Hear Their Voices. Hear Their Stories.

-Steps to Becoming Anti-Racist

Sparked by the callous murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, hundreds of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets daily over the past two weeks, protesting the systemic racism in America. The problem of racial injustice has been constructed and woven into the fabric of our government, our economy, and our culture for the past 400 years, and will require massive, sustained, and focused efforts to dismantle.

One of the first steps I can take, as a citizen who has benefited from this system, is to reject my defensive impulses, and listen to the voices of people of color. Hear their stories.

Yesterday, at a protest held in our local community, a score of people courageously came up to share their personal experiences of being oppressed or harassed due to the color of their skin. I was impressed by their willingness to share their stories, when their lifelong experience has been one of living in a society that treated them as unequals.

One after another, they came to the microphone, nervous but resolved, and lifted their voices. Each poignant story uniquely touched hearts, and I requested permission to share this specific story from a woman named Julia.

“I keep my head down.

I keep my mouth shut.

I am a sociable person. I am a friendly person. I will chat with anyone and everyone. I am pleasant and I smile and I participate. I have grown to love you and your kids. But I keep my head down and my mouth shut when something you “innocently” say offends me. I don’t want to rock the boat. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I, myself, don’t want to be uncomfortable. I pick and choose my words. I don’t want to ruin our friendship. I don’t want our relationship to become strained. I live here. We are friends. I need you. I can’t mess this up by treading on your toes.

So I keep my head down. I keep my mouth shut.

I don’t tell you about the conversations that I have with my girls before they leave the house. I won’t tell you that they have been prepped to KNOW that in a group of their peers, they will stand out to a cop. They KNOW that even if they are doing the same thing as everyone else, THEY will be seen as the “troublesome” one. They KNOW that they will be suspected first. They KNOW that in a group of their peers, their friends will let them take the blame (because teenagers are teenagers) and they KNOW that cops and teachers will believe others over them.

They also know that their mother would tell them, “keep your head down. Keep your mouth shut. Smile. Don’t take offense. These are good people. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Don’t rock the boat”.

When I feel unheard,

When you tell me that this cause is not worth fighting for,

When you dismiss my pain and concerns,

When I tell you my life matters,

When I tell you that my kids lives matter,

When I tell you that Black lives matter, and you reply with “all lives matter”…

You are telling me to keep my head down.

You are telling me to keep my mouth shut.

You are telling me to remain invisible.

So the situations here, in Mount Prospect, may not be as extreme as in other places, but the root cause is the same: SYSTEMIC RACISM. A systemic problem that has taken root in our community. A systemic problem that touches our personal relationships as well as our schools and our police force. A systemic problem that we ALL should be held accountable for and that we ALL should actively seek to change.

And I’m starting. I’m starting with MYSELF. I’m asking you to stand in the gap for me, my kids and people who look like me. Speak up for us. Help us be heard. Confront your friends and family when you hear something that is racist, or judgmental, or unfair. Talk with your children about racism. Correct them when they make a mistake (we all do). I will do my part. I will hold my head up. I will make my voice heard. I will stand up for what is right. And I’m starting NOW…WITH YOU. We are learning and growing together.”

Julia’s story held the seeds of our path to becoming anti-racist. “Help us be heard. Speak up for us. Stand up for what is right.” Let’s give the people who’ve been oppressed by racial injustice a safe space to lift their voices. Let’s give them an ally who encourages them to no longer live “head down, mouth shut” but heads up, voices lifted. As we work together as one, with our heads, our voices, and our spirits lifted.

Advertisement

Right Road or Wrong Road? Perhaps the One Less Traveled.

One of the best pieces of wisdom I’ve ever heard was given in the form of the question: “Would you rather be right, or righteous?”

The question comes into focus in the midst of the inevitable conflict that any relationship experiences, whether it be between friends, family, colleagues, or the six degrees of separation we all encounter on social media. Inherently, we’re predisposed to believe we’re right. Even when we’re not. It is our natural bias.

