The Privilege Of Freedom Of Speech...Use It Wisely

Hi!


So, Roseanne Barr took it upon herself to spew garbage, and it came back to bite her in the ass.


When, as recently as 1906. the United States tolerated a black man, namely Ota Benga, being kept in a cage in the Bronx Zoo alongside exhibits of monkeys. When as late as the 1960's, black citizens had to jump through ridiculous hoops to exercise their right to vote. When, in present day, police are being called because people of colour are doing mundane things like sleeping, having picnics, or hanging out at a Starbucks. When the scars are this fresh, with new abrasions still being inflicted, wounds tend to bleed at the slightest provocation.

Let's be clear, words dripping in racist slurs are not slight provocation. They crack open a wormhole that takes society back to a time filled with twisted misconceptions, hate, and abhorrent actions that prove the evil that can thrive in humanity if those that know better don't stand up.

As a person of Anglo European descent, with the translucent skin tone of an anaemic, albino unicorn, I know that is impossible for me to truly understand what it must feel like to be on the ugly end of the "N" word. That does not mean that I can't empathize. It doesn't mean I'm not sickened by it. It doesn't mean I can't recognize racism. It doesn't mean I should turn a blind eye and pretend it doesn't exist.

We are but one race. The human race. As the world gets smaller, with travel becoming more prevalent, the lines of black, white, and the countless tones in between become more and more blurred.

The intermingling of cultures, bringing the best from all worlds, will, someday,  bring forth a humanity devoid of the ability or desire to differentiate.

Borders are imaginary lines that were drawn in the sand by greed to divide the planet into yours, mine, and theirs. I can't help but think that isn't how the universe initially intended the world to be.

There has always been the need, by some, to make others feel "less than." The need, for some, to have others put in positions of servitude. The need to build themselves up by stepping on the backs of others. As these ideals have filtered through history, the colour, shape, and pedigree of the positions have shifted, but the basics are the same.

Push a segment of society down, for if you don't, it becomes impossible to feel superior.

The intermingling of cultures, bringing the best from all worlds, will, someday, bring forth a humanity devoid of the ability or desire to differentiate.

But I don't know if I am willing to wait. Don't spew racism and try to call it societal commentary or a joke. Have the courage to call it what it is. Don't tolerate it within your life. You don't have to. It's not impolite to call a racist remark racist. It's necessary.

Then, there are those that immediately tried to equate a misguided insult by Samantha Bee, aimed at Ivanka Trump to the Roseanne garbage.

There are two very distinct differences. One was racist, that other, was, at the most, distasteful.

One referred to a human being as an animal. The other, a human being, as part of a human being.

They are simply not even close to the same thing. If you can't see that, you are actively trying not to.

Just keep this in mind the next time you are cut off in traffic, or somebody rams a shopping cart into your car. I'm sure there are a few choice parts located on the lower half of the human anatomy,  that, even if they don't leave your mouth, come to mind.

If anything resembling the racist garbage that came from Roseanne is threatening to form in your mind or take shape in your mouth, under any circumstance, well, then you know, don't you? Time to rethink which human body part you would like to resemble. Heart and soul? Or are you aiming lower?

We live in a society where we have the privilege of freedom of speech. Use it wisely. Use it with care.


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This week I had the privilege to hang out with some people who took the time to read 'Once Broken" and then invited me to participate in the discussion, thereafter. Thanks to the "Bookies!" for inviting me!

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Well, that about does it for another week.....



May we all come to see that race is not a race at all, there is no prize for who gets to the end on top.
May we see that it's only by ripping off the blindfold, being willing to see, that we can make it stop.

May we be willing to truly learn from the mistakes of the past, fix ourselves, forge forward, creating a path clear of thorns.
May we be better, do better, for a history ignored is one repeated, the past has proved it, we've been warned.

May we learn to look at one another absent the lens of misconception.
May we learn to truly look at our treatment of others absent the lens of self-deception.

May we find the courage to call a lie a lie, racism, racism, the truth, the truth, be upfront.
May we always be able to see the difference between being called an ape and a ..........



Until next time....

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