â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
I am someone who is gayâŠI rarely talk about it. đ€·âââ
I am someone who is HispanicâŠI rarely talk about it. đ€·âââ
I am someone who is AtheistâŠI (especially) rarely talk about it. đ€·âââ
Why do I rarely talk about these things? đ€
WellâŠlet’s take a step back. đŁ
Say you were meeting me for the very first time, and the only information you were given about who I am were these labels: đ
Male. Gay. Hispanic. Atheist.
What kind of person comes to your mind that fits into each of these categories? đ€
What comes to your mind when you think of a âGay Maleâ? Flamboyant? Feminine? Limp wrists?
What comes to your mind when you think of an âAtheist?â Snobbish? Science-obsessed? Blasphemous?
NowâŠtake these labels and apply them back to me. And compare these labels to how you đąđ€đ”đ¶đąđđđș know me as a person. đââïž
Let me ask: do these labels easily fit into your general perception of me? đ
Of Donald Arteaga? đ€·ââïž
If your answer is ânoââŠTHAT is the reason why!
đ đđĄđ đ«đđđŹđšđ§ đ đ«đđ«đđ„đČ đđđŹđđ«đąđđ đŠđČđŹđđ„đ đąđ§ đđđ«đŠđŹ đšđ đđĄđđŹđ đ„đđđđ„đŹ đąđŹ đđđđđźđŹđ đ đąđ§đđđ§đ đđšđ« đČđšđź đđš đŹđđ đŠđ đđŹ đ đĄđźđŠđđ§ đđđąđ§đ , đđąđ«đŹđ đđ§đ đđšđ«đđŠđšđŹđ, đđđđšđ«đ đđĄđ đ„đđđđ„đŹ. đ
Iâd rather we all be judged, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, based upon the content of our character. đ€
đ I donât intend for you to judge me by virtue of my sexual preference.
đ I donât intend for you to judge me by virtue of my race.
đ I donât intend for you to judge me by virtue of my religious affiliation.
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
THIS is why I generally donât provide this information to people upfront. I want you to get to know ME first, minus the preconceptions. đ
đ đđđđđźđŹđ đđĄđ đŠđšđ«đ đ đđŠđ©đĄđđŹđąđłđ đđĄđđŹđ đ„đđđđ„đŹ đđŹ đ°đĄđš đ đđŠ, đđĄđ đŠđšđ«đ đ đđ§đđšđźđ«đđ đ đČđšđź đšđ§đ„đČ đđš đŹđđ đŠđ đđĄđ«đšđźđ đĄ đđĄđ đđąđ„đđđ« đšđ đđĄđđŹđ đ„đđđđ„đŹ. đ
The problem is these labels are only mere facets of who I am as a human being, just as I believe this to be the case for any other human being. đ
Iâve held this ideal ever since I started my mission to Transcend Labels in 2018. âł
The ideal has always been for me to show through my example that people donât have to be entrenched in their labels. đŻ
The ideal has always been for me to show that my diagnosis of Autism is just a temporary explanation and not a final destination. đŻ
The ideal has always been for me to show how limiting labels are as frameworks for understanding ourselves and other people. đŻ
Consider the facts:
đ No one on this planet is 100% exactly the same.
đ No one thinks 100% exactly the same way.
đ No one has lived 100% exactly the same life as another person.
đđđđđźđŹđ đšđ đšđźđ« đąđ§đĄđđ«đđ§đ đąđ§đđąđŻđąđđźđđ„đąđđČ, đđŻđđ«đČđšđ§đ đĄđđŹ đđĄđ đ©đšđđđ§đđąđđ„ đđš đđđđđĄ đźđŹ đŹđšđŠđđđĄđąđ§đ .
đđđđđźđŹđ đšđ đšđźđ« đąđ§đĄđđ«đđ§đ đąđ§đđąđŻđąđđźđđ„đąđđČ, đ đ©đđ«đŹđšđ§âđŹ đ„đđđđ„đŹ đđđ§ đ§đđŻđđ« đđš đŁđźđŹđđąđđ đđš đđĄđ đđšđŠđ©đ„đđ±, đźđ§đąđȘđźđ đąđ§đđąđŻđąđđźđđ„ đ„đđČđąđ§đ đ°đąđđĄđąđ§ đđđđĄ đšđ đźđŹ.
