The Musings of Jaime David

The Musings of Jaime David
The Musings of Jaime David
@jaimedavid.blog@jaimedavid.blog

The writings of some random dude on the internet

1,117 posts
1 follower

Tag: compassion

  • Community Care (A Post Written by A Friend)

    Community Care (A Post Written by A Friend)

    One of my friends made this facebook post. I really liked it a lot, and wanted to share it on here.

    “I just wanted to acknowledge that in times where the majority of people are suffering to some degree–layers of suffering–that it is both incredibly unifying and isolating. Why should anyone care about my personal gripes when everything around me is on fire, in crisis? What right do I have to need attention when I hold privilege in any amount? How do I have a right to suffer when so many more people have it so much worse? These are not new questions to 2020, but are valid questions nonetheless.

    I think the most meaningful part about community care, real uncommodifiable community care, is that when we partake in it, we hold space for each other when we ourselves are suffering. No one’s needs and pain should be ignored. Your pain and exhaustion is valid, and you deserve considerate space to be held for you to release it all in a considerate way. Especially in a time where many of us cannot afford, cannot access, and/or have identities that make it hard to benefit from traditional professional psychology and therapy. Conscious of our privileges, power dynamics, pettiness, and places in the world, we may hold space for one another, assist in the healing of one another. We may create compassion and care where larger systems fail us–it has been going on for centuries on this land. Not codependence, but interdependence. Your pain is valid and weighty and difficult, and I recognize it. It’s hard to resist isolation when nearly everything and everyone is in crisis, but a better world involves trusting the love of those who know you + your situation, and letting them trust in you. It’s not easy but while we are tirelessly fighting for rights and life, it’s necessary.

    I’m far from perfect at this, and am currently resisting the urge waste away into nothing alone, but friends, know I’m trying”

    Check out my friend’s blog site!

    https://homagetolyric.substack.com/

  • 19 Years Ago

    19 Years Ago

    Today is September 11th.

    19 years ago today,

    Our nation was attacked.

    Four planes were hijacked.

    Two crashed into the World Trade Center,

    One in the Pentagon,

    And one in the middle of the Pennsylvania woods.

    It was a sad day.

    Many lives were lost.

    We must never forget those lives that were lost.

    That was not all that was lost, however.

    From that day onwards, we’ve been in perpetual warfare in the Middle East.

    From drone strikes to on-the-ground operations,

    Many people, civilians, soldiers, and combatants, alike, had lost their lives.

    Countless lives had been lost since 9/11 across the world, and no one bats an eye.

    It is sad to see,

    But we must not forget the lives lost.

    There’s a lot more that was lost since 9/11.

    Tensions started to escalate all over the country.

    From government to law enforcement to citizens to immigrants to even other countries,

    Everyone started to distrust everyone.

    What had briefly united Americans eventually drove us further apart,

    And the wounds have not fully healed.

    The effects from the response to 9/11 can be felt globally to this very day.

    2020 marked the beginning of a new decade.

    This year, on this very day, we have a choice moving forward.

    If we truly want to make the world a better place,

    It has to start with us.

    Instead of fearing one another,

    And viewing each other as enemies,

    We need to look at each other as humans,

    As neighbors,

    As an extended family,

    And we have to try to treat one another with empathy, compassion, and understanding.

    That is how we can make this world a better place.

  • Crossroads

    Crossroads

    2020 has been a crossroads for a great many things.

    It’s been an intersection for a lot of hate and negativity.

    Many words synonymous with negative can describe this year in a nutshell.

    One word in particular is that it has seemed like literal Hell.

    To some, this year has been really absurd.

    To others, it’s been apocalyptic in nature.

    Whatever the case though, we cannot let this year get us down.

    We have to stay positive and be hopeful that things will get better.

    If we want to improve the world, we have to take action and do so.

    We, each and every one of us, need to make the world better if we want to see it better,

    And we can do that.

    It all starts at the local level.

    Talk to people,

    Get to know them,

    And by doing that, you have the potential to reach the hearts and minds of many!

    This year is a crossroads.

    It is not just a crossroads of all the negative aspects of society,

    But it is also a crossroads of the futures we want to see.

    We have to decide from here what world we want to see.

    If we want to see a just one, a fair one, a democratic one,

    Then we have to strive for it,

    And we have to put in the work.

    All of us can do that,

    No matter our skillset.

    We all have the power to make the world great.

  • America, “The Greatest”

    America, “The Greatest”

    If they’re hungry, give them food.
    If they’re homeless, give them shelter.
    If they’re sick, give them good health.
    If they’re poor, give them what they need.
    In a country that claims to be “the greatest,”
    There should not be hunger, homelessness, lack of healthcare, or poverty.
    In America, however, that’s exactly the case.
    Not only are there people without food, shelter, healthcare, or money,
    But we dehumanize those people who are suffering.
    That is very egregious.
    In what way does any of that make America “the greatest?”

  • Independence?

    Independence?

    Today is the 4th of July,

    A.k.a Independence Day.

    It is America’s birthday;

    The day that the colonies declared independence from Great Britain.

    At least, that’s what most people think.

    The day Congress voted for independence was July 2nd

    And the day the Declaration of Independence was signed was August 2nd.

    However, the document itself is dated July 4th.

    What is the true day of America’s independence?

    I would say when the vote was made should be that day.

    Whatever the case, July 4th is considered “Independence Day.”

    For the longest time, it was a day of great celebration for me.

    But recently, with police brutality, systemic racism, and a pandemic running rampant,

    And with an inept administration ill-equipped to come up with solutions,

    It really leaves one feeling very disillusioned.

