E R A C I S M

ERACISM meetings are not just rap sessions; they are focused conversations.



I don't feel the racism problem. But, on the other hand I've never looked for the differences in US. In my family and friends everyone was everyone. No one was excluded unless they were just plain SWINE and even then we'd just keep an eye on them. HAHA I DO feel people trying to start it or re-start the racial conflict and I do feel people trying to hang on to it. It's UGLY. This is not a black/white thing anymore but a decency thing. I can have the identical conversation with a black or white or any person of any color or creed or any persuasion or orientation and that's all it boils down to. I still see problems on both sides but from my perspective (and yes, it's open to discussion) I see way more decent people who abhor the police state and condemn any 'bad-isms' for what they are. The Bush Regime has been great at creating more divisions than I can remember in my lifetime. I don't have the hours and hours and hours to list these.

Think of the 'debates' these people have started.

Divide and Conquer. I won't remind you again WHO this is reminiscent of. Please don't buy into it. Don't be sucked in to hatred and fear.

Don't help the twisted ones create more divisions where there aren't any. Don't let them get away with that. It's the oldest trick in the book: Divide and Conquer.

These people do what they can to move the world forward.

The goal of a conversation is not to master a topic or to learn a lot of facts, but rather to deepen understanding. This occurs when people exchange views freely and consider a variety of viewpoints. The process — democratic discussion among equals — is as important as the content.

The key elements of a good conversation are exchange and reciprocity, not competition or the attempt to impose one's views on another.

During a genuine conversation, participants will listen actively to each other and in the process expand their horizons by exploring perspectives that are different from their own. They will also be challenged to critically examine taken-for-granted assumptions.

It is important to understand that we will never agree about everything or reach definitive consensus on each topic. Instead, we try to find common ground and enough understanding of other people's ideas and feelings to move forward toward our goal: Eracism.

If all this seems a bit abstract, here are Seven Guidelines… and Four Specific Rules for Participants (in case one of us ever wanted to get this going...)

Please help when you can and where you can to LOVE EVERYONE.

It's the only rule.

If I don't say that once a week, I feel like I have not fulfilled my warranty to the world.

Just love everyone. Be kind and .... love them.