The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has implemented a group to deliver care for Veterans who have been exposed to racism, the Race-Based Stress and Trauma Empowerment (RBSTE) group. At first glance, this group does appear to make sense. Racism does exist and we definitely want to support our Veterans’ recovery in every aspect. However, the problem arises when we take a look under the hood.
Radicalism will not rest until division exists in every institution and every aspect of society, until we are so irrevocably divided that this country crumbles under the weight of hatred. The implementation may be carried out by naive followers, but the masterminds behind CRT and DEI are sinister in their goal of destroying democracy and capitalism in order to seize power and rebuild the society in accordance with their subjective values.
Sigh. I'm sure that this will certainly help with all of the recruitment issues the military is facing. History has shown us time and again that when a society demonizes an entire group of people, really bad things happen as a result.
I often think of human civilizations as stuck on the Buddhist wheel of samsara wherein we are born, die, and reborn over and over until we stop repeating the same mistakes.
Racism and sexism is real because humans are real, and we make generalizations about each other. It must be coded in our DNA for survival but can lead to villainous tendencies. When my son started spouting 'Continental Philosophy' and the Frankfurt School I had no idea what he was talking about - but I do now thanks to YT's recordings of old lectures. The young have no idea that they are spouting the philosophy of a bunch of old dead white men - most of whom came from an elite upper class and one of whom worked for the CIA. Unfortunately the young don't watch clips from Mao's Cultural Revolution. The hitting of the elders and the destruction of faith-based objects by the young might shake them up as to what is going on.
When is see the never-ending wars in other countries, ones in which distance cousins are still fighting after centuries of sharing the same blood line, I start to reflect on how much progress American's have made despite all of our diversity and current and ever-existing challenges. But when I reflect on your statements, I realize so clearly now that one cannot appreciate the distance run when the memory of the first half of the race is missing. It's almost impossible to understand or appreciate how much has been accomplished among very different groups of people in this Country without embracing and truly understanding the missing 200 years that made up America's beginnings. How can I fault you for not knowing that White people provided significant contributions to the "railroads" during those forgotten 200 years. They risked life and limb and their families to help folks they didn't even know. The fact that you don't understand that our destinies are intertwined and that there isn't an American without all of us coming together, is surprising but, then again it's not. When you begin to understand our 200 years of history, you will no longer see a BIPOC group as "their" group or "our" group but it will be seen as just another group that focuses on issues or experiences that any one member of our society might face. You assumed that the group was exclusionary just like most folks think that the forgotten 200 years was only about Black "Afro" American experience and hence should be forgotten, not talked about, taught in the educational system. or written about. Somehow our 200 years of forgotten history became a toxic stew to be suppressed but in fact it may be the number one contributor to all of the miscommunication between various groups of people. But even still and despite the attempts to suppress the history we have prevailed and I am proud of it. Yes, we have much further to go but we have a pretty good track record so far. During this special month, I challenge many to remember and learn about the forgotten history of Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, Mexican, Chinese...shall I go on...the women, children, the immigrant men and women who fought, died, labored hard, and now occupy this space and call themselves Americans throughout the historical building of our Country. I welcome them and take action everyday to include everyone in the discussion. As a psychologist, you know all to well the importance of story-telling in the face of trauma. You also know that secondary trauma is real and can be passed down from generation to generation. All you have to do is ask our counterparts in other parts of the world. All you have to do is look around your community. This special month is less about Black celebration and more about learning our entire and complete history and recognize the Black accomplishments in the face of extraordinary odds. I challenge you to break through the emotional defensiveness and appreciate the many folks who surround you and opt to choose their own way of recovering from traumatic experiences so they might thrive, create, build, and give back to those who will inadvertently touch many others along the way. Who am I to challenge the barriers a person believes they are facing or baulk at the ones that choose to help them in the face of their fears? And who am I to question how someone moves on towards a productive life? I only want to help and never want to be a stumbling block to someone else's way forward, no matter what my opinion is, because I really don't know their path, their destiny, or purpose in this life.
