Tag: racism

Impressive Speech against Racism Delivered by American Air Force General

It is said that “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. Well here’s one guy that did something about the mind poison that is racism (the illusion of separation, taken to the extreme). Some months ago, in the midst of racial tensions at the Air Force Academy, general Jay Silveria delivered a convincing and moving speech against racism:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/09/29/meet-the-air-force-general-who-delivered-a-powerful-lesson-in-leadership^

I am extremely happy when I see that certain people in positions of power take a stand against infectious, debilitating ideologies. As a matter of fact, I’m so happy that I’m going to (almost) ignore the fact that this speech comes from a person that presides over an institution that trains people into the art of killing other people (which is sometimes erroneously called “defending the values we believe in”).

But who knows, maybe the good general will one day hold a lecture against the very concept of war. Judging from this speech only, this is an honorable man that is doing the best he can given the circumstances, which is really all that can be asked from soldiers!

Here’s the YouTube version, in case the other link expires:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU0RfhvYN8s^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/02612-ImpressiveSpeechRacismJaySilveria-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Impressive Speech against Racism Delivered by American Air Force General’ desc=’Some months ago, in the midst of racial tensions at the Air Force Academy, general Jay Silveria delivered a convincing and moving speech against racism.’]

January 22, 2018
Man Who Makes Friends within Ku Klux Klan Is a True Role Model

By providing an inspiring real life story of how empathy can change the world, this man has become a living embodiment of what society can achieve when it doesn’t fall prey to fear and hate:

http://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/08/948022-man-spent-decades-befriending-kkk-members-hundreds-left-group^

When he started making friends among the KKK, Daryl embraced “the enemy” because deep inside he knew that there is no enemy. People make mistakes; they sometimes end up on a path that leads to suffering because they had few alternatives. That doesn’t make them any less human than the ones on the “other side”. But one important fact is that we’re all in the same boat. It’s up to us – to all of us – to grow each other up and to make sure that the boat we’re on becomes a party boat towards a beautiful land, not a dirge heading for the cemetery.

White supremacists, Islamic extremists, corporate crooks and whatever “villains” you can think of, they all begin as innocent, harmless babies. It’s the society that people live in that turns them into something that they themselves probably would have hated as children to hear that they could become. No baby is born with a desire to do harm. Yes, we do have an instinct for survival which demands that some basic physical needs are met. But in most (unfortunately not all) societies on Earth there’s quite a stretch until a human will kill another human for food.

I can name at least one Nobel Peace Prize winner who doesn’t deserve that honor as much as Daryl. It takes not only courage but also love to make one go there, on the front lines, facing those that would do one harm. I wish more people will soon think and do as Daryl and make friends within the groups they despise most. It is something I also have been doing, which is why Daryl’s much more meaningful work has a special meaning to me as I am championing the same cause. Communication is a prime ingredient of peace. I believe that such actions are essential if we wish to take our next evolutionary step forward not only as a society but also as a species.

Empathy saves!

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/02405-ManWhoMakesFriendsWithinKKKDarylDavis-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Man Who Makes Friends within Ku Klux Klan Is a True Role Model’ desc=’By providing an inspiring real life story of how empathy can change the world, this man has become a living embodiment of what society can achieve when it doesn't fall prey to fear and hate.’]

October 2, 2017
Switzerland Invents New Recipe For Social Disaster

Europe’s allergic reaction to Islam reaches new heights of the absurd. Other than being known as a haven where dubious characters stash their money in secret bank accounts, Switzerland has become increasingly racist and intolerant. In one region, the Swiss are forcing (via fines) Muslim students to shake the hand of their female teachers:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36382596^

Besides the fact that I think the measure is exaggerated, it is also incredibly short-sighed. I don’t know what the Swiss people imagine they will achieve with this aggressive measure, but I’m pretty sure it won’t help them score any points towards successfully integrating their Muslim community.

It’s one thing to disallow the construction of minarets or wearing the burqa in public, and a completely different thing to force somebody to touch skins with another person. It’s at least one order of magnitude more serious. There is such a thing as consent. Remember those anti-rape campaigns that say “no means no”? I think it’s just mean to force Muslims to do something they don’t like in the name of some Western cultural norm.

I agree that our teachers should be respected (if they are good people). But respect can be shown through many other means than a hand shake. If the Muslim students do not respect their teacher, that is another story. The causes should be investigated separately. However, forcing them to act like they respect the person is childish and doomed to further alienate this demographic. The result could be disastrous, because we’ve all seen what can happen when we stop being compassionate and understanding with each other.

In the clash of cultures, there is always a middle path. Many countries have found these compromises and, as a result, have benefited from the diversity brought by immigration. We are brothers and sisters. I know we can treat each other with respect, regardless of physical manifestations. What is with this obsession with touching anyway?

Respect is earned, not asked for or forced.

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/00657-SwitzerlandSocialDisaster-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Switzerland Invents New Recipe For Social Disaster’ desc=’In one region, the Swiss are forcing (via fines) Muslim students to shake the hand of their female teachers.’]

May 30, 2016