Unnoticed Hypocrisy - Tolerance Goes Both Ways

Photo by MiakoSamuio 

So I've been smothered in news lately that revolve around people's rights or needs.  I'm often touched by the stories of another's pain, but I'm starting to get fed.  Now it is important to find the filter.  So where is the line? The line in which we have to let one gripe slide and take another one seriously? It should be important to weigh the value of the issue, and it's real impact on the whole of society and not just on our own personal pain or displeasure.

So today I'm addressing "microaggression" currently defined as:

“…brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color.”

Until earlier today I don't think I'd ever heard the term microagression.  Not being a student of sociology, or more exactly minority studies, I haven't had occasion to run across this term.  However, recently my attention was drawn to a young blogger who had recently adopted this term to relate not just to people of color but to all minorities, including the LGBT community.

Microaggression focuses on the everyday bigotry that is present and excepted in casual society.  We are all guilty of theses transgressions. Any time something is referred to as "gay" or "retarded", off color jokes, physical or visual aversion of dwarfs, elderly, disabled, etc. I could continue of forever really. You know where you fall on the line of bigotry and I'm not interested in debating that these things are in fact wrong, nor am I saying that we as people shouldn't try to better ourselves by eliminating these things as part of our culture. But let's reconsider the grander scheme of these things in our lives.

If you are reading this, further more if you have the privilege to be a blogger in the first place, then I am going to draw the conclusion that you have the money to own a computer, or at least have access to one in a public location such as a school, or public library.  This means that you're living in a country that doesn't put public blocks on outside media, so you are living in a free country.  You are more likely then not to have a home, a warm bed and a fresh set of clothes; since without these things you would be less likely to be reading this and more likely to be contemplating your next meal. You may even be lucky enough to have a job, or be the privileged child of a parent with a job; making enough money to support your independent thoughts.

In other countries you are stoned to death for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, of a different religion, too dark, too light, female... the list goes on. You could be some where on this earth where they have never heard of a computer. You could be starving to death, or dying of a very easily cured disease but which the cure is kept from the people by a currupt government.

What am I saying? Well in a perfect world we would never show bigotry, toward any people.  In the mean time, we can work each day to be better human beings.  But if you are going to put out there your contempt of those that fill your life with microaggression, then you better review yourself carefully in the mirror each morning and ask forgiveness for your own bigotry before you get on your soup box for "your cause".

I'm not asking for you to ignore the aggressions others show to you, and I could never ask that your feelings not be hurt by them. We all feel hurt by others hate. You are not alone! But before you rage against those who hurt you, before you let the hurt jade your heart. Take the time to see the blessings around you, shy away from the gripes for a few minutes and list the good things in you life. Let's take time away from acknowledging the mircoaggression and focus on bring a little relief to the Macroaggressions that we are so lucky to be saved from; hunger, homelessness, torture, political, social, economical and religious oppression.

Heaven's Here On Earth 
Tracy Chapman

You can look to the stars in search of the answers
Look for God and life on distant planets
Have your faith in the ever after
While each of us holds inside the map to the labyrinth
And heaven's here on earth


We are the spirit the collective conscience
We create the pain and the suffering and the beauty in this world
Heaven's here on earth


In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding


I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise
Of ordinary people leading ordinary lives
Filled with love, compassion, forgiveness and sacrifice
Heaven's in our hearts


In our faith in humankind
In our respect for what is earthly
In our unfaltering belief in peace and love and understanding


Look around
Believe in what you see
The kingdom is at hand
The promised land is at your feet
We can and will become what we aspire to be
If Heaven's here on earth


If we have faith in humankind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief that truth is divinity
And heaven's here on earth


I've seen spirits
I've met angels
I've touched creations beautiful and wondrous
I've been places where I question all I think I know
But I believe, I believe, I believe this could be heaven


We are born inside the gates with the power to create life
And to take it away
The world is our temple
The world is our church
Heaven's here on earth


If we have faith in humankind
And respect for what is earthly
And an unfaltering belief
In peace and love and understanding
This could be heaven here on earth

Heaven's in our heart