Our longest running contributor, Self Help Africa Business Representative Ronan Scully shares his wisdom on life, religion and wellness.
In a multicultural Ireland, we have many positive things to learn from one another. But, sadly, not everyone thinks that way.
It was so sad to hear that our amazing, fabulous Irish athlete Rhasidat Adeleke has been left ‘in a dark place’ after a number of racist online comments directed at her and her family. Despite her incredible achievements for Ireland in the green, white and gold bib, Adeleke has faced abuse from a minority of trolls on social media. The incredibly talented Tallaght woman has been left upset by such toxic comments, and her own coach says that it has left the sprinter ‘in pain’ and that ‘she was really in a dark place when she read those things on the internet.
She doesn’t cry ever, so when she cries it’s like, ‘oh my God’, so that bothered her more than I ever thought and I just let her handle it.’ Despite the unacceptable nature of Ireland’s most exciting young sportsperson, Floreal her coach notes that it is just something that his athlete will have to put up with. But why should Rhasidat or any human being have to put up with racism.
No one should have to put up with that form of evil or any form of evil in our world. As our Taoiseach so truthfully said, “Rhasidat Adeleke is not only a world-class champion, she is a world-class person. You have inspired a nation this week, especially young girls & boys. You are class, so please do not let online cowards bring you down.
You are Ireland and Ireland could not be more proud of you.” For myself and my family personally we are so delighted she’s Irish. What a great athlete she is and seems like a lovely person in her interviews after the races. We hope and we pray also that she doesn’t let the begrudgers get her down. Us as a family for personal reasons love Rhashidat.
She is not just an inspiration to the “next generation“ but you can see and hear what an inspiration she is to her current team mates. You can see also how grounded she is at such a young age and her humility in how she always likes to thank the people who got her where she is most emotively her mother. and her faith in God. Such qualities make her the most amazing role model for society as a whole. She is absolutely amazing, keep on progressing as you are and push harder for your records and goals.
There will be a lot more success to come for her. There are a lot of people out there that will hate for the sake of hating because they are jealous and ignorant, they will always try to tear people down instead of building up and supporting others. Focus on yourself, the team and your family. They will always be there for you. Keep it up Rhasidat Adelke like a lot of Irish sports stars and like your teammates you are inspirational.
Major Issue
Racism is becoming a major issue in our society; in fact, it appears to be on the rise. Racism as we know is discrimination, pre-judgements or hostile behaviours directed at another person on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender or cultural background. Racism can come in many different forms, from harsh comments to offensive actions.
In more extreme cases, racism occurs in public spaces and comes from strangers, and can escalate to violent hate crimes. Any form of racism is unacceptable, even a comment or an action that is subtle or occurs in a casual environment. It’s not on and we must end it now.
Racism is more than just physical pain; racism robs people of colour of their humanity and dignity and leaves personal, psychological, and spiritual injuries. Racism is traumatic because it is a loss of protection, safety, nurturance, and acceptance—all things children and people need to function in life.
Standing up to racism isn’t easy, but it’s the right thing to do. Whether you’re in school, college or the workplace, challenging accusations, assumptions and stereotypes is a good way of letting people know it’s not okay to be racist.
Remember, sometimes people can unintentionally make comments that appear racist. Standing up to these comments can be a great way for people to learn about the negative impact they’re having. As long as I live, I will always champion the cause of those who experience hatred and bias because of their gender, ethnic origins, skin colour or religious beliefs.
Citizen Education
In recent years, as right wing extremism has gained ground in our societies, we have become more aware of the overt threats to democratic principles and values. Yet, within our own societies and cultures there remain hidden prejudices and biases.
Some such manifestations are often generated by poor communication, fear or ignorance and can result in public protest such as against the relocation of refugees or migrants in our own communities. We need to focus on changing behaviour before attitudes will change. Education, and particularly citizen education, can play a major part in cultivating critical thinking and increasing respect for all cultural perspectives. We need to ensure that all our communities are truly inclusive .
Society needs to manifestly support diversity and clearly support those people and families from minority or diverse cultural backgrounds. Communities must be safe environments where all people and families, irrespective of ethnic origin, gender orientation, cultural or religious identity feel welcome and appreciated. Education can be transformational and can be a force to erase divisions and biases. Democratic principles which promote equality in all forms must remain at the very heart of our communities. Communities today are preparing our citizens of tomorrow.
Let’s hope their citizen education and civic programmes produce citizens who embrace diversity and respect differences . We cannot be a society that is true to the demands of a Christian way of life if we do not act justly, if we do not act to root out racism in the structures of our society. I realise that the subject of race can be a very difficult one for all of us.
