[Thespiritexpress] Book recommendation

Fri Jan 22 15:40:59 PST 2021

From my perch at 83:  On OTHERING, there is not one worse than the other. Just as in ACIM, there are no greater miracles.  It is a matter of choice, LOVE or fear. “The opposite of love is fear, what is all-encompassing can have no opposite.”.  

“Pain is a given, suffering, a choice.  Seeing the difference, being the difference is  a time to rejoice.” MCM 2001

On OTHERING:  I saw it all my life growing up outside of NYC in NJ. All kinds of pejorative names for “the other” , particularly Jews, Jamaicans, blacks, you name it.

I saw it again when I went to college in upstate NY in ‘55 when a family from Long Island unpacked their daughter from the dorm on the first day and drove 300 miles home because a “Negro” girl was to be her bunk mate.

Well, I am sure you all have your horror stories.  But it wasn’t until my first marriage home in Cairo, Egypt 1966 that I saw OTHERING in another way.  Egypt is a dark complected culture but it became clear to me that lighter was preferred over the darker Nubian/Sudanese.  Needless to say, I was a very young white softig female was VERY desirable. I was never threatened in any way, however, I understood that even brushing by me was considered “a win”.   I was often alone and when I went to the movie house I bought an isle seat, the one in front of me, beside me and the one behind me.  I learned enough Arabic, unlike many American expats, to know when I walked by myself through the Khan al Kahlili (bazar, spice markets) and I heard the men shouting: “Lahma abiad.” I smiled to myself knowing full well they were announcing the arrival of “white meat”.  I took it as a compliment.

Then when we lived in Tokyo 50 years ago I became aware of their version of OTHERING.  Anyone not Japanese was called Gaijin (the other).  I had Japanese friends who had adopted a Korean baby who desperately kept his origin secret so as to keep him safe.  In those daze, Japan was extremely ethnocentric, and even though they physically couldn’t distinguish themselves from Koreans, the price was paid painfully. 
Also, very misogynistic but that is another story.  

Thank you, Beloveds for your patience and offerings of loving kindness. I DO believe we are truly coming out of the mist of delusion of fear into a reality of THE ONE, Only ❤️ MM

