iDEA'S FROM THE EDGE
±13 Racism
Yeah, we get it, you're a true patriot, who has a deep love of your country, along with a burning desire to ensure your nation is only inhabited by people born there. Wait. How about people who arrived 250 years ago or those whose families were born in your country before you, do they count? Actually, that makes no sense! Why should one be allowed to remain, while another has to leave?
Or do you mean only descendants of the original settlers? Although come to think of it, American's and Australian's were not the original inhabitants of their lands, should they leave? Oh, hang on, we get it...you mean dark-skinned humans, who you believe have nothing to do with you
Racism is indeed a murky business. Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia, and the USA have enjoyed great wealth and status by plundering the continents of Africa, Asia and South America. Yet instead of being grateful, apologetic or simply looking after towards those nations with kindness - they continue a nasty bias against darker skin individuals
The legal system, authorities and life opportunities seem a more limited and difficult for darker folk in predominately white countries. White nations certainly don't have nice CV in this regard. Amazingly in the 21st-century nations still allow far-right groups to operate, in fact, Nationalism is growing
(see ideas ± )
The trend of marching through towns and cities, by either white nationalist or anti-nationalist often leads to conflict and violence. It also ignites a flame within white folk - as they somehow believe people are infringing on their freedoms or seeking to take over their land. Strangely, they're not so bothered when their own government or corporations remove their freedoms or take over the land!
The debate and divisions around skin colour is understandably an emotive subject, Sadly, the truth is, there is not a snowball's chance in hell of getting close to any kind of compromise, let alone a resolution. Because we just end up getting bogged down emotionally. Maybe its time we started considering alternatives to alter our common perceptions...
So here's an idea...make DNA tests compulsory for everyone!
Okay, let's say at the outset, its private, you and only you see the results. Please ignore that conspiracy theory going through your head and read on. A DNA test at 18 years old. Delivered online and deleted soon after
Far right groups are blatantly visible about voicing hateful opinions, but are a small segment, certainly nowhere close to the real problem, True racism is a stealth and sly beast. It lurks hidden, ingrained within the fabric of society, often supported by the powerful. Its like gaining few pawns in chess and thinking you've almost won the game
White people have undoubtedly done atrocious things over the centuries, but the ugliest legacy, was to install the notion, if you are white, you are superior. It's impossible to fight real racism. Some racist don't even see themselves as racist. It's that invisible!
The test would be given a number, so no names are used. Results are held online, you access via pass code emailed to you. Once opened and acknowledged, it is automatically deleted 30 days later - you decided to print/save yourself a copy or simply let it delete
DNA tests would confirm to each individual, where their ancestry stems from. In essence, we will all have links to a number of regions, as past generations fled wars, famine or oppression or simply migrated for a better life, and had families who later moved around the planet
It's quite probable your family tree will be scattered across the earth, There is no doubt, you will discover someone in your family was a "foreigner" Spoiler alert...almost everyone will discover they own some brown DNA
These small vital details of ancestral information will be embedded in the psyche. The likelihood of people being hateful due to skin colour may not disappear - but buried alongside those thoughts will be a little nugget of knowledge that your ancestors probably had beautiful coffee coloured skin. This may not have an initial effect, but it will manifest itself.
Taking a DNA test, will not in-itself eliminate racism. But if people begin discovering their true heritage, understanding where humans originated, How we are linked regardless of skin colour, then perhaps it can lead to less hateful thoughts, and with a less hate around the subject, maybe we can talk about openly without everyone getting so emotional...
There are just a few meditative thoughts on this vast topic from 3000monks
So what do you say...For or Against?
winter 2017
© for permission to use our words simply ask
±13 Racism
Yeah, we get it, you're a true patriot, who has a deep love of your country, along with a burning desire to ensure your nation is only inhabited by people born there. Wait. How about people who arrived 250 years ago or those whose families were born in your country before you, do they count? Actually, that makes no sense! Why should one be allowed to remain, while another has to leave?
Or do you mean only descendants of the original settlers? Although come to think of it, American's and Australian's were not the original inhabitants of their lands, should they leave? Oh, hang on, we get it...you mean dark-skinned humans, who you believe have nothing to do with you
Racism is indeed a murky business. Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia, and the USA have enjoyed great wealth and status by plundering the continents of Africa, Asia and South America. Yet instead of being grateful, apologetic or simply looking after towards those nations with kindness - they continue a nasty bias against darker skin individuals
The legal system, authorities and life opportunities seem a more limited and difficult for darker folk in predominately white countries. White nations certainly don't have nice CV in this regard. Amazingly in the 21st-century nations still allow far-right groups to operate, in fact, Nationalism is growing
(see ideas ± )
The trend of marching through towns and cities, by either white nationalist or anti-nationalist often leads to conflict and violence. It also ignites a flame within white folk - as they somehow believe people are infringing on their freedoms or seeking to take over their land. Strangely, they're not so bothered when their own government or corporations remove their freedoms or take over the land!
The debate and divisions around skin colour is understandably an emotive subject, Sadly, the truth is, there is not a snowball's chance in hell of getting close to any kind of compromise, let alone a resolution. Because we just end up getting bogged down emotionally. Maybe its time we started considering alternatives to alter our common perceptions...
So here's an idea...make DNA tests compulsory for everyone!
Okay, let's say at the outset, its private, you and only you see the results. Please ignore that conspiracy theory going through your head and read on. A DNA test at 18 years old. Delivered online and deleted soon after
Far right groups are blatantly visible about voicing hateful opinions, but are a small segment, certainly nowhere close to the real problem, True racism is a stealth and sly beast. It lurks hidden, ingrained within the fabric of society, often supported by the powerful. Its like gaining few pawns in chess and thinking you've almost won the game
White people have undoubtedly done atrocious things over the centuries, but the ugliest legacy, was to install the notion, if you are white, you are superior. It's impossible to fight real racism. Some racist don't even see themselves as racist. It's that invisible!
The test would be given a number, so no names are used. Results are held online, you access via pass code emailed to you. Once opened and acknowledged, it is automatically deleted 30 days later - you decided to print/save yourself a copy or simply let it delete
DNA tests would confirm to each individual, where their ancestry stems from. In essence, we will all have links to a number of regions, as past generations fled wars, famine or oppression or simply migrated for a better life, and had families who later moved around the planet
It's quite probable your family tree will be scattered across the earth, There is no doubt, you will discover someone in your family was a "foreigner" Spoiler alert...almost everyone will discover they own some brown DNA
These small vital details of ancestral information will be embedded in the psyche. The likelihood of people being hateful due to skin colour may not disappear - but buried alongside those thoughts will be a little nugget of knowledge that your ancestors probably had beautiful coffee coloured skin. This may not have an initial effect, but it will manifest itself.
Taking a DNA test, will not in-itself eliminate racism. But if people begin discovering their true heritage, understanding where humans originated, How we are linked regardless of skin colour, then perhaps it can lead to less hateful thoughts, and with a less hate around the subject, maybe we can talk about openly without everyone getting so emotional...
There are just a few meditative thoughts on this vast topic from 3000monks
So what do you say...For or Against?
winter 2017
© for permission to use our words simply ask
