Racism vs Fear of Racism + Working Upwards

First a short story:

Long, long ago,  I lived in a different neighborhood. I lived in Jerusalem.  And, I would always take my twin girls to a nursery in that neighborhood.  Only thing was, whenever I passed a certain corner, there were these little boys there -almost waiting for me, it seems like. 


Like clock work, everytime I passed near them, they jump up and yell at me in Hebrew.  At the time, I didn't know as much Hebrew as I do know and wasn't sure what they were saying. (Also, my brain had this habit of just not trying to read or hear Hebrew).  So, I chose to ignore them, since I couldn't fight them.  I was sure they were saying some racial slur and was even embarrassed to go by there.  But it was my job to get the girls to and from the nursery sometimes and so I had to do it.


Well, one day, one day when I got good and tired of feeling kicked at, I made up my mind to give a good talking to to those little boys!


So the day came.  I was taking the girls back from the nursery to home, as usual.  And as usual, there were those boys some standing some sitting at the curb.  Sure enough as soon as they saw me they began jumping and yelling.  This time I listened to what they were saying....


"Please, please can you help us cross the street!! Please!!"


I was so embarraased.  All this time....all these days...they had been asking me to help them cross the street!!  In my own constricted mentality, I just interpreted unknown variable x to equal racism!!   I quickly gathered the boys around me and when the time was right, we all crossed the street together.  Then the boys ran off some this way and some that way off to their homes or down to the next curb.

Quite often--and I doubt I am speaking just for myself-  we just assume racism or quite often we don't even try- not because of racism, but because of the fear of racism.  I didn't even try to hear the boys out of fear that they were being racists towards me.

This can really hold someone back. Negative emotions are not simply emotions, they almost help the reality to be a certain way. Emotions are like cups, buckets, vessels.  When we invite a certain emotion around us, we are also inviting that cup and those types of vessels only hold "certain" types of "goods" --and it ain't good!

Well, I pray we can fight this.  I know the situations and locations are different.  For me, there is a lot less racism living in Israel, than in America.  I doubt in America a bunch of white boys would beg me to help them cross the street.

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There is another problem that I see, but I haven't heard anyone address it.  I certainly hope somebody with some popularity or celebrity status address this. Anyway, before I state the problem......another story...!

A man from South America was very poor.  But he was also optimistic and worked hard.  He made friends with an Italian who asked him to come to Italy. He came, however, he had no money.  So he had to work at all sorts of jobs, construction, janitor, waiter, anything he could find I took. He wasn't afraid. and slowly he saved what he could.  One day while sitting and resting from a job, he saw a synagogue. He decided to visit it.  The people there were nice to him, even though he wasn't Jewish.  And he came again, and again, and again. Finally, they accepted him in the synagogue and taught him whatever he wanted to know about Judaism. 


One day he confessed he wanted to convert.  The Italian rabbi wrote the proper papers and he managed to buy a ticket to Israel. Once there, he learned until his conversion. Again scrapping by with whatever jobs he could, he survived in a foreign country.


He left holding his head high with an Israeli passport and can return free of charge with the Israeli Law of Return!

Great story! True story!  Could such a scenario work for a Black person?

In the same situation with a Black person, would he be nicely received in Italy? If he worked odd and end jobs, could he get by with the money he scratched and saved? Maybe I got it wrong but sometimes I wonder if life is a bit harder for Blacks.  Like if they had small construction, janitorial jobs that maybe people would want to make sure they stay there and not progress or save or rise -maybe not necessarily by doing anything, but by subtle means. By their expectation which comes out in their choice of words, which comes out in their actions (for example, asking them to carry something too heavy vs if it was a white guy, getting help for him because he's not expected to be able to carry such a heavy load without hurting his back). And nevermind the outside influence, there is always -for Americans- the image of slavery that has been beaten into our heads, so when we work odd or manual labor, its hard to push that imagery out!   I don't know. I am just wondering about these things.

To be fair, I was also homeless when I first came to Israel. I had to work as a cleaning lady for a while and live in a youth hostel. So I'm not saying its impossible.

As far as solutions go:  I think the Israeli army got it right. They discovered that in order for the Ethiopian soldiers in the army to be successful, they needed to have at least two Ethiopians in a brigade.  Just one surviving all by himself will drive him nuts and bring him to depression and loneliness. Even when there is no overt racism involved.

I wonder if this could be applied in regular life? Having a good buddy- a kosher buddy now, I mean a real friend who's got your back. Someone to carry the other when they start feeling the effects of subtle hurts or something?

