RACIAL
RECONCILIATION
THE
CONCENTRIC CIRCLE OF PEACE
PART TWO –
THE WANT TO FACTORS
The Concentric
Circle of Peace in America contains what we refer to
as The Want to Factors. These factors exist whether or not one is
in touch with them or not. The Want to Factors, as relating to
the Concentric Circle
of Peace in America , is
described in this fashion: Freedom–>Education–>Opportunity– >Work–>Self-worth–>Hope–>Faith–>Achievement–>Freedom. We see Peace in America
as a male driven agenda, for it is the male human being in America who is becoming
subordinated and this across all racial groups. And the danger to peace is that
a male is the most dangerous of the species when discontentment becomes his
reality.
Therefore we contend as a
matter of division that it is predominantly the male attitude that must become
the focus; most particularly, as it relates to competition for education and
work. This by no means minimizes the issues faced by women in America . As it relates to the
problems of division, particularly racial division women are not the dynamic
purveyors of division. Men are the people who need to get it together so to
speak, not women.
As this Concentric Circle of Peace in America ,
The Want to Factors, just named, are perfectly joined together
and therefore complete. We contend that without one or two of The Want to
Factors, the quality of life inures to the negative, producing great
challenges for the male to overcome. These factors are as critical to women as
to men, though perhaps a different manifestation of results is evidenced.
The issue of race in America
today relative to the Black human being stems from a history of White privilege
in which every single one of these factors for the Black male and female has
been, either denied totally, or completely subordinated. This is true from the
beginning of American history, up unto this very hour in 2007.
So let’s look at these
factors that are the Concentric
Circle of Peace in America in this context. For in
them are contained the issues of race and division in America and in them are the actual
solutions to our divisions. Here is the visual: if one drops a pebble of gold
into a pan of water, that pebble causes a ripple of circles, one producing
another unto the edge of the pan.
Freedom is the pebble of
gold that is dropped into the center of the soul of American society; freedom
produces a ripple affect throughout society. As the most critical of all human
resources, freedom is the entry to achievement. Ultimately the goal for a human
being is to do well with what God gave everyone as gifts, talents and strengths
to conquer life!
Whatever the description of achievement might be, from the
simplest notion to the most grand one must first be free, in order to benefit
from their own achievements.
Though physical freedom
may not be necessary for achievement to occur, it certainly helps as it relates
to both benefit and recognition. Freedom inures to options; it seems hard to
deny that achievement adds to one’s freedom, and they are attached. We know
from history that some human beings have not always been free, but by God’s
grace they have been able to yet achieve some good purpose with their lives.
The story of Joseph in the
land of Egypt
comes to mind, and in this context so does Slavery in America . When both mental and
physical freedoms are present, the human imagination is loosed to soar. This is
the case of the White human being throughout American history. Whether they
have achieved or not, soared or not, Whites have been free to try in America .
Now, this is because of
White privilege as a reality in America
not some matter of fiction as privilege deniers would claim. Achievement is the
end game and it is the vigor of the conquest that fuels the soul of a man. As
the end game, achievement and the benefits derived from achievement are
attached to faith and freedom.
At the end of the effort achievement, i.e. what
have we done with our life, is the thought on which the thoughtful ponder. What
have we achieved for self and our sphere of influence with our gift of life is
in some fashion, the often asked question of thoughtful people.
If one has freedom to
possess a good education then one is able to perceive their opportunity;
hopefully have the sound judgment to enter into and make the most of any
options within opportunity. That is if one is willing to do the hard work that
is necessary to make the most of any opportunity. Just as freedom is the entry
unto achievement, education is the entry into opportunity.
With some exceptions, for
most Americans not having a good education places a limitation on the degree of
opportunity and the variety of their options. Indeed both options and the
degree of opportunity are subordinated without a good education, and the better
the education the greater the options within opportunity.
So we see that freedom
attaches to education and education thus attaches to opportunity, and indeed
defines the nature of one’s options. The person who is without a good education
is doomed to an existence that is on the outside of the mainstream of the best
that America
has to offer. Being relegated by a poor education, to a position that is within
the so-called American underclass; thus they are subject to being marginalized
by this categorization. Indeed a poor education affects the apprehending of all
of the other factors within the Concentric
Circle of Peace in America , particularly that of
opportunity.
Now opportunity attaches
to work, and work produces self-worth, particularly for a male human being. Our
social indoctrination remains that a male who is without work is not a male of
high value, and this is the opinion of most men and women. Certainly most women
would prefer a mate who has a job and the better his pay the more capable he
becomes as a provider in matrimony. It is work that allows a human being to
truly become self-reliant; without self-reliance personal responsibility
becomes marginalized.
