Let’s address the ‘…..ISM’s

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Standing out doesn’t take much! If we were all simply ourselves in crowded spaces, each of us would stand out and society would resemble a conglomerate of an immiscible harmonious melody.

However, in a world where one’s identity seems to be tragically validated by a like button, conformism is often mistaken for homogeneity. Do not be deceived! The harmony for a song is made up of multiple distinct parts and even within a part, the octaves MAY be rather extant; and probably not fully realized. This is to say, each individual note is not COMPLETELY identical to the next; not in pitch, duration, amount of breath, nor the pharynx that allows it to be released! Yet, how beautiful is a melody with multiple part harmonies that amalgamate into one distinct sound? Indeed, how beautiful is a world with different personalities? What would it take to respect INDIVIDUALs belonging to different tribes, nations, colors, languages, religions, to name a few? In fact, some of these groups, are by ‘default’! People do not choose their phenotypic characteristics based on their genetic predisposition at birth. Would you be the reason why someone decides to not simply ‘BE’ (as harsh as this may sound- did you know how powerful your words are?)

I’ve had recent disheartening conversations around the topic of ‘….isms’. No, this time, it was not about trending topics like racism or tribalism but about nationalism. When humans decide that they will EPHEMERALLY identify based on ONLY one characteristic and suppress another group – whether a minority or PERCEIVED majority- by myopically reducing the existence of each member of the group to one characteristic, that may not be reflective of their individual identities! What a fallacy!

There is an Akan proverb that translates to ‘if you see your neighbors house burning, be quick to fetch water next to yours’! As we spew our vitriols, remember one thing; you may be a ‘majority’ based on one characteristic, but certainly not another!

Maybe before branding each member of an entire group, expose yourself to EACH person in it? Maybe that would be fair to people who had no choice in being tagged as such?

SIMPLY JUST THINKING OUT LOUD

Feel free to submit your opinions! I learn each day and I would love to learn from you as well!