Tim Wise | Occupy Movement | Racism |Economic & Social Injustice

[OneGrassRoot]

I love Tim Wise.

I just stumbled upon a fairly short segment of him on the Rachel Maddow show on 10/21, when Melissa Harris Perry was filling in, discussing the language of "occupy" and being mindful. (link below)

Even within the so-called progressive community (I say "so-called" because labels are so amorphous these days, imho), discussion of racism and bigotry are obviously filled with much discord and discomfort.

I really appreciate Tim's work because he encourages people to be mindful and at least try to consider how words and actions may affect others whose life experience is vastly different from our own. There are so many instances in which we -- the collective we -- simply aren't aware that something we're saying or doing is deeply offensive and harmful to another. It's not done intentionally. We simply didn't know better.

That's why I feel awareness campaigns regarding racism and bigotry are so necessary. Institutional racism and bigotry is still prevalent in this country, whether people choose to acknowledge it or not, and I believe it is the foundation of the tremendous economic and social injustice that persists and which we discuss here each day. It's not being holier than thou to speak up about these issues; no one is perfect and we all have a lot to learn about one another.

There are some who throw their hands up and act indignant when this topic is raised, especially when pertaining to certain campaigns or situations, saying people need to lighten up and that we have much bigger problems to deal with. I couldn't disagree more. I believe this is at the very heart of everything...how we view and treat one another...and how we view ourselves and allow others to treat us.

While I agree that ANY issue can be taken to the extreme and we can't always walk around on eggshells, fearing how we may inadvertently offend another, I do think it's important that we accept responsibility for our words and actions and at least ATTEMPT to be mindful of the same.

In this short clip, Tim and Melissa discuss (amongst other things) how the word "occupy" being chosen for this movement has made Native American citizens very uncomfortable. Honestly, I never thought of that.

It doesn't mean the movement is going to change it's name or that it should, but I share this simply in an attempt to respectfully ask people to try to be more mindful of others rather than have a knee-jerk defensive response when the words "racism" and "bigotry" arise.

If you disagree and think someone or a group is being "too sensitive" (a label we liberals have been dissed with for a long time) -- such as with the Halloween costume controversy discussed in this DU thread (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2180499&mesg_id=2180499 -- so long as no one is trying to take away your rights, perhaps you can remain silent rather than belittle others and their cause, especially if you haven't walked in their shoes. Of course, asking questions to try to understand the source of another's concern is even better.

This is simply my humble yet very strong opinion. We often talk about how empathy is in short supply amongst conservatives; I think we all could benefit from flexing our empathy muscle more often in everyday life, and being mindful. It's not easy; the attempt to understand and learn and empathize can be exhausting and painful, especially when we're enduring our own challenges and struggles. But how can we not at least try?

:shrug:

http://www.timwise.org/2011/10/tim-wise-on-rachel-maddow-102111-discussing-race-in-the-occupy-movement/





:grouphug:

[mmonk]

1. Thanks.

People sometimes never look through the eyes of another.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Thank you for noticing this post...

:hug:

[ThomCat]

3. It has always been a problem,

and will, no doubt, continue to be a problem that people want to address their own issue and concern but don't have much tolerance or respect for addressing whatever anyone else thinks is important.

People who want to fight poverty don't want to hear that they might be part of the problem of racism, even if listening could make them part of the solution. And vice-versa.

People who want to fight racism don't want to hear that they might be part of the problem of homophobia, even if listening could make them part of the solution. And vice versa.

When you look at the number of issues and causes that are all good, and all need our support, the number of conflicts is staggering. For every issue, only a small number of people want each issue to be addressed wholeheartedly, and everyone else has another issue that they feel should take priority, but nobody agrees on which issue that should be.

So far, we haven't been able to come up with a universal approach to fighting prejudice in all of its forms. Even if we did, would very many people be willing to join that fight? So many people get terribly defensive when asked to look at themselves and see their own prejudices.

We all have prejudices. It is impossible to be part of a prejudiced culture, and a prejudiced subcultures, and a prejudiced society without having some of those prejudices to some extent. nobody could fit in and function there without sharing some of the prejudices. We need to be honest about this and work constantly to recognize the prejudices that surround us, and see where and how we can challenge them, minimize them and eventually change our culture and society. Defensiveness prevents that.

Kudos to everyone who is willing to cross the borders between issues and work with other people on each others issues. That is the only way we will all achieve any success.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I agree with every point. Thank you for the thoughtful reply. :) n/t

[NashVegas]

4. Nice Way to Try to Divide and Conquer, Tim & MSNBC!

Why, this is almost as good as "ladies, your racism is showing."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jTcTIc25Ck

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Wow, perception is everything, I guess!

Maybe I'm misinterpreting how you've interpreted it, but I thought he simply raised an interesting point about being mindful, and how we often -- without even realizing it -- say and do things that are offensive, deeply offensive.

Of course, there are plenty of people who do that intentionally, too.

I didn't think there was anything negative nor a divide-and-conquer aspect at all. Yet I'm often in the minority (pun intended) about these issues.

:shrug:

[Karenina]

7. How did I miss this?

Too late to rec... :kick:

[OneGrassRoot]

8. 'cause it sank like the proverbial rock...

:rofl:

:hi:

[Karenina]

9. I've bookmarked for future reference

You've made such thoughtful points most elegantly.