Yeah, it’s about the media. But it’s ALSO about us.

So I saw this image on Facebook and I was compelled to share what came through. I was honest and didn’t really hold back. It was intended to be a blunt message about what’s keeping us from unity and what we can do about it. Which of course are some of Mark Zuckerberg’s least favorite things because they don’t fall under “divide and profit” but let’s face it Zuck…it isn’t really working for you very much lately, isn’t it?

And yeah, I do believe that people need to have their space and their voice, but I also believe that can happen in a way that doesn’t fill the rage and fear buckets. Enough of that stuff, I mean, we live in a world where book banning is the rage and Nazis are out and about unchallenged…if THAT doesn’t set off all of the alarms, if we can’t frickin’ agree that Nazis BAD?!?

About this image, yup.

But we also only see what we want to, and they serve it to us fresh. When we start thinking it’s only “them” that are fed the lies, think again.

Everyone wants the divide to stop, well most everyone. Part of the solution (only part but it’s kind of a big part) is learning to decipher when “your” side is lying to you and how.

Because that’s a BIG part of the problem. Seeing the lies of the other side is the easy part. Everyone can do that.

The other part means being honest with ourselves and well…yeah, we don’t wanna do that. I get it. I don’t wanna either and I try to find ways to avoid it sometimes when I’m in my head.

Not wanting to ask “why are they seeing it that way?” It’s not because they’re not as smart or good looking as you, it’s not because they’re mentally ill, or whatever bullshit deluxe on sourdough gets fed that day by the talking heads.

Yeah, there are nuggets of truth everywhere as well that we may not always be willing to hear. It’s not about tossing the rubber duckie out with the bathwater, it’s learning to tell the difference, pulling out the duck, dumping the dirty water and understanding why they don’t want us to be able to do that.

Looking at other possibilities, especially when it’s possible that I’m the asshole, is not a good time.

But this is the way, unless we want what comes if this continues. I mean, we’re already suffering as a collective and many of us as individuals. Many of us have lost a lot, even as we’ve learned a lot.

Why is ___ the message? Why is someone such a raving jackass over XYZ? What is the end game? Who is really behind this?

So many questions to ask and consider this the permission we never needed in the first place.

(I think I’ve said enough to piss off the algorithms today-it’s been real all)

Surprisingly, this got buried on Facebook (yes, that was sarcasm) and I chose to add a comment to it…I mean what’s going to happen, nobody’s going to see it?

So either I pissed everyone off or I pissed the Zuckerithms off. I’m fine with either, shit’s gotta be said until people start to not only hear it but (most importantly) to see it for themselves. I can’t do that for people, nor should I ever have the ability-question ME just as much because sometimes I’m barking up the wrong tree too (not often but it happens), and even if I’m not I still need to continue to learn and question myself and not preach-we have too damn much of that already. It’s up to us to figure it out, it’s up to us to learn what’s actually true, it’s up to us to find ways that we can make shit work within ourselves, there’s too many people benefitting at our expense, and not just the people you’re told not to like.