Differences (Appreciate the Rainbow)

[Unveiled Artist]

Native Wisdom for White Minds by Anne Wilson Schaef

"Kiwekwacho na Mungu, mwanadamu hawezi kukiondoa"
"What God has established, man cannot annul. ~Swahili Proverb

What God has established, man cannot annul! I wonder how often do we stop and ponder what God has established...the earth, the trees, the plants, clean air, clean water?

I wonder, do we ever really stop to think that we have different cultures, different languages, different perspectives on this planet for a reason? Have we ever stopped to imagine that differences are a gift?

Why would we try to annul the rich heritage of variability we have on this planet to develop a one-part system?

When a rainbow gets constricted, it becomes one color--white.

--

What does this mean to me?

It took me to get over the initial shock of the emotion within this entry alone. Then, I had to think, everyone has different experiences. I have a neighbor who is nice as she wants to be. She's forty, seven years older than me... so not that big of a difference. We were talking, and she says "yes, I remember we had a n*gger came over to dinner." I took a deep breathe. I realized that is the language she was raised with. She apologized when she saw my face. I tried to tell her, no problem. My parent always said "we are brown not black." None of my family likes that word.

I assume it's the same when Schaef makes that someone poetic and sarcastic statement of a rainbow being constricted. As if only white people (western culture) has caused the pain and suffering that minorities have gone through though out the ages. If you think about, no offense intended, African Americans (many of us born and raised in America), are not "white." Some of us have really close family ties it just depends on the area and state with where one lives. You have Deaf and hard of hearing in Deaf culture with whom are white in skin but still share the community ties that Anne Schaef is saying they (those who born and raised in America) do not have. Even though in the back of her book it says "you don't have to be white to have a white mind" I think secretly she does mean white people. She even said in one of her entries, summing it up "the only western culture that identifies with native american is African american in their sense of family."

It's not the Western, it's where one lives. I live close to the city where many people are not stranger-friendly. If I go way up north west near west Virginia, people wave and say hi from the other side of the road especially when they haven't seen you before in their town. Doctors are nicer. The air is fresher. Believe me, it's not the skin color and it's not the "western" thinking. We each have our own culture. It's how we apply the values we were raised with in a healthy manor that's what matters.

This is what I got from this entry. What does this mean to you?

 

[Geoff-Allen]

I read that book ages ago!

Thanks for the reminder!

A lot of wisdom in her words - esp the definition of what a "white mind"" is ...

Must read it again!

 

[Jumi]

Many whites were still living in tribes not that long ago, but most have forgotten their tribes but maybe know just "nations" of origin.

 

[allfoak]

Native Wisdom for White Minds by Anne Wilson Schaef

"Kiwekwacho na Mungu, mwanadamu hawezi kukiondoa"
"What God has established, man cannot annul. ~Swahili Proverb

What God has established, man cannot annul! I wonder how often do we stop and ponder what God has established...the earth, the trees, the plants, clean air, clean water?

I wonder, do we ever really stop to think that we have different cultures, different languages, different perspectives on this planet for a reason? Have we ever stopped to imagine that differences are a gift?

Why would we try to annul the rich heritage of variability we have on this planet to develop a one-part system?

When a rainbow gets constricted, it becomes one color--white.

--

What does this mean to me?

It took me to get over the initial shock of the emotion within this entry alone. Then, I had to think, everyone has different experiences. I have a neighbor who is nice as she wants to be. She's forty, seven years older than me... so not that big of a difference. We were talking, and she says "yes, I remember we had a n*gger came over to dinner." I took a deep breathe. I realized that is the language she was raised with. She apologized when she saw my face. I tried to tell her, no problem. My parent always said "we are brown not black." None of my family likes that word.

I assume it's the same when Schaef makes that someone poetic and sarcastic statement of a rainbow being constricted. As if only white people (western culture) has caused the pain and suffering that minorities have gone through though out the ages. If you think about, no offense intended, African Americans (many of us born and raised in America), are not "white." Some of us have really close family ties it just depends on the area and state with where one lives. You have Deaf and hard of hearing in Deaf culture with whom are white in skin but still share the community ties that Anne Schaef is saying they (those who born and raised in America) do not have. Even though in the back of her book it says "you don't have to be white to have a white mind" I think secretly she does mean white people. She even said in one of her entries, summing it up "the only western culture that identifies with native american is African american in their sense of family."

It's not the Western, it's where one lives. I live close to the city where many people are not stranger-friendly. If I go way up north west near west Virginia, people wave and say hi from the other side of the road especially when they haven't seen you before in their town. Doctors are nicer. The air is fresher. Believe me, it's not the skin color and it's not the "western" thinking. We each have our own culture. It's how we apply the values we were raised with in a healthy manor that's what matters.

This is what I got from this entry. What does this mean to you?

God is the God of the living.
God has established life.
It cannot be annulled.

 

[DawudTalut]

.................I wonder, do we ever really stop to think that we have different cultures, different languages, different perspectives on this planet for a reason? Have we ever stopped to imagine that differences are a gift?...........We each have our own culture. It's how we apply the values we were raised with in a healthy manor that's what matters.

Peace be on you.
[16:14] And He has pressed into service the things He has created for you in the earth, varying in colours. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who take heed.

