You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love...
Wouldn't it be great if we all had that?
A friend of mine is getting married. Her future in-laws are a bit hoity toity and we all said, "Hey, at least you're not getting married at the country club!" One of her friends, who is African-American, joked that she wouldn't be able to get in...and another friend joked that with my Jewish and Apache roots, I wouldn't, either.
But imagine if that was your reality? Less than fifty years ago, it would have been my reality.
Racial segregation may be over in the U.S., but sexism and homophobia are the sad reality in many parts of our country and the world.
What are you doing to help change that?
7 comments:
All of this stems from the idea that one person is better than another. I admire Martin Luther King Jr and what he stood for and what he did achieve with his life but racism still remains alive and well. One wonders if it will ever truly be gone. The thing that gets me is the claim that we have more slaves today in the world today then there was during the times of slavery in the USA. In Indonesia, children are left in the middle of the ocean on wooden platforms from which they cannot escape to catch and clean fish. They are there for years without pay and beaten if they do not perform. For many, equality is still a dream. I am saddened.
I wonder what MLK would think of the way his ideals were twisted into something unrecognizable.
On the bright side, there has been a lot of progress. This is a good day to celebrate it.
(Time for unneccessary, "witty" remark)
Tomorrow we can go back to ignoring it...
I try to teach my students that racism, sexism, homophobia...they are all wrong. I try to encourage them to get to know people as people, as individuals not labels.
Just by being loving to everyone all the time.
Thanks for the shout out. :) I used to go to country club events when I was growing up. My family didn't belong to it, but my best friend's family did. They actually were Jewish. My high school reunion was held at that same country club and I was struck by how shabby around the edges it looked now.
Don't forget transphobia too! I live with that on a daily basis.
Keep reading you for wisdom like this!
Hugs,
J
LGS: It is horrible to think about - I suppose the encouraging difference is that nowadays, it's an international atrocity, rather than being accepted. We have human slavery rampant in my own metro area in the form of human trafficking; I volunteer for an organization that rescues teens who are dragged into it.
Darth: True. Also kind of disgusting how some members of his family have profiteered off of his image, but the ideals are there.
C: That is awesome! That is the perfect age for them to learn that lesson as well.
L: I have learned a lot from you in that respect. :)
Joey: Good point...and I'm sorry. That is one of the things I try to educate people about in my outreach at work constantly.
JM: Awww! Thanks :)
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