The majority of what we are really about, no one can see at first glance. That is because it is inside of us; what you are is stored in the top of your head, in your brain. What is on the outside is mainly genetic. Your voice, the way you walk, your height and the color of your hair. Your teeth and your skin color….and your inner gastronomical track is what your parents gave to you, that and much more.
The only chance you will ever have to establish an identity of your very own is how you think and what you believe. Even that is in question to a large extent. While growing up and sitting at the table waiting to be fed, and on into that process; your parents, or parent expound on their thoughts, their day, their job, their acquaintances, and there you sit like a small sponge soaking all of it up. It seeps into your pores and finds it’s way into your brain where it sits waiting for you to claim it as your own. It’s called subliminal suggestion or better put would be indoctrination of the innocent.
As you grow and become familiar with other environments, such as school or work, where you intermingle with others, you begin to hear other opinions on life, other thoughts that you may or may not embrace. Thus begins the elevolution of growth and the passage into the world you will live in. You may turn out to read more than your parents, therefore widening your world even more. You may decide to further your education by attending college where you will be exposed to yet another level of opinion, some may appear radical to you…or not. At this point you are still somewhat pliable, not totally set in stone….but close.
The media will undoubtly influence you with many versions of the truth, all of which should be suspect; when you develop a relationship, your partner will offer yet more input to consider. The books and articles along with the films you watch will also influence you to a degree. All of this material you will constantly shift through, mostly subconsciously but it will cause you to question what you took to believe as gospel at the dinner table so many years ago. The original information that first entered your brain will never be totally eradicated, but if your mind is open, it will change.
Then comes the church, and all bets are off. If you allow it, this fraction will dominate your life and dictate policy to you reinforced with guilt. It can cause you to give up your partner to whom you were to wed because they were not the right faith. Words that are spewed from the pulpit are considered gospel….the word of God. It doesn’t get any better than that. This is deep water, you can easily drown here if you let go, and may do. The church is good, it sets a tone of morality and implants a sense of charity, but you can’t sleep with it. However words from the pulpit can easily seduce you as well, not all of what you hear in there is read directly from the bible.
The church legalizes your life; many marry in the church, not all but I believe it is preferred. You are baptized and later confirmed in the church and finally you are buried in the church. The church is also tied to your heritage so it becomes a part of your family. More on the church later….
So in many ways your body is like a computer, it takes in information during your entire lifetime and the results of that data govern and shape the way you live your life….. .
Peter Children
watchdog, it has been less than 50 years since whites let people of color be treated like human beings. They have been lynched many times since then for being black. Many of the people that witnessed these subhuman acts are still alive and telling young people about them. Racism will never go away but I believe more time is needed before trust in the good of people will change this way of thinking. For hundreds of years the survival instincts of these people have told them not to trust whites. Humans are constantly evolving and that is a slow process.
It’s a stretch to say a voter a identity law is to discriminate against anyone.
The huge amount of voter fraud that goes on today warrants voter identity to ensure we are all protected from the wrong person being put in office against the will of the people.
I don’t buy into the the notion that voter identification amounts to racism.
That is just a lame excuse to continue to allow voter fraud for purely selfish purposes.
I know you don’t feel the same way but that again is part of your upbringing and beliefs. I used to think like you but with age and “reason” I know better.
There is indisputable proof that voter fraud in a mere microcosm of the total vote. That has been proven. It is a law that tragets certain elements in our society that the republicans do not want voting. Four years ago it did not exist. It won’t do them any good.
Pete
Mankind is only close to resembling a computer.
The Computer is made up of 5 components: Input, Output, Memory (permanent and random), Logic, and Arithmetic.
God’s creatures have additional components and their important.
Animals have instinct which gives them the will to survive.
Humans have instinct and the “ability to reason”. The ability to “reason” allows Humans to change the way they think, thereby altering our “Upbringing”.
