Rose-colored glasses

I haven’t posted in a while. The world has been chaotic recently. I don’t really know what to say. Or how to say it.

Maybe saying nothing is what many of us need to do. When we don’t fully comprehend or understand something when we cant truly understand what other people feel, maybe its time to listen.

We cannot fully understand or comprehend something when we do not pay attention, when we do not listen. We need to hear what other people have to say, we need to try and expand our understanding outside of our comfort zone.

I’ll admit I am part of the problem, I am a successful white male. The system has been set up so that I can be successful. The list of things in my past that if the color of my skin was different or my ancestry was different, my situation today would be not what it is.

I come from a place of privilege, where the color of my skin and my gender both contribute to my current situation in life. I have been aware of this for a good portion of my adult life. But what have I done to change it? Not much.

I donate to causes I believe in, I try and not make decisions based on someone else’s race, gender, or religion.  But I am sure I fail at times. That isn’t an excuse it is my reality.

Sometimes it is hard to see, where did I fail? Did I cross the street because of the “shady” looking character coming towards me? Did I discount someone’s opinion or thoughts because of their gender? Did I not listen openly to someone because I don’t agree with their religion or spiritual beliefs?

I have done all of these things.

This is where the term “Systemic” comes in. I am part of the system, the system was designed for me. The things I have trouble seeing are due to the systemic nature of the system.

We are blinded to things outside the system, that live on the margins of the system. The lens we view things through is designed this way, it protects us it makes us feel comfortable.

To get to the truth of a thing we have to abandon our views and beliefs about it. We have to discard our “Rose-colored glasses.” We have to pay attention, we have to start to listen.

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