Jane Fonda’s Speech on Racism at the United State of Women Summit 2018

I feel empathy but I totally understand what Jane states in respect of ‘intention’.  The reality of discrimination is a daily basis.  I recommend Jane Elliott’s work on discrimination in schools.  I have posted about her work which makes visible the impact of discrimination.  It is incredibly neegative, it is exclusionary and opportunities narrow on the basis of a belief that is never true.

She speaks of the war on drugs as a racial caste system.  Jane is the mother of a African American daughter.  This has opened her eyes.

The US is not the country of the brave and the strong, it is a society deeply insecure, where values are based on accumulated materialism and a false belief that this is superiority and success.  it is not.  It is the same in my country as this perspective is growing in segments that are unquestioned and uneducated.  This segment regards all differences of opinions as dissent and regards this as threatening rather than a facet of a true democracy.  It is in listening and watching uncomfortable truths that we realise our own ignorance.  It is to remember we are all equal.  This awareness I was born with, it was not something I learned.  I think all children know this and then follow the prejudices of parents believing this is true.

My intent is that we are waking up to the lies we told ourselves and the apathy we allow when we don’t care.  May we start to see others as ourselves and deeply care, as we would want others to care for us.