đđđđđźđŹđ đšđ đšđźđ« đąđ§đĄđđ«đđ§đ đąđ§đđąđŻđąđđźđđ„đąđđČ, đ đ©đđ«đŹđšđ§âđŹ đ„đđđđ„đŹ đđđ§ đ§đđŻđđ« đđ đ đđđđđ«đŠđąđ§đđ§đ đšđ đšđ§đ’đŹ đ©đđ«đŹđšđ§đđ„ đđĄđđ«đđđđđ«.
As Ayishat Akanbi put it: “đ»đđ đđđđđđđđ đđđđ đđđđ đđ đđđđđđ đđđđđđ đđđđ đđ đđđđđđ.” The obsession with oneâs labels become a self-fulfilling prophecy which leaves no room for change, let alone the possibility for personal growth. đ
For me, my mission to Transcend Labels is a life-affirming philosophy that says we are more than our pasts, more than our circumstances, and that we are capable of becoming more than the people we were yesterday. â
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
Perhaps as you read this, this sounds like common sense to you! đ
ButâŠthings seemed to have changed. đ§
Not with my mission; it remains the same. But Iâm talking about within our society. đ„
More and more I continue reading about a growing ideology that:
đ± Encourages people to see each other ONLY for their labels, not for their individuality.
đ± Encourages people to see each other ONLY for their group identities, not for their common humanity.
đ± Encourages people to indulge in cognitive biases like mindreading, overgeneralizing, and black-and-white thinking.
This smorgasbord of an ideology has come to be more popularly known as: âbeing wokeâ.
(đđ°đł đą đđ°đŽđŠđ”đ”đą đŽđ”đ°đŻđŠ đ°đŻ đđ°đŹđŠ đȘđ„đŠđ°đđ°đšđș, đłđŠđąđ„ âđđșđŻđȘđ€đąđ đđ©đŠđ°đłđȘđŠđŽ: đđ°đž đđ€đ”đȘđ·đȘđŽđ” đđ€đ©đ°đđąđłđŽđ©đȘđ± đđąđ„đŠ đđ·đŠđłđșđ”đ©đȘđŻđš đđŁđ°đ¶đ” đđąđ€đŠ, đđŠđŻđ„đŠđł, đąđŻđ„ đđ„đŠđŻđ”đȘđ”đșâ đŁđș đđąđźđŠđŽ đđȘđŻđ„đŽđąđș & đđŠđđŠđŻ đđđ¶đ€đŹđłđ°đŽđŠ.)
Simply putâŠthe very ideals Iâve stood for the past few years are in direct opposition to this ideology. đ€·âââ
So perhaps you can understand why a part of me is fascinated at how this ideology has reached such a wide audience, especially among the political Left, with little Critical (pun intended) examination. đ
Perhaps you can understand my fascination reading about this ideology that argues the very ideals I stand for, the message Iâve promoted for years, can now be entirely summarized under labels like âwhite supremacyâ, “white privilege”, “patriarchy”, âracistâ, âmicroaggressionâ, and âhatefulâ. đ€š
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
But I get it. â€ïž
I understand in these current times A LOT of us are stressed out and worried. I understand itâs hard for anyone to think clearly, let alone rationally, when our minds are shrouded in weeds. đ
đ đźđ§đđđ«đŹđđđ§đ đąđ’đŹ đŻđđ«đČ đĄđđ«đ đđš đđĄđąđ§đ€ đąđ§ đ§đźđđ§đđđ, đđšđŠđ©đ„đđ± đ°đđČđŹ đ°đĄđđ§ đšđźđ« đŠđąđ§đđŹ đ§đđđźđ«đđ„đ„đČ đđ«đđŻđ đŹđąđŠđ©đ„đąđđąđđČ đđźđ«đąđ§đ đŹđđ«đđŹđŹđđźđ„ đđąđŠđđŹ.