That bias is all the more reinforced by the circles we swim in, and the echo chambers we inhabit. We’re often so “right”, we can’t even hear other view points. Rather than consider them, or at least respect that another person’s viewpoints or experiences might hold some merit, we often quickly arm ourselves with more ammunition to prove our fixed position.

In fact we might go so far as to seek out posts of others who disagree with us, so we can “educate them” in the proper beliefs. If we meet resistance, we can increase our volume, amplify the rhetoric, and question their motives, their sources, and their integrity. We can spike a few labels in there to boot. “Leftist.” “Putin’s puppet.” “Misinformed.”

This mindset of being hell-bent to prove ourselves right, is not righteous. It is by definition, inherently divisive. Consistently seeking opportunities to prove that our viewpoints are right by hopping into conversations where others believe differently, is inherently divisive. Using pejorative terminology to label those who disagree with us, is by definition divisive.

You may feel right, but the behavior is oh so wrong, regardless of the underlying beliefs in question. 

So what is righteous? I wish I knew.

Since conflict is inevitable in all human relationships, we must navigate those moments in a manner that is respectful, preserving the relationship, even when we disagree with the perspectives. Especially in such a polarized era, where much of our society is quickly labeled “red” or “blue”, and those that try to be independent are maligned if they vocalize beliefs that tend towards either end of the spectrum. It doesn’t matter that your voting record is predominantly purple, if you disagree with someone on their sacred issue(s), they feel free to demonize you. Even if you are a friend, brother, or sister.

If someone takes that road, be it a low one or not, perhaps it is best to walk away from the topic. If they are merely a social media contact, there is no great loss for either. If they are a friend or family member, perhaps navigate a way to agree to disagree. Choose righteousness by loving them, but avoid topics that they can only see themselves as right, and by definition, you as wrong. Take the other road. It may be less travelled because of the incline, but difficult paths are usually worthwhile in the end. 

Beyond the Wall

You’re deep into your training. Muscles ache. The schedule is packed. The race-day starting line is getting close, but feels so far away. You’re staving off exhaustion, mentally and physically.

Somedays you feel like crap.

I’m with you.

Over the past few weeks there have been some crappy training runs, a couple knee injections, and a trip to the cryotherapy chamber in an attempt to help my aching body recover. My runs haven’t been pretty, but I’m still trudging along, to the eventual race day starting line, ready to run the streets of Chicago with my 21 year old daughter.

And you.

Yes, race day will be here soon. With its indescribable excitement and nerves. Embrace it all and savor each magnificent moment. They are treasures to cherish over the miles of life.

The race day mile markers will slowly accrue. The jubilation of the fans and the excitement will carry you early, before the legs start to grumble and groan.

Somewhere around mile 20 you round a corner and enter the belly of what sounds like a turbo jet engine. The crowds are deafening. The excitement is palpable. People in beautiful attire shower you with encouragement, refreshments, and if the weather is warm, a few rejuvenating sprinklers. You’ve come to Pilsen, perhaps the apex of the race.

The euphoria carries you through the next mile, and soon you’re crossing beneath the archway of Chinatown and nearing mile 21.

And suddenly, it feels eerily quiet by comparison.

This deep in the race, just as it was in the final weeks of training, your muscles ache relentlessly. The streets are packed, but the finish line feels so far away. You again find yourself staving off exhaustion, both mentally and physically.

Feeling like crap, you wonder how you can find the stamina to finish what seems to be the longest 5 miles ever. Calves are cramping, feet are screaming and you are

Just.

Plain.

Done.

It’s the proverbial wall, and you’ve hit it, full on. Oh you might not see it, but you feel it, like an immovable obstacle trying to derail your dreams. It is shouting at you, echoing the negative voices, attempting to sow seeds of doubt, hopelessness, and failure.

But what you also don’t see is another wall, just behind you, to your left. And while this wall sits silently, its’ truth rings clear.

