- Mar 11, 2015
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First, the white man unloads his frustrations and his views on Black Lives Matter, the NFL anthem protests. There are even potshots taken against 2Pac and Eminem.
Then the black man reacts. He takes on white privilege, cultural appropriation, and attacks against former President Barack Obama.
Throughout the song, both men insist "I'm not racist."
And to you these things are the same. But they aren't.
Of course they're not the same IM2
That's the whole problem with "racism" is people projecting
judgment on each other because of their own experiences
and perceptions that are relative and can't be judged by comparing any one to any one else.
What I got out of this video was both men were projecting
and expression their feelings and experiences about injustice
and feeling JUDGED well knowing the "other side" has no clue what it feels like from their viewpoint
So both feel separated, alienated and misjudged by the other.
They may never get what it feels like to walk in each other's shoes
But hearing the mutual grief and frustration,
clearly there's commonality in the struggle the problem of not being able to connect
and understand unless you've been living the other person's life. Nobody can
know what that feels like, only our own path an dperspective.
So in our aloneness and alienation, we find we aren't alone.
The other person and other side is stuck in frustration also
and feels nobody understands.
IM2 of course the pain and struggle that Whites and Blacks go through
is not the same.
The problem is trying to compare and justify judgments.
When we try to compare and compete, that's the recipe for
human misery. We all have to learn to make the most of
what we have and our potential. .Sure it's better if we can
support each other instead of tear each other down.
But in the meantime, all each of us can do is make sure
WE are not the ones tearing others down. We can't help
if other people aren't ready to lift each other up.
We can just make sure we are ready for that change
and try to lift others up not tear others down.
We start with ourselves, with the people around us
we relate to. And do our best to support and promote
positive change. The other relations and groups that
are more negative or resistant, will come later in time.
All people go through that process, regardless of
background, class or culture. We all learn to pick our
battles, prioritize changes, forgive what we can and
work on what bothers disturbs or stresses us.
We all go through grief and recovery.
The rest of what we experience that fills that framework
is unique to us as individuals and people of different
cultures, races, religions, political leanings, classes, etc.
The process is universal, and these men in the video
are equally expressing their frustrations regardless
how different they are. In expressing and releasing
what we feel experience think and believe, without
feeling stifled silenced or judged, that allows
for healing. So we learn to let go and accept
what has gone on and gone wrong.
What we can do from now on is not ADD
to that grief, but resolve not to repeat hold
on to or project that grief forward.
So forgiveness and letting go ARE the key
to WORKING on change with clear minds
and hearts so we operate and relate more effecively.
We may never understand or do justice to what others
experience. We can share in the common process
of resolving and healing, so we can work together
in the future in ways that don't repeat this same painful
process, but accelerate the healing and the learning curve.
Thanks for posting your honest take on
this which is essential to further the process,
which is bigger than any one of us and
we all contribute to it so it is complete and whole.
Emily you have your opinion, but racism is not something that you put in quotes. It's real. And you know it.
What you must do is stop lecturing me about what not to do and begin telling these whites around here about ending their racism because that is what adds to the grief.