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“I am not racist.”
What I’m struck by from this Neeson story is the rather casual assumption he had that he could control the reaction people would have to a shocking confession, simply by explaining the reaction he thought they should have.
What it demonstrates to me is how embedded it all is.
What it demonstrates to me is how embedded it all is.
In his mind, it was simply a lesson of personal growth.
And maybe it was—to him. So be it.
But he also seems to have missed the point.
And maybe it was—to him. So be it.
But he also seems to have missed the point.
But it’s ALSO going to be something quite else to those hearing it who live with constant menace of racial violence. Their experience of that story is very real.
For it to be a story of real personal growth, you have to let people feel and express their shock and pain.
For it to be a story of real personal growth, you have to let people feel and express their shock and pain.
One’s forgiveness of oneself doesn’t transfer to others.
Confession is good, but it can carry consequence.
And whether or not one is racist isn’t something one simply gets to decide about oneself.
Confession is good, but it can carry consequence.
And whether or not one is racist isn’t something one simply gets to decide about oneself.
People can and do grow and change. Liam Neeson isn’t going to be brought up on charges.
But some people are going to think differently about him now, and it’s not reasonable to expect them not to.
But some people are going to think differently about him now, and it’s not reasonable to expect them not to.
Nor am I saying he should never be forgiven.
I’m saying he’s not owed it.
It’s not a fair expectation to put on people who have heard something shocking and personally hurtful.
I’m saying he’s not owed it.
It’s not a fair expectation to put on people who have heard something shocking and personally hurtful.
Ok.
It’s not a dichotomy. Gender identity isn’t something you do to others, and nonconforming isn’t rooted in institutional power.
Racism is, and is.
It’s not a dichotomy. Gender identity isn’t something you do to others, and nonconforming isn’t rooted in institutional power.
Racism is, and is.
May as well ask about the dichotomy between asking someone to call you by your name and telling someone no you didn’t hurt them when you yelled at them, and besides, you aren’t mad anymore.
To me this is less about Neeson and more about a instinctive cultural reaction.
The path to growth includes realizing that self-exoneration isn’t growth, nor is trying to control the reaction of those harmed.
That isn’t just Nisson’s struggle. It’s our culture’s. It’s mine.
The path to growth includes realizing that self-exoneration isn’t growth, nor is trying to control the reaction of those harmed.
That isn’t just Nisson’s struggle. It’s our culture’s. It’s mine.
*I’m* not hurt. I’m shocked by the story, but privileged to not have experienced the daily lived racial menace that he (briefly) participated in.
His story didn’t directly harm *me.*
What’s interesting is, I’m still feeling societal pressure to forgive him.
That’s how it works
His story didn’t directly harm *me.*
What’s interesting is, I’m still feeling societal pressure to forgive him.
That’s how it works
The idea is for those unaffected to forgive by proxy on behalf of those who are.
It’s easy for we unaffected to do, because we’re unaffected.
That’s how we do it so quickly and easily.
It’s easy for we unaffected to do, because we’re unaffected.
That’s how we do it so quickly and easily.
It makes those who *are* affected seem so intransigent. So unforgiving.
It strands them. It makes them the problem.
The offense becomes character growth. Redemption.
That’s how it works.
It strands them. It makes them the problem.
The offense becomes character growth. Redemption.
That’s how it works.
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