Three simple words, that if you let their honesty settle in, remind you that you’re a badass. You have dared greatly, and summoned the courage to attempt this awesome feat. That truth defines you, more than the temporary aches in your body. That truth signifies who you are at your core – resilient, undaunted, and resplendent.

“You are Beautiful”

You may be sore. You may ache. You may be filled with fears and doubts. And when you pass that sign you will be a sweaty mess. But your dreams are beautiful.

Your courage is radiant. Each and every mile you’ve raced, or trudged, is a testament to your character and audacity. You’re a certifiable inspiration to so many around you and we couldn’t be prouder of who you are, and all you’ve done.

You. Are. Beautiful.

I Pledge Allegiance

Loyalty. Allegiance. Fidelity. Unwavering support.

We pledge it as children. We salute, sing and honor it with our anthems. We drape ourselves in it with our patriotic attire. We adorn our homes paying homage with patriotic decor.

Our loyalty comes in many forms. Loyalty to our families. Loyalty to our cultures. Loyalty to our companies, our teams, or our regions. Many of us are raised with a deep sense of fidelity to our religions, denominations, synagogues, mosques, temples or churches. We wear our rabid allegiance to our schools, colleges or universities in colors and logos.

Loyalty, by its very nature, is tested. It is easy to be loyal to a team that never loses. It doesn’t strain our sensibilities to support a school that consistently demonstrates academic integrity and excellence. It isn’t difficult to proudly wear a family name that has a legacy of leadership, service, and character.

But what about when our side goes astray? How do we remain loyal to a company that has mistreated people, a team that cheats, or an institution that has proven to be corrupt? Do we feel pressured to remain a “team player”? Would we want an abused spouse or child to remain in their situation purely out of a sense of loyalty?

The bigger question is where is our loyalty tethered? Is it to religions, political parties, institutions or organizations, or is it to the principles and values we believe they stand for?

In our highly polarized society, our loyalty is being pushed to the limit. We are being cajoled and coerced to take sides. To choose red or blue. Black or white. Conservative or liberal. And whatever side we choose, we are expected to be “team players”. To be loyal. To wear the colors. To chant the tag lines. To rile the opposition. To support our team.

Many of our leaders and opinion-driven media outlets try to divide us, using fear, hate, and falsehoods to demonize segments of our society, and to strengthen our loyalty. They are drawing lines and asking you to choose. Us vs. them. Good vs. evil. Dark vs. light.

But if we pledge our loyalty within these frameworks, we often have to give up our loyalty to greater principles. We forsake unity, in the name of uniformity. And there is a lot of darkness in uniformity.

If the church I’m apart of begins to consistently treat people in a way that is inconsistent with the gospel, I face a dilemma. Is my loyalty really to the church, or the principles it was built on? If leaders within my political party (thankfully I don’t subscribe to one) begin to treat citizens in a way that opposes our core American values, do I continue to support those leaders? Or is my allegiance to the core values that the party was supposed to adhere to?

We’re a nation built on loyalty, but that loyalty is girded by the principles of freedom, liberty and justice for all our citizens. That loyalty is founded on the right to question our leaders, and to work for a more perfect union, acknowledging that this grand experiment is still a work in progress. When leaders call for the silencing of citizens who question them, they are stealing the rights of us all. When leaders try to paint those who disagree with them as disloyal, or those who have different opinions as “hating” our country, they are not operating within a democracy, but forging an autocracy.

E Pluribus Unum – “Out of many, one” is the creed of our nation. Unity from diversity. Diverse voices, ideas, cultures and beliefs work laboriously together to make America greater. To make America One. It is a difficult process, with strife, disagreement and compromise, but it is what makes us great. Uniformity drowns out creativity. Uniformity silences debate. Uniformity stifles the ideas that are forged from multiple perspectives coming together.

