Reflecting on the past week....Note: Apologies -- a bit of a departure from the typical preamble in this space. I usually try to stay out of commenting on things that could be touchy or close to political here. But I, like many, have been grappling with my feelings over the past week. Please skip the intro this week if you are just worn out from the discussion about topics of race and racism at this point. Friends, I wrote about 3 different versions of the preamble this week. I was searching for ways to say something profound about what has transpired for those of us in the US since the last edition only seven days ago.I can't. I'm worn out. I'm sure you are worn out too at this point. I'll try to keep my thoughts relatively brief and to the point:It's time we all acknowledge that there is a systemic problem based on white privilege in our country that cannot fix itself. Elect leaders you believe are committed to figuring out how to make systemic change work for everyone. This will not be a job for the weak or self indulgent.FYI: police reform, gun reform, healthcare, welfare, education -- not THE problem. All symptoms of the same flawed system.Listen more. Talk less -- especially if you are a white male. Please do something bigger than change a social media profile pic for a day, say "we need to do better" or donate $20 to an activist cause.If you are afraid to say or do the wrong thing, maybe just start by examining and understanding your own upbringing, history, experiences and feelings around race. Educate yourself -- try googling Killer Mike, click, and just read/watch/listen.I believe Generation Z will ultimately be the ones who can solidify the foundation for systemic change. But they still need us to help them get the ball rolling.If you are white and over the age of 20, this change is going to be very uncomfortable. If you are a white male, it is going to be more like a generation long prostate exam. But it will be for our country's own good.Empathy should never be a partisan virtue.Black lives matter. Thank you for bearing with me. Next week hopefully we can go back to business as usual here. If you have any questions, concerns or disagree with any of what I have written, please check in with me this week -- I am eager to listen and learn....XOXODave
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Friends of Dave #181: what can I say?
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Reflecting on the past week....Note: Apologies -- a bit of a departure from the typical preamble in this space. I usually try to stay out of commenting on things that could be touchy or close to political here. But I, like many, have been grappling with my feelings over the past week. Please skip the intro this week if you are just worn out from the discussion about topics of race and racism at this point. Friends, I wrote about 3 different versions of the preamble this week. I was searching for ways to say something profound about what has transpired for those of us in the US since the last edition only seven days ago.I can't. I'm worn out. I'm sure you are worn out too at this point. I'll try to keep my thoughts relatively brief and to the point:It's time we all acknowledge that there is a systemic problem based on white privilege in our country that cannot fix itself. Elect leaders you believe are committed to figuring out how to make systemic change work for everyone. This will not be a job for the weak or self indulgent.FYI: police reform, gun reform, healthcare, welfare, education -- not THE problem. All symptoms of the same flawed system.Listen more. Talk less -- especially if you are a white male. Please do something bigger than change a social media profile pic for a day, say "we need to do better" or donate $20 to an activist cause.If you are afraid to say or do the wrong thing, maybe just start by examining and understanding your own upbringing, history, experiences and feelings around race. Educate yourself -- try googling Killer Mike, click, and just read/watch/listen.I believe Generation Z will ultimately be the ones who can solidify the foundation for systemic change. But they still need us to help them get the ball rolling.If you are white and over the age of 20, this change is going to be very uncomfortable. If you are a white male, it is going to be more like a generation long prostate exam. But it will be for our country's own good.Empathy should never be a partisan virtue.Black lives matter. Thank you for bearing with me. Next week hopefully we can go back to business as usual here. If you have any questions, concerns or disagree with any of what I have written, please check in with me this week -- I am eager to listen and learn....XOXODave