It amazes me that Humans would use their ability to reason to defy their instincts. Humans are the only creature I know that will strap a bomb on them and commit murder in the name of some cause or God.
That notion leads me back to the point of your article, Upbringing.
It appears to me that Upbringing can overcome instinct and the power to reason.
Now that is a conundrum!
Imagine what these folks had for upbringing and what they were taught.
I always said: Garbage in, Garbage out!
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/04/08/New-Black-Panthers-Call-For-Race-War-Blood-Shed-Kill-Crackers-For-Trayvon-April-9th-Day-of-Action
The above link is related to another ball game that involves rage from a people who have been brutalized by whites in this country for 300 years….and it is still going on. The voter registeration law is evidence of that. Don’t go there, you cannot win. History will prove you wrong. Think White Surpremacist as an alternative.
My ancestors were white and made slaves also. I had 4 Great Great Great, Uncles that were captured in Scotland and carried back to sea by Black traders in slaves. One escaped and the other 3 were never heard from again.
Should I let my upbringing join a Neo-Nazi group? I choose not.
It is not a different ball game. 300 years is long enough to learn how to use go your skin color as an excuse to blame all of mankind and your government for everything.
Also, what is most important in your most awful belief is that Whites were responsible for all of the world’s ills. Slave trade was about economics as bad at it gets. Ask the Jews, about slavery, it dates back to the old testament.
Two things stick out here. It was Africans that captured and sold their fellow Africans to slave trade, all over the world. And, America fought the Civil War to end Slavery. White men died for that cause.
With that said, your article on upbringing has much to do with the poor treatment of people (all races of people) in America.
Your own personal behavior dictates how you are going to be treated. Like I said, Garbage in, Garbage out! That works both ways. You act like garbage, your going to get treated like garbage!
That Black Panther video epitomizes the results of stupid upbringing!
Self is made up of many parts as you say Mr. Children. The faith of your elders has a lot of initial influence upon you, and your decision making. However, there are many parents that wear religion on their sleeve, and do not walk the walk.
Children, although they may not understand it at the time, they are quite perceptive of both actions and emotions. This is where the parents who practice “do as I say, not as I do” comes into play. If that is the case, faith/religion is negated as a ritual, and not a belief system.
That perception continues as they begin to socialize. They learn and test behaviors they see in other kids. The limits learned at home begin to be tested as well as a result of seeing other kids “do it”.
Then there is a lot of questions in the child’s mind, especially if the home is ethnically different, and traditions are part of daily life.
Who we are becomes a mix of traditions, faith, and especially, what the parents are (again one has to differentiate between what they say, and what they do). Outside influences, such as friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and on to mates, do change what one is to a degree.
I noticed in my own self, change in attitudes of younger days (of folly?). What was done did back then, would not suffice today. Reverting to my roots, which were conservative in nature, it reflects what was learned in the family, and in our community. It’s a level of comfort I guess, and not needing to apologize to anyone for it.
Well written, well said. I will say I am curious about your future writing on “the church” you refer to in this article.
You and I may have a good dicussion there.
Why do you say that?
I wasn’t attacking, just watching your writings improve. (I am prefering your writings over others as of late) What i am getting at is that how you have lead into your future writing about “the church” makes me curious to see the next edition of that thought.
I love a good discussion, and if it brews to a healthy “mind stirring”, “I want to take some action on this” debate, it is even more worth my time to read.
I have stated many times on here that a good article, be it news or op-ed, should stir up readers to seek out more information, get educated on the issue and/or get involved in making a change or a difference.
yes another good article: while I do not read ALL your articles or op-eds, I hope that you dont go back to the insults of the past.
Peter-Great article. It really makes you think of all the sub-conscious implecations you have heard all these years. It definitely influences your thinking. I read a great book a few years ago that might interest you. It is “The Celestine Vision” by James Redfield. I couldn’t put it down once I started it. A different concept that really will give you pause.