Our national heritage is one of many stars, and many stripes. It is a kaleidoscope of colors, cultures, beliefs, and perspectives. Our loyalty must be to the principles that all of these are equal. As citizens, we should wear the flag proudly, but also call out injustice whenever and wherever it rises, whether on our soil or abroad. We need to stand against injustice whether in our political party or the other. Uniformity comes from a small-minded loyalty, to parties, churches, schools, or institutions. Unity, that beautiful expression of “out of many, one” comes from a greater loyalty, one that rises to our core principles of freedom, liberty and justice for all.

Is Justice Blind? Injustice is not.

Major headlines of the past few days call into question whether the scales of justice are really balanced. Citizens without elitist means or connections are left wondering if justice only serves the rich and powerful. Or if justice only serves those of a specific political party or race. We see overwhelming corruption and injustice, and we’re left wondering if justice is truly blind. In this hyper polarized era, we are pushed and pulled further towards the ends of the continuum.

Corruption and injustice are not blind. Partisan politics are.

When a person continually blames one side of the political spectrum, and sugarcoats or overlooks the failings of the other side, they have become not only blind, but part of the problem.

Political parties are not more or less to blame. They are not more or less corrupt. They are equally corrupt, and both skirt the scales of justice in countless ways.

The capacity for blindness knows no race, age, gender, or political spectrum, but it does slowly and surely steal our ability to both see and hear other with respect, understanding and empathy. It divides us, and squelches our own voices. When someone is so unabashedly partisan, or xenophobic, or sexist, or racist, they have lost the ability to speak with any authority beyond their own group of like-minded brethren. People from other groups will have great difficulty accepting or appreciating the talents, faith stories, or life wisdom that they have to offer, as these all may appear to be deeply tainted by the foundational blindness.

Rather than believing any one segment of society is truly to blame for all of our woes, perhaps we should call out injustice wherever it is found. Their party or ours. Their church or ours. Their race or ours.

Injustice isn’t blind, but it is widely spread throughout our society, when we are blind to it.

Better Than This.

“We’re better than this!” – Rep. Elijah Cummings; 2.27.2019

Fiery passion is wonderful when used to inspire or protect others. The same dynamics can be used to further divide people into partisan tribes.

But we can be better than this. For our sake, and the sake of our children’s future, we must be. We have to learn how to respectfully be united without being uniform. We have friends and family, people we love and admire, who disagree sharply on some of the most heated topics of the day. But are we shouting so loud that we can’t hear?

Is our loyalty to “team” more important than our fidelity to truth or principle? Are you more aligned to the ideologies of a particular party than you are to ideals of our nation? Do you view everyone who sees differently than you as inherently wrong, and thereby labeled as belonging to a specific side of the political spectrum?

While there is truth in the sentiment that “if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything”, there is room for reasonable people to disagree with us without being demonized. There is room to listen, and acknowledge not only someone’s right to have a different opinion, but the deeper truth, that our staunch defense of certain “truths” has morphed over time. Is it not true that some issues that many of us ardently adhered to just a few years ago, we now see in a different, more nuanced light? Haven’t we grown to learn that the more we understand, we begin to realize that the less we truly know? With that enlightenment, aren’t we able to more sympathetically hear our neighbors with pause and consideration, with an open heart that doesn’t require uniformity over unity?

A Holiday of the Heart

A Holiday of the Heart

I was barely sixteen, and had never really been in love before, so my context of Valentines Day had been confined to the giving and receiving of cards and treats in classrooms. Working one of my first jobs, as a clerk in the neighborhood pharmacy, I noticed the undulating waves of last-minute purchases of boxed Fannie May chocolates, drug-store roses, and awkwardly worded Hallmark cards professing love to the lucky recipients.

“Perhaps the saddest day of the year” one of my co-workers quipped. “So many people won’t be receiving cards or flowers”.

It was one of those watershed coming-of-age moments that leaves an indelible mark on an impressionable soul. I had always equated February 14th with love, romance, and joy, even if I wasn’t quite sure what romance meant.

But I did know love.

