It's important to LISTEN to people you don't think you identify with. Doing so levels your head, and broadens your heart.
But I guess it's human nature -- or laziness -- to just want to run around and have our biases confirmed, so that we feel even more grounded in a position we already poured cement on years ago.
When atheists see "God," they tend to tune out.
When anarchists see "state," they tend to tune out.
When communists see "capitalism," they tend to tune out.
When omnivores see "veganism," they tend to tune out.
When round-earthers see "flat earth," they tend to tune out.
When we see something we think lacks relevance or desirability, we actually stop seeing it.
With the help of our subconscious, we make quick decisions/presumptions about what is and isn't worthy of our time and attention. But how often do we stretch ourselves with a true learner's stance?
When's the last time we instructed our subconscious to INCLUDE data that benefits our growth, even when it seems to oppose what we think we know so well? Especially then.
From this interview between Karen Straughan and Chris Cantwell, I took these three take-aways:
Cantwell wants to live among his own, and not live among Blacks and Jews. Why is that a problem? Does someone WANT to be an unwanted neighbor? Not me. Even if it's my legal right to live across the street from, or next door to, a white nationalist... why on earth would I want to? It is much more enjoyable to live where you are wanted, not loathed. And being wanted can never be forced or mandated.
Being unwanted on the basis of my skin color and ethnic origins is not a statement about my worth and value. It's a statement of someone else's smallness. I won't make it mine. Also, I recognize no race as supreme to my own... so the logic of my language finds no truth in the deluded term, 'white supremacist.'
This article shows how a child's innocent perception is destroyed, and racism is seeded. And THE LAST THREE MINUTES of the video at the top of this post, shows how racism is triumphed. Johnny Lee Clary, a former Imperial Wizard in the KKK, explains the role Rev. Wade Watts played in his transformation. <--- If nothing else, please at least watch those last 3 minutes. I promise, you'll be glad you did! :-)
