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Mastering Your Soul
“In court, both Torres and Norton cried, and Norton tearfully said, “I want you all to know that is not me. That is not me, that is not him. I would never walk up to you and say those words to you. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I am so sorry.”
This, from the white couple who were entertained by the notion of waving guns at black children at a birthday party.
Easy to simply say: they are evil, and leave it at that.
But a thought: what if, at the moment these word were spoken, they were speaking truth? What if the enormity of the punishment and consequences broke through their ego shells for just a little while. Of COURSE they could be lying and posturing. I’m not stupid. But I ask you to breathe, pause, and ask yourself a more difficult question. Yada Yada Evil Racists Yada. Yep, I get that.
But WHAT IF at the moment they spoke, they actually were being their true selves, awakening from a horrible nightmare into a yet WORSE nightmare? If “Core Transformation” is correct, then all human behaviors are an attempt to connect with love. Even the most horrible and venal.
What were they trying to connect with by saying and doing these things at that party? What tribal identity that gave them a sense of significance, connection, and certainty? How horribly wrong did they go? What lie did they accept early in life that lead…