Breakfast, Anyone?

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Twice is the charmer.

I received two messages in different forms leading me to think that rather than my typical theoretical posts, perhaps I should also include a practical side. The latest call was from WAOD. I am going to comply.

Now truly IS a time for change, and why not change for the better?

Contrary to what racists, haters, and others would like you to think, the big enemy out there nowadays, the evil side of Esau(ESE). And the main mask he's wearing these days is Greed, but not necessarily the way most people understand it.

How to fight this?

(1) knowing the enemy
(2) knowing its tactics
(3) Conquering our fears
(4) Having our own strategies

KNOWING THE ENEMY

I don't really care what anyone wants to call the enemy, white -supremacy, racism, hate, genocide. I personally like to call it Esav/Esau.

KNOWING ITS TACTICS

Basically Esav likes to kill. In practical terms there are three ways of killing:

a) Actually kill a guy (or girl)
b) Shame folks through humiliation and degradation
c) Take away folks' income

Please note: Esav doesn't mean white people. It's just more a spiritual name. I prefer to use it because the "enemy" is not always going to have white hands. Nor is he/ she going to be black. More than likely, you can spot him by his actions and words. And the spirit around him.

One thing about ESE is that they are extremely sharp. They can smell fear, know a group's weakness and use it to their advantage. Thus, there is a practical method used against BM, one for BW, and one for children. There are other techniques for other groups as well (poor white, hispanic, different class tiers, etc).




CONQUERING OUR FEARS FIRST

Now before we can even engage in this war of good vs bad, it is necessary to do a quick battle with the foot soldiers of "bad". Who are they? Fear, Anxiety, Lethargy.

How to conquer this? I look to the Bible for my inspirations. When Moses was prepared to take the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, God said -and I'm putting it in my own words-- N'uh unh! Y'all ain't goin' no where with that slave mentality. I ain't havin' it! Show me! Show me you are ready to be free. To be even on top of yo' masters if need be! Prove this to me by eating their very god."

Well, He didn't say all that, but eating the lamb WAS part of the requirement prior to physically leaving Egypt.

The Egyptians worshipped the Ram. This was their main god. Imagine their horror to see slaves eating lamb! That's some holy boldness in my book.

So, too, we must find what it is we are afraid of. What is the big god of the greedy, of Esav, of white supremacy, of racists? Let's have it for breakfast!

What I think it is, is self actualization of the humble. Imagine, to open up a business to make enough money to sustain and live comfortably --but no more. Using the rest of the time to self actualize. Search yourself. Don't be afraid to be alone with yourself or with your diary and search what is it that you really want out of life. Is life all about chasing after money? Do you really think there will be a limit on a craving? Cravings are illusions, a pot just as in the parable below. But there is something, something very special that is YOU; your mission, your inner love, your goal in life. As long as you allow the many propaganda machines to lead your imagination away from thinking how you want to think, you are not on the path to self actualization.

Another one is: The humble gaining confidence. Finding the confidence to be so at ease with your life choices for yourself and your household is essential to keep the momentum. Once confidence is lacking, then the eyes start a-rollin. What will the neighbors think? Am I up to par with so-and-so? Never mind that this "so-and-so" was born with his own life circumstances, love, and goals. The bolder, but insecure ones will attempt to vilify a group and send scorn their way --or worse, join Amalek. Or they may try to insist on groupthink in order to establish a hierarchy so they can be on top. The hard thing about following one's own path is that there are no rank gauges. But that is also the beauty of it! That is to be content.

Pirke Avot 4:1 (Chapters of the Fathers - a compilation of Jewish wisdom) defines four key terms: "Who is the wise man? The one who learns from everyone. Who is the strong person? The one who conquers his negative impulses. Who is the wealthy person? The one who is happy with his portion. Who is the honorable person? The one who honors others."

But beware of those who try to get you on the flip side. Once they see that you are attempting to self actualize, they will say "Yes! Let's self actualize!!" And they will promptly re-route you back to chasing after money, the bigger car, the bigger house, more More, MORE! Before you know it, you're back on the same route as before.

Why the "Humble"?

Many people interpret humble as a type of person who walks with his head down, his back bent, surrendering everything, and gaining nothing.

No.

A humble person is someone who is aware of his strength as well as his weaknesses. He knows who he is, and where he's going. He steadily goes for his goal on his path and respects others. To the naked eye or perhaps to the arrogant, this person is a bother. He is not making waves. But in his own life, he finds exhilaration is his striving for his own goal. Nobody pushes him, but each day he sets about attaining his goal. He wakes up like a lion and jumps out of bed. There are worlds to conquer!
So, what makes him humble? He realizes that his strengths are gifts from On High.

