courageous conversation about race: lets get real

[Guest guest]

Om Namah Shivaya

 

No one would disagree that there are people who really need section

8 housing, and that it is not ideal...someone argued that it was

racism, which it is not. As I said before people request to be put

on section 8, no one is forced on.

 

Each of us must find our own way through struggles, which end up

enriching us. Much of the rhetoric about racism has very little to

do with helping others and very much to do with exagerrated

emotional hype and with political power mongering and the desire to

get more money from the state and federal government. Some of which

is necessary, but handing out more and more money to solve social

problems has never worked...never.

 

Helping others through loving service in any way we can is

definitely Mother's prescription for each of us...

 

but trying to get the government to give people money because

political groups gain control with these policies is fraught with

corruption.

 

Anytime big instititions try to manage our lives for us, trouble is

sure to follow...these are very real dangers, as anyone who has

lived in a totalitarian state can attest to..maya or no maya, living

under socialism and marxism is no cakewalk...please study your

history. Amma herself is having difficulties dealing with a marxist

government in Kerala. We are very spoiled to live in such a free

society, and we take it for granted.

 

Everyone has an opportunity to get ahead here in the US and that is

a fact. There are also considerable safety nets for those who are

unable to function...even though these safety nets are not luxury.

 

Failure to recognize the dynamics of these problems is a sign of

blind idealism and political brainwashing.

 

May we walk the path of love, but may we also use our discrimination.

 

The United States is probably dealing with racism better than any

other country in the world. Not to understand this is a sign of

being an idealouge. That is someone who propounds a belief system

regardless of the facts or reality of the situation. Live in Saudi

Arabia, or the Sudan, or even China, Africa or India for a year and

then come back to the US and talk about racism.

 

In the US I have been attacked by a band of black men in Washington

DC and called racial slurs, I have been attacked on the streets of

New York and called racial slurs, When I lived in Puerto Rico I was

called gringo over and over and I have been passed over for jobs

because I was white....BUT I do not care. I could care less. It

doesn't phase me. Why? Because nearly all my relationships with

other races has been positive and great...I don't judge poeple by

color and love the diversity of our country.

 

But I do not pander to people who are selling a philosophy of blame

and anger and a bunch of hyped up nonsense either. My wife who is

black, would say the same thing.

 

 

 

 

Ammachi, Prasadini <ganesh1008@c...> wrote:

>

> Namah Shivaya,

> I have a couple of friends who are living in Section 8 housing due

to

> disability - and I wouldn't want to be in their position. First of

all,

> you get what you get - and it's not pretty. Secondly, they have

to, on

> demand, account for every penny they spend on medical care, food,

> utilities, etc. Then go into the HUD office, whether they are

horribly

> sick that day or not, with all of their receipts and prove that

they

> need to continue with Section 8 housing.

>

> As for the cycle of poverty, well it's not that easy to get out

of. I

> can't really speak for it, because, due to Mother's grace, I have

not

> had to experience it in this lifetime. But it seems that if a

person

> grows up in the "urban jungle" that there is a mindset that keeps

you

> stuck - that's just my take on it. I have known people who have

grown up

> dirt poor who have been able to get out of it, and their siblings

are

> still living hand to mouth. I can't tell you what the difference

is.

> Somehow they felt empowered to get an education and pull

themselves up.

> If a person does not feel empowered, they accept things as they

are and

> give up.

>

> I don['t know what the answer is , but I really don't think the

poor

> enjoy being poor. And from what I've been told by people who've

been

> there, life in the projects is pretty nasty. I also think there

are some

> minority groups we owe a big debt to. Just my 2 cents.

>

> Jai Ma!

> Prasadini

>

>

> Ardis Jackson wrote:

> > ckeniley2003,

> >

> > It seems that you have totally missed out on Amma's messages

about

> > greed and poverty and the need for compassion.

> >

> >

> > On Dec 7, 2005, at 5:04 PM, ckeniley2003 wrote:

> >

> > > Hey Ravi,

> > >

> > > you obviously do not know how section 8 housing works.

