Wham!

I know we aren't due to write a formal blog yet, but after having read and brewed over the reading we had for Thursday's class, I can't help but feel the overwhelming need to write about it. Have you ever read something that suddenly makes you feel like you have been sleeping for years and you're just now, finally waking up? Well, now I'm awake and afraid to fall back asleep for the sake of avoiding nightmares...so-to-speak.

For years, I've considered myself to be aware of current societal constructs. I've been involved with Safe Zones on campus and with OMSA (Office of Multicultural Student Affairs) and it has been very eye-opening. But, over the past year or so, classes and life kinda took me away from those things. I lost sight of the "activist" in me...the person who strongly believes that there is SO much that needs to be changed in the society we live in. Not just in regards to the way we view race, but also gender, sexual orientation, religion, identity, etc. There are so many things that need to change...so many doors that need to be opened.

Harris and Carbado are right...the societal norms ("frames") that structure the way our society functions have more of an effect on our daily lives than facts ever could. While statistics are helpful in making a point, mere data is not enough to make people change their ways. Beliefs are ingrained in people through social cues, family, friends, teachers, classmates, religion...the list is endless. It would be easy to think that all of the frames that surround us are the "natural" order of things. That when a person is born they are simply male or female, etc. But centuries ago, hell, even decades ago, things were different. Yet, there are still an unbelievable number of dichotomies that cloud our society. Something has to be A or B. A white man finds, but a black man loots. There is no in-between. Black people break the law. And racism doesn't exist. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

In addition to this course, I am taking a course on John Milton. Recently, we have been discussing his philosophy that one should never stop. By this, he means, one should never stop questioning, growing, learning, educating, thinking. If you sit still for too long, the frames around you could sway you to think like everyone else...you just jump on the bandwagon and you're set. Milton believes this is dangerous. And I do admit, that people's ability to just "go with the flow" scares me at times.

And often times I can't help but feel that our society is lazy. We'd rather drive than walk, we're always in a rush...relaxation is a mere dream. People are too focused on weight, on outer appearances, on superficial things that don't define a person. And all the while, this is going on: GLBT people are being harassed, killed, denied rights. Racism is being ignored. Rape "isn't an issue". Women and men alike are in abusive relationships. Young girls are getting pregnant. Public education systems are falling apart. Obesity is another huge issue. So often, this all goes on the back burner. And feminism has been given a bad name.

And so I wonder...my burning question(s) of the day (since I wasn't in class on Thursday) is this:

What do you think about these "frames"? Why do they exist? Do you agree with them? Why or why not? And if not, what are you prepared to do about it?

Peace and Love,
Jake