White Privilege.
I wrote the title before I thought of the words. I figure if this is something to be published, they will come to me. If not, then the words fall to the ultimate delete button anyways and at this point could write whatever I want. "I secretly love the texture of cardboard and wish more foods were like it."
Nonetheless, let me start by saying that "white privilege" as I mean here is not from the perspective of advantage as it relates to the world's view. If anything, it is a detriment many discriminatory people fall into that prevent seeing the bigger picture. I feel "white privilege" in our perspective and growth in the world is equivalent to trying to see the curvature of the earth by standing on the deck of your house. Sure, we might see something depending on how close the next door neighbor is from us or a building in our view, but we don't have all we need to see what is ultimately there.
However, if I want to truly see the curvature of the earth I want a sky view, like from space, like from those telescopes far above and maybe even pictures from the moon. I want to step way, way back and look at the entire picture first.
You see where this is going I hope.
I have been raised in a predominantly Christian, white, middle-class home my entire life. Also, Christian principals are the goal for the upbringing of my family. However, it does not entail that this physical location is where I want to stop growing, or even that this is where I am most satisfied. Instead, I want to see the world, even the parts I do not agree with. Certain cultural beliefs, or traditions, or religions of the world are a fascinating thing once a person allows them to be. Once a person takes a step back from their own shoes and sees people, doing, loving, and acting as to what they know.
I do not like conversations where a person is presenting. Like when I was a supervisor at a previous job and a candidate would sit for the interview and present, I hated that. Sure it is the nature of the beast, but come on, we are really going to act like this guy shaves that close, wears a tie, and sits that proper all the time, answering questions all perfect and thoughtful? No way man, not for anyone. I like the contextual stuff anyways. I Like noticing the difference between them as a employee, a coworker and them as they are at home. I personally like there to be no discrepancy, what you see is what you get, no matter where it is.
When someone is willing to present to me their truth, from wherever they stand it is so intimate. I appreciate it and find it fascinating. Now, if I have been wronged or inconvenienced in the past, or maybe my mood is crappy for some reason, yes, the ego speaks loud and clear of its dislike of a situation. Not that the ego (or for these purposes, separates me from you, is the definition of selfishness, with the main concern of getting my needs above all else here and now) isn't stimulated from time to time, but that it is my responsibility to notice these thoughts, behaviors, feelings as they arise and take a step back from the moment and see a person.
I think at our foundation, we can all agree that people, a set of cells, tissues, organs, are all individual beings with a brain that interprets things differently. We may all vary beyond that, however again just a start on what we can see together. Now, the brain that is formed in cultures, the experiences we have all lived through, like snowflakes, no two are the same. So, again, we can agree on that. Then, what logical sense does it make to find superiority in any way with anybody? Like, what logic is applied that puts such a separation from you and I, us and them?
Ah, now you see why I presented on the ego just now. You can see that we all have this need to self-preserve and as we age, we formed concrete beliefs to cling to and try to manipulate the environment to be what we believe. Our egos take control and drive the show, all the while knowing the ego is only concerned with now, not long term. The ego does not see afterlife, or people, the ego sees challenges to the self and does whatever it can to cover for the self. The weaker the self, the more the ego has to speak in its place.
I had seen a thing on CNN about this town in Pennsylvania that is being taken over by these pro-white groups, not sure of the name, and in the interview it appeared as though the gentleman they interviewed became irate and told the cameraman and crew to leave. Watching the man, it was obvious to me that generations before him have set this pattern, shaped this man's life, and therefore he has a concrete resolve he can sleep on at night, no matter how ignorant it is (by ignorant I do not mean derogatory, but lacking knowledge). It is sad to see such a misuse of brain matter on display. How this man, and others in that group could truly benefit and grow by taking a step back and seeing another person, another race's point of view.
Look, this thing could go on for a while, but it's a blog post, not a thesis paper. I guess what I am trying to say is that as a community we have the choice to not just will change, but to change our perspective on what we see. When a person damns or degrades another race, or even I am guilty of judging another's actions, it is not some bold, strong act of a man who whoops and hollers threats, it is ignorance. Any man who claims he is separate from another is really self-preserving and it ultimately displays a weak self.
It is not a justification nor a way to let anyone off the hook, but an empowering view for those who see this in their own lives and from others. You are seeing an ego-driven behavior that is protecting an ultimately, extremely weak self. If that ego gets penetrated or those walls come down, what you will see is a weak, scared little boy who missed something in life. A truly sad story.
We cannot be so ignorant to deny death and that we came to this world nothing and we leave that way too. When we get past the egocentric ways of a mind that lacks the potential to see beyond this world, we see the most pure and beautiful connections and willingness to love. In general, we all have the potential to love and to see outside of ourselves and it only makes sense we exercise that right. It makes sense in all aspects of this life and beyond and gets back to the foundation of human existence. We are not different, we have different circumstances, different experiences, but on the inside, past the ego, we are the same.
