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A More Perfect Union?

As I often say, no one is normal. We all have our quirks and idiosyncrasies, it’s just that some of us are sociopaths.

Over the past year I’ve learned that it’s not enough just to not be a racist, bigot or close minded fool.

Even if you are none of that you need to call out others who are.
By standing by or even encouraging these things, we are part of the problem.

This week we saw what happens when certain ideas are encouraged. Five people are dead, our democracy has been damaged and we have lost the moral high ground around the world.

Many people may not realize what they are saying until someone points it out. As they say in business if you can’t measure it you can’t manage it.

If people are carrying forward the racism or negative thinking that they may have inherited from their family, they may see it as normal and not negative at all. If they grew up with certain ideas or words, it seems normal.

I cringe when I recall what my mother used to call Brazil nuts. She eventually called them Brazil nuts, but not when I was a child.

If people don’t realize that their words or behaviors are negative, they cannot reflect and hopefully change.

As unbelievable as it may seem, words that most of us find offensive others see as normal language.

Most of us have subtle ways of discriminating and demeaning others.

It might be as simple as talking over certain people or dismissing their ideas. It may be a tone of voice.

It is up to those of us who have reflected to let people know that certain ideas and words are not acceptable.

We may loose a few friends or acquaintances, but that is a small price to pay to move our society towards a more perfect union.

And if you are the five people you most closely associate with, do you really want to be a close-minded bigot?

There are plenty of people in this world full of hate who will never change. Most of us are not equipped to change them anyway.

But there are plenty of people who just need someone close to them to let them know that their normal is not normal.

Hate is not normal. It is taught. It is learned.

We are better than this. We can be better than this.

We can become a more perfect union.

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6 responses to “A More Perfect Union?”

  1. Notes To Ponder Avatar

    Well said. Great post!

    1. OmniRunner Avatar

      Thank you.

  2. Catrina Avatar

    Very good points, Andy.
    It takes the collective effort of many people to make change happen.

    Just look at how women had to fight – and still are fighting – for equality. Not so long ago, it was unthinkable for a woman to participate in a marathon race. Today, it is normal.

    Change is possible, but it takes time.

    1. OmniRunner Avatar

      Justice and equality are not achieved without effort.
      Things are getting better in The US but there are many who want to go back to “the good ole days”.
      I think everyone has a different idea of when those days were.
      When I was in college I had a black roommate.
      Another roommate commented once how great the 60’s were with all of that great music.
      My black roommate said, really? Try being black in the 60’s in the US.
      I’ll never forget that comment.
      I think the best days are ahead of us.
      Thank you for your comment.

  3. pkadams Avatar

    This concept works well when done with love within friendships and families, not so good in governments.

    1. OmniRunner Avatar

      Agreed.
      It’s very difficult to challenge a racist comment made by a stranger.
      But if we do this with friends and family I believe that we can make a difference.
      Some people won’t want to hear it and there isn’t much we can do about that.
      Some will be surprised that their words were offensive.
      As I mentioned, many of us do not even realize our actions or words are offensive.
      It begins with us. Each of us.
      Thank you for your comment.