I am Me

REPOST From TEACH A RACIST SERIES Blog --Background Story

Applicable to Agitation in Motion: We, the People, Politics Blog as well. 

I Am Me.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men & women do nothing, say nothing, work towards nothing more than their own self-aggrandizement, or the stubborn maintenance of opinions already formed by someone else and absorbed without consideration! Hatred will always take advantage of the righteous person’s silence in the face of oppression, suppression and abuse.

The Age of Enlightenment has degenerated into an Age of Catastrophic Distraction; I do not expect the same clarity of thought in common discourse that once was common among those passionate about philosophy, history, politics, religion and the free exchange of ideas, or the social-well being of all, including our vulnerable populations.

I prefer to envision America in its idyllic state, the "more perfect union" towards which we endeavor as a nation to achieve, since our own formation as a collection of colonies seeking freedom to live uncontrolled by others, able to rise to the pinnacles of our own “higher angels” within, and being generous in our thoughts, words and deeds, towards brotherly love.

The ability to civilly disagree is supposed to be the height of our value as a self-governing nation! The barbaric, the vulgar and the ignorant have never concerned themselves with such matters as the concepts of abstract ideas, ideals or goals towards which to strive. The purposeful deconstruction of our educational systems, the twisting of facts on a wide-scale, and even the dumbing-down of our means of entertainment exemplify dangerous trends to a free people. 

I observe that as a nation, we have become fat, lazy and apathetic to all that we once held dear as a nation (at least in theory) and the results have been disastrous. Invisible faces behind corporations have more rights than living, breathing, human beings. We watch the decimation of our land, trees, soil, water, skies as well as wild life, domesticated creatures, and natural balance. We have allowed our families to be splintered by systems that oppress the poor, contaminate our food, over-prescribe medications we don't even need and watch our returning soldiers become homeless faster than any other group in the rapidly expanding numbers of homeless in America, one of the richest countries on earth. 

We justify the killing of children when we let their murderers not only go free, but elevate them to an image of hero, as was the case with the racist killer George Zimmerman. Trayvon Martin’s murder was not the only crime committed, but defense of his crime by others, including the Florida court system, FOXX News, CNN, Rush Limbaugh and among our elected officials. The story of Who Killed Cock Robin becomes Who allowed the Death of Trayvon Martin?, or ALL the Trayvon Martins still being killed or wounded by hate, in the 21 century. It is the culmination of many failures as a people. It is a sad indictment for the state of affairs for a self-governing nation. 

My vocation includes active work as a Public Health educator, my expertise is in exploring the social factors contributing to public health issues, including poverty, gender, age, race, and socio-economic variables. I am an advocate of freedom, equality, and the protection of all vulnerable populations. I actively fight against discrimination, bigotry, and racism. I defend the rights of children, animals, the environment and those who are unable to speak for themselves, here AND abroad, including the children of Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq, the Congo, South Africa and many other areas where they suffer needlessly.

I am a writer and a teacher, a missionary and a Spiritual being. I do not preach, so much as teach. I accept accountability for the feathers I ruffle because it is never done through malice, but rather, in an effort to shake loose the complacency towards unnecessary suffering, and the refusal to be aware, even when our own freedoms depend upon our informed choice. It is intended to gut comfortableness, and strip off the false smiling masks of the bloated corporations that really have control of America, placing elected officials in their private pockets behind closed doors meetings and through the transfer of assets into private accounts when domestic programs are cut and the weapons manufacturers, chemical makers, and food producers, banks who control housing, and churches that bleed their followers become grotesquely rich in the face of suffering they cause.

The manner in which I speak, and the subject matter about which I chose to express opinion, are mine alone to decide, based on knowledge, faith and a dedication to helping others in their efforts to maintain and improve their lives through the alleviation of INJUSTICE, HATE, EXPLOITATION and BLINDNESS. These are my choices to make and I make no apologies for what I have worked hard to understand, nor my choice to be passionate about my undertakings, including teaching, advocacy and preaching the TRUTH. Make no mistake, my radical views are a part of me; they always have been and they always will be.

I created this blogsite as a way to turn anger into action, and to create a path for others to follow in the petitioning of our grievances as part of We, the People, Politics. 

When you see something wrong, do you speak, or do you walk away from others in need? If the former, I provide petitions and a forum for intelligent discussion. If the latter, all I may do is see you become a part of the apathetic throng that continues to rush into the midst of a comfortable distraction, as part of the Age of Catastrophic Distraction we have created for ourselves in our attempts at self-governance. For those who back away from challenges because they are controversial, I forgive you your lack of strength, conviction, or empathy. But I do expect you to let me do my job of agitating the complacent, restoring peace, and eliminating unnecessary suffering.

When I first began this discussion, it was in response to being thrown out of a discussion by the “unofficial” University of Phoenix Alumni group discussion on LinkedIN when I posted the NAACP Petition for Trayvon Martin. It has become more than that since then, but where it ends up, no one can yet tell. RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL and I reject its tenets, philosophies, practices and EVILS.

I ask for people of conscience to work for peace in your hearts, your families, communities, the nation, and the world by acting and speaking to protect the vulnerable, especially the children; never give up the faith or the fight to be FREE, to expect JUSTICE, or to extend AWARENESS to combat HATE. 

That is why I created Agitation in Motion: We, the People, Politics. If we do not speak for ourselves, and for others, who will? And if no one will, how will it change? There must be change because we are FAR from perfection as a country, as a World Power, and as Enlightened Citizens. I love America BECAUSE it is still a WORK IN PROGRESS! We have not yet become truly born to the freedoms we espouse. Turn your anger into action. Contribute your actions to the catalyst of change. WE are just the next generation to pick up the fight. 

Pluralistically Yours,

Rev. Nancy J. Bell, Ph.D.

About the Author: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nancy-bell/30/231/855