I spent pretty much the entire day trying something new with no clue if it will work. Theoretically it should but there are several factors that could alter the outcome.
As I was working away in the garden I was thinking about the similarities between this and anti racist activities. How, as those with white privilege try, we may falter by saying the wrong thing or not fully thinking through the impact. Then we will try again to do and be better.
The flowers in the circular garden are starting to bloom. We’ve been working away making improvements but it’s slow progress. The weeds have taken over in the middle. There are flowers that are hard to find and others that are outshining the weeds. Which again made me think about how things are in the world. The weeds (racists) can be blatant or hidden but they can be, with enough work (by others or self) be rooted out just like the weeds. They can be dug up and thrown away. They can be mulched and dug out again when they show up. We all need to work to rebalance our opinions and provide support for those who have been discriminated against.
Finding beauty amongst the weeds is always an important step. Take a moment to look around your heart and learn what you need to do.
Bernie
Thinking about this is indeed a start!!
I am not sure we can just pick out the weeds- unless the garden is changed they will keep coming back. ( Mulch?)
Read “So You Want to Talk About Race” , by Ijeoma Oluo.
Or listen to this week’s podcast of CBC’s “Unreserved” -excellent panel discussion !
My “ White Privilege” is my obligation to start ensuring that policies are not created just for me.
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Thanks for the comment Renee and for the advice both about gardening (mulch indeed going down) and about our white privilege. I will listen to the podcast for sure this afternoon. I feel like we don’t even see white privilege as it’s just our life. We think about the hard work that got us where we are today but we don’t think about the invisible hand up we got. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. Nice to hear from a regular reader.
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Very well said, Bernie. Thanks,
Deb
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The analogy just kind of popped into my head. 8 hours in the garden leaves plenty of time for thought. Have a good day and thanks for stopping in and and commenting Deb.
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Looking inward is a necessary step for self improvement, but many do not like what they see when they look inward. The 13th on Netflix is recommended viewing to explain how it all went so wrong. It is both sad and horrifying. We’ve all gotta keep trying to make a more beautiful garden amongst the weeds. Alan
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It’s hard to have a huge impact on the external weeds but we can change our own ones. Thanks for this next recommendation and for commenting.
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