Hate produces hate, and ignorance reinforces it. So, with a perspective shift, that comment from a friend, coworker, the separation from you and I, them and us, can be taken for what it truly is, a fearful human too scared to accept we are all the same.
God Bless.
Castle-Broken: When appearances are everything, available on Amazon. Body image disorders suck and they interfere with our ability to connect. Click Here.
Nonetheless, let me start by saying that "white privilege" as I mean here is not from the perspective of advantage as it relates to the world's view. If anything, it is a detriment many discriminatory people fall into that prevent seeing the bigger picture. I feel "white privilege" in our perspective and growth in the world is equivalent to trying to see the curvature of the earth by standing on the deck of your house. Sure, we might see something depending on how close the next door neighbor is from us or a building in our view, but we don't have all we need to see what is ultimately there.
However, if I want to truly see the curvature of the earth I want a sky view, like from space, like from those telescopes far above and maybe even pictures from the moon. I want to step way, way back and look at the entire picture first.
You see where this is going I hope.
I have been raised in a predominantly Christian, white, middle-class home my entire life. Also, Christian principals are the goal for the upbringing of my family. However, it does not entail that this physical location is where I want to stop growing, or even that this is where I am most satisfied. Instead, I want to see the world, even the parts I do not agree with. Certain cultural beliefs, or traditions, or religions of the world are a fascinating thing once a person allows them to be. Once a person takes a step back from their own shoes and sees people, doing, loving, and acting as to what they know.
I do not like conversations where a person is presenting. Like when I was a supervisor at a previous job and a candidate would sit for the interview and present, I hated that. Sure it is the nature of the beast, but come on, we are really going to act like this guy shaves that close, wears a tie, and sits that proper all the time, answering questions all perfect and thoughtful? No way man, not for anyone. I like the contextual stuff anyways. I Like noticing the difference between them as a employee, a coworker and them as they are at home. I personally like there to be no discrepancy, what you see is what you get, no matter where it is.
When someone is willing to present to me their truth, from wherever they stand it is so intimate. I appreciate it and find it fascinating. Now, if I have been wronged or inconvenienced in the past, or maybe my mood is crappy for some reason, yes, the ego speaks loud and clear of its dislike of a situation. Not that the ego (or for these purposes, separates me from you, is the definition of selfishness, with the main concern of getting my needs above all else here and now) isn't stimulated from time to time, but that it is my responsibility to notice these thoughts, behaviors, feelings as they arise and take a step back from the moment and see a person.
Lots of language, but I like the message.
I think at our foundation, we can all agree that people, a set of cells, tissues, organs, are all individual beings with a brain that interprets things differently. We may all vary beyond that, however again just a start on what we can see together. Now, the brain that is formed in cultures, the experiences we have all lived through, like snowflakes, no two are the same. So, again, we can agree on that. Then, what logical sense does it make to find superiority in any way with anybody? Like, what logic is applied that puts such a separation from you and I, us and them?
Ah, now you see why I presented on the ego just now. You can see that we all have this need to self-preserve and as we age, we formed concrete beliefs to cling to and try to manipulate the environment to be what we believe. Our egos take control and drive the show, all the while knowing the ego is only concerned with now, not long term. The ego does not see afterlife, or people, the ego sees challenges to the self and does whatever it can to cover for the self. The weaker the self, the more the ego has to speak in its place.
I had seen a thing on CNN about this town in Pennsylvania that is being taken over by these pro-white groups, not sure of the name, and in the interview it appeared as though the gentleman they interviewed became irate and told the cameraman and crew to leave. Watching the man, it was obvious to me that generations before him have set this pattern, shaped this man's life, and therefore he has a concrete resolve he can sleep on at night, no matter how ignorant it is (by ignorant I do not mean derogatory, but lacking knowledge). It is sad to see such a misuse of brain matter on display. How this man, and others in that group could truly benefit and grow by taking a step back and seeing another person, another race's point of view.
Look, this thing could go on for a while, but it's a blog post, not a thesis paper. I guess what I am trying to say is that as a community we have the choice to not just will change, but to change our perspective on what we see. When a person damns or degrades another race, or even I am guilty of judging another's actions, it is not some bold, strong act of a man who whoops and hollers threats, it is ignorance. Any man who claims he is separate from another is really self-preserving and it ultimately displays a weak self.
It is not a justification nor a way to let anyone off the hook, but an empowering view for those who see this in their own lives and from others. You are seeing an ego-driven behavior that is protecting an ultimately, extremely weak self. If that ego gets penetrated or those walls come down, what you will see is a weak, scared little boy who missed something in life. A truly sad story.
Hate produces hate, and ignorance reinforces it. So, with a perspective shift, that comment from a friend, coworker, the separation from you and I, them and us, can be taken for what it truly is, a fearful human too scared to accept we are all the same.God Bless.
Castle-Broken: When appearances are everything, available on Amazon. Body image disorders suck and they interfere with our ability to connect. Click Here.
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