I was thankful for each one of those officers.
I was also thankful for an evening to join together with five hundred people and acknowledge the mistakes of the past and commit to a different kind of future.
Anita Koddick said, “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”
What’s been going in the past few weeks is huge and it’s not going to be resolved overnight. But none of us should see ourselves as too small to have an impact when it comes to building bridges and creating change.
What about you? Have you been a part of any events or protests?Tell us about a relationship you have formed with someone who is from a different ethnic, religious, economic, or cultural background.
🙂 Anita Roddick is the person you quoted. She founded The Body Shop.
I have not gone to a march, but not because I’m not incredibly passionate about the cause. There are a multitude of reasons why I didn’t go, but if I had been in the south I would have gone for sure. This work for a better system is near and dear to my heart and recently I’ve given a few talks about how social and behavioral statistics are biased and much of our knowledge about humans and our systems is based in eugenics. (e.g. Body Mass Index is a measurement that can be traced to an influencer of the fathers of genetics).
And yep, my life is incredibly rich with people of all ethnicities, faith traditions, genders.. I have 2 sister-friends and one is white-LDS and the other is Palestinian Muslim in exile in Jordan. I have had people here in Oregon ask me why they are my friends – I am a very liberal Episcopalian and there are basic things we don’t agree on. I don’t know why they love me, but I love them just because they are good and kind, and we can laugh at each other. I am very lucky that they let me in their lives and the lives of the 11 children between them. My Palestinian friend’s entire family has welcomed me as one of them. I am so very lucky for them.
Brooke,
“They are good and kind and we can laugh at each other.”
Mix that in with the love you share and it’s no wonder you get along with so well with these friends who you normally “shouldn’t” get along with.
And how much richer is life, because of those people? You are blessed.
So glad to hear your demonstration was peaceful. We live about 20 min. from the Minneapolis downtown. Husband had to go to the eye doctor yesterday near downtown and afterwards took a different route home and it was disturbing to see such destruction to sooo many businesses that had been around for years. It’s took bad that those who did the destruction aren’t arrested and for part of their punishment to come and rebuild what they took away. In working for lawyers downtown, I worked with a man who was gay and had a gay partner. Unfortunately, his partner died from cancer. Also a man who had been married for 25 years, left his wife for a gay man. He has since passed away, dying from Cancer. All of these guys were good friends of mine. Have several black friends who are dear to me. Several years ago I watched “Roots” – it made me ill, to see how they were mistreated.
Sharyn
I can only imagine how you felt seeing those long standing businesses destroyed. And yes, it would be good if the destroyers were made to come back and rebuild. So much joy in building and rebuilding. Only anger in tearing down.
I know all the people you mentioned have been grateful for your friendship through the years. You (and they) have truly been blessed.
Glad to read the comments. Hope y’all are well. We are getting better. I had more strength today and cooked a pot of stew beef tonight. Have a great week. Prayers for Ken and Vernie. 💗🙏
Ann,
It’s such a great feeling to cook or clean a little after not being able to do it for a while. You start to feel sparks of your old self coming back. It was the perfect night for stew beef! Hugs.
I’m so glad you shared the pictures from your peaceful protest. While I did not participate, a teacher in our school district organized a march Saturday before last designed to teach our students how to peacefully protest. They met at one of the high schools to make posters and then marched to city hall where some of the students spoke. I was so proud to be part of a district not afraid to speak up. There was no violence and the police actually escorted/led the march to allow them to march down one of the main streets in “old downtown”. And this took place just 15 miles from where there had been looting and destruction/disruption in downtown Dallas. Seeing the photos of all races participating gives me hope in our young people and hope for our future they will lead.
Sue Ellen,
I love that a teacher took a wonderful opportunity to teach something beyond the 3 R’s, important as they are. But to teach a life lesson at a time like this was a wonderful thing. Kudos to him/her!
“Hope for our young people and hope for the future they will lead.” Such beautiful, true, HOPEFUL words.
I have pretty much been exposed to different cultures, ethnic groups, races, religions my whole life, growing up in NJ there is a little bit of everything, my mom was a social worker and always talked about inclusion and tolerance and compassion for others, our Thanksgiving table was an open house….she always reached out to everybody……I was baptized Methodist, grew up Presbyterian, my husband was baptized Catholic, grew up Unitarian, my stepfather was Jewish, my brother in law ,who was a Unitarian minister ,now attends Quaker services, my daughter joined a Baptist church in high school and then became fascinated with Buddhism in college so we are pretty much open minded. Living here in NC we are enjoying great integration and getting to know our neighbors from all over.
Dale,
So glad to hear how your life has been so enriched by the wonderful differences of the people you have encountered through the years.
Steve said in his sermon Sunday that the goal is not to be color blind but to celebrate the many colors, the many differences, the many wonderful things that people from all backgrounds contribute.
I love living in a world where everyone brings a little something different to the table. Such a great joy enjoy every contribution.