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 22, 2021, at 10:17 AM, lee michel alley via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
> 
> Dear Everyone,
> The thing that struck me so much by your wonderful words was the complications of our intellects, symbolized by the colorful Mandala by the monks, being swept away to grayness, but pure peaceful consciousness is left.
> Yes, only love,
> Lee
> 
>> On Jan 22, 2021, at 9:00 AM, Riantee Rand via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I love all of you for expressing so beautifully the different aspects of a topic. I am in agreement with all of it.
>> The differences are what makes the beauty of the Whole and in unity consciousness there is not an opinion that I disagree with, they all bring more understanding and clarity.
>> Thank you Viktoria for your pebbles.
>> Only love
>> Riantee
>> 
>>>> On Jan 22, 2021, at 08:28, Roz via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Thank you Taylor for clarifying this, you said it so beautifully. And
>>> also Mary for your words about Othering which is so inherent in the way we
>>> think. And of course Riantee for your enlightening words.
>>> Having lived, grown up and worked side by side for many years in the black
>>> communities in Chicago and St. Louis, I saw first hand how differently my
>>> black friends were treated by white society and the police. Parents had to
>>> train their children, especially boys, how to deal with police if they
>>> were profiled and treated with disrespect so that they would not get
>>> arrested or killed just for being black: pulled over while driving for a
>>> broken tail light and put in jail, and then treated badly or even killed.
>>> Going into a store in a white neighborhood or downtown and watched closely
>>> so they don't steal, etc. Not being able to get a good job because of the
>>> color of their skin. Not being able to get good housing, poor schools, and
>>> the list goes on.  BLM was coined by a black person last year because of
>>> all the police killings of black people over the years, and then the
>>> George Floyd murder that all the world could see that created such an
>>> outcry. Even after that, there were and still are more police killings. 
>>> It is true that all lives matter, of course, but in this country it has
>>> been the experience of the black community that their lives do Not matter
>>> as they have been killed by police for no good reason. This has been the
>>> history of our country since the beginning. We live in a predominantly
>>> white world here and it is difficult to relate to the true experience of
>>> the black community. We can live in cities where there are black people
>>> but if we stay in our white neighborhoods and do not mix with black people
>>> at school or at work, we don't really know how it is for them.
>>> 
>>> I agree with you that black lives inspire, black lives uplift, energize
>>> and bless, and that is beautiful and inspiring, and we must remember how
>>> the this slogan came to be and what it means to black people. Sadly, this
>>> slogan has become emotionally charged and misunderstood. I feel that it is
>>> up to us as white people to take the time to understand it more fully from
>>> where it originated.
>>> 
>>> With love and respect,
>>> Roz
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Dear Viktoria, Riantee, Mary and All,
>>>> Thank you for sharing your thoughts and wisdom.
>>>> Viktoria I feel moved to clarify briefly what I am learning about the
>>> BLM
>>>> movement and white supremacy.
>>>> Black Lives Matter was created to address and shed light on the
>>> inequality
>>>> and injustices that exist for black and non-white people in our country
>>> and globally. To deny that racial profiling exists, especially by some
>>> in
>>>> law enforcement, only perpetuates the injustice.
>>>> That’s why I believe it’s important for white people to recognize how
>>> differently they are treated in our culture and to recognize white
>>> privilege. I believe it’s important to listen to non-white people about
>>> what their experience is like living in a world of white imperialism,
>>> colonialism and domination.
>>>> Deep listening and understanding is being called forth at this time so
>>> that true healing can take place and true equality and justice can
>>> occur.
>>>> Rather than continuing to divide us, understanding the system and
>>> insidious nature of white supremacy can help us move beyond it and
>>> embrace
>>>> our true one race - human.
>>>> I owe it to my non-white friends to understand their experience and see
>>>> how they are treated differently than I am, simply because they have
>>> more
>>>> melanin in their skin.  This recognition and understanding can help to
>>> heal the racial injustice that sadly exists in this country and in this
>>> world.
>>>> I agree with you that black lives inspire, black lives uplift, energize
>>> and bless despite the fact that throughout history they have been
>>> marginalized and told that they were inferior.
>>>> Their collective human spirit is truly remarkable, against so many odds
>>> and such ignorance.
>>>> I like your word “Othering” Mary. That seems to be what our egoic
>>> structure is hard wired to do. As we evolve, both individually and
>>> collectively, and loosen our identity with our egos, we can see othering
>>> for what it is and dissolve it into the truth of our connection. On the
