"May you live interesting times" is an expression known as a "Chinese curse". It's used ironically, with the clear implication that 'interesting times' in historical terms are those where lot of things 'happen' (turbulent times of danger and uncertainty: wars, riots and all kind of tragedies) while in times of peace and tranquillity, there are less 'remarkable' things to tell.
We're living "interesting times" now... And unfortunately, there will be more 'interesting' things coming soon. The world politics are becoming more radical and the extreme right wing is emerging everywhere, getting very close to the old fascism.
For this reason, I want to share this important (and amazing) message of the educator Jane Elliott, because I think it's very necessary to spread it now that 'interesting times' are coming.
No matter what's gonna happen, what kind of politics are coming or what the media is gonna try to convince us. WE (the good people) will always know that there is just ONE RACE: THE HUMAN RACE. Because we can't let them to spread hatred among us.
- Why do we hate?
- We hate because we're taught to hate. We hate because we're ignorant. We're the product of ignorant people who have been taught an ignorant thing which is that there are four or five different races... There are not five or four different races, there is ONLY ONE RACE on the face of the Earth and we're all members of that race: THE HUMAN RACE.
But we have separated people into races so that some of us can see ourselves as superior to the others. (...) It's time to get over this business. There is no gene for racism, there is no gene for bigotry, you're not born a bigot, you have to learn to be a bigot. But anything you learned you can unlearn; it's time to unlearn bigotry, it's time to get over this thing and we better get over it pretty soon.
I'm an educator and as my business as an educator to leave but lead people out of ignorance. The ignorance of thinking that you're better or worse than someone else because of the amount of a pigment in your skin. Pigmentation in your skin has nothing to do with intelligence or with your worth as a human being. It's time to get over that.
~Jane Elliott, anti-racism activist and educator on the psychology of racism.
Thanks Miss Elliott for this wonderful message.
And thank you all for reading.
Comments
Hey cool Onee-chan! Thanks for dropping by!
Uhm, I prefer to say "Instead of wasting our time hating people and/or their stupid acts, better teach them/tell them not to do stupid sh*t" :P
I know sometimes it's hard not to hate all the stupidity that you can find around, but I'm learning the hatred feeling never leads to any good thing. Honey catches more flies than vinegar after all...
Thanks for your comment :)
Hello sweet Adaline ^_^
That's a very nice saying. Time is too precious for wasting it with wrong people or negative feelings.
Thanks for your cool comment :)
Seeker, Thanks for dropping by!
Yes, that's a very interesting comment. As far as I know, kids start developing their identity from the six years old (aprox) So I guess that's a crucial stage for the education in values for them. As usual, education is always the key.
Alice E! How nice to see you around! ^_^
I see you're one of those 'Game of Thrones' fans! haha
"Divide et Impera" is a saying as old as the Roman Empire. That's why spreading hatred among people is very useful for some evil governments and interests. So I can't agree more with your last line: "hate and division will be man's undoing unless we all come to realize that we are all one".
Thanks for your interesting comment! :)
Setareh, I totally agree with you. I also can't help but wonder that "WHY"... Why some people cannot see the most obvious things? But Jane Elliott gives the answer: Education is SO important.
Setareh, my only hope is that there are teachers like you around. You can also lead your young students out of ignorance, like Miss Elliott does :)
Estanis, while I was writing the intro of this blog, I was thinking mainly in Donald Trump and all the US politics, the inmigrants, the refugees, the Brexit, Europe... But the politics of the country we share are so lame that they don't even worth to mention :P
But you're right: The politics of fear is the one who is spreading all over the world, no matter its 'color'.
I wouldnt like to be pessimistic too... But it's really hard :(
Thanks for dropping by!
Hello Mishaikh,
That's a very interesting comment. I like what you explained except that 'self-humiliation' thing... I know what you mean but I think to learn to be humble you don't need to underestimate you either, because that can be negative too. But I agree with you that to be humble is very important.
Thanks for your comment.
Sweet Shoba! Thanks for your comment ^_^
My dear Eva! ^_^
I like your lines: "Races are human created, borders are human made, religions are human created...therefore there is hatred and bigotry, and realistically seen this will always be". Yeah I totally agree with you, and it's sad too... Why we can't get rid of this? Why is so difficult to change and why there are so many interests for this to keep like that?
I'm not sure what you mean with the 'opposite racism'...
Anyway, I think the world is full of good people with noble thoughts. The problem is that these kind of people are not the leaders of any rich country, or big company...
I always say that rich people don't become rich for being generous. That has to mean something...
Thanks for your always interesting comment and nice words :)
Hello Rick and your cute white bear!
Thanks for your comment :)
Hello Serene!
Onee-chan said that sentence too, and as I replied to her: "Instead of wasting our time hating people and/or their stupid acts, better teach them/tell them not to do stupid sh*t" :D
Thanks for sharing your opinion :)
Thank you all for reading.
WoW! Amazing blog, Dear Mary! its has beautiful message. there is no option to disagree with the words above.
We should not hate people but hate their deeds....
“We feel safer when we can label someone and figure them out, but it’s hardly foolproof. ‘Good people’ are capable of bad behavior. ‘Bad people’ are capable of good behavior.” Elina Marie.
I totally agree with the words above.
I loved Jane Elliott's words. She speaks the plain truth in a striking manner. Thank you for sharing, Mary.
We human have always been trying to be superior (individually or as a nation) over others. Where this instinct is not satisfied, hatred is created. You know in spiritualism and soofism the first lesson which is given is to "self-humiliation" (thinking others superior than self). This practice dormant the hatred.
So always try to be HUMBLE. There will be NO HATE.
Thanks for providing us material to ponder.
Yes, I guess we have 'interesting things' to live already and agree that sadly it seems like the ideology is radicalising everywhere but not only the right wing but also heading to an old fashioned and obsolete communism. It's like if people want strongly express what they don't want, not what they really are.
At least, sites like this one put their two cents where people can interconnect each other regardless the skin, religion, ideology...
Well, I don't wanna be pessimistic watching the glass half empty, luckily there're many people like Jane Elliott who defend these values and most of people who is ignorant nowadays is just because they wanna keep on being.
Hi Mary,
Once again this blog is a profound reminder for all of us to live in unity. I recall Jon Snow's character from my favorite TV series, trying to convince everyone that the real enemy is not which Kingdom is better/ worthy to rule man but to stand together to fight against that which has the power to wipe out all of mankind...the white walkers. Ultimately hate and division will be man's undoing unless we all come to realize that we are all one. human. race. Winter is coming! :)
Lovely message dear Mary, I like this saying, 'I don't have time to hate people, because I am too busy loving people who love me'.
Individuals or groups should be treated fairly and equally and should be loved and no less favourably specific to their needs
Thanks for sharing.
Well Done!
"Don't hate people just because they are....... But hate their deeds if it is to destroy the world."
Thank you for sharing, Mary. :)