Good morning! Welcome to the DKos Sangha weekly open thread.
This is an open thread for members of the DKos Sangha and others who are interested in discussions concerning how we integrate our progressive political activism into our spiritual practice. If you have observations about the political discourse of the week, or about practice, or about anything else related to walking a spiritual path through the political world, if you wish to share, or if you seek support, or if you simply want to say hello, please do; this space is for you.
If you would like to write a diary for the DKos Sangha, please let me know.
If you care nothing for spiritual practice and only wish to denigrate and disparage, please do so elsewhere, and respect that this is a community diary for the DKos Sangha.
A couple weeks ago, I participated in an exchange in the comment section of a diary here on Daily Kos. I do not wish to link back to the exchange; but the issue that I was responding to dealt with jokes about the appearance of others. The exchange was interesting for me in that writing my responses became a practice in examining the relationship between the spiritual experience of the interconnectedness of all beings and the politics of conflict and separation.
In looking back at that exchange, I thought it might be useful to reprint it here in the sangha. I've left out most of the other party's comments, instead just using phrases that lead into my responses. I've done some slight editing to what I wrote before, but left it largely as it was written.
> Are we getting too politically correct when we make that kind of humor off limits?
I'm sure you are familiar with the arc of the moral universe quote. I'm turning 60 this year, and when I look back at the changes our world has gone through during my lifetime, they are profound. Racism, bigotry, sexism, etc, played significant roles in our culture, including in our every day language; in school, in the workplace, at parties, everywhere. It was hurtful, it was demeaning, it was divisive.
It has been a painfully slow process to change our culture such that we begin to think about others in a way that, though they may be different than us, we recognize that they are us; they are our family, our fellow human beings.
In my view, if we want to make our world more peaceful for future generations, a world that is safer, more nurturing, more inclusive, a world where people work together to solve problems for the good of everyone rather than compete against each other, fight with each other, hoard from one another, then we should begin now to treat each other with respect, understanding, and compassion.
And that, in my view, is why so many are now taking a firmer stand about language and culture and the way these still carry entrenched patterns that denigrate, disparage, and hurt.
It is difficult. We are a part of our culture; it shapes us as we grow up and carries us along through adulthood. But it is, in my view, important to try to look at the ways the culture that we are a part of can be harmful to ourselves as well as to others. It is important to step back and look back through history and into the future, to see what changes have occurred in the arc of the moral universe, and what changes must soon be addressed.
So, I think that when considered from a context of respect, understanding, and compassion, the way we use language can change in ways in which we can still communicate ideas, share joy and art, and do so in ways that are inclusive, and respectful, of everyone.
> But that's not a political position. It's almost a religious/theological position.
It is a political position if you look at it from a slightly different perspective. Our politics will work better when the people we elect to represent us can go to the bargaining table with an understanding and respect for the people they negotiate with.
In the peace process between Israel and Palestine, progress would be more likely if the Israelis were to put themselves in the shoes of Palestinians and Palestinians were to put themselves in the shoes of Israelis.
Negotiations between labor and management would go better if both sides went into the meeting thinking we are in this together, we are all working for the same goal of making a great product; what can we do to make this work for everyone.
The Bush administration deliberately pushed us into a war in Iraq that should never have happened. The culture within which that was able to happen needs to change; and it begins with each of us.
> But we're not there, yet.
Some, many, are; and, importantly, you can be too if you so choose. There is nothing holding you back. Except of course the pressures of a culture that doesn't always have your best interests at heart. It's kind of like the decision to close the Bank of America account and open an account at the local credit union; or to quit eating at mega-chain fast food restaurants and start supporting locally owned restaurants that support local farmers. There are lots of ways in which we can opt out of these larger culturally driven behaviors and choose a different path for ourselves, our families, our communities. And the way we use language is one of them.
> I would argue that there is no such evolution
This is certainly an understandable position given much of what we know of our world. However, slavery was once common in this country; women could not vote; native Americans were considered less than human. During my lifetime, where I grew up, there were separate waiting rooms for "whites" and "coloreds"; and our governments, businesses, and other institutions were much more dominated by men than they are today. Gay men and lesbians had to hide who they were.
