LOIE
Gold Member
- May 11, 2017
- 954
- 325
- 190
I’ve seen videos and pictures of people helping each other deal with natural disasters. People point to these as proof that racism no longer exists in America. That we are now color blind and honestly, truthfully care for one another.
What I see in these particular incidents is shared pain and shared fear. In the extreme emotions of the moment, we totally forget everything but survival. We see others in the same boat and reach out to them so they can also survive. We do not stop to think about their skin color, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Our hearts take over. Our better natures take over. We respond immediately, without thought.
However, I believe when it comes to every day interactions with people who differ from us, we often let our minds take over. We analyze their actions, belittle their behavior, and criticize their choices. Because we have not seen or felt their pain. It has not affected us directly. We may even deny that their pain actually exists. We may not even accept that their day to day realities are very different from our own.
Maybe one day we will be able to reach out to each other in love without being pushed together by Mother Nature.
What I see in these particular incidents is shared pain and shared fear. In the extreme emotions of the moment, we totally forget everything but survival. We see others in the same boat and reach out to them so they can also survive. We do not stop to think about their skin color, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Our hearts take over. Our better natures take over. We respond immediately, without thought.
However, I believe when it comes to every day interactions with people who differ from us, we often let our minds take over. We analyze their actions, belittle their behavior, and criticize their choices. Because we have not seen or felt their pain. It has not affected us directly. We may even deny that their pain actually exists. We may not even accept that their day to day realities are very different from our own.
Maybe one day we will be able to reach out to each other in love without being pushed together by Mother Nature.