If I were to combine every negative event which has happened the past year, I can’t blame someone for not feeling comfortable with all this Uncertainty. đš
As I saw 1 tweet put it: âđđšđź đđ«đ đ°đđđđĄđąđ§đ đ©đđšđ©đ„đ đ đš đđĄđ«đšđźđ đĄ đ°đąđđĄđđ«đđ°đđ„ đđ«đšđŠ đđĄđ đđŠđšđđąđšđ§đđ„ đđđđąđđđąđšđ§ đđš đđĄđ đŠđČđđĄ đšđ đđđ«đđđąđ§đđČ.â â€ïž
So yes, I definitely understand that lots of people at this time will be desperate to find something which helps them get back to Certainty, back to some sense of clarity and normalcy, back to some sense of renewed purpose and meaningâŠeven if that means embracing an over-simplistic, fringe ideology like this one. đ
And THIS is one of the main reasons why Iâve not spoken up about this topic personally. đâđŠ đ§đšđ đ„đšđšđ€đąđ§đ đđš đđđ€đ đ đđĄđąđ„đâđŹ đđ„đđ§đ€đđ đđ°đđČ đđ«đšđŠ đĄđąđŠ đ°đĄđđ§ đĄđâđŹ đđđđ«đđźđ„đ„đČ đđ„đąđ§đ đąđ§đ đšđ§đđš đąđ đđšđ« đđđđ« đ„đąđđ. đ
At the moment, the child needs something, anything to stay calm and feel safe. đĄ
Donât get me wrong, there are 100% real problems in our society that still need to be solved. I’m not here to pretend like everything is all fine and dandy. It’s not.
But weâre not going to solve them when weâre making the incorrect diagnoses, which in turn prescribe the wrong solutions. đ
đđâđ«đ đ§đšđ đ đšđąđ§đ đđš đŹđšđ„đŻđ đđĄđ đđšđŠđ©đ„đđ± đ©đ«đšđđ„đđŠđŹ đąđ§ đšđźđ« đŹđšđđąđđđČ đ°đąđđĄ đđĄđ đŹđđŠđ đšđŻđđ«-đŹđąđŠđ©đ„đąđŹđđąđ đđĄđąđ§đ€đąđ§đ đ°đĄđąđđĄ đąđŹ đđ«đđđđąđ§đ đđĄđđŠ. đ
But that part of the discussion will be saved for another postâŠ
My point is: THIS is not the way forward. â
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
đ€Ź âđŸđŹđłđł đŽđč. đŻđ°đźđŻ-đšđ”đ«-đŽđ°đźđŻđ»đ đ«đ¶đ”đšđłđ«, đźđ¶đ» đšđ”đ đ©đŹđ»đ»đŹđč đ°đ«đŹđšđș?!â đ€Ź
I believe I do! And it goes right back to what I was talking about earlier. đ
đ We move forward by focusing on our common humanity.
đ We move forward by focusing on what we have in common.
đ We move forward by focusing on understanding and less on labeling.
đđ đđđ đ đđđ đđĄđ đ©đšđ°đđ« đđĄđđ đ„đđđđ„đŹ đđđ«đ«đČ đđČ đđšđđźđŹđąđ§đ đšđ§ đšđźđ« đđšđŠđŠđšđ§ đĄđźđŠđđ§đąđđČ.
đđ đđđđđđđđđ đđĄđ đ©đšđ°đđ« đšđźđ« đ©đđ«đŹđšđ§đđ„ đđąđđŹđđŹ đđ§đ đ©đ«đđŁđźđđąđđđŹ đđđ«đ«đČ đđČ đđšđđźđŹđąđ§đ đšđ§ đšđźđ« đđšđŠđŠđšđ§ đĄđźđŠđđ§đąđđČ.
đđ đđđđđđđđđđđ đđĄđ đ„đđ§đŹđđŹ đđĄđ«đšđźđ đĄ đ°đĄđąđđĄ đ°đ đ đđ§đđ«đđ„đ„đČ đŹđđ đšđđĄđđ« đ©đđšđ©đ„đâŠđđ§đ đŹđđąđ„đ„ đđđđđđ đ§đšđ đđš đ đąđŻđ đđĄđđŠ đŹđąđ đ§đąđđąđđđ§đđ đ°đĄđđ§ đđšđđźđŹđąđ§đ đšđ§ đšđźđ« đđšđŠđŠđšđ§ đĄđźđŠđđ§đąđđČ.