>>> surface we may look differently but underneath we are all the same and
>>> are
>>>> all interconnected, riding the mystery. It’s a beautiful thing. Love
>>> heals and healing is being called forth now, both individually and
>>> collectively. I’m grateful to be doing this healing work with all of
>>> you.
>>>> Thanks for listening.
>>>> Taylor
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> On Jan 21, 2021, at 3:46 PM, Mary Melkonian via Thespiritexpress
>>> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>>>>> Beloveds, I want to suggest another word for the zeitgeist of the
>>> moment that has been forever: OTHERING.  I became “the other”in my own
>>> family(White RC) when I married a “foreigner” , Armenian, Lebanese.
>>> (BTW, Armenia as the first country to take Christianity as an official
>>> religion. ) and I was automatically was OTHERED when I was married to
>>> Vahe’ Minas Melkonian.  When my mother-in-law got to know and like me
>>> she said to my face: “I like you, Mary; you are pretty and smart BUT
>>> you
>>>>> are not Armenian”. DUH?
>>>>> My beautiful black new bestie, Mylene, from Burundi, tells me that they
>>> have their own version of OTHERING and amazingly, they discriminate by
>>> NOSES!  Who knew?  Know you know. PROJECTION, INDEED!!! Mary   BTW, I
>>> am
>>>>> always ready to say that there is only ONE of us here.  Only ❤️ MM Sent
>>> from my iPad
>>>>>>> On Jan 21, 2021, at 2:11 PM, Viktoria Zaita via Thespiritexpress
>>> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Thank you Taylor for bringing up the topic, and Riantee, for your
>>> enlightened perspective , you are such a breath of fresh air to me,
>>> always.
>>>>>> I just would like to add, what I  learned in Mastery , and from all of
>>> you,
>>>>>> that thoughts, and words literally create reality into existence! I
>>> learned the importance of putting the right pebbles into the pond, and
>>> dreaming accordingly  into manifestation.
>>>>>> When I heard "black life matters" the first time , and every time, I
>>> felt deeply outraged. As if somebody would say to me a Hungarian,
>>> that
>>>>>> "Hungarian lives matter"! Single me out on  the  basis of my genes,
>>> and
>>>>>> condensingly approve , that  I have a right to live!!!   How dare you?!!!
>>>>>> "Black life matters"  is a deeply racist slogan, so is "white
>>>>>> supremacy."
>>>>>> What they seem to be  against for the innocent benevolent  onlooker ,
>>> on the surface,  the very same  things  they are creating  into
>>> existence: racism, anger, violence, guilt for sins, one never
>>>>>> committed.
>>>>>> Repeating these  slogans , over and  over again, until collectively
>>>>>> we solidify it into our shared  reality.
>>>>>> I cannot  utter these words, and sorry, I cannot  listen to them either.
>>>>>> But if we have to make a distinction based on race, I   am willing to
>>> say with full gusto:  Black lives inspire, black lives uplift, black
>>> lives energize, black lives bless!
>>>>>> These are my pebbles into the pond.
>>>>>> Viktoria
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Danleigh via Thespiritexpress <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org>
>>> To: thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org
>>>>>> Sent: Wed, Jan 20, 2021 8:15 pm
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Thespiritexpress] Book recommendation
>>>>>> Yes.  Thank you Taylor for opening this up .. and thank you Riantee
>>> for
>>>>>> opening the door even wider.
>>>>>> Dani
>>>>>> On 1/20/21 7:27 PM, Riantee Rand via Thespiritexpress wrote:
>>>>>> Dear Taylor.
>>>>>> I thought a lot about what you brought up at Mastery. Thank you for that.
>>>>>> For years I have been uncovering all the small forms of racism hiding
>>> in the recesses of my psychy under different names, often not
>>>>>> recognizable as such.
>>>>>> You say: "I personally plan on spending the rest of my life unpacking
>>> all the layers of everything she so clearly addresses in this book.”
>>> And it would probably take a life time to do that (quite a chase!),
>>> but
>>>>>> for myself, especially after the lesson we read on Tuesday I have been
>>> reminded of  a much easier way to do it. I just have to remember,
>>> every
>>>>>> time I encounter another, when I learn about their lives, easy or
>>> burdened, that IT IS THE PERFECT LIFE FOR THEM and that they called it
>>> to themselves because it is designed to perfection ‘just for them.’
>>> When I truly and totally understand and trust this, TOTAL EQUALITY IS
>>> ESTABLISHED. I just have to remember when I feel sorry for the
>>> unfairness of some situations, or when I am in awe of another’s
>>> accomplishment, or when I compare myself to others, that MY LIFE IS
>>> PERFECT FOR ME. In this way we are all equals and there is no room for
>>> victimization.
>>>>>> Much love and gratitude from me also for all of you who share their
>>> wisdom during Mastery.
>>>>>> Riantee
>>>>>>> On Jan 19, 2021, at 19:31, Taylor Slevin via Thespiritexpress
>>> <thespiritexpress at lists.mcn.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Dear Toni and all who were in the Mastery Class today,
>>>>>>> The book that I highly recommend is called “White Supremacy and Me”
>>> by
>>>>>>> Ayala F. Saad
>>>>>>> and working for equality for All.
>>>>>>> Sending much love and gratitude to You and Everyone on this path of
>>> awareness,
>>>>>>> Taylor
>>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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