For, it is very difficult
if one is not able to work, to then exhibit self-reliance, personal
responsibility and accountability. Personal responsibility and accountability
are critical to a human being’s demonstration of value to the self, their
family, and the broader community. Value as measured in life experience, it
contributes to the measurement of self-worth. Enduring a devalued and
subordinated life experience can result in a diminished sense of self-worth.
Consequently, to have good work is to have a positively affected self-worth,
and an increased sense of value to one’s entire sphere of influence. Work
contributes heavily to the sense of inward self-worth for all whom by necessity
must provide for themselves or those they are responsible for.
To have limited work, or
work that is not of some perceived high value is to experience a negatively
affected sense of self-worth. This is the true mark of oppression that is borne
by the so-called American underclass, whose value is both subordinated and
marginalized within the society simply by the classification!
The American
label of a functioning and productive member of society is a label that is most
often associated with work. Typically it is a reference to the male human
being. A male who is not working and has fathered children is looked upon with
great disdain within our society, for he is not providing for the financial
welfare of his children.
Work is attached to
opportunity which is attached to education which is attached to freedom. And we
can see also that self-worth is attached to work, and of course at the end of
the effort it is work that is attached to achievement. But self-worth is also attached
to something utterly necessary for success in life. That something is called
hope.
If one has a strong sense
of self-worth, is self-reliant and a person with a sense of profound
responsibility, these attributes come from life experiences that produce within
them an expectation that achievement is possible. There is something within
their life experience, helping them to believe in their possibilities and
opportunity.
To believe that they have
options. Their belief in possibilities is rooted in some force that presents
unto them this thing called hope. A person who has hope is a person who
believes in the someday of opportunity. That someday – there will be the day
when all of their inward desires will come into being.
This belief is faith
based. Not necessarily a spiritually based faith. For, it can also be faith
that is placed in themselves; their standing within society, or their
particular sphere of influence. Such faith might be that which is rooted in
family, or based on a connected state with others who are like themselves. For
some this faith is simply established in White privilege though they may not be
in touch with this concept or believe privilege to be real.
Now a human being that has
been devalued, subordinated or marginalized by society; without work, having no
meaningful skill sets for work, and has a limited self-worth as a result – this
is a person who has limited hope or no hope at all.
We contend that such a
person, particularly a male requires the greatest amount of focus and life change.
For, they are those who enter into the reality of having nothing for which to
live, and for society this can be a very dangerous creature.
A person without any
participation in the Concentric
Circle of Peace in America is a person unto whom all
of these factors, have been subordinated; in actuality or their perception.
Inwardly, having no positive expectations for their life experience and without
any desires of the heart that are felt the least bit attainable.
Now, this is a human being
bent only on survival. This is someone without hope, and still totally capable
of executing wrong choices for themselves and the broader society. To society
they represent a risk. This is a person who can be careless with all life, and
who feels abandoned by a society that becomes subject unto their will.
This is
a dangerous creature facing a spiritual matter that needs a spiritual
intervention, as much as, if not more than, a material judicial solution.
We contend that this
person’s best possible change is associated with the Spirit, which is a matter
of Faith. If one in such a state of hopelessness is apprehended by Jesus
Christ, we believe they are able to enter into a reality of self-worth that
comes from the validation of the Savior. Rather than the marginalization that
comes forth from a perception of society, or a sphere of influence devoid of
validation based on righteousness.
The developing
relationship with Jesus Christ increases one’s faith, and in-turn opens up the
soul to hope. Liberation is the result and the opportunity comes forth to
perceive life through a different lens. A lens that is spiritual. Based on this
spirit liberation the human soul enters into a place of freedom that opens ones
eyes to options; unto the possibilities of achievement.
Life takes on a different
meaning with purpose and as a result there is a value to be found, for the
validation comes forth from a higher power in whom, all things are seen as
possible. The witness of this value comes from within not from without! In this
context we can now see that faith is attached to hope and together these two
can represent a new and life affirming reality.
For this once hopeless
human being The Concentric Circle becomes complete. For, the factor of hope
attaches to faith which is attached then to freedom. This freedom is attached
to education that is attached to opportunity.
While opportunity attaches to
work it is work that is attached to self-worth, freedom and some form of
achievement. At the end of the effort these are all factors attached to achievement and all free human beings want to know the freedom to try.
The ultimate goal of using to the good what God gave every individual as gifts,
talents and strengths for not only enduring, but conquering the experience of living.
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