It’s Time to Change the Status Quo

It’s Time to Change the Status Quo

By Leo Babauta

This is a painful time for so many of us. There is anger, outrage(ˈoutˌrāj), pain, fear, racism(ˈrāˌsizəm), injustice(inˈjəstəs), sadness, exhaustion(iɡˈzôsCH(ə)n) — and it’s not just a recent thing, it goes back generations, as far as our country has existed.

It’s heartbreaking.

We need to let our hearts be broken by how minorities(məˈnôrədē), but especially Black people, are treated in this country. Let our hearts be broken by the fear they have to live through, the injustice they’ve suffered, the way they’re perceived by everyone else, the way they’re put down, incarcerated(inˈkärsəˌrāt), stomped(stämp) on, segregated(ˈseɡrəɡādəd), outcast, spit on, villainized(ˈvilən), criminalized(ˈkrim(ə)nəˌlīz), demonized(ˈdēməˌnīz), slurred(slər), patronized(ˈpātrəˌnīz), marginalized(ˈmärjənəˌlīzd), rejected, and put into poverty(ˈpävərdē) … and then blamed for all of that. Let our hearts be broken by how long this has been allowed to go on, how exhausted they must feel from all of it.

We start with the heartbreak, and then let this move us to finally take action.

Let’s end this now. Change is possible faster than we usually believe, if there’s a will. Gay marriage, decriminalization(ˌdēˌkrim(ə)nələˈzāSH(ə)n) of marijuana(ˌmerəˈ(h)wänə), and a Black president(ˈprez(ə)dənt) have proven that, just to start with. Change is possible now, if we decide it needs to happen.

It needs to happen.

We’ve allowed this to go on for too long. And let’s not be mistaken: we’re all culpable(ˈkəlpəb(ə)l) in this. All of us. For pretending(prəˈtend) it’s not real, for ignoring it, for allowing our own biases(ˈbīəs) and racism to go unchecked, for not calling out racism and oppression(əˈpreSHən) in our institutions and society, for not talking about it, for not marching on it, for not demanding that change happen now. We all share responsibility.

But let’s not get into finger pointing and blame. Point the finger at ourselves, own our own part, and then let’s make it right. Own our impact, and clean up our mess.

Let’s change the status quo. Not allow police brutality(bro͞oˈtalədē), to start with. Not allow racism or sexism(ˈsekˌsizəm) in our institutions. Not criminalize being Black, or being an immigrant(ˈiməɡrənt). Not allow voices to be oppressed. Not allow segregation(ˌseɡrəˈɡāSH(ə)n) and oceans of minority poverty. Not allow our political(pəˈlidək(ə)l), economic, social, educational systems to be systems of oppression, but to become systems of positive change.

We have the power to do that. Let’s claim it.

https://zenhabits.net/itstime/