In my view, there is indeed an arc of the moral universe, and it is evidenced in our history. We as a people, here in the US and here on this planet, have indeed evolved. And we are growing closer and more connected. The ways in which young people are using the internet to meet and stay connected with others around the world is changing our world at an ever faster pace. Even older folks like me have friends around the world; they are members of my community, neighbors. I care for them, and I want them to live in a just and fair world just as I do my friends here in the US.
> But most people are more concerned about things like minimum wage and getting to work on time.
Yes. And there are lots of folks who think we should bomb Iran. And yes, there are lots of folks who think gay marriange is wrong, and that contraception is evil. There are lots of people who think access to healthcare is a privilege. Change comes to society very slowly. We have been working for a long time to build a society where skin color is not something that separates us; but still, there is much work to be done. Change comes slowly; but it starts with a few, then grows to many, then eventually most begin accepting it.
It matters not what most people are concerned about; what does matter is what each of us as individuals choose to do. It matters what each of us chooses to do in our personal life to address climate change and to reduce our carbon footprint. And it matters how each of chooses to treat each other. At the dinner table, in the workplace, in the comment section of a blog, in government, in negotiating for peace in areas of our world torn apart by war.
There is an arc of the moral universe if we so choose to see it and to work for it. Marriage rights for LGBT couples will become the law of the land. More and more people will become more knowledgeable and concerned about income and wealth disparity. We will continue to move toward a single payer healthcare solution. We will continue to increase our willingness to do something to address climate change.
And we will grow more closer to each other as a global community; we will recognize ourselves in each other. We will treat each other with respect, understanding, and compassion.
You are right that "most people" are not there now. But some are; and change starts with a few, and grows out from there.
> Small matters can be resolved through understanding ... Big issues can't.
Most people in this country now understand that the way native Americans were, and have been, treated in this country is wrong. They understand that slavery was wrong, that segregation was wrong, that denying women the right to vote was wrong, that treating homosexuality as a mental illness was wrong. My guess is that many people around the world are beginning to understand that resorting to violence as a means of solving problems is not a great choice when diplomatic solutions have not been exhausted. Through Gandhi, King, and Mandela there is a growing movement, worldwide, of people who choose nonviolent action as an alternative to violent means.
In my view, we as a people have grown in our "understanding". We still have a long way to go; but we are evolving as a people.
It is understandable that some see this global family of human beings from a static unchanging view; that we will never change, that we will always be fighting each other.
But our planet does not have unlimited resources. In my view, we humans will have to move away from fighting and competing against each other over limited resources, and move toward working together to preserve limited resources.
And the sooner we start learning to work together, the better. The better for us; the better for our children and grandchildren.
Over time the "big issues" of racism, bigotry, misogyny, etc are being addressed through "understanding". These are not small matters. And the change in us as a people in becoming more understanding is an important one. Looking to the future, this growing "understanding" of our interconnectedness as a human family will play a role in the "big issues" that future generations face. And again, the world of those future generations will be a direct result of what we choose to do now. Violence or non-violence; hated or love; competition or cooperation. What each of us does now will have an impact on the world of our children.
But yes, I certainly understand that many do not see the world in this way. There is much evidence that we are represented in congress by people who may not be the best and brightest, and who may be more motivated by power and wealth than they are the good of all. But there are many people in our world who are working for peace and the common good, and who are growing in their respect, understanding, and compassion for all of their sisters and brothers with whom we share this planet.
As progressives, we work for social, economic, and environmental justice. And in my view, we do this at least partly because deep within us there is the recognition that those for whom we work are our very selves. We see ourselves in each other; and the selfless compassion that is at the core of our being moves us to work for change.
I think perhaps that part of the path of progressive political engagement is the process of discovering who we are as human beings and what we can become.
And once again I forgot to include the reminder for our Monday night group meditation!
Watch for Ooooh's Monday night group meditation diary at 7:00 Eastern; the meditation period will run from 7:30 - 10:00. This group sitting is open to beginners and advanced, and is not restricted to any particular traditions or practices. It is not expected that you sit for the entire period; sit for as long as you like, when you like. The idea is that we are here together; supporting each other, holding space for each other.