For this Sunday, February 9th, the focus for our meditation will be on Privilege. It is hard for me to comprehend how or why people obtain Privilege merely through the color of their skin or where they were born. However, real-life experiences certainly validate this is the case. Recently there was an incident caught on video where a white woman accosted two other women who were speaking a foreign language while shopping in a store. She began to verbally harass them until another shopper, also a white woman, stepped in and began to chastise the harasser. By exercising what is called “white Privilege” this woman spoke out in defense of others who were being verbally assaulted because of their ethnicity. It quickly shut the other woman down who stopped her harassment and left. Think this is just an isolated incident? Martin Niemöller, a German pastor during World War II, is famously quoted as having written the following:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
His comments were in response to the disturbing spread of Nazi dictatorship and are timeless in their reminder to us all to use our Privilege to defend others who are being oppressed. I recall another instance reported on social media where two women of different ethnicities but related by marriage happened to go through the same checkout register in a store where they had been shopping. The first woman, who was Caucasian, had a smooth checkout experience. The second woman, a woman of color, was asked to provide identification. They both used the same method of payment, but only one was asked to validate her identity before the credit card would be accepted by the clerk. Fortunately, the first woman spoke up in defense of her sister-in-law and began to ask the clerk why she had not asked her for proof of identify. It was a teaching moment that made obvious the role of prejudice, whether conscious or unconscious, on the basis of race. The woman of color later remarked how grateful she was to her family member for exercising her Privilege to speak out on her behalf. This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be given the courage to exercise our Privilege to defend others. May we be shown when and how to speak out and let others know their intolerance is not acceptable in this society, and may our willingness to use our Privilege in defense of others encourage more people to do the same.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation. As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create. Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it. Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country. From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I have experienced a Privilege that may not have been readily granted to others? How does it feel in my body when I am willing to use my Privilege to stand up for others? Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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