The Watchers

We must not mistake watching from knowing.  In a world where we can watch everything around us through social media we have entered a new realm both good and bad.  It can be used as propoganda to seperate people and prey on them but it can also be used to bring understanding and community.  However, we must remember we are only watching, from a bias formed from the filmer and from our own experiences and background.  Knowing on the other hand is experience, its the empathy that comes from the depths of the actual emotion that comes from experience.  I can watch a roller coaster and imagine what its like and draw conclustions, but until I ride that roller coaster I cannot really fathom what a roller coaster is like.  

Never in history have we lived in a world where at any moment I can look at what is happening in any city, country, household.  While it may inspire me it might also give me insecurity.  You think your house looks fine until you see 1000 designer homes that are impecibly clean (and most likely staged and never used).  Why does it matter today more than any time in the past.  First off, we are being played its never right vs left or blue vs red, its about respecting others lived experiences.  

I found this personally during the Black Lives Matter time period.  As a lived experience, I have watched the effects on my teenagers as they were called the n word by adults, whitewashed by their friends, not able to be in a relationship with someone because of the color of their skin.  Being pulled out of cars that were searched, when I watched my white children get to leave with a warning.  Not to mention the ratio of times being pulled over.  Then I watched those around say things like if people just followed the rules, didn't dress that way, act that way...... Playing in to the stereo types we are brought up on.  Again they did that and were called whitewashed, not black enough to be accepted and not white enough to be accepted.  The cards were stacked against a people group not because I say so but because I expereinced it, I held that crying person in my arms.  

During Covid time I watched the world split between something as silly as masks.  Most people who didn't want to wear them or get vaccinated were healthy people, not worried about what the illness might do.  Many videos online supported this.  My experience living with Myasthenia Gravis knew that if I were to get this I would probably be in the hospital or worse.  I knew that even if I get the flu this is a possiblity.  So I did what I needed to, I stayed home, I wore a mask, I watched church on TV and I got the first vaccine I could.  Again I watched people rise up and say it was infringing on their rights to not get to .... fill in the blank.  People who weren't at the perceived risk of death, leaving behind a family, living with a tube down their throat.  In fact it became a badge of honor in some places including churches, that they didn't shut down, they were the "brave" "normal" "strong" ones who weren't going to be like the rest of us....

Now I see it again as the US is getting divided again over immigration, Epstien files, administrations.. Don't take the bait, listen to the experiences of the victims of sexual abuse especially if it is sometehing you have only heard or read about, Sit with the mother who's child is in prison and listen to her story of their lives and watch the struggle the justice system on that family, Hug the immigrant who has a whole life and story to tell and let them show you how difficult and convoulted the process is to become a citizen.  STOP watching and start experiencing.  I promise it will be the only thing that heals.