Do the Work!-- A Social Justice Approach to Resolving Contentious Issues (aka "Conspiracy Theories") and Healing the Divide
The Social Justice Movement provides a great framework for elucidating harms caused by prejudicial thinking and for recognizing a moral obligation to self-educate to end harmful cycles.
It’s become widely recognized, by those of us who embrace social justice thinking, that it is not the obligation of marginalized groups to educate and correct the views of their contemporaries who cling to prejudicial concepts and harmful mental and emotional constructs. Thought leaders in social justice have “called in” racists, sexists, ableists and other -isms that underpin exclusion of diversity and injustice toward those who are different and tasked them with “doing the work” of self-exploration, study, re-examining and personal psychological restoration needed to (a) see their marginalizing patterns for what they are, and (b) change their behavior into better patterns to make our world a better place for all concerned.
Succinctly put, my -isms are my mess and it’s on me to clean them up and your -isms are your mess and it’s on you to clean those up.
As one who self-identifies as Conspiritualist— one whose core “beliefs” encompass many views that have been labeled “conpiracy theories” and “new age spirituality”— I have become accustomed to being attacked verbally both by strangers on social media as well as by friends and family. I am often shunned and ostracized by conventional thinkers, including co-workers. For the past two decades, I have seen the fruits of my unconventional thinking as the sacred fire of my Promethean efforts and my special charge to wake people up to a more truthful, higher reality so that oppression can be brought to an end and humanity saved from catastrophe. But now, I think the time may have come for me to lay down the burden of trying to wake others up. I deserve the right to apply my life energy to creating joy for myself and my loved ones. I don’t deserve to be a slave to the task of waking up ignorant, resistant prejudiced minds for the betterment of humanity (and only a very diluted benefit to myself and those I love).
I’ve written before about “Conspirituality and the Ethic of Freedom of Religion” so I won’t get into deep details here about why I feel people like me, conspiritualists, deserve the basic respects that are afforded to people of diverse religious backgrounds, even though most of us find our “beliefs” to be evidence-based instead of faith-based.
Although he isn’t aligned with all of my views (no one ever is and if they did one of us would be unnecessary, as Twain reportedly observed), I have found a candidate for President who is aware of many of the issues that I have championed and who is also the target of a great deal of prejudicial thinking, ridicule, verbal attacks and even physical threats because of his views. My heart goes out to him and his family. He has said that the central guiding principle of his campaign is to tell the truth and if Americans, in 2024, have an appetite for truth, he will be sworn in as President in January 2025. I think that would be a great day.
But, at present, it appears to me that most Americans, if we are to believe the reflection we see in the mainstream media (and that is a very big IF today in 2023) are hostile to and prejudiced against the truths that are most needed.
Typical journalists deride Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for claiming that the CIA had something to do with the assassination of his uncle JFK. They should do the work of reading James Douglass’s “JFK and the Unspeakable” . You should too. It’s easy enough to listen to the audio edition.
Typical journalists call RFK Jr. and conspiracy theorist for saying that his father, Robert Kennedy (senior), was not killed by Sirhan Sirhan. They should do the work of reading Lisa Pease’s “A Lie Too Big to Fail”. You should too.
Typical journalists ridicule RFK Jr. for helping expose that the Covid-19 virus was genetically engineered. They should do the work of reading Matt Taibbi’s Racket article “On Today's Explosive Coronavirus Story”. They should pre-order RFK Jr.’s upcoming book “The Wuhan Coverup”. So should you.
Virtually the entire corporate media, big pharma, public health establishment and what’s now being called the “censorship industrial complex” has come down hard on RFK Jr for his view that alternative early treatments for COVID-19 such as Ivermectin, Hydroxychloroquine and Vitamin D have been wrongly dismissed, suppressed or de-emphasized to allow COVID-19 vaccines to get EUA’s (Emergency Use Authorizations). They should do the work of reading RFK Jr’s “The Real Anthony Fauci” and “A Letter to Liberals”. So should you.
And on and on. There are many so-called conspiracy theories that RFK Jr. has been connected to and, when the journalists have actually reported his statements accurately (instead of exaggerating them into straw-man arguments) there are credible sources backing up Kennedy’s assertions. I could do the work of listing all of them here and linking you to sources that support Kennedy’s statements, but that’s the point of this article. I may be passionate about these issues and I may often write articles and tweets supporting my views, but it’s not on me to do that work. It’s on you. Find out what RFK Jr really said, in each case, and then do the research. Do the work. I have wood to split, a cat to feed, my love to drink coffee with… and I deserve the joy of all that if I prefer it to rehashing, yet again, all the reasons RFK Jr. is right and his detractors are wrong.
Despite the fact that RFK Jr. has taken on a mantle of such magnitude, being opposed by Goliath-esque entities - he doesn’t let this fight consume him. He lives his life fully - in tune with inspiration and purpose, rather than doom or bitterness. Being new to the RFK social media corner, I had yet to see someone articulate as well as you how, despite being involved in this important “fight,” we mustn’t surrender the best parts of life on its behalf - because he hasn’t. Splitting wood, “drinking coffee with my love,” laughter, nature.. Discovering RFK Jr., listening to him and being profoundly affected by him is great gift, but it isn’t a path we can walk down for anyone else. He, and you for that matter, have shown by your example that being a catalyst for profound change is more than simply being the quickest to point out what we are fighting against - it is also to remind us not to lose focus on what makes life worth living.
...and thank you Mr Bishop, for all you have offered, and honor to you for choosing to care for yourself.