[no subject]
- From: "calista streitmatter" <calistastreitmatter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 11:59:06 -0500
From: "calista streitmatter" <calistastreitmatter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ConstellationTalk] thank you
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:37:09 -0500
From: "francescamasonboring" <sboring@xxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ConstellationTalk] Honoring every truth
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:34:22 -0000
Again I find myself in awe of the honesty in this group. I've been
reminded that every voice in the field is valid and it takes each
voice to fully realize the full dimensions of what is contained
within the circle. One of the deficits in the U.S. is the limitation
of our exposure to accurate history. What folks have been sharing
regarding racism reminds me of the importance of having a good sense
of real history.
Black persons caught the slaves to sell to the slave merchants. Some
Native Americans served as trackers for the white soldiers.
Some
white Christians decided that Native Americans were human and lobbied
against the complete extermination of all indigenous people in the
United States. Hitler's mother was Jewish. The massacres in Rwanda
were black against black. Constellation work seems to challenge us
to see what is "human" in the arenas of possibility and horror. But,
we are also challenged to really hear the voice of the individual and
the truth in each family system, which may be quite different from
historical trends.
The nuance in constellation seems to be discerning the global field
from the individual field. Acknowledging what is historically true
allows us to be aware of the depth of what individually is
experienced.
A number of years ago I was directed in my job to provide "cultural
sensitivity
training". Unfortunately, sometimes not everyone present
wanted to be there. But, my personal belief was that most people
would not offend, if they had more information. I also knew that
true ignorance is pure. People who know nothing of other situations
honestly know nothing about them. Had I approached the "captive"
audience with bitterness, I think much of the information I presented
would have been ill received, if at all. My focus was on providing a
safe place for the heart to change. I could not force the change,
but could provide information in a way that did not leave people only
feeling their bruises. Someone had explained to me that ignorance is
not necessarily the same thing as oppression. Oppression may be the
end result of ignorance, but they are not always inextricably
joined.
In the interest of accurate history I feel moved to include another
voice. In the lecture regarding racism, there was a statement made,
in a rather disparaging way regarding blacks that claim to be
Indian. I understood in context the statement was addressing the
difficulty in being "black". But, the statement has continued with
me and although I don't think the intention was to dishonor black
Native Americans, I feel compelled to honor them. There are tribes
of Native Americans in some states in the U.S. in which the tribal
population have facial features and complexion, which are definitely
influenced by black blood. Slaves who fled slavery sometimes ended
up with tribes in the swamps in Florida and Louisiana. The
descendants of these blacks who were taken into Indian community, who
had children and grandchildren of Native blood, are often considered
Native American by their tribe, themselves, and the greater Indian
community. They have been socialized as Native Americans and are not
in denial about other aspects of their genetics, but definite about
their personal belief systems and community ties.
All My Relations,
Francesca
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