June 2, 2020
This morning Bill, a good friend of mine, asked: "What do you think about what’s happening?" (Referring to the demonstrations and racial unrest.)
Short answer or long answer?
Short answer: "To offer consolation to those who are suffering."
Were we to have this listening experience in common, it might have the effect of better positioning us to share our thoughts especially if views superficially appear to be in polar opposition.
Epiphany: Polar opposites appear to clash only because there has yet to be a dive deep enough to discover what they have in common.
Íñigo López de Loyola faced a version of the same world we face today, filled with novel problems and intractable conflict, and he gave his followers a set of moral instructions: to set aside principle, to descend into the particular, to listen closely. Why? Because only then "can you fulfill one of the most important human obligations, to offer consolation to those who are suffering.” --I. Loyola?
- MG= Malcolm Gladwell,
- PN=Phillipe Navarro, brother of Angel Navarro, shot 27 times, SBC.
- RM=Ron Martinelli, police weapons expert on shootings
- CB=Chiraag Bains, lawyer and principal author of the Justice Department report on “Policing in Ferguson.”
- at 15:55 into the podcast, Bains is at the foundation of the answer to your question ….
- MS=New Mexico victim who called the police just prior to the Angel Navarro shooting.
10% of police shootings are SBC, Suicide by Cop.
As work unfolds to address inequity, one path is to launch from this platform: To "fulfill one of the most important human obligations, to offer consolation to those who are suffering.”
Toby, not sure you met my grandson C___
when he was at the beach with me for TaiChi.
He’s 13 and this is his first YouTube video.
Warning: Video includes violent scenes. Parental discretion advised.
You've completed Step 1 of ??? intended to include the many different eyes not yet brought together to prepare for either illuminated participation in making our's an equitable world or at minimum to better understand how a humanistic future will unfold.
June 6, 2020
Bill, ask C and his parents to join our dialog.
June 6, 2020, 11:18 am
“Wow, Bill and C___, I am so moved!!! C___, you are my hero because you instill faith in our future as you are using your voice and your talents for good! No wonder your grandfather is bursting with pride!!!” --Patricia Vining
Now. Step 2: Episodes 5 and 6 bring deeper insights into this admonition to offer consolation. Listen to both episodes.
Step 3 Listen to or read: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Trevor was born in South Africa, where his mother taught him how to navigate South African apartheid1.
Step 4 We watched American Son last night, which might be an illuminating experience to share. We will press this idea with greater thoughtfulness and recommend it at that time.
Footnote: