Those who think and those who create with words are the guardians of … Being (Letter on Humanism – Heidegger. Global Religious Vision, Vol. I/I, July 2000).
The poem “We Are”taken from my book Splendor from Ashes,was written from the perspective of a parent operating within the context of the valorization of certain supposedly positive identity markers. Perhaps for ease of existence or in an effort to clarify the world for themselves, there was the parallel occurrence of inferiorizing and stereotyping of possessors of “negative identity markers”. Consequently, neat oversimplified classifications into ingroups and outgroups characterized the social order. Should one accept these negative identity ascriptions, then intergroup relationships would flow “smoothly” and naturally in a taken-for-granted way.
Who benefits?
Who benefits from the maintenance of such simplistic and self-serving divides? Whose future and quality of life is under threat or is liable to be compromised by unquestioned acceptance of these ascriptions. As a people who are given to mindful living, we need to probe beneath the surface realities of imputed identities for the existence of negative ascriptions that may subtly lock us and our children into discrimination and stigmatization.
Selected Identities
Naturally the in-group guards itself against out-group incursions into its ranks by covert sociological reasonings. One outcome is the release of an ‘us and them’ frequency in which identities of subservience are the ripple effects. As a mindful people we must assess cultural meanings that come with imputed identities, make selections and refusals, and be prepared to war for our selected identities if need be. Why should we be content to live with the out-group status? In the context of the in-group/ out- group designations, in-group subcultures and ways of life are more privileged than others. On this premise a path is lighted for the classified out-group to act in accordance with assigned stereotypical subtexts.
Again, an aware people must not accept this and as a collective, initiate a course of cultural rejection of the social order that coerces the out- group to act in expected/ designated ways that would empower them to catapult themselves as a group into a selected identity status.
I for one would not conform to these norms nor would I allow my children to internalize these social categorizations. These in-group/out-group dynamic structures where certain demographics are assigned subordinate and superordinate groups must not remain unchallenged.
The poem “We are” found in my book Splendor from Ashes, that follows, constitutes a rejection of negative cultural identities and their comparative reference points.
We Are (2004)
They are not statistics. They are flesh and blood; in fact they are
my beloved. I’ll slaughter you if you try to put them on that list. A
crazed bull, a sniper’s fire, a terrorist by night will be identifiably
tame by comparison if you touch my progeny. Don’t tell me who I
- Don’t tell them who they are. We are who we say we are. We are
not statistics on some eloquent politician’s tongue or mere figures
to be juggled on and off a “nuclear threat list”. We are not who you
force us to be by your fancy rules and your atrophied sociological
theories. We defy you and you and you—bold sucking, stereotyping,
witch-hunting theorists prostituting identities and futures to
your apathetic, lethargic, slothful psychology in your eagerness for
acclaim. We name ourselves, and we are whom we tell you we are,
and not what your forced-ripe theories label us to be.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ingrid-rizzolo-62827245/
What a powerful poem you made. There should not be racism.We are all created equals. Let there be love.
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it is so sad that in this time there is still racism, i guess we should just keep voicing out!
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This is so powerful. I think we should all be kind to one another. It’s how I’m raising my kids.
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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i agree, all parents should think this way….passing it on and spreading will be truly helpful!
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Thank you for including your poem in this post! It is a very strong read and hopefully touches many!
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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I will have to check out your book Splendor from Ashes. I love to read poetry. You have a great way with words.
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Strong words, words of power and hurt. We need to educate ourselves and support each other.
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I call it living consciously. Thanks for your kind compliment
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I feel there should not be racism anywhere in the world… we all are born equals and gotta spread love … by the way I loved the poem 🙂
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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Beautiful poem! I would not want my children to group themselves into categories either. It’s important to be all inclusive and I actually see that more often than not!
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We should each form our own identities outside of what the social sphere ascribes to. Then we also need to step outside the box and view others from a different perspective.
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Thanks for your powerful words. What a great poem
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I couldn’t have said it better! This is so eloquently written and really hits home on the points that you made!
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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Such a beautiful powerful poem but I was also struck by the question you’ve posed ‘ who does it benefit when we maintain these negative ascriptions?
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exactly equality is recquired
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Love your poem and the message you share! A strong one and I agree 100% with it!
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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Oh wow! That was a very interesting poem!
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More interesting poems are available in the book Splendor from Ashes found on Amazon .com
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What a strong poem! There shouldn’t be any judges on your race, gender or age. We are all beautiful in God’s eyes.
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This is so insightful and thought provoking. The world needs some more of this.
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I think racism born because of jealousy and lack of awareness. We should help to spread awareness to influence the many and change their mindset that racism must not arise.
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Awareness is what motivates change. Thanks for your kind compliment
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This is a great poem. This is so well written. It really makes you think.
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Thanks for your kind compliment
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I love the quote you have, “Those who think and those who create with words are the guardians of … Being.” In fact, words are things and shape the expression of being. It is important to practice awareness of the words we use so we can include, and create a world that works for all. Evelyn, PathofPresence.com
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We should stop putting people into groups and categories especially if it’s socially accepted for people in the other groups to think that they’re more privileged than those in a different group than them. This post couldn’t have been more perfect.
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Thanks for your vote of confidence
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Such a powerful words. Very well written poem. You can really think of this concept
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Wow, great poem. Groups are never good, i think of any kind. Those are some powerful words, keep up the good work.
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Really lovely poem, I don’t know when people will understand that we are the all the same no matter how we look like.
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Very powerful. Love how you put an emphasis on how societal norms mute out our own identity. We are who we say we are!
Katrina Jean Carter
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This is wonderful. I always tell my children that we are all equals and should all respect one another.
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Please do
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What an incredibly powerful poem. We shouldn’t judge one another – period. Thankfully, every generation seems to become more enlightened than the last.
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So powerful and hope it opens peoples eyes on this concept. This is so perfect for the world we live in at this time.
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Wow such amazing and truly powerful words. I love the stepping away from the norms and not giving into the boxes they want us to fall in.
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I think you really are a good person because these words are Powerful and shows honesty. I think we should apply these and then only our children follow us
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Continue to fight racism! It’s a good cause! Great poem by the way.
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This was a really powerful text. I have learnt a lot about the “us and them” through my studying so I know what you are talking about and it is unacceptable that some people still see the world through that “us and them”
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What a beautifully written poem! It breaks my heart that we do still have to face racist in the world in 21st century.
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These are very strong words and such a well written powerful poem. Something that definitely needs to be shared.
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I’m interested in getting your books. Such powerful messages in all your poems. It’s a shame that cultural identities remain an issue in society.
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Thanks for your kind comments. My book Splendor from Ashes is available at Amazon.com
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I love the break down of your poem, which I’ve shared with others! You are doing some really good work, and having discussions about racism, labels, etc. is needed. Thank you!
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Love your poem. We are all human. We are equal and we all need to be loved in the end.
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We are all humans, so I don’t know why people can’t see past what is on the outside and just get along with one another.
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At the end of it all, we are all the same no matter how we look. Great poem,
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Thanks Joan
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I really enjoyed the poem that you put together. Its such a great skill to have to be able to so powerfully convey your message.
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Thanks. You can read similar poems in my book Splendor from Ashes available on Amazon.com
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It saddens me that society feels the need to label our children, as if our world was not scary enough. We should be more than just a stat, more than just a number. We are people and deserve to treat each other with compassion and kindness.
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Such powerful words. There should be love everywhere.
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Absolutely beautiful poem. I hope you that there are open live mic nights around for poetry so that you can get up and belt this poem from your guts so everyone can hear it.
http://www.nmdiaries.com
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Absolutely beautiful poem. I hope that you go to all the open poetry mic events in your area and belt this poem from your guts so everyone has a chance to hear it!
http://www.nmdiaries.com
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Thanks for your kind compliment and for your suggestion. I will consider doing this again
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Doesn’t matter what , we should always be kind to each other and this is a lovely read and soo positive ☺️👍🏻
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wow, so beautifully written and inspiring! Love this post!
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What an amazing poem that you wrote! You really drove the point home and it was so lovely to read!
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Sometimes we forget the value of supporting one another. I love how inspiring this piece is. Thank you!
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This was such a powerful post. I love the poem that you included. Kindness is so much overlooked.
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