Each year I resolve to be a better person than the year before,, in observing my environment, and listening to others, I have resolved to try to not be that person who demonizes others (not that I generally do, but I can still try to do it even less)


I found this article, though it is not from the 'christian' religion, it resounded with me so I though I would share it here


http://bahaiteachings.org/how-can-we-stop-demonizing-others

from the article:


When Michael Brown'��s and Darren Wilson'��s lives intersected --�a teenager who has done something he knows to be wrong, confronted by a man with a preconceived notion about the environment in which the two met -��tragedy ensued. Wilson testified about the neighborhood where he encountered Brown: "��There'��s a lot of gangs that reside or associate with that area. There'��s a lot of violence in that area, there'��s a lot of gun activity, drug activity; it is just not a very well-liked community. That community doesn't like the police."��

The violence leading up to Michael Brown'��s death occurred in this context, between two young men, each with something to protect and something to fear.

The bad news: nature programs us to reflexively fight or flee when threatened. That built-in impulse to shield ourselves by placing blame and then attacking the blameworthy (whether mentally or physically) can become especially dangerous. The good news: we have evolved to a point where each of us, in large part, has become responsible for our own evolution. We can guide it.

Perhaps we'll never know the truth about what happened between Darren, and Michael's last minutes alive.

What has made all of this so awkward, is the commonly perceived assumption that all 'white colored police' are out to incriminate any and all in the black community, and somehow if One does happen to be of the 'black community' that their somehow exempt from being accused of any crime.

I'm sad to say... Bigotry, is all too often a two-way street.

Interestingly, the top RNC leadership are taking a trip to Israel sponsored by a AFA subgroup, run by the guy they "fired", who stated that anyone who is not Xian is not protected under the 1st Amendment. I wonder what the Jewish will feel about this.

any perception that 'all' of any group have a monolithic character is indeed one of many that lead to subliminal differences in how people can look at a situation and come away with different perceptions of what happened


I don't personally know anyone who believes that people from the black community are exempt from being 'accused'

the concern I most often hear about is the different TREATMENT given to the 'guilty' ,, and how it correlates to their race,,,,

a concern that is not without merit when being honest about Americas history and founding,,,


,,but that wasn't the point of the thread..lol



it was more about how we justify positions by demonizing individuals,,,,and how I will try to do a better job of avoiding that trap

Does that mean you will stop demonizing me soon?

I'm gonna try

Such a fabulous post...

It is sad that some wish to keep the hatred and bigotry alive...The shooting referenced in the opening post happened 6 months ago...It set off much civil unrest about the relationship between blacks and white police officers...This particular incident resulted in both peaceful and violent protests in the predominately black city of Ferguson, Missouri where the shooting occurred...Looting and vandalism went on for days until it had to be stopped by force, peaceful protests lasted several more weeks...The Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County finally decided to bring the case in front of a grand jury in an effort to determine whether there was probable cause to indict the white officer who fired the shots that killed the unarmed black teen who had just committed a robbery...The grand jury decided not to indict...The following month, US Attorney General Eric Holder launched a federal investigation of the Missouri city's police force to determine if its members were guilty of racial profiling or showing excessive force...The investigation did not yield sufficient evidence to support bringing charges against Wilson, the officer in question...Wilson quit his job stating he did not want to put fellow officers in danger because of the hatred toward him from the blacks in his community...He is still the subject of investigations by Ferguson Police Dept. and the US Justice Dept...the Brown family will likely file a wrongful death suite against him...as a result of the shooting, Obama announced that the federal government will spend 75 million on body cameras for police officers......steps are being taken to update Missouri state law...EVERYTHING that could and can be done is being done...

About 4 months after the shooting in Ferguson, two NYPD police officers were shot and killed while sitting in their police car...The suspected gunman posted days earlier of his intentions to kill police officers in response to the killing of Brown...It's time to let it rest....

its laid to rest, but it will always be referenced because it touched many and because its not a story that is isolated,,,, it sparked a movement of sorts,,,,



but the reference was a small part of the bigger message of how our perceptions and the way we DEMONIZE others impacts the way we treat them or approach the issues they are involved in or speak about,,

How did I know you were going to say that....lol...lol...lol....The "small part" referenced wasn't necessary though ...IMHO of course!....

ok, well the message still stands

the reference was something most people would know about and understand,,,,relevance to the message

which is a good one

But sooooooo not necessary to deliver your "good" message ...You have a peaceful evening Ms. Harmony...

There are many ways to demonize.

How true....

Okay, on the 'lighter side' of comments... I used to have a very dear friend who came up from Chicago.

He was a man of African-American descent, and he used to say he was an Oreo Cookie. (Black On The Outside And White On The Inside)

I'd tell him, "My Black-Irish soul could NEVER abide that!"

Victor is long since passed in death, but I've never forgotten him and I hope to see him again one day.

Don't know where, don't know when.

I hope you see each other as well,, friends (real friends) are invaluable

Thank You, Msharmony...

If I ever get to see Victor again... I'd probably kiss-him-stupid!

I do greatly miss him.