Stephen J. Matlock's Blog, page 20
March 27, 2019
There Are No Racists
I’m involved in a group that’s digging into American white racism, and I gotta say, there are times when I feel so discouraged that I feel like giving up. It’s too hard, it’s too much to deal with, it’s so … Continue reading →
March 26, 2019
US and our empty gestures — The Won Percent
This blog post is so powerful, and speaks so deeply into my heart, and is just so much where I am right now that I wanted to reblog it here. Many, many thanks to the blog The Won Percent for … Continue reading →
March 24, 2019
#WakingUpWhite Chapter 18: Color-blind
We talk about the things that are important to us, or we talk about the things that are completely unimportant to us in order to avoid talking about the important things that threaten us. Intimacy threatens us. Empathy scares us. … Continue reading →
March 20, 2019
#WakingUpWhite Chapter 17: My Good People
“How it was possible that I was both a ‘good person’ and utterly clueless.” It’s possible because being “good” does not mean “also smart” or “also educated” or even “also aware.” I’m good. I do good things. I have good … Continue reading →
March 19, 2019
#WakingUpWhite Chapter 16: Logos and Stereotypes
“The monumental cognitive task of processing the millions of pieces of information that flood us daily requires that we sort and categorize.” I agree here that this is a survival skill and, on the face of it, neutral. The problem … Continue reading →
March 16, 2019
A Reminder: Welcome to Our Muslim Neighbors
Note: I first wrote this when I was asked to give the community welcome to the Muslim community in our town. There were certain comments made by local residents as well as our state legislator, Jay Rodne (R-05), that were … Continue reading →
The Whisper of the Wind Without Words
My goodness, how deeply this spoke to me this morning: “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor … Continue reading →
March 15, 2019
Enough
If you don’t know by know I’m a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, then I’ve done a damned poor job of making my faith explicit, and for that I’m sorry. I believe in Jesus the son of God, true … Continue reading →
March 14, 2019
#WakingUpWhite Chapter 15: The Whole Story
“One of the most powerful tools of racism is stories.” More broadly, all history is stories, sometimes told in a Domesday Book, sometimes told in a slide deck. We have to pick and choose what we think matters in history—the … Continue reading →
March 13, 2019
When the Past Tries to Reclaim the Present
Last night the hemlock tried to nail the house again. This time it failed. We live in an area that is mixed rural and forest. Just down the street is the river, and across the river is an escarpment that’s … Continue reading →
