If you point the finger at other people before/without having the tough conversations, like if you ghost that person without explanation just because you disagree with something, for example, but also don’t speak up about the situation, you’re the problem person. Especially here in America, so many people confuse freedom with ignorance. As mentioned in the previous post, I view life like driving: Yes it may be your car or yes you may be the one driving, but you aren’t the only one on the road. In any kind of traffic, you can’t just plow through everybody to get to your destination, because what if everyone tried to do the same thing? You have to abide by the rules of the road first and foremost, meaning who and what surrounds you on all sides. Everyone else on the road has to do the same. That’s the only way driving, and life, can work. This is seen every single day in America (you name the examples). There are many freedoms within America, but the freedom of togetherness, aka companionship, isn’t a one-person band. That’s missed a lot these days, especially within the social media culture, a place where some go for guidance.
It was Abraham Lincoln who said “you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” That’s important to realize because we all have things going on, varying in severity, but that things don’t just manifest in front of us. It takes grunt work from each side to help. If you’re willing to do that, along with stepping into each others' shoes and take the time to listen and understand, anything is possible. Also, freedoms aren’t mutually exclusive. If you don’t also understand the existence of ramifications to what you’re saying or doing, that freedom turns into ignorance.
We’re told when we’re young that the “world is my oyster.” But truly, does the whole world revolve around any one of us? Are your opinions, goals, dreams, hobbies, etc. all that matters in this world? Your world may and just may revolve around you, but holistically, your opinions and perspectives only count for one, just like those of the people on all sides of you. You don’t live in your world; you live in the world. It’s important to express yourself, but you can’t diminish or judge anyone else if you’re not going to take the time and energy to do three things that I’ve learned through experience: listen actively, balance and understand the perspectives at play, and walk the talk. If/when privileges are involved, those that are privileged need to understand the importance of these notions.
If you aren’t seeing, understanding and appreciating your privileges, if you misuse them, you’ll lose them. In the case of walking the talk, something I think about here is the example of the challenge scenes in Black Panther. It’s first T’Challa than Killmonger in a later challenge who have to swallow a potion that alleviates their superior physicality given to them by rule to allow for a fair fight. That superior physicality is earned by winning the challenge, aka walking the walk. The same thing goes with our society here. If you care enough about the person/situation, you’ll see, appreciate and understand your privileges and how they coincide with the person/situation. You’ll go the extra mile (if not longer) for them/it in doing so and work together to concur the obstacles. That’s true friendship.