#18 Awareness
January 23, 2008 by clander
An interesting fact about white people is that they firmly believe that all of the world’s problems can be solved through “awareness.” Meaning the process of making other people aware of problems, and then magically someone else like the government will fix it.
This belief allows them to feel that sweet self-satisfaction without actually having to solve anything or face any difficult challenges. Because, the only challenge of raising awareness is people not being aware. In a worst case scenario, if you fail someone doesn’t know about the problem. End of story.
What makes this even more appealing for white people is that you can raise “awareness” through expensive dinners, parties, marathons, selling t-shirts, fashion shows, concerts, eating at restaurants and bracelets. In other words, white people just have to keep doing stuff they like, EXCEPT now they can feel better about making a difference.
Raising awareness is also awesome because once you raise awareness to an acceptable, aribtrary level, you can just back off and say “Bam! did my part. Now it’s your turn. Fix it.”
So to summarize - you get all the benefits of helping (self satisfaction, telling other people) but no need for difficult decisions or the ensuing criticism (how do you criticize awareness?). Once again, white people find a way to score that sweet double victory.
Popular things to be aware of: The Environment, Diseases like Cancer and AIDS, Africa, Poverty, Anorexia, Homophobia, Midde School Field Hockey/Lacrosse teams, Drug Rehab, and political prisoners.
Pages: [18] 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 … 1 » Show All
I know a white girl with a tattoo of Africa on her arm. She loves spreading awareness. She buys Invisisble Children bracelets and I’m sure watches the DVD on a daily bases to keep her awareness level up. She doesn’t really care about the children - she just wants to maker herself (and you) think that she does.
symbolism over substance
This reminds me of a certain presidential candidate.
Barack Obama?
All of these awareness activities do nothing to solve problems. That is why I always take a hands on approach to the worlds ills by playing in charity golf tournaments dedicated to their eradication.
The funny thing is that EWB actually goes out to the impoverished places and does hands-on work.
“This belief allows them to feel that sweet self-satisfaction without actually having to solve anything or face any difficult challenges.”
This sums up Rush’s maxim - symbolism over substance.
Thanks.
Don’t forget Autism.
I absolutely love your website.
thoughts of ourselves, being separate from god and everyone. has led to our belief, that we ARE separate. When we believe we ARE separate. We then behave as we ARE separate. Everyone at one point has either asked or heard this question. How can god let this/that happen? (rape, ect…)
WELL, it all stems from separation.
Change what we think.
Change what we believe.
Change how we behave.
We all have the power of god. Because we are all ONE with the WHOLE! The whole being god! See the oneness? The sooner this message is embraced, the sooner the power within can be unlocked! With that said.
Technology advancements,science advancements,medical advancements,mental advancements ect… will be done on demand! We all have the ability! You think our technology is advancing rapidly now? When we embrace the message of oneness. Everything “WRONG” with humanity: ie. WAR, Rape, murder, child abuse, crime in general. Will be done no more. We will understand that we are connected, and what we do to other we will be doing to ourselves! Then a new trend will start we will have compassion for others! Why? Because we will want compassion for ourselves! Knowing we are ONE! We will understand that Being compassionate, loving, joyful, helping, to/for others is also for ourselves! Embrace the oneness and spread the message! Meditation is a very powerful tool, that will help bring about this shift in consciousness! Unlock the power within! Reply with any questions for they are welcome.
What?
chris
you are a dreamer who smoked too much dope or took too many acid tabs. there will always be war, famine, death and suffering, it is part of life, some people will always harm others.
If we are “god” then explain death.
what is keeping that heart of yours beating? what started the heart beat, what is telling your brain, to tell your lungs, and all else within your shell, to be alive? what is putting the nutrients in the food that keep your heart beating with energy. what is putting energy into anything to keep anything going?
your logic is convincing and persuasive, but take this quote from President Truman with you… “if you can’t convince them, confuse them…”
you are right that God is not separate from us, in fact He is omnipresent. what you are missing is that there is a problem called “death” and there is a reason why death exists.
you are looking at the injustices of man to man, and actually ironically saying we are making injusitces to the ‘god’ (all people) which in fact you are on the right track but who God is, is not who you say he is.
If justice is not served from your ‘god’ then you have no hope. Even if your ‘god’ comes together, and there is peace, and justice…and tranquility… your ‘god’ has NO power over death.
It is noble to come together, contend to take care of this planet (that we have no control over, really), it is noble and right to desire justice, it is noble and good to contend for the healing of the sick, to be selfless in caring for the weak and weary… but it remains, that we have no power over death.
So, at the end of the day, you contradicted yourself by saying that we make ourselves “separate” when in fact you did just separate yourself from God by rising up in your own strength, in your human frame that WILL DIE, wanting the things that only God can restore and raise up.
[...] Blog on Awareness [...]
This is how I feel after 90% of all documentaries that I watch:
“Thanks for making me aware of how crappy things are for (people group / country / anything) and not giving me any options on how to make an actual difference. Now I feel like $%*@!”
Oh yah, and if I hear “call your senator” one more time I’m gonna shoot the TV.
Imagine how the Senators feel.
Pages: [18] 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 … 1 » Show All