When you walk in another’s shoes…
Been told that ever since I can remember.
But what happens when you try on another person's shoes and find out they fit?
What happens to that story you told yourself about your place in society?
What happens to that ego you have believing in your own entitlement?
What happens when the shoes fit?
Somehow since, before the American Revolution, the People convinced themselves that they were exceptional.
Disregarding the French, who had already overthrown their Aristocracy, Americans told themselves a story that they were first.
They were the first to stand for liberty, for freedom.
But they weren’t the first, no far from it.
They weren’t the first white people who carved out for themselves a special place in the hierarchy of the universe.
American Exceptionalism is a unique kind of myth.
There are many kinds of myths that we get along with every day.
A universal myth that cuts across all cultures, ethnicities, races, and religions is that my myth is the only myth that is true, and all the rest drool.
Exceptionalism is everywhere.
You can’t get past the exceptional trees to see the forest.
It’s a human thing.
Humans convince themselves of a lot of nonsense.
It's what keeps us from all having nice things.
What happens when the shoes fit?
What do we tell ourselves?
Those people don’t feel pain; that’s why they don’t need health care.
Them folks don’t know how to cut their lawn, so take away their property.
They buy stupid things; don’t give them a bank loan.
These people are animals; they don’t deserve justice.
It’s all bullshit.
People, and I’m telling it to you straight because I’ve been raised with a lot of white racist people; they tell each other whoppers every time they are together how bad everyone else is.
White people in America have an exceptional problem imagining being in another person's shoes.
Why this self-imposed ignorance?
Why the hate?
It’s fear.
Fear of losing exceptionalism.
It is quite literally the fear of standing in line with everyone else and not getting to cut to the front of the line.
A fear that someone will catch on to all the exceptionalism bullshit and force you to the back of the line.
The first will be last.
What happens when the shoes fit?
When that day comes, what rejoicing there shall be.
When young and old embrace the fact that none of us are getting off the earth alive.
When we understand, we all bleed.
We bleed for the sake of love.
To love and be loved.
We bleed for respect.
We bleed for freedom.
For justice.
Take a look at your shoes.
Peace
Daniel J. Frey aka Toby
