Privileged

19 Oct Privileged

Privilege.

I took a picture today of our Nations flag in front of the school. I stopped for a minute to “pause” and take it in. I first noticed how nice the day was and wondered why it took so long for me to recognize how nice it was today. I know I am partial but I love our flag. It’s cool. I see how it attaches itself through historical moments. The Moon landings, sides of rockets as they reach out toward space, space stations, flight suits, bottom of the ocean, sport teams gear, race cars and obviously military equipment. And because I know from personal experience, the cost of its design, the meaning of the stripes. Its design is meant to unify its people, spite their differences. It was meant as a symbol of freedom. People would arrive here and attach to its glory and story. “Through the night, our flag was still there.”

While all that is true, noble and right, somewhere along the line its symbolism has drawn other conclusions where people for whatever their cause find Old Glory to be a symbol of something less. When I see it dragged through streets, burned, stepped on, I seriously feel sad and upset mostly because I have laid my hand on the permanently folded flag as it was given to the next of kin, after it had been draped over her husband’s casket. I know the pain of feeling it slip from my fingertips as I lifted myself away from my friend. I also know and recognize that we as a people have taken our freedoms for granted. While we have gloried in it we have lost sight of those who can’t see it like we do.

What am I saying? I am privileged. Why? I lived in a great town and was raised by a great family who loved each other. I had parents, siblings and extended family. I lived in a safe place with little worries and those things I worried about would be things I would consider trivial now. I had a nice home, significant food supply. I was taught to work hard and had ample time to play. I had more than enough clothing and believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny. I could add so much more. Seriously, I am a blessed person. I recognize that. I experienced very negative, bad and even traumatic situations but because I had so much social and emotional support, I learned to be ok.

A lot of people didn’t get the same opportunity I did. Their outcomes are much different for so many reasons. It is not for me to judge, ridicule or give over-imposed opinions especially those from the media. I can’t say, “They should…” Instead, “I should.” I should stand for those who can’t. I should take my vantage point from where I stand underneath this flag and for what it stands for and then GO and DO by demonstrating that because of my freedoms and privileges, I am open to you. I can’t understand where you stand, sit, take-a-knee UNLESS I stand, sit, take-a-knee with you. I can’t expect you to come closer to me UNLESS I am willing to go to where you are. I can’t allow my personal opinions and beliefs distract me from doing what is right. Therefore I will do what we all need to do and put myself in check. I hold my bias accountable. It’s not about me. We have to understand that LOVE can’t happen when we are biased, unaccountable or superior to another regardless of beliefs, race or anything else.

In other words, I hear you and I appreciate you. Can we now go and do? Go together? Not move on but journey together. I honor my flag. I honor our National Anthem. I honor my Gold Star friend, Purple Heart family and friends, I honor my Fire Dept brotherhood. And because I can and therefore am compelled because of my heritage and privilege, I will journey with you to help those who are suffering. I will do all I can to avoid the injustices of the political arena and mainstream media. I will not be compelled by anything other than my own heart, my own compassion and my own calling on life to be the example, live the example and demonstrate it every day. The rubber doesn’t meet the road on TV, Internet or social media. It happens when you can I care less about the noise and more for each other. If our nation, our congress, our corporations and our faith based institutions would be in the primary business of taking care of people instead of taking care of themselves, we would care much less about politics, divisions, greed and so on. We’d still generate revenue, profits and income but our HEARTS and motivation would be so much different. #someday

Can you say that you can lay aside your bias, check your feelings and opinions at the door and go demonstrate this “love one another” ideology? I can honestly say, I love you. I hope for you. I am willing to be a part of your journey.

Steven Sellars LPC-MHSP NCC

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