Learning Diversity Online Tool

ok, i'm going to try once again to generate some discussion here!

This website has some interesting vignettes for white folks to contemplate online. Would anyone be interested in doing these together as a group online and discussing??

I would be willing to post one and then we could discuss. anyone interested?

Re: Learning Diversity Online Tool

I am reposting here another post as it touches on embracing our diverse human experience through a genuine desire to understand and listen to each other, acknowledge all experiences by moving beyond fear to genuine compassion. I recommend the movie “Color of Fear” as a great tool to strart conversation and healing race relations locally.

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Re: What is your burning question? from WIE pod

“How do we create more equity in this world without completely dismissing historically unfair acts?   it seem that the conflicts are always reactions to perceived injustices that have not been resolved properly.”

First of all we need not dismiss anything in the past, yet if we are stuck in the past “perceived injustices” that is what we will keep recreating and repeating - acknowledging and then getting free of past is the begining of personal and collective transformation.

Also History or “His Story” taught in schools is only one version of many versions (minority or commoner's views often suppressed) that happened. That version is written by whoever is ruling or holding power at the time. For example “jewish holocaust” is not the only “holocaust” in histoay. Millions of women (majority of mankind) were witchhunted and burned during middle ages, and killed and suppressed even today around the globe.

Do people know how many millions were Killed in the invisible third world war or unlikely to be enslaved.  If this is happening in recent times, can you imagine how much glorious history of humanity/christianity/Black and non-white civilizations has been distorted or suppressed, by burning the Libraries like the ancient library of Alexandria or kept hidden under secret vatican archives. Truth is relative.

And who amongst us can say that we have never been subjected to blame, false accusations or injustice? Even Buddha and Christ could not escape it. When the movie Color of Fear was shown in a diverse community group, I was surprised that all white partcipants except one stood up along with all non-white when asked this question. BTW this is a great movie to promote awareness and create opportunities for healing dialogues locally.

If you buy history books in a developing country and compare same events or periods in the developed country you will see how different they are. I just attended a local intiative of Christian-Muslim dialogue recently. It was quite revealing in that some women from islamic background who lived in Iran under saddam, mujahaddeen or in Beirut were giving a different version of events than reported here in media.

What we need to do is perhaps is to emphasize the perennial philosophy and essence of all religions …is to love and respect all humanity above superficial differences of cultureying, gender /race and recognize our  universal brotherhood as human beings.

“Being human” is different than just intellectually identifying with the term “human”. Being human is to be able to relate with all human beings, and all human experiences, having a genuine desire to understand and listen to other perspectives, breaking barriers within one's own mind, perception, unexamined behaviors and attitudes.

Being human is to go deep within one's own sadness, separation and pain, feel things at a deeper level and coming to acceptance, then clarity and finally becoming compassionate and whole authentic human beings.

We have suffered enough, hurt each other enough, blamed and judged each other enough, because we have not allowed us to go within our own pain and suffering, and acknowledged the anger, hurt, sadness and alienation we all felt at times.

The voices of moderation and wisdom must be recognized, encouraged, empowered and listened to above those politicians, pundits and demagogues that blame, divide and incite violence. Now we need to make the evolutionary shift in our human consciousness from tribal perspective to planetary even cosmic perspective by fully integrating our rich and diverse human experiences.

Peace