Perspective can be powerful. I don't think we really understand how much so. It's the perfect tool to demonstrate and capture another experience. If only we were open to seeing it.
But like many tools, it must be used correctly in order to be effective. Otherwise, perspective can be lost in the shadow of zealousness.
How then, can we utilize perspective. It's so powerful, it should be easy. But nah. It begins with Listening. Not just hearing what is being presented, but stopping ourselves from thinking for a moment, and take it in. Sit on it. Think on it.
My brain likes to break things down and dissect stuff, so lemme break this down for anyone who happens on this, and isn't clear on what is going on right now.
Listen
Then... understand. Can you understand why? Understand the foundation?
Common misconception; understanding doesn't mean you agree. I understand what Surgeon General Shiro Ishii was trying to accomplish at Unit 731 in World War II. End of statement. That's as far as it goes.
Agree or disagree, that is your right, but these are two huge factors when it comes to something as simple as gaining perspective.
And then on the flip side.... presenting perspective... well like I said... our zeal could ruin it.
So lemme do this.
All lives matter. "All lives matter!" they say. Which isn't incorrect. In fact, most, if not all people can agree that yes... peoples' lives matter. A life is a horrible thing to lose, especially in such wasteful ways. And, since we all agree, lets take a look back a little bit... just 60ish years ago... some lives mattered a little more than others. And by a little, I mean a metric tron. It's been a long time since then, hasn't it? That's someone's grandma, or great grandma- grandparents, whathave you. Where they grew up in a time where.... lives were valued differently.
Generations go by.
We pass on what we learn down to our kids.
And a lot has changed. Then things seem like we're headed in a new direction, turning our backs as a collective to barbaric practices of our past. And yet lives can't seem to fall into the same column of value.
One could say, well.... some lives are not ones of value. Some are lost to our own worsts creations and vices. And this isn't untrue. And it's very unfortunate. What's even more unfortunate is... I would say, some are even born into those environments. What fault of theirs is that?
And generations go by.
We pass on what we learn down to our kids.
Those lives' value somehow dropped before having a chance to be a seen as a human first and foremost.
And other lives values go down... on the basis that.. their upbringing and culture is different than yours or mine. Hmm. Their life matters... but not as much as someone who, at first glance, looks like you. Perhaps you are of latin blood, asian, middle eastern, polynesian, or white heritage. and they are Black.
and while all lives matter, because they do, somehow... our lives are not all on the same plane of value. Why is that? Until we can assess and figure out why that is... the question will never go away. Why is it that my life carries more weight than descendants of those that not even a century ago were treated as expendable property? I wasn't even born here.
Black lives carry a different weight than non-blacks. Why? That is the question that demands an answer. There is a stigma in Black history that some of us have carried with us and let that rot our perception of how we look at other human beings. It happened, and there is a lot to heal from still. But as much as we want all lives to matter equally, the fact of the matter is.... they do not. They matter, but not equally. Not even close.
Right now, we need to understand this. Understand that Black lives need to matter just as much as everyone elses. That means.... profiling cannot be used as a tactic by cops to size up civilians. It needs to be re-evaluated and combated with updated training on case by case de-escalation, and not treating one person based on collective statistics.
We must rectify this. We cannot let a force to protect communities have weak links. The chain has shattered. At George Floyd's expense. His life had no value to those policemen in those 9 minutes. Why? What was their thought process? What in their hearts made them believe that this was the way to go about it? Protocol? Or did they see him as lesser because of who he was?
Right now, we can be vessels for those whose voices trail off... and get shut out. Right now, it's important for us all to understand the values we hold with our appearances, the color of our skin, our upbringing, the lessons we've learned... and to make sure we are all on the same plane. Listen. Understand. Have perspective.
Black Lives Matter.