[30:23] And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours. In that surely are Signs for those who possess knowledge.

[35:28] Dost thou not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and We bring forth therewith fruits of different colours; and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of diverse hues and others raven black;

[35:29] And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, there are various colours? Only those of His servants who possess knowledge fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Most Forgiving.

AND

[49:14] O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware.

Holy Quran @ alislam.org

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Are these verses referring to that Allah created people with various differences? Please post a comment on the verses or summarize what they are specifically referring to please.

Peace be on you.
[16:14] And He has pressed into service the things He has created for you in the earth, varying in colours. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who take heed.

[30:23] And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours. In that surely are Signs for those who possess knowledge.

[35:28] Dost thou not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and We bring forth therewith fruits of different colours; and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of diverse hues and others raven black;

[35:29] And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, there are various colours? Only those of His servants who possess knowledge fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Most Forgiving.

AND

[49:14] O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female; and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, Allah is All-knowing, All-Aware.

Holy Quran @ alislam.org

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Many whites were still living in tribes not that long ago, but most have forgotten their tribes but maybe know just "nations" of origin.

True. I read another book similar and the lady, who is white, grown up in a tribe. She is probably one of the few who hasn't forgotten her roots. I don't meet too many people whose ethnicity stereotypically conflicts with where they are from.

 

[DawudTalut]

Are these verses referring to that Allah created people with various differences? Please post a comment on the verses or summarize what they are specifically referring to please.

People spread from few and diversities began to increase, yet God is One and likes to see various people are linked with the center called righteousness which is taught by Prophets and eventually with Grand Prophet of Islam. If teaching of righteousness [Quran] is followed in true spirit it unites diverse people of various cultures. For example dress, Quran says, 'dress of righteousness is good', people living at different places wear differently, if code of righteousness is observed, it will unite people around a common centre. That Unity of diverse is the purpose of Khilafat too.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I understand that. Thank you. I think the point Anne is making is that we try to unite everyone under a one-party system (her example western culture, yours the will of Allah) rather than accept people for their own world view without uniting theirs to our own.

Rightousness is a good uniting trait indeed; however, that is one world view of the core of unity that not every culture/faith share.

People spread from few and diversities began to increase, yet God is One and likes to see various people are linked with the center called righteousness which is taught by Prophets and eventually with Grand Prophet of Islam. If teaching of righteousness [Quran] is followed in true spirit it unites diverse people of various cultures. For example dress, Quran says, 'dress of righteousness is good', people living at different places wear differently, if code of righteousness is observed, it will unite people around a common centre. That Unity of diverse is the purpose of Khilafat too.

 

[Nerissa]

I wonder, do we ever really stop to think that we have different cultures, different languages, different perspectives on this planet for a reason? Have we ever stopped to imagine that differences are a gift?

You are right - I don't think many of us have even considered it could be a gift. At least for me personally, I often see it as an obstacle. I used to think that in their very core, all people are the same. I'm not sure if I feel that way anymore, but I do think that cruelty and jealousy are traits that people develop later in their life. They aren't born with it. Don't we all start at white, before we turn into the different colors of the rainbow? And isn't the white still underneath, hidden from view?

I don't mean to pry or to be rude, but isn't this a topic that's especially concerned with the African-American community? It took a long time before white people realized those with a dark complexion are people as well. Isn't that what it was all about? In the end, we are all the same, no matter the way we look or where we are from or what our customs are.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I agree. "I used to think that in their very core, all people are the same." I do believe we are all the same at the core (white). However, the majority of us positive or negatively see through our biases and belief systems to compare what we define as "white" in relation to another. For example, believers in Christ will always say "Christ is always calling people even if they do not realize it." It sets the stage that "white" is supposed to come from God.

While, for me personally, "white" is our ancestors--our family--regardless how far back they are from us. We don't have to associate with family members we dislike (coughs* tries to, though) it's just family just seems such a strong foundation--a physical, mental, and spiritual contact that does not need faith to make it true; it is true.

Then you have all other definitions of white. So, I agree, it's hard to accept people for their differences as what my OP (Anne) talks about. I don't know if it's embedded in our culture or not.

You are right - I don't think many of us have even considered it could be a gift. At least for me personally, I often see it as an obstacle. I used to think that in their very core, all people are the same. I'm not sure if I feel that way anymore, but I do think that cruelty and jealousy are traits that people develop later in their life. They aren't born with it. Don't we all start at white, before we turn into the different colors of the rainbow? And isn't the white still underneath, hidden from view?

I don't mean to pry or to be rude, but isn't this a topic that's especially concerned with the African-American community? It took a long time before white people realized those with a dark complexion are people as well. Isn't that what it was all about? In the end, we are all the same, no matter the way we look or where we are from or what our customs are.

(When a rainbow gets constricted, it becomes one color--white. ~Anne)

She's basically attacking Western culture in general. She does say that African Americans where the only community-oriented people she has seen within the Western perspective. She does a lot of generalization. Most of her book, I see personally, is focused on Caucasian people who have stolen Indian land and the continued abuse they go through between American (since she's born and raised here) and native relations. I don't think she considered the Spanish and other nationalities though.

I like many of her entries because she makes good points on how we think compared to other cultures. I also think some of her entries can be a little harsh.