addendum to the rough week
2019-Oct-28, Monday 04:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mellowtiggerThis is my 4th day since the end of training last week. My normal mental state is starting to make an appearance finally.
Coincidentally, a tweet appeared on my feed during this recovery period, a message that nicely encapsulates one of the disturbing insights of the whole power UP/DOWN exploration.
That is maybe the key distinction between "diversity training" (learning definitions and dialogs by rote) versus "engaging across difference" (exploring understanding and impact). Nobody tests out of it. Nobody gets a pass.
I don't especially like being around humans of any stripe. No categorization necessary. It doesn't matter their race, sex, orientation, religion, or social class; I'd rather be on my own. But I'm willing to find some way to meaningfully contribute to government policies and neighborhood perceptions that still succeeds at keeping me "at arm's length" as much as possible. There's gotta be some way to do it. This generation is more like "me" than any other before it, because the whole self-involved cell phone browsing is messing with their minds. If I can find a way, then maybe it can be replicated at larger scales.
That workshop was intended for use in our workplace. I'm more concerned, though, with how life plays out in Minneapolis and my own city block. I can think of things that "other people" could do in my place, but I'm still struggling for ideas here that are realistic for "me". What volunteer activity can I perform that will rebalance any power UP/DOWN differences on my city block?
Meanwhile, here's a picture of a rose in my front yard amongst the rasberries and strawberries.
The temperature is barely above freezing today. It will be well below freezing tonight. Make whatever metaphor you wish.
Coincidentally, a tweet appeared on my feed during this recovery period, a message that nicely encapsulates one of the disturbing insights of the whole power UP/DOWN exploration.
"Half the harm that’s done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm; but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
–TS Eliot"
- https://twitter.com/STEPD0C/status/1187796719951630341
That is maybe the key distinction between "diversity training" (learning definitions and dialogs by rote) versus "engaging across difference" (exploring understanding and impact). Nobody tests out of it. Nobody gets a pass.
I don't especially like being around humans of any stripe. No categorization necessary. It doesn't matter their race, sex, orientation, religion, or social class; I'd rather be on my own. But I'm willing to find some way to meaningfully contribute to government policies and neighborhood perceptions that still succeeds at keeping me "at arm's length" as much as possible. There's gotta be some way to do it. This generation is more like "me" than any other before it, because the whole self-involved cell phone browsing is messing with their minds. If I can find a way, then maybe it can be replicated at larger scales.
That workshop was intended for use in our workplace. I'm more concerned, though, with how life plays out in Minneapolis and my own city block. I can think of things that "other people" could do in my place, but I'm still struggling for ideas here that are realistic for "me". What volunteer activity can I perform that will rebalance any power UP/DOWN differences on my city block?
Meanwhile, here's a picture of a rose in my front yard amongst the rasberries and strawberries.
The temperature is barely above freezing today. It will be well below freezing tonight. Make whatever metaphor you wish.