Divorce Your Ego: The Heartivist Response to Racism

by | Jun 8, 2020 | ShiftHappens

All across America, white people are wrestling with how to respond to the continued spectre of racial inequity and the brutal murder of yet another black man.

Although there are a range of responses, the two I see as most tortured appear to be polar opposites, yet are rooted in the same soil.

The first, performative activism, was highlighted this week when the snack food brand Doritos tweeted an image of a black square and the words “We see you. We hear you. We are standing with you.”

The public response was swift:

“We see you. We hear you. We monetize you.”
“Show us your executive team.”
“Donate.”

Individuals are also guilty of this kind of values signaling, which is less about substantive change and more centered on personal promotion.

The second response is more complicated, and it is from those who need to minimize, rationalize, or deny that racism exists.

Maybe you have heard the famous quip by Zvi Rex: “The Germans will never forgive the Jews for Auschwitz.”

Rex was referencing secondary prejudice, the idea that exposure to the ongoing suffering of victims increases prejudicial feelings. People who have studied this issue believe the presence of someone suffering is a shameful reminder of our connection to their pain. The cognitive dissonance between guilt and our desire to see ourselves as “good people” becomes too much to hold, and we grasp at beliefs that will quickly restore a positive self-image. This looks like justification (he was committing a crime!), redirection (look at all the looting!), or alternative narratives (it was all funded by George Soros and antifa!). Very few people want to live in a world in which innocent people are murdered, but perhaps more than this they fear the ugliness of association with that injustice.

The central problem in both responses – the performative as well as the dissonant – is that each is about ego. If our fragile identities are bound up in our activism, we can never be of meaningful service.

The heartivist path invites us to a response that begins with divorcing ego, which is a mask that keeps us from seeing ourselves and others as they are. Clear-eyed and with a heart to serve and listen, setting down our ego helps us resist a need to react judgmentally. Instead, we can observe, self-reflect, and discern, detaching from our assumptions and from the binary thinking (good/bad) that underpins cognitive dissonance in the first place.

What would it mean if we could express our hearts for service in the most authentic way possible? If we could hear truths about our world and heritage without it undermining our self-efficacy? If when we looked at others, we saw a reflection of ourselves?

I think it would look like shared humanity, joined in love to lead each other out of this dark chapter.

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Please, meet Maida Šabeta-Lemajić , our Heartivist of the Week!

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document from 1948, marked a pivotal moment for humanity by acknowledging inherent rights for all individuals, regardless of origin or circumstance. However, while humans have seen progress in safeguarding their rights, the same cannot be said for other inhabitants of the planet. Maida Šabeta-Lemajić, a passionate advocate for animal welfare, is tirelessly working alongside the Global Animal Law GAL Association to extend universal protection to all sentient beings.

Born and raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maida's journey into animal advocacy began during her college years when she discovered the pervasive issue of animal cruelty. Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping animal protection laws in her country, leading to significant reforms such as banning animals in circuses and curtailing animal experimentation.

Maida's dedication to animal welfare has taken her to various organizations, including PETA Germany and Cruelty Free International. However, it is her involvement with the Global Animal Law GAL Association that has allowed her to pursue her dream of enacting global animal protection laws. Under the leadership of figures like Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel, the association is working towards establishing the United Nations Convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP), a monumental initiative aimed at legally safeguarding animals worldwide. 

Maida and her team are spearheading efforts to raise awareness and garner support for the UNCAHP through initiatives like video production and outreach campaigns. With support from organizations like The Pollination Project, they aim to amplify their message and build a global coalition for animal rights. 

Read the interview on our website [https://thepollinationproject.org] 

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Born from fieldwork in Jharkhand, #India, the HHI saw a need for sustainable water solutions. With a $1,000 grant from the Pollination Project, HHI is installing Afridev hand pumps in Siyaljori village, ensuring year-round access to clean water. Through community feedback surveys and long-term maintenance plans, HHI aims to break the cycle of poverty and disease, one drop at a time. 

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