Radicalism will not rest until division exists in every institution and every aspect of society, until we are so irrevocably divided that this country crumbles under the weight of hatred. The implementation may be carried out by naive followers, but the masterminds behind CRT and DEI are sinister in their goal of destroying democracy and capitalism in order to seize power and rebuild the society in accordance with their subjective values.
Authoritarian rule seems to be the goal! Orwellian authoritarianism! Psychological Lysenkoism!
This insane ideology must be stopped!
Sigh. I'm sure that this will certainly help with all of the recruitment issues the military is facing. History has shown us time and again that when a society demonizes an entire group of people, really bad things happen as a result.
I often think of human civilizations as stuck on the Buddhist wheel of samsara wherein we are born, die, and reborn over and over until we stop repeating the same mistakes.
Racism and sexism is real because humans are real, and we make generalizations about each other. It must be coded in our DNA for survival but can lead to villainous tendencies. When my son started spouting 'Continental Philosophy' and the Frankfurt School I had no idea what he was talking about - but I do now thanks to YT's recordings of old lectures. The young have no idea that they are spouting the philosophy of a bunch of old dead white men - most of whom came from an elite upper class and one of whom worked for the CIA. Unfortunately the young don't watch clips from Mao's Cultural Revolution. The hitting of the elders and the destruction of faith-based objects by the young might shake them up as to what is going on.
The Biden government has given the activists full control of our institutions.
Sadly!
When is see the never-ending wars in other countries, ones in which distance cousins are still fighting after centuries of sharing the same blood line, I start to reflect on how much progress American's have made despite all of our diversity and current and ever-existing challenges. But when I reflect on your statements, I realize so clearly now that one cannot appreciate the distance run when the memory of the first half of the race is missing. It's almost impossible to understand or appreciate how much has been accomplished among very different groups of people in this Country without embracing and truly understanding the missing 200 years that made up America's beginnings. How can I fault you for not knowing that White people provided significant contributions to the "railroads" during those forgotten 200 years. They risked life and limb and their families to help folks they didn't even know. The fact that you don't understand that our destinies are intertwined and that there isn't an American without all of us coming together, is surprising but, then again it's not. When you begin to understand our 200 years of history, you will no longer see a BIPOC group as "their" group or "our" group but it will be seen as just another group that focuses on issues or experiences that any one member of our society might face. You assumed that the group was exclusionary just like most folks think that the forgotten 200 years was only about Black "Afro" American experience and hence should be forgotten, not talked about, taught in the educational system. or written about. Somehow our 200 years of forgotten history became a toxic stew to be suppressed but in fact it may be the number one contributor to all of the miscommunication between various groups of people. But even still and despite the attempts to suppress the history we have prevailed and I am proud of it. Yes, we have much further to go but we have a pretty good track record so far. During this special month, I challenge many to remember and learn about the forgotten history of Blacks, Whites, Native Americans, Mexican, Chinese...shall I go on...the women, children, the immigrant men and women who fought, died, labored hard, and now occupy this space and call themselves Americans throughout the historical building of our Country. I welcome them and take action everyday to include everyone in the discussion. As a psychologist, you know all to well the importance of story-telling in the face of trauma. You also know that secondary trauma is real and can be passed down from generation to generation. All you have to do is ask our counterparts in other parts of the world. All you have to do is look around your community. This special month is less about Black celebration and more about learning our entire and complete history and recognize the Black accomplishments in the face of extraordinary odds. I challenge you to break through the emotional defensiveness and appreciate the many folks who surround you and opt to choose their own way of recovering from traumatic experiences so they might thrive, create, build, and give back to those who will inadvertently touch many others along the way. Who am I to challenge the barriers a person believes they are facing or baulk at the ones that choose to help them in the face of their fears? And who am I to question how someone moves on towards a productive life? I only want to help and never want to be a stumbling block to someone else's way forward, no matter what my opinion is, because I really don't know their path, their destiny, or purpose in this life.