Speaking Out: Inequity and Consciousness

Holocaust Memorial Washington Park Portland, ORLately, with the recent news of the Taryvon Martin case, I have felt a mighty weight about my total being. I continue to feel sad, angry, frustrated, and very disappointed that these tragedies occur in towns and cities in America. What does my authentic voice have to say? My question to myself is this, am I courageous enough to attmept to let my little voice be heard? And, secondly, what difference can I possibly make?

I listen and read what professional journalists with broad audiences have to say. I read how young black men are taught to be on guard, always looking behind themselves, walking down the street. I read how, from childhood, they are taught to present and maintain certain postures to stay safe. I hear how difficult it is for people of colour to move forward in business, in social, and in economic arenas. In our country, the United States of America, the inequity cannot go on. As human beings we must evolve and make caring for our fellow human beings a priority, no matter what color their skin, no matter their religion and no matter their gender. We, as a society, must evolve beyond the mentality that preaches and believes in the necessity of carrying a gun for self protection in one’s own house and neighborhood. As a society we must learn the art of being conscious. Reason must prevail.

Putting STOP into our vocabulary and actions must begin now. When we see that homeless man, woman, or young person on the street, STOP, if only long enough to say STOP! Really see! When we feel fear or anger bubbling to the surface, STOP! Just one second of STOP! We are just one second away from making a choice which could change our life or someone elses life forever. In consciousness we have that choice! Otherwise, we are slaves to our reactive habits.

Breath can be the answer to lasting and meaningful change. In becoming conscious to the beauty as well as the needs of humanity surrounding us, by stopping, listening and seeing, we can, at least, start changing our society one relationship, one encounter, at a time. In the larger picture, our society as a whole depends upon it. In that one second of breath, that one pebble dropping into the waters, change can begin to spread. We do have it in our power to change.

When I see my 8 year old Grandson walking in front of me with his hoodie over his head, I do not want to fear that in 10 years time he could be another Trayvon Martin case. Progess has been made in America, but we cannot be lulled into deeper unconsciousness and denial believing that we are there! There is still much work to be done. Learning to STOP, BREATHE, and take the opportunity to be CONSCIOUS in THAT MOMENT, is a very small start.

No Comments Permalink

Say something

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with a grey bar.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>