By Brett Rogers
I’m tired of race. I’m tired of being pushed by others into thinking about it.
If people ask me what I am or how I identify, I say that I am Brett.
I’ve never introduced myself as a white man – mostly because I see myself as an individual. Telling someone that I’m white or male or Christian or anything else won’t really tell you much about me.
I’m not into sports or cars, my family is multiracial, and I’m probably not Jesus’ idea of a good Christian.
The best place to start getting to know me – or anyone for that matter – is to put all the stereotypes away and watch and listen with an open mind.
As a country, we used to celebrate individuality. Mr. Rogers told generations of children “I see you, I like you just as you are, and there’s nobody else exactly like you.”
He made them feel special because each child is special. If we could see, with empathy, what is special about each of us, the world would be more inclusive, more accepting.
The world would be a better place.
Coke, in the 70’s, used to have commercials about singing in perfect harmony. It featured people of all ages and races swaying to a beautiful, happy song together.
Today, Coca Cola asks its people to be “less white” via corporate training.
All of us are powerless over our appearance, for the most part. I could eat less and be skinnier. I can dye my hair to change my look.
But I will always be around 6’3”, always have green-brown eyes, and my skin is a light color forever.
None of those characteristics define who I am as a person. Knowing those things about me doesn’t tell someone how much I tip my waiter.
No one could guess what kind of father I am to my children. Seeing these external attributes won’t give away whether I am patient or have an anger management problem.
If you really want to know a person, you have to spend a bit of time with them and pay attention.
This allows time for their inward characteristics to emerge. Because that’s what matters. Which is no different than Dr. King saying that we need to care about the “content of their character” more than the color of their skin. He was right.
Even twins, who share so much identical biology, can be radically different in their personalities.
It takes far more maturity to take the time to pierce the depths of a person’s soul rather than to imagine you know all you need to know after glancing at the top layer of their skin. Teaching children empathy and the ability to really listen are the skills that will help them get along in the world.
Teaching someone to be “less white” teaches them nothing.
America is a land of ideas. Those ideas led to the freedom of many, both in America and abroad.
Though it took a while from the beginning of America, the persistent truth of these ideas – that all are created equal – won hearts, minds, and wars.
Everyone deserves the God-given right to live in freedom – to make their own decisions and choose their own path for life.
Everyone deserves to be treated with the same respect shown to everyone else. The dignity to be an individual, to define your own identity and not be categorized like others who look similar to you, has been a great hallmark of America.
People have immigrated here with nothing and worked smartly to achieve tremendous success.
Why? Because America has allowed people that opportunity, no matter your background.
In many other countries, if you are born poor, you will remain poor. You are not allowed to be an individual. You are classified and fixated in the class of your birth.
But not in America. Here, we root for the underdog. We love rags to riches stories.
We love to see others succeed – and if we’re smart, we try to learn from their success and apply what we can in our own lives.
Each one of us who lives to be 82 years old will have lived about 30,000 days.
So much life goes into a day that shapes who we are… now imagine 30,000 days. Our life, at its end, is the sum of our choices throughout those 30,000 days.
I pray that all of us have much more substance to us than to make dismissive judgments after a glance at one’s skin color.
I pray that we all embrace each other as individuals, and invest the time with empathy to watch and listen to those we encounter on our journey.
Because Mr. Rogers was right – everyone we meet will be unique. Here’s to a world that is better through more acceptance.
Brett Rogers is a well-known political activist throughout Texas and resides in Marion County by Lake O The Pines. He publishes NETX.News and believes that smaller government is better government. He can be reached at brett@rightrally.com. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the Jefferson Jimplecute.