I
like to use this blog as a forum to give a different perspective on difficult
issues and hopefully inspire a more open-minded and open-hearted view. Through
awareness of another’s reality, we can create greater understanding and
compassion, and hopefully change. This week, I’m focusing on the importance of
compassion from the uncomfortable lens of racism that I have personally witnessed.
I’m
not talking about the extreme acts of racism in the Middle East and Ferguson that
are being blasted at us through the media, but instead on the more subtle ways our
society perpetuates the degradation of particular races of people. These
quieter acts often go unnoticed by those who seemingly have the advantage
through race, or gender or sexual orientation since it’s not in their scope of
reality. I’m going to share a few of my experiences to
show how insidious this form of racism is.
1) My good friend and colleague and
I were having lunch at the airport, waiting for our flight after a business
meeting. The waitress came up to our table, turned her back to my friend and asked
me what I wanted to order, never making eye contact with my friend or
acknowledging her in any way. I ordered, yet was very confused about what was happening.
My friend casually called out her order, even though the waitress was still
very purposefully ignoring her. I was appalled and sharply asked the waitress
if she got my friend’s order. She nodded to me,
“yes”, and then walked away without ever acknowledging my friend. I was enraged
and tried to talk to her about it. She just shrugged it off like it was no big
deal, saying “I just want to have a quiet lunch.”
2) I went with a DJ friend of mine
to a club where he was going to be spinning. He attempted to have a
conversation with the club owner about his upcoming scheduled gigs and the
owner was very condescending and dismissive. When my friend stepped away for a minute, the
club owner proceeded to hit on me. Needless to say, I was very dismissive to
the club owner, and when I later brought it up to my friend, he said sometimes
you have to put up with a few a-holes here and there.
3) I was in a department store
looking through racks of clothes and I glanced around and saw what looked like
a mother with her teenage daughter, also shopping. I didn’t give it much
thought until I noticed the store clerk not so subtly shadowing them. She was looking
at them like she’d already decided that they were going to try and steal. I saw
absolutely nothing in the way this woman and her daughter were acting that put
off the vibe of anything other than honest clothes shopping. I saw the tired
expression on the woman’s face while she was over polite to the clerk in an
attempt to diffuse any threat that she and her daughter presented.
Can
you imagine having to put up with this type of behavior day in and day out?
I’ve certainly experienced derogatory acts as a female, but extremely rarely because
of the color of my skin. For those of you who have never had to worry about
being perceived in a certain way simply because of your skin color, or your gender,
or your sexual orientation, it can be hard to fathom such things happening in
this day and age, but they do. And by the way, each of the situations above
happened in California, in areas considered tolerant of diversity.
It’s
these everyday acts of racism that perpetuate feelings of powerlessness and
frustration in certain fractions of society, and it’s up to each and every one
of us to change this. We must all become more aware of these acts of racism directed
toward our sisters and brothers, and through this awareness demand change. Let’s
call the offenders out on their actions Let’s let go of any guilt, shame, or
defensiveness we may be carrying if we’re labeled as having some sort of privilege,
and instead use the leverage we have to help equal the scales. It’s time for
compassion and understanding. We’re better than this, I know we are. It’s time.
Holding
faith in the human race…
With
Love.
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From Over There: 8.24.14 Weekly
Focus
Live by the law of compassion.
This is the only true law in which to govern your actions by. The human laws that
you impose upon yourselves are simply structures that represent current cultural
beliefs. It is the evolved mindset that steps past these structures when they
are divisive or promote inequitable treatment to members of society. Governing yourself
in a state of compassion is the way to promote equality for oneself and all.
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This week’s question:
Q: How can those who are in a
position of advantage within the structures of a society gain greater
understanding of those who may be treated as a lesser valued member of that
society? How can we all use this understanding to change the cultural dynamic
to a more level playing field?
A.
When one accepts responsibility for the well-being of all then one understands
the power of their own actions. As each individual shifts their perspective of
viewing the planetary population as one global community, then one by one,
change can occur. It is for those in the position of the perceived advantage to
allow the potential for discomfort when awareness of the truth sets into
consciousness. This is not to promote shame, it is to use the power of the
perceived advantage to bring awareness to the inequity. It is to release any
attachment to the perceived advantage and understand that doing so will bring
balance to the whole. When one is attached to the perceived advantage they hold,
it promotes fear and blocks the flow of abundance. Holding onto the perception
of advantage blocks emotional and spiritual growth. To bring balance to the
whole is the path to true abundance and enlightenment for all.
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NOTE: If you have a question
that you'd like a channeled answer to, please send it in. I'll first respond
privately and then post the answer in this blog, anonymously, of course. Thanks
& Blessings!
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