Francis Hayden, M.D.

Join me today 2pm for Zoom dialogue! https://francishayden.com/

On reparations: If I imprison you unjustly for 400 years and then realize my error and release you, has justice been fulfilled?

On "Systemic Racism" I first embarked on my journey to understand and heal our racially divided country 32 years ago in 1989, after being handed a copy of "To B...e One," a book by Nathan Rutstein, by a biracial undergraduate woman at the University of Kentucky, and told to read it. I was a medical student at the time. She had asked me if I perceived racism to be a problem in the US, and I responded honestly that I thought it had gone out of fashion after the civil rights victories of the 1960s. She informed me that it had not. I took her at her word and read the book, and have not looked back. We had met due to both being members of the Baha'i Faith, me a recent convert in March of that year, and she being born into her mother's religion. Although looking back, it seems odd, but I never saw her again after that. Perhaps someday we will meet again and I can thank her for the journey she set me on. Okay so diving right into the subject, I have to say my understanding grows almost daily simply because this subject of the black-white racial divide in the US is on my mind several times per day, for like I said 32 years. I think it is connected to my early life experiences of both experiencing distance and alienation at home in my family, all the while being exposed to constant stories in my Catholic school, community, and church, of a social gospel, about dying to self, rising through the spirit, and being the children of a loving God. I affirmatively adopted that model of life and the fight against race-sim and for race-unity is the specific expression of my faith that is the path that seems the correct one for me. I bring all of my emotional and intellectual resources, as well as artistic impulses, to this inner and outer "holy struggle." The goal is a just society in which every individual feels both valued and compelled to be of service to their fellow beings. So that is systemic racism? I see it take place in 2 distinct but ultimately equally tragic ways. One is via neglect, the other malfeasance. Critics of the idea of systemic racism being a thing point that out that nearly all jurisdictions in the US have no more enforceable law explicitly discriminating against African Americans in any sphere of life. They say, "It's illegal to discriminate," and most are proud of this fact. However, we have many proxies for race that are pejorative and based upon negative stereotypes and assumptions. We also live in a society in which the laws are selectively enforced against those most vulnerable to uneven enforcement. The antagonists in perpetuating systemic racism at times do indeed harbor racial resentment that the operationalize in day to day decision making and policy implementation, couched due to currently acceptable standards of discourse in terms such as "fighting crime," "safe schools," "safe streets" eliminating "urban blight," upholding "standard English," defining what "true patriotism" looks like, housing codes, community standards, self-sufficiency, economic opportunity, school choice, government regulation and deregulation, controlling the "welfare state," and "fighting socialism." The list goes on. Malfeasance disguised as upholding some notion community standards is a thing I have seen many times and is difficult to call out effectively to the perpetrators since in their public persona they have don't have a racist bone in their bodies and resent any suggestion thereof. Then, perhaps a more insidious obstacle to racial justice, and with similar end results, is neglect and complacency, also referred to as complicity. This dynamic I feel is the result of so many generations of dehumanization of black people and the desensitization of white people to black suffering. This manifests itself in the tendency to not feel outrage when confronted with the egregious state of affairs in the black community, protestations of futility in the face of the challenge, finger pointing at the "real villains," self-righteous and self-congratulatory behavior, and outright avoidance of and resignation toward the problem. The device of blaming the victim is also a last resort of perpetuators of both malfeasance and neglectful racism. As a religious person in general and more specifically as Baha'i, I am more and more aware that blaming and vilifying anyone is not an effective way to woo hearts and minds. You have to appeal to the best in people. However, at LEAST let's define the problem and situation accurately and not fall into the abyss of denial and abrogation of ALL of our society responsibility to right the wrongs needed to create a just society. In the words of Baha'u'llah (Hidden Words): "O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory." See more

https://www.aaihs.org/w-e-b-du-bois-and-the-bahai-faith/.

I appreciate Senator Sasse’s thoughtful piece. I invite my readers to take his point about the value of a common story a step further. Consider the proposition that the teachings of Baha’u’llah form the basis for the bright future for humanity hoped for and envisioned by all in their deepