#responsibiilty

[jrich103]

The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker

[kisuthirt33n]

The every day mumble of what comes to tear our nation boils down to responsibility.

Is it fair to abide by the laws of one who has a disposal of support through connections that seems louder than a voice of coherent speeches. 

Growing up with those of with and without color in their pigment, there is something always missing for the drive to show remorse. 

An anger to the forces took hold of a soul that held a fighter spirit to live within every part of their being. Something that can be hard to find because of the common aspect that the suppression of what holds one beyond more than a thought. 

Actions display more than I have noticed some will let on. Continuing to portray a different illusion. My regret climbs into the mouths of babes seeking a purpose to embrace the carnal instincts to take a risk.

Through it all, chance is a toss of the coin when it comes to consensual decisions and the one who takes it as a bad idea, to make that impact no matter the case.

[mbmspeaks]

What comes after awareness? Real Empathy? Action? Change?

Like many it has been difficult to read through my Facebook feed and read the first hand accounts of sexual harassment and assaults that people I have known have been victims of. I wasn’t surprised – thinking about it I recalled the first time I had a female relate to me a story of sexual violence -  I was 15 – it wouldn’t be the last story I heard.  It was still difficult to read the first accounts of people I’ve known over the years.  So much pain… how can we right the wrongs? Can we change our world to not repeat the cycle of violence?  

While not shocked myself I am a continually surprised that people are surprised.  What is this empathy gap we have as a society.  I think about this a lot. How is it that you can not notice the violence that happens to women?  How is it that you don’t see divisions of class and race in our society every day? How? How can you miss the pain and struggle going on around you?

I thought a bit what I wanted to say about all that I’ve seen in my feed. What can I add to the conversation? It can’t be that people have shared their pain in vain. There must be something after all this. Some action. Some change.

So here’s what I got – For those newly awoke, and for those already woke – recognize the sacrifice those have made in sharing their experiences.  Now all of us have to do something more – Facebook posts are not going to be what makes the lasting change we crave – as much as technology can be a great agent for change – it may not be up equipped yet to enable that change. It may take more effort than many of us realize.

Now this may seem to be a little of a harsh reality to bring the scene  - but I think it’s important to understand the truth and limitations of technology. As a technologist I feel that I have that responsibility to add this to the conversation.  So here’s some truth to consider – you know how your feed has been filled with painful and empowering  #metoo posts, do you believe the feeds of those who sexually harass, have raped, or believe that in cases a woman has brought upon herself the sexual violence are seeing the same volume of #metoo posts….  I think you probably know the answer.  Almost all of the algorithms that feed content to your social media streams are meant to reinforce your view of the world. They are made to keep the status quo as it is. They don’t bridge the empathy gap and align us to find our common goodness – they were never meant to do that.

Well fuck what does that mean? What is your goddamn point Jamil!?

My point is don’t be complacent.  Individually and together we have to commit to action to change.  If you’re not thinking and then acting about how to enact change, you’re letting the status quo continue.  I don’t have the answers but I know that we can’t let the distorted views that technology sometimes give us distract us from keeping our eyes on the prize.  Real change.