountability. Have the moral compass and moral fiber to do what’s right to break the chain of abuse. Don’t ever be satisfied with the status quo because it is inherently and systematically racist.

To my white brothers and sisters, I’ll be as blunt as possible. We are a product and beneficiary of the Nation’s Anglo centric beliefs and social systems. We have never experienced racial intolerance to the extent those of any color have and probably never will. To be very clear, we are not the victim of racial discrimination, no matter how much affirmative action. We, collectively, have not suffered or experienced racial stress. No matter how personally affronted and insulted you might be with the slightest form of racial ridicule you feel it is dwarfed by that which minorities have and are experiencing every day and have experienced since the formation of the Nation. It is systemic and toxic and holding back this country’s ability to reach new heights and achievements. And for god’s sake, stop looking and hoping for the next ‘Great White Hope’ because she/he might be an LGBTQ of any color.

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Posted in Political

What would you do?

Posted on by simplebender

What would you do if everything you see around you points to the degradation and dissolution of principles you were taught? You believe the moral fiber of your life is being threatened and challenged. You believe the social system you’ve come to rely upon is being torn apart and there seems to be so little you can do.

What would you do if the media you rely upon repeatedly tells you exactly what you have come to believe? In-fact, the only news you see and hear tells you it’s worse, much worse, than you ever imagined. They espouse there are forces working every day to undermine the social order. They proclaim those forces are deeply embedded in the fabric of the government and constantly working to undermine and change history.

What would you do if the social media you follow is deluged by your online friends, those people you’ve never met all over the country, advocating the same rhetoric? A country wide collection of groupthinks. All forwarding more links to corroborating websites promoting unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and dark projections of your and the country’s future.

What would you do if the leaders whom you trust and adore, as if they were bigger than life, re-enforce everything you’ve seen, read, heard, and now completely believe? They tell you the fate of life and social order as you know it is at a dire tipping point. You are told, repeatedly, the fate of everything you believe in is at risk and it is up to you to rise up. They feed your fear and champion a calling for your action. Claiming it to be a calling only true believers can understand and follow.

What would you do if your religious leaders and teachers told you every time you entered the house of worship the moral fabric of the country is under attack? If you were told by your faith leader every moral fiber and the soul of your country and religion was under attack by the great Satan.

What would you do? Would you become flagrantly intolerant of anyone not believing like you? Would you become reclusive? Would you pick up arms and seek others like yourself? Would you become radicalized and become a jihadist, Antifa, or storm the Capital? Would you plot, with your brothers, an insurrection to defend your country and religion beliefs? What would you do? What will you allow yourself to become? This is us. This is where we are. This is where the world is to a greater or lesser degree. We see it play out across the world. No place is immune.

Or, would you pause for a few moments and ask yourself, challenge yourself, to look critically and dispassionately at everything you’ve seen or have been told? Would you question and seek alternatives? Would you just for a moment, consider maybe just maybe, you might not be completely correct, and other’s might be just as correct, and wrong, as you? Would you consider, just for a fleeting moment, another person’s perspective might have as much legitimacy as yours? Would you, could you, because you certainly should.   #NeverFeartheDream

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