Things People Say - Part 2
“It’s Tradition” “It’s the way it has always been done” “People have been doing/saying it for years” You get my point.
When faced with an issue of injustice those are a just a few of the “excuses” that are given. As if because you did something before that is the way things HAVE or SHOULD continue to go. For example:
1. The Confederate Flag - Commonly heard excuses “It is our history.” “It is a celebration of the South.” “It represents my family’s history.” No, what it represents is a country who fought against the United States so that they could continue to use black people as free labor. It represents an enemy of the state who the United States defeated in a civil war. It is a celebration of slavery and it is a horrible part of history. What if I flew a Nazi flag which this country likes to proudly brag that they defeated in WWII? (all on our own by the way. No help from any other countries.) What if the MN state capitol flew a Japanese flag? I am fairly certain the same crowd excusing and defending their right to fly the Confederate flag would accuse me and the state of treason. The same people who want an amendment against burning the flag. The same people who argue it is disrespectful to not honor the flag by sitting during the National Anthem. So then why is it OK in their minds to fly the flag of another county? I am not afraid to say it is because they are racist, they are sad and/or angry the Confederacy lost the Civil War, and when they say “make America great again” they mean with slaves. There I said it.
2.) President elect Trump (I can’t believe that is real) is heard admitting to sexually harassing women - Again we hear the same type of excuses “people (ahem you mean MEN) have been saying stuff like that forever” Yeah kind of the point. It is upsetting that so many feel, and have felt, comfortable saying shit like he did for forever. As long as I can remember I have heard men talk and act like that. So of course men are going to excuse his talk because they themselves say the same thing. And when the country clearly excuses his behavior by electing him to lead (or at the very least represent) the country it screams a loud message to women. It was the first message I heard once they announced Trump won - you do not matter. And when I found out 53% of white women voted for him my first thought was “who taught them to self hate?”
As you grow and learn your feelings are supposed to change. The way you interact with others should change. As you learn your opinions most likely will change. So if you are caught constantly defending something with “it is just the way it has always been” maybe you should dig a little deeper. Expand your thinking. It can be a beautiful thing.