Musing on Being Resensitized, the BC, Leadership, Whatnots

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As most of you know I live in a religious Jewish enclave. As with most people who live in enclaves such as Amish, Mormons (?), others, one becomes resensitized to alot of things. Because I don't watch television, hardly listen to popular radio stations, etc., it gets a bit jarring to hear cuss words, or to hear folks being brash or rude to one another. Going to see a movie proves much more of a shocker than the shock the movie intended to give, lol.

However, from this position I must admit that I do see things a bit differently than the media or whoever would want me to think. For instance, though I am aware of the negative portrayal and the very true negative things that are going on in the black community, I still believe that they are a gem. Every creation of God is!

In the case of the black community, I see it as a gem, but parts of it, some groups within have been covered up by shmutz. All the dirt, additional rocks, sticking together on the gem makes that few can even see the gem that it has the potential to reveal. Many don't even believe it. Some even forgot...

Now am fearful of rising activists or wanna be activists trying to help the black community. Don't get me wrong, I am glad for that. But as usual with my sensitive self, I worry about something slightly fearful about some of these new emergng folks-Not all. I am also seeing wonderful, intelligent, compassionate, and thoughtful activism!!! But as for the few that make me nervous, they seem bent on helping the community get the material gains that the black community lacks -and that's great; however, I also sense sometimes that the way the BC is spoken to -the tone used to get a point across- will be psychologically smoldering. Every people respond to inspiration and uplifting. Being spoken to in contemptuous tones, condescending manners or with hurtful words -no matter what the good intentions are- just does not make for long term, happy respondents -it makes for toxic, pent up, emotional hurt that may (finally) come out and ruin all the good work that was done.

I guess folks can only lead others up to where they are. But it's up to the followers to examine carefully who their leaders are and where they will end up. Weigh it and see if that's where they want to be.

Yes, I think we are a gem. Many are interested in chizelling away at all the dirt. Many others are wont to bash the whole ore with a sledgehammer. And to bash it with all the force of their pent up anger at the 'enemy', exasperation at the BC themselves, whatever indigestion that's currently occurring, or whatever happened last week. Not all the upcoming leaders and activists seem that way. But just a warning -as the African American Rabbi Capers Funnye used to say: Watch!