I knew the love of my single mother, who despite being in the midst of her tumultuous bout with cancer, while raising five strong-willed children on her teacher’s salary, loved audaciously. She told us of her love constantly, through words, hugs, kisses, and her relentless sacrifice to care for us.

So the thought of Valentines Day being a day of sadness had never occurred to me. Mom had made sure we had cards and candy to give out, and found a way of surprising us with her own little gifts or gestures of affection. A Spider-Man Board game one year, or a jigsaw puzzle the next. She had a way of reminding us that we mattered. We were her pride and joy, and we were loved.

So as another Valentines Day has come upon us, what a great opportunity we have to remind those around us they are loved. The people who cross our paths at home, or work, or in our community, matter to us. We see them. We recognize that they compose a unique set of blessings for us, and we can take a moment to express our gratitude for their presence in our journey.

To my friends, family, colleagues, and community, whether our paths currently meet, or crossed before, thank you for the kindness you show me everyday. I love you all. You matter to me, and I’m blessed because of you.

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face”. – Victor Hugo

Heroes Unmasked

I get it. Heroes are still human. Fallible. They fall from the pedestal from time to time. But to me, the real superpower of my heroes has been the ideals they stood for. Sure, their accomplishments grab our attention. Their charisma opens doors, and draws increasing numbers of followers. Their persuasive powers expands their platform.

But I was always drawn to the purity of their cause. The integrity of their purpose. That injustice anywhere was a threat to justice everywhere. That truth, equality, and liberty were ideals to be protected and cherished for all races, genders, ethnicities and religions. Right was right, and wrong was wrong, regardless of political affiliation.

Yet many of my former heroes have been unmasked. It isn’t their humanity in question, but their integrity. In a world that has swiftly grown more and more divided, they are taking sides. In a world where extremist views and voices are emboldened, these heroes are conditionally silent. When the distress signals of injustice flare in the sky, they selectively choose to remain in their caves or look the other way if the call to arms isn’t from their chosen side.

Their capes no longer represent the defense of ideals that should be applied to all of us, but instead they have specific labels and colors, mostly blue or red, for the segments of the population they identify with. These fallen heroes have traded ideals for ideologies.

Sure they still fight for truth, justice, and liberty, but now it is conditional. No longer do they protect principles and populations. Now they specialize in protecting parties and storylines. They share your thirst for justice, unless it calls into account someone from their team. If your freedom is threatened, they’ll come to your aid, as long as you wear their team colors.

Disillusionment sets in when we see our heroes unmasked. We struggle to believe they can be so myopic. So partisan. So conditional. Perhaps they’ve lost their way for a time, and will eventually see the fallacy of choosing ideologies over ideals. Perhaps they’ve grown tired or protecting our national values, and have chosen an easier, narrower path. Hopefully, as the number of distress signals continues to rise, and our nation is further divided, a new crop of heroes will answer the call.

We’ve lost a fair number of heroes in the past few years. Our values and ideals are under assault from some of the very places expected to uphold them most. As Dr. King reminded us, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. May idealists everywhere reject disillusionment, and continue to cherish the principles our nation was founded upon, finding ways to answer distress calls without furthering the divide.

Ballot Box Longings

I abhor partisan politics

I won’t vote blue

I won’t vote red

I’ll choose a mix of candidates,

For a diverse nation.

I prefer principles

Over parties.

I long for leaders

With integrity

And character

Who haven’t sold their soul

To corporations

Or lobbyists

But who heartily represent

Their constituents

And their consciences.

I long for citizens

Who love liberty

For all

Who welcome the oppressed

Who protect the rights

And dignity

Of all races

Genders

And ethnicities.

I long for women and men

Who think critically

Who discuss respectfully

And who rise above

Mindless, partisan division.

People that recognize

Poisonous platforms

And renounce toxic behaviors

Regardless of which party

Or which race

Or which demographic

They originate from.