> > > Nobody forces anyone to live anywhere ....these projects were

> > > created by liberal -socialist folks who wanted to help the low

> > > income people.....with section 8 people can live very very

> > > inexpensively...but I agree it is a vicious cycle and should

not

> > > exist...but, NO oNE ForCES ANYONE TO LIVE THERE....I say get

> > > a job and pay your own rent

> > >

> > >

> > > Ammachi, "Ravi Chivukula" <

> > > ravichivukula@h...> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Namah Shivaya,

> > > >

> > > > Do you live in the U.S ? I have been in the US since last 13

> > > years and

> > > > I have witnessed the systematic/methodical discrimination of

> > > blacks in

> > > > housing projects - and mind you I am neither black nor white

> > > this has

> > > > been my observation as a neutral person. You have to really

> > > put

> > > > yourself to be in their shoes and see how hard it is get

out of

> > > that

> > > > vicious cycle. If you cannot sympathize with them at least

don't

> > > make

> > > > judgements based on your limited and narrow understanding.

> > > >

> > > > Ravi

> > > >

> > > > Ammachi, "ckeniley2003" <

> > > ckeniley2003> wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Namah Shivaya,

> > > > >

> > > > > I believe it is important to be balanced when discussing

> > > these

> > > > > issues and not rely on emotionalism and stereotypes..to

> > > suggest that

> > > > > the prison system is a conspiracy agaisnt black people is

> > > not fair

> > > > > minded.

> > > > >

> > > > > People go to prison because they are caught doing crimes,

> > > multiple

> > > > > times. Could the criminal justice system be better? yes.

> > > Could the

> > > > > the prison terms for drug dealing be less? yes. Could

there

> > > be

> > > > > better ways of dealing with young folks than throwing

them in

> > > jail?

> > > > > yes. These are battles we should all take up if it is our

> > > dharma.

> > > > >

> > > > > But what are the cultural roots of people choosing crime

over

> > > > > dharmic behavior?

> > > > >

> > > > > A huge part of this is institutionalized anger and

pandering

> > > to and

> > > > > encouraging this anger by leaders in those communities. I

> > > believe

> > > > > these types of attitudes are also racism: "Lets all blame

the

> > > white

> > > > > people and get angry. United states is controlled by rich

> > > white

> > > > > people. If I study or get a job Im an uncle tom. I wont

behave

> > > well

> > > > > or participate because I am not a slave to old dead white

> > > man's

> > > > > government etc etc etc." Should the leaders of these

> > > communities

> > > > > pander to the anger of young people or be leaders and

teach

> > > them to

> > > > > channel their energies in a more constructive way? This

fits

> > > in with

> > > > > some people's political power agendas and so they

> > > encourage it. What

> > > > > about the responsiblity for each of us in making good

> > > positive

> > > > > choices? What about the responsiblity of the parents and

the

> > > > > community where these children were raised? What about

> > > good old

> > > > > fashioned dharmic constraints on bad behavior and

> > > PERSONAL

> > > > > responsibility for OUR OWN actions?

> > > > >

> > > > > To suggest that the hurricane Katrina was a rascist

event is

> > > > > emotionalism that panders to a strange type of political

> > > power

> > > > > seeking. It is this kind of emotionalism that fosters

victim

> > > > > consciousness, finger poiting, blame mongering and other

> > > low level

> > > > > behaviors that are not part of the culture Amma encourages

> > > us to

> > > > > adopt. Mother encourages us to be self reliant and to

give,

> > > not to

> > > > > cry all the time that we are not getting enough and need

to be

> > > given

> > > > > more and more.

> > > > >

> > > > > This hurricane happened to hit an area where many poor

> > > black folks

> > > > > lived. Some leaders in the black muslim community

> > > suggested that a

> > > > > white man placed a bomb in the levies!!! is this fostering

> > > peace and

> > > > > brotherhood? Would Ghandi do this?. Many years ago a

> > > hurricane wiped

> > > > > out a part of Florida where poor white people lived, many

of

> > > whom to

> > > > > this day have never received any benefits or aid from the

> > > > > government. Was that racism?

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > â–ª Visit your group "Ammachi" on the web.

> > >

> > > â–ª To from this group, send an email

to:

> > > Ammachi

> > >

> > > â–ª Your use of is subject to the

 

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> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Aum Amriteswarayai Namaha!

> >

> >

> > --------------------------------

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