Once again--I appreciate your reflections. I will admit that the first half was hard. I am privileged and have benefited from family financial help so I felt a bit squirmy. I know I am privileged--but I struggle with what can feel like "shame on you" for being privileged. But I stuck it out, and felt an invitation that I could resonate with. How do I use my privilege to help those who are oppressed?
I lived in Laos for 8 years. A communist country in Southeast Asia. We were always aware that we had the "white card" in our back pocket that made us exempt from the injustices we watched unfold in front of us. We had a US passport that meant We could leave if things got harry. We didn't have to stay is we felt unsafe.
But there were times where our white presence also was something we could use to stand up in places of injustice...simply being there meant there was someone bearing witness to the system. And so I was a co-conspirator (even though I didn't know this word). We knew that even if we tried to let go of our privilege, we would always be white skinned, always hold a US passport. To ignore our privilege would've looked silly to them. We realized that to try to be them wasn't the point. But how could we be a presence that stood with the oppressed? (And I will say that sometimes our presence actually put them at risk... there was a fine balance).
Anyway, your email got me thinking about my years in Laos.
I admit I feel uncomfortable with what you write, but I still read it because I do believe that I don't just want to stay comfortable.
My own prayer is that I would notice how I'm being invited to be a presence that stands up for justice alongside those who are oppressed.
I have so many thoughts stirred after reading your post this morning....(I'll stop here as I'm writing a lot!!🤪)
Lori, this wasn't too long. Thank you so, so much for sharing it. It's really brave & really vulnerable & I value it very, very much. It means a lot that you were willing to stick it out through the "squirmy" parts. At some point, one of my social justice educators told me that call-ins are an investment in us. I know it's super uncomfortable when we feel called in to hear what is said, but I try to stick it out, too, keeping that investment thought in mind. Like, "This person believes I can receive what is being said & in some way help." That's powerful.
Also, it is a lot for me to write here, but I understand the complexities of living in so-called "developing" countries as a white US passport holder. Some scary & deeply impactful experiences of my own were my first exposure to how much there is to wrestle with. Thanks for linking this topic to your time there today & considering it.
Thank you Angie for this reflection. All of it deeply resonates. I’ve been thinking a lot about class and access and how it affects life choices and where and how we get to spend our time. Along those same reflections I have a recommend for you and your other readers. I’ve been listening to a series produced by Erica Heilman on her podcast Rumble Strip. It’s called “What Class are You?” where she interviews people she meets asking this question and their responses are so deeply considered and illuminating. The most recent one is about housing security. Give it a listen. Again thank you for urging me forward.
Jenn, thanks for commenting. I think a lot about how class impacts life choices & how we can spend our time, too. Thanks for the recommendation on the podcast! Since you are exploring this a lot right now, I'd recommend "Classy" with Jonathan Menjivar.
Once again--I appreciate your reflections. I will admit that the first half was hard. I am privileged and have benefited from family financial help so I felt a bit squirmy. I know I am privileged--but I struggle with what can feel like "shame on you" for being privileged. But I stuck it out, and felt an invitation that I could resonate with. How do I use my privilege to help those who are oppressed?
I lived in Laos for 8 years. A communist country in Southeast Asia. We were always aware that we had the "white card" in our back pocket that made us exempt from the injustices we watched unfold in front of us. We had a US passport that meant We could leave if things got harry. We didn't have to stay is we felt unsafe.
But there were times where our white presence also was something we could use to stand up in places of injustice...simply being there meant there was someone bearing witness to the system. And so I was a co-conspirator (even though I didn't know this word). We knew that even if we tried to let go of our privilege, we would always be white skinned, always hold a US passport. To ignore our privilege would've looked silly to them. We realized that to try to be them wasn't the point. But how could we be a presence that stood with the oppressed? (And I will say that sometimes our presence actually put them at risk... there was a fine balance).
Anyway, your email got me thinking about my years in Laos.
I admit I feel uncomfortable with what you write, but I still read it because I do believe that I don't just want to stay comfortable.
My own prayer is that I would notice how I'm being invited to be a presence that stands up for justice alongside those who are oppressed.
I have so many thoughts stirred after reading your post this morning....(I'll stop here as I'm writing a lot!!🤪)
Lori, this wasn't too long. Thank you so, so much for sharing it. It's really brave & really vulnerable & I value it very, very much. It means a lot that you were willing to stick it out through the "squirmy" parts. At some point, one of my social justice educators told me that call-ins are an investment in us. I know it's super uncomfortable when we feel called in to hear what is said, but I try to stick it out, too, keeping that investment thought in mind. Like, "This person believes I can receive what is being said & in some way help." That's powerful.
Also, it is a lot for me to write here, but I understand the complexities of living in so-called "developing" countries as a white US passport holder. Some scary & deeply impactful experiences of my own were my first exposure to how much there is to wrestle with. Thanks for linking this topic to your time there today & considering it.
Thank you Angie for this reflection. All of it deeply resonates. I’ve been thinking a lot about class and access and how it affects life choices and where and how we get to spend our time. Along those same reflections I have a recommend for you and your other readers. I’ve been listening to a series produced by Erica Heilman on her podcast Rumble Strip. It’s called “What Class are You?” where she interviews people she meets asking this question and their responses are so deeply considered and illuminating. The most recent one is about housing security. Give it a listen. Again thank you for urging me forward.
Jenn, thanks for commenting. I think a lot about how class impacts life choices & how we can spend our time, too. Thanks for the recommendation on the podcast! Since you are exploring this a lot right now, I'd recommend "Classy" with Jonathan Menjivar.