I long for countrymen

That pledge allegiance

To a flag

And live by its creed

Instead or wrapping themselves

In the stars and stripes

While denying its freedoms

Or using Ole Glory

As a backdrop

Of false patriotism

While spewing hateful rhetoric

Or denying people the right

To kneel before a flag

That has failed them.

I long for a people

Who if they worship

And pray

Do so for all citizens

Without furling the flag

Around their church

Mosque, or synagogue

And any particular party

Constricting the voice

Or soul of their faith

From reaching others

Untarnished.

Micro American-omics

American values have long been a bedrock of our national persona. Similar to our iconic symbols, the Stars and Stripes, the Statue of Liberty, or the national anthem; there were certain principles that we all held dear. We believed in the integrity of our national institutions. We believed that our votes were all weighed equally. We believed that we could disagree with our leaders, or other citizens, within an environment of civility and safety. We held our principles dear.

Like many citizens, I am disheartened by the current state of affairs in our nation. But this isn’t about left or right; blue or red. This is about our national principles. The ones we claim to cherish.

It seems principles are no longer our bottom line. They are no longer our bedrock. Instead, our American values are now micro-selected on a case by case basis. Violations of our principles are first scrutinized to determine if the offense is red or blue; right or left. Parties now trump principles. We’re practicing micro American-omics.

Take this past week for example. In a normal society, 14 IED devices being sent to various citizens would alarm an entire nation. A society would be galvanized to find the perpetrator, and to secure the safety of our citizens. But instead, we’ve become a society that first checks to see if party, ethnic, or race lines are involved. What is the race or religion of the bomber? What party or ethnicity were the targets? Our outrage, or our silence, is often determined only after we’ve first decided how it fits our current narrative. Principles give way to partisan lines.

Instead of patriotism around national values, a divisive groupthink is further entrenched.

For the record, I do not consider myself blue or red, left or right, Democrat or Republican. I vote on both sides of the aisle, although I do have many concerns about our current president and his administration. But my hope is that citizens would look beyond parties, and focus more on the principles they hold dear and the character of the candidates.

Social media has the power to bring us together, but also to pull us apart. I find it harder and harder to read the posts of people who decry political violence, but only when it fits their narrative. Rather than employing critical thinking skills, citizens quickly dismiss stories that call the tactics of their leaders into question, labeling them as “fake news”, regardless of any amount of science or facts. It simply doesn’t fit with their pre-conceived story. The other side isn’t only viewed as ideologically wrong, but as morally corrupt, intellectually inept, and incapable of grasping the truth.

I’ve posted my own share of concerns, as I’ve found myself continually shocked by the seemingly bottomless lowering of our national discourse, especially where our nation’s leader is concerned. I falsely assumed my words might make a difference. That others would pause and consider the reflections, or at least engage in thoughtful discourse. But sadly, most are either turned off to the political noise, or they are already entrenched in their narratives, and only interested in trolling the comments of others.

Even some of the people I respect and admire the most, have fallen prey to entrenched partisan thinking. Their praise, criticisms, and outrage are selectively applied, only when it suits their pre-determined partisan affiliations. Principles only matter when it fits their narrative.

While I respect that we all share different convictions about multiple topics, we can all agree that the encouragement of violence against our political rivals has no place in our national discourse. If you condemn threats against political rivals, I hope you publicly condemn both the actions of the bomber, as well as the presidents’ own threatening comments; with a similar vigor, regardless of your party affiliation. Calls for violence are despicable, whether they come from the left or the right. And when the violent rhetoric is only selectively condemned, depending on which party it originates from, or benefits, then it appears that it is no longer truly a principle we stand on, but a partisan talking point. And I’d like to believe that you and I want to be above that partisan divide. We want to be, whenever and wherever possible, voices that heal. Voices that unify. We might not unify people around similar topics or issues, but we can do so around principles of mutual respect, and decency. Those principles are macro, not micro. They transcend partisan talking points, and should always be the bedrock of our national heritage.