For every time we do this, weâll remind our survival brain whoâs in charge of how we connect with others. đ§
Weâll remind our survival brain how naĂŻve the caricatures we create in our minds about mass groups of people are. đ§
đđ đ°đ đđ«đźđ„đČ đ°đđ§đ đđš đ©đ«đšđŠđšđđ đđąđŻđđ«đŹđąđđČ đąđ§ đšđźđ« đŹđšđđąđđđČ, đ„đđâđŹ đ§đšđ đ§đđ đ„đđđ đđĄđ đŻđđ«đČ đđąđŻđđ«đŹđąđđČ đ„đđČđąđ§đ đ°đąđđĄđąđ§ đđđđĄ đđ§đ đđŻđđ«đČ đšđ§đ đšđ đźđŹ. đđąđ đĄđ đ§đšđ° đ°đ’đ«đ đšđ§đ„đČ đđšđźđđĄđąđ§đ đđĄđ đŹđźđ«đđđđ.
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ! â€ïž
Because whatâs the alternative?
đ A society which is OBSESSED with focusing on what makes us separate from each other.
đ A society which DISCRIMINATES people based primarily upon their labels.
đ A society which attempts to solve the problem of prejudiceâŠwith EVEN MORE PREJUDICE.
That doesnât sound like a desirable outcome, does it? Sounds a bit backwards, right? It’s honestly quite IL-liberal! đ
ButâŠthankfully we donât have to go down that route! We don’t have to become “woke”! đŻ
I challenge you to come with me and take the road less traveled. Itâs important to remember that just because something is popular in the moment doesnât automatically mean itâs right. đ
I challenge you to come with me and use what might be considered a more âradicalâ approach these days to connecting with others:
đđš đŹđđ đšđđĄđđ«đŹ đđŹ đĄđźđŠđđ§ đđđąđ§đ đŹ đđąđ«đŹđ đđ§đ đđšđ«đđŠđšđŹđ. đđš đđ«đđđ đšđđĄđđ«đŹ đ°đąđđĄ đ«đđŹđ©đđđ, đđŻđđ§ đ°đĄđđ§ đąđ’đŹ đ§đšđ đ đąđŻđđ§ đđđđ€. đđš đđšđŠđŠđźđ§đąđđđđ đ°đąđđĄ đđąđŻđąđ„đąđđČ đđ§đ đĄđźđŠđąđ„đąđđČ, đđŻđđ§ đ°đĄđđ§ đđĄđ đšđđĄđđ« đ©đđ«đŹđšđ§ đđšđđŹđ§’đ đ«đđđąđ©đ«đšđđđđ. đđš đ«đđŠđđŠđđđ« đđĄđđ đĄđźđ«đ đ©đđšđ©đ„đ đĄđźđ«đ đ©đđšđ©đ„đ, đđ§đ đđĄđđ đđąđ đĄđđąđ§đ đđąđ«đ đ°đąđđĄ đđąđ«đ đšđ§đ„đČ đđ«đđđđđŹ đŠđšđ«đ đđąđ«đ. đđš đ đąđŻđ đČđšđźđ«đŹđđ„đ đ©đđ«đŠđąđŹđŹđąđšđ§ đđš đđ«đđđđĄđ đđźđ«đąđ§đ đŹđđ«đđŹđŹđđźđ„ đŠđšđŠđđ§đđŹ.
But if all this sounds too overwhelming, how about just this…?
đđšđźâđ«đ đ đĄđźđŠđđ§ đđđąđ§đ . đđ§đ đâđŠ đ đĄđźđŠđđ§ đđđąđ§đ . đ„
đđđâđŹ đŹđđđ«đ đđĄđđ«đ. đ
đđš đŠđšđ«đ. đđ§đ đ§đš đ„đđŹđŹ. â€ïž
â€ïž đ đđ đ đđđđđ đđđđđ, đđđ đ đđđ đđ đđđđđđ! â€ïž
SHARE this post with anyone who needs this reminder!