Such is a humble person.

HAVING A STRATEGY

Here it is up to the individual and one's goal. But I would suggest taking one's television, find the nearest window, make sure it's clear down below and let 'er rip! My husband actually has a friend who was so disgusted by the messages and images inundating him from the TV, he physically removed it from the outlet, took it outside and left it in the dumpster. At least be aware of the messages, pictures, that is coming through via TV, internet, radio, billboard, etc.

If I had to suggest a reading list:

I would say that The Garden of Emunah by Rabbi Shalom Arush is a great place to start, but I'll get back to that

Can anyone add to this list????

So, without further ado, can we roll up our sleeves and try to make a difference with ourselves? let's have some...breakfast shall we?

Note: This is not the SOLUTION. This is more a baseline that is needed for a fixed and permanent solution. The actual practical solutions will need further thought...

The Fear Factor

As most folks know, I don't own a television. For years I haven't and not having one really sensitizes one to many things.

Recently, I was looking for DVDs that I could share with my children. Documentaries, movies, etc. One thing that I realized that I never realized before is that alot of the children's movies are based on FEAR. That was a shocker. Most movies made for kids use the fear factor to keep them interested.

That was not good. For many reasons fear should be avoided and Joy promoted.

Endearing Disney movies which I loved so much, I never realized until now how much fear factor was used. While fear can cause a thrill, I wonder what it does in the long run.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH FEAR?

I am dividing fear into two categories. There is FEAR which is really awe and reverence towards something. And, there is FEAR as in scared.

The awe and reverence ought to be left to God. Or, if you don't believe in God then the awe and reverence should have no place. No other being can be trusted 100% and granted such reverence.

Sages of old have said over and over that one must love God and fear God. But we're from the earth -or at least we have earthly qualities so many of us start from the bottom up. First we begin to love God and operate on that mode. As time goes on, we eventually fear Him.

"The end of the matter, when all is said and done: Fear God and keep his commandments, for that is the whole duty of man"

(Koheles 12:13)

If we had only love for God, we could do A LOT! Nothing would be too great. However, a border could be breached. In the case of Nadav and Avihu, two of Aaron's sons, they loved God so much that they wanted to worship Him even at the time that was not appointed for them. They took their pans and incense and started their fires regardless.

However, it was a strange fire. One that consumed them!

This makes me think of a man who fell hard in love with a woman. The fire of his passion is raging. But if things are not checked, she's not given her space, her needs are not thought of; basically, she's not respected (which is a notch lower than fear), then she goes away and he's left consumed in his own fire.

But that is not the type of fear I mean from the movies. There they have fear as in scared. That is a defeating kind of fear, I believe. The thought that there are so many things that can come out and grab ya! Or things that are way overpowering. Its exhausting and stressful. But it keeps you in your seat because the viewer needs to win, needs closure that the innocent, sweet, whatever the character was made out to be- can overcome this bad. Each movie brings the viewers to that edge.

This type of fear draws out negative emotions from us. It is the basis for alot of other negative emotions such as distrust, hatred, doubt. Naturally, children have fears that come even without a movie producer's encouragement. The dark. A loud helicopter. Yelling people. You name it. As we slowly try to teach our children not to be afraid, I feel it would be self defeating to give them yet more things which then I have to coax them to not be afraid of. I even suspect its a kind of power ride -for me- that I'm trying to avoid. Keep the child scared then they come to me then I, the mighty parent, soothe them and the circle continues. Nope! Not this time.

While I"m glad that things haven't come to the point in which producers start making movies with bad endings for children, I am still not sure I like all the stress and fear they promote.

One great focal point in my life is to be Joyous. Not fearful, but joyous.

Joy brings out healthy and positive feelings and probably healthy and positive hormones in our bodies as well! When we have joy, we are capable of ruakh hakodesh /holy spirit. By Holy Spirit I don't mean talking in tongues. I mean having knowledge descend upon a person and/or seeing the world in a more whole view (mochin d'gadlut)

Joy causes us to breath deeper and cooler air. Fear gives us heated and shortness of breath. Breath is our life -wouldn't we want it deeper? That alone does much good for the body.

By Joy I don't mean the happiness one feels when hanging out with friends -that's great too. But I mean more the joy one feels when one does a good deed.