I didn’t go to a protest as I was concerned about exposing my family to COVID. As three of the four of us have disabilities we are being really cautious about exposure. Maybe I should have.
However, several friends and from my church are going to read a book about racism issues within the church and then form a book club to discuss it in depth through a series of videochat meetings. I noticed that all of my church leadership, deacons/elders, and worship team are Caucasian.
Racism affects my kids as both have Indigenous heritage and racism against Indigenous people is significant in Canada.
The vast majority of the clients that I serve as an editor are Black graduate students doing nursing research in Africa while studying at the university in my city. . My best friend is a person of colour who was born in India and another good friend recently came to Canada from India. And I volunteer teaching an ESL class (now online) for new Canadians, many who are Black and almost all who are people of colour.
I’m on the refugee sponsorship team at my church working to help refugees, mostly from Africa, flee to safety and new lives in Canada.
And yet I am blown away by the realization of how very very much learning, growing, humbling, and softening of heart I still have to embrace and do in my own life.
Ps i had a tough time creating my comments as tje program seemed to keep freezing
Jenna,
What a wonderful comment so full of interesting snippets reflecting the fascinating life you have lived and ARE living.
I was interested to read what you wrote about your kids having an Indigenous heritage and being discriminated against. That statement caused me to spend some time researching that situation in Canada, sometime I had never been aware of. As you said so poignantly, we ALL have so much learning, growing, humbling, and heart-softening to do in the face of all this racial stress and inequality.
I loved reading about how you have intentionally created a life that is blessed with so many people from so many backgrounds. What a beautiful way to live. It is both a challenge and an inspiration to me.
I’m so sorry about the program freezing; if that happens the next time you comment, please let me know.
I have not been to any protests or events myself although I did watch my churches recent discussion on race relations. Also, I have either been in isolation or recouping from my foot surgery much of the time. Your pictures made me think, especially the one of the man’s t-shirt saying if you are neutral, you are part of the oppression. I’m paraphrasing.
I grew up in a small town where there weren’t any African Americans and very few other ethnicities. The last 3 years I lived in Tampa, I worked with our Atlanta office and had several African American coworkers. I left Tampa 6 years ago but still communicate regularly with Sandra who I consider one of my closest friends. I haven’t seen her for over 3 years but when I retired 2 years ago, she sent a nice card along with a Barnes & Noble gift card. She knows me very well!
I’ve also had a Muslim lady from Bangladesh report to me when I was still working. When I had our department Christmas party, I made sure I took her dietary restrictions into account, leaving bacon out of a small dish of beans I had made.
Phyllis,
I love that honoring each others’ cultures and backgrounds can sometimes be as small as leaving the bacon out of a recipe for a Muslim friend. It lets her know you were thinking of her and honoring her and her heritage.
I’m glad to hear your church is intentionally pursuing discussions on race relations. We can’t stop talking, can’t stop communicating . . . even when it is difficult and uncomfortable.
Hope you are feeling much better after your surgery.
The caregiver for my husband, Ken is African American. She cared for both of us during those two years before he went to Assisted Living and I valued her during that time. I save newspaper coupons for her each week, putting them in the newspaper box. Recently I invited her to join me for a porch visit. It’s good to call her friend!
Vernie,
I have heard you mention her so often with such genuine affection.
And I love the idea of a porch visit. That’s one of the best kinds of visits there are. Love you!
Love our little town!
Sarah,
Yes, me too!
My Preschoolers have been precious Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Jews and Black. My favorite friend at Brookdale is black. Truthfully, sometimes when I think of somebody I know, I can’t always remember the color of their skin.
Mrs. Pam,
I love your closing sentence.
It reminded me of the time I heard two small girls talking about a new friend and one of them asked the other, “What color is she?” And the first little girl said, “I don’t remember.”
I love that your preschool has children of all ethnicities. What a treasure trove of experiences and uniqueness each one brings to your classroom.
Testing
Krista,
Thanks for leaving a test. Are you seeing it on your end?
Yes! I can see it! Yay!
I have not been to any protests or anything, but it’s a “different” time we’re living in. I’m just glad I have God in my corner.
Blessings to you all!
Krista,
Hooray for comment-seeing! Thanks for your patience with it all.
Yes, it’s a different time, indeed. Grateful for all that we are learning in the midst of it.
(Got the notification!! Yay!!)
I have not been a part of any events or protests.
I grew up in Denver, so I had a lot of friends who were not white like me and I was raised to be kind, fair and respectful. To everyone. One of my friends was an American Indian. Several were Hispanic. Several were black. I learned to ski from 3 of my brother’s really good friends who were Japanese. I dated a Japanese guy for some time as well. My boss at the last job I had in Denver before moving to Nebraska, was gay. Some had religion. Others did not. Everyone was different and it was OK with me!
LeeAnne,
Hooray for notifications finally working again!
I know your life experience has been made so much richer by the people you have welcomed into your life over the years. I know you have enriched them as well. So great to read your comment and learn part of your story.