Yet I am convinced that we must address it with honesty and courage. For it remains a significant and sinful reality in our midst. I am saddened to observe that racism remains a very real and powerful force among us. Despite our efforts to combat it, racism continues to mar our humanity as a deep wound in our midst. It is a destructive force to our personal lives, and to our society and I firmly believe that the struggle against racism must, first and foremost, be waged in the heart! I’m often intrigued that young children accept everyone for who they are, yet not all adults do – why is that?
The Need for True Leadership
Listening to people and indeed some people’s nasty racist rhetoric recently, one might think that leadership has to be aggressive and confrontational, but consider this parable about leadership. A student assigned to write an essay about an effective leader wrote this story: “I’ve been taking a bus to school for years. Most passengers keep to themselves and no one ever talks to anyone else. About a year ago, an elderly man got on the bus and said loudly to the driver, ‘Good morning!’ Most people looked up, annoyed, and the bus driver just grunted. The next day the man got on at the same stop and again he said loudly, ‘Good morning!’ to the driver. Another grunt.
By the fifth day, the driver relented and greeted the man with a semi-cheerful ‘Good morning!’ The man announced, ‘My name is Benny,’ and asked the driver, ‘What’s yours?’ The driver said his name was Ralph. That was the first time any of us heard the driver’s name and soon people began to talk to each other and say hello to Ralph and Benny. Soon Benny extended his cheerful ‘Good morning!’ to the whole bus.
Within a few days his ‘Good morning!’ was returned by a whole bunch of ‘Good morning’s’ and the entire bus seemed to be friendlier. People got to know each other. “If a leader is someone who makes something happen, Benny was our leader in friendliness.”
A month ago, Benny didn’t get on the bus and we haven’t seen him since. Everyone began to ask about Benny and lots of people said he may have died. No one knew what to do and the bus got awful quiet again. So last week, I started to act like Benny and say, ‘Good morning!’ to everyone and they cheered up again. I guess I’m the leader now. I hope Benny comes back to see what he started. Maybe all our societies in our world need a Benny!”
Thought for the week
As your thought for the week, I ask you to join me in this race for racial justice, to do your part, so that together we can create a new world. The society we live in is the result of human choices and decisions. That means that human beings can change things.
For what human beings break, divide and separate, we can—with God’s help—also heal, unite and restore. What is now does not have to be. Therein lies our hope and our challenge. Racism, bigotry, discrimination, sexism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, xenophobia, should have no place in our society. So as another new week begins, may you be blessed and may others be blessed by you.
May you be blessed with all things good. May your joys, like the stars at night and the leaves falling in autumn, be too numerous for you to count. May your victories be more abundant than all the blades of grass on all the fields in all the world or grains of sand on all the beaches, on all the oceans in all the world.
May racism be absent from your life and may beauty, order, real love and abundance be your constant companion. May every path you choose lead to that which is pure and good and caring. And when there is only darkness and storms closing in, may the light at the core of your being illuminate the world. May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return. May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God, like the cherished child you are.
And when you are tempted to judge, may you be reminded that we are all one and that every thought you think reverberates across the universe touching everyone and everything. And when you are tempted to hold back, may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.
May you always have music and laughter and may a rainbow follow every storm. May gladness wash away every disappointment. May joy dissolve every sorrow and may love ease every pain. May every wound bring wisdom and may every trial bring triumph and with each passing day, may you live more abundantly than the day before. May the light of your soul guide you. May the light of your soul bless the work that you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul. May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you. May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement. May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in bland absences. May the day never burden. May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises. May evening find you gracious and fulfilled. May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected. And Dear Lord, Our world waits in darkness longing for Your light. In the midst of darkness, enkindle our hope. As we long for lasting peace in the midst of war, terrorism and racism, Be with us.
As we long for families to be reunited, Be with us. As we long for homeless and abandoned people in our communities to be cared for, Be with us. As we long for enemies to be reconciled, Be with us. As we long for cures and healings, Be with us. As we long for decent jobs and decent homes and shelter and economic security, Be with us. As we long for love and community, Be with us.
Fulfill the deepest longings of your people and Dispel the darkness in our hearts and in our world, especially anything of hate, discrimination and racism. Let your Word ignite the hope the world needs to bring to life your love and justice for all people everywhere, especially those most in need.
While we give thanks for the diversity of people— of cultures and ethnicities, of histories and life-stories, of skin colour and language and hearts that love the world; the best way to give thanks is to disassemble the systems, the stories, the myths, that privilege of one colour over another— is to root out and unroot the insidious beliefs of those of us with privilege that “me and mine” are better than “you and yours.”
It is time. It is well past time to End Racial Discrimination. God of all creation, bless us all with what we need, to take on this work, and live it. Today. Every day. Always. May it be. End it now. Amen