    With millions homeless, uninsured, and starving,

    And with thousands more being treated like second-class citizens,

    Whether they’re naturalized citizens, asylees, refugees, or immigrants,

    It leaves one to wonder if Americans really have independence.

    With millions of people dependent on corporations and the government,

    While others have millions or billions of dollars to spend,

    There’s a real discrepancy in this broken country.

    It’s sad to see.

    It saddens me especially because I’m a mixed minority.

    I have a constant fear of being shot by the police,

    Or being deported because I look like “an illegal.”

    All of that and more make me very fearful.

    So far, I haven’t had to deal with racism and prejudice,

    But I fear, in the future, racism and bigotry will become more severe.

    I fear people will become more open about their hatred towards minorities.

    I fear for my friends, my family, and my loved ones.

    I fear for everyone who’s Asian, black, Latinx, or mixed.

    I also fear for what could happen to me.

    And that leaves me to wonder, is there really independence?

    Is there really independence in this country

    If so many people have to live in constant fear of discrimination, hate, and bigotry?

    I’d say no.

    I’d say we have a long way to go.

    Who knows?

    Maybe racism, sexism, bigotry, and hatred will never go away.

    Maybe they will always be here to stay.

    I hope that’s not the case.

    I hope that one day, we can live in a world free from hate.

    Maybe that will happen. Maybe it won’t.

    All I do know is, it all starts at the individual level.

    I believe that most people are capable of change.

    I believe that most people can change for the better.

    How do they get there?

    I don’t know for sure.

    What I do know is, I want to try to understand people.

    I want to understand why people are the way they are.

    I want to understand why people act the way they do,

    Say the things they do,

    And think the way they do.

    I want to try to understand people.

    By understanding people, meaningful solutions can be reached.

  • Sexism

    Sexism

    Sexism is terrible.

    It is horrendous.

    It is disastrous.

    It’s the treatment of one sex,

    Usually women,

    In a negative way

    For what’s between their legs.

    It is male privilege

    That perpetuates

    This messed up system.

  • Racism

    Racism

    Racism; it is a system

    Where a person is treated different

    For the color of their skin pigments.

    It is a system

    That has oppressed millions

    For many generations.

    The only way to end it

    Is to fight against it.

    In order to do that, we must acknowledge

    The existence

    Of white privilege.

  • Privilege

    Privilege

    Privilege; it’s a thing that exists.

    You can have privilege for being white, male, or cis.

    There’s also privilege for being pretty, tall, or thin.

    There is even privilege for being fucking rich.

    Privilege is everywhere, and it is fucking shit.

    It is a system where you can get judged for the color of your skin and pigments.

    It is a system where men can’t show their emotions.

    It is a system where rich men can pollute the environment.

    It is a system where businesses can lobby the government.

    It is a system where you can be demonized for being an immigrant, poor, or homeless.

    It is a system that causes great division.

    But do not despair; not all is hopeless!

    There is a way; a way we can fix this.

    We must make people aware; aware of their privilege.

    We must make people realize that the problem is systemic,

    And that privilege is not just simply something that one is born in.

    Privilege is something that society has decided.

    Privilege can give people an unfair advantage,

    And can also promote hypocrisy and double standards.

    Those with privilege can get praised for something,

    And if marginalized groups do it,

    Those with privilege have a fit.

    It’s bullshit.

    This shit needs to end.

    It’s time we give a voice to those who are voiceless.

  • Bridges and Walls

    Bridges and Walls

    If you raise up a bridge, you build a wall.

    If you tear down a wall, you create a bridge.

    Why should we should we exclude some instead of include all?

    Why should we divide ourselves and act cold like the fridge?

    It is time we stop looking at each other like we’re not “the others”

    And start realizing that we should start to love one another.

    We’re all humans.

    We are one family.

    We’ve lived on this planet for many generations.

    Sure, our ancestors may have caused much division;

    Division that exists to this very day.

    However, there is one vision; one vision I envision,

    And that vision is an end to all division.

    I believe it’s possible. It’s very feasible.

    The first step to make it achievable is to simply care for other people.

    That’s all you need to do to start bringing a positive impact to the world.

  • Imagination (My Response To John Lennon’s “Imagine”)

    Imagination (My Response To John Lennon’s “Imagine”)

    When I listen to this piece,

    This musical piece by a man long deceased,

    I can’t help but help wonder,

    What the world would be like

    If we cared for one another,

    Gave to each other,

    And were there for each other.

    What would that world be like?

    Would it be nice?

    Would people act right?

    Would we all not fight?

    Would we not be superficial

    And judge people

    For the color of their skin,

    Or for what was between their legs,

    Or for who they chose to kiss,

    Or for how they chose to dress,

    Or for what their gender is,

    Or for what their religion is,

    Or for being atheists,

    Or for having disabilities,

    Or for not being rich,

    Or for being homeless,

    Or for not being intelligent,

    Or for being promiscuous,

    Or for being addicts,

    Or for being imprisoned,

    Or for being furry friends?

    What would such a world be like?

    Would we stand up for what’s right

    And not lose sight

    When we lose our light?

    What would such a world be like?

    I would like to hope

    That in that world

    We could get past our own egos

    And treat those

    Who feel lost

    With the utmost

    Compassion

    That’s so strong

    That it won’t

    Ever be lost!

    Is such a world possible?

    I’d like to say it’s not impossible!

    Will it be difficult?

    For sure, it will,

    However, I’m certain we’ll

    One day feel

    A sense of brotherhood

    That’ll unite us all!

    Am I a dreamer?

    Am I a believer?

    Am I the only one?

    Am I waiting for the sun?

    Who knows?

    But what I do know is that I love

    The song

    By John Lennon

    Called “Imagine.”