“So did you hear what he said?”
“Yea, what a neanderthal. Can you believe there are people who still think like that?”
“I know, I know. It’s like evolution just stopped or something.”
“He probably doesn’t even believe in evolution.”
“Yea… hey man, you look like a smart guy, what do YOU think?”
“Me? I think about a lot of things.”
“Yea but, what do you think about what HE said? Is he stupid, or just the biggest homophobic, racist, sexist, lying criminal asshole ever?”
“I don’t know the man, but as to what he said, I didn’t quite hear that. What exactly did he say?”
“He said the usual homophobic, racist, sexist, lying criminal asshole stuff. I can hardly hear it myself it makes me so furious. Blah blah blah we are the greatest country in the world because we shoot black, brown and queer men and our women know their place kinda crap!”
“I doubt he said that exactly, but I hear you. Bigotry is an ugly thing, in any manifestation. I admire your passion and intention to drive positive social change but wouldn’t it be more effective to focus on your own actions rather than allowing his, to trigger you into behaving as if you’re the bigot that you judge him to be? Doesn’t that just play into his hands? Assuming, of course that he isn’t simply stupid.”
“Are you saying I’M the bigot now?”
“Hey man, you better check yourself. She asked you a question smart guy, and I’d like to hear… ”
“I think he answered my question. He’s right to point out how passion (however well intentioned) can be used against the ones expressing it. And I agree that I do need to focus on effective action rather than flying off the handle and giving the enemy more ammo. I get it, and I meditate on this stuff all the time. But sometimes this all just drives me crazy! I mean, Mother Earth just can’t take all this much longer. We have GOT to do something. We have got to stop destroying the planet simply to feed the egos of a few rich white men!”
“Yea baby! You go girl. I’m voting for YOU!”
“I think you both have a lot to offer the future… such as it could be. Barring some random cataclysm (either human stupidity or celestially generated) making it all for naught, of course. I’m not a fatalist and I refuse to fall prey to cynicism but I would invite you to adjust your expectations a bit. To try and expand your awareness of the filters through which you are experiencing the people who you are identifying as “the other”.
“WE are the ones being “other-ed” my friend. Or… at least they did it first… umm… I know that doesn’t sound right. Like I’m simply using their “us versus them” tactic to justify my own… you know what I mean?”
“Yes, I understand that it seems paradoxical. And it is, in a way. But what is really going on here is simply a growth process. Correction… a very complex growth process. See, growth always includes discomfort because development demands the inclusion, the incorporation of the previously dominant paradigm. That which transcends, must include. A foundation to build upon. Otherwise pathology is attached and a truly new paradigm becomes impossible as old patterns that should have fallen away naturally, re-emerge. With renewed vigor and destructiveness.
To simply evolve is not necessarily desirable. “We” have become a species that is learning to self-direct elements of our own evolution. This has great potential to result in outcomes easily seen as either positive or negative, but are more likely to be some combination of both.”
“I think my friend and I, would like to hear more of your ideas about our potential. What say you?”
“Yea Dude. Give it up. I like yer style. Let’s hear more.”
“Ok, but it may take awhile.”
——
To be continued…
Blessed…
m(___)m
