Not Today
I got my Ancestry DNA results today! I don’t know what I was expecting, but it basically verified what I already knew, no surprises.
- 50% Japan
- 47% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe
- 3% Ireland & Scotland
- Additional communities were East Central Louisiana Acadians and Southwestern Quebec, New York & Vermont French Settlers
The only ancestry absent was the Native American, there was a great grandmother who was supposedly Cherokee, I was told that her birth records were destroyed in a fire, my mother had tried to trace her history. Eventually, I’d like to do some more digging and flesh out my family tree on there for fun.
Speaking of DNA, I watched the movie Gattaca for the second time today for CGC movie club. I’d watched it when it went to video after it was released back in the nineties. It’s now digitally remastered and beautiful. I’d forgotten how compelling, stylish, film noirish, tragic, and suspenseful it was. I could watch it again. In Gattaca people were discriminated against based on their DNA, so it’s relevant to what’s happening in the world now.
I’ve been reading, researching, and trying to gain an understanding of all the complex social issues we face today. It helps to learn about the history of us and how it impacts everything for generations. Most people don’t take the time to investigate and consider all of the facets leading up to where we are now. I keep investigating so I know more and maybe that will help me be able to contribute to solutions because I’ll get closer to the truth. It’s hard to solve problems when we don’t fully understand or know what are the root causes of problematic issues.
I’m reading Down Girl by Kate Manne, it’s taking me a while to read it because it has dry analytical, theoretical language, but it’s rather eye-opening. I’m eager to finish it. Most of our issues in society stem from hierarchical groups feeling entitled to preferential treatment and using violence, oppression, domination, discrimination, authoritarianism, objectification, dehumanization…exerting power and control over others in whatever ways they wish according to the rules they make to benefit themselves. And it’s often through socialization, coercive/covert control, and manipulation. But in their eyes, the ones in power believe it’s within their right to treat others as less than or as property.
The more I learn, I am seeing everything more clearly. The truth is being revealed. I am noticing things that I was blind to before. I imagine Arya Stark saying, “Not today,” lol. I hope more people are also becoming more clear-eyed and we can band together and lay down some boundaries saying “Not today.”
I’m so thankful I’m not having to deal with the public right now. I don’t know if I could hold my tongue. I hope I don’t ever have to deal with people in a subservient capacity anymore, my tolerance is destroyed.
Too bad more people don’t have a spiritual view of life. Notice I didn’t say religious, but spiritual as in we are all energy having a human experience. We are made of the same stuff inside and we are all inherently equal and worthy. This earthly experience is temporary, so why not treat everyone with reverence, respect, and love. Religions are based on hierarchy, power, and control, more messiness.
How will I navigate in the future when we emerge from this. Will I be brave, forthright, and outspoken or will I take the path of least resistance? I don’t like confrontation, but sometimes it’s unavoidable if we want things to change for the better. I’d like to help shape that change.
It’s strange that I’m half white, but I’m not seen that way, that part of me is invisible. Just like when I was working as a breakfast host, I was still a nurse, but I wasn’t seen that way. People treat you according to how they see you and judge you based on their biases.
It’s all very complex, our social systems, psychology, and neurobiology, but in the higher, spiritual view it’s really simple. Love one another sounds really easy, but as humans, we make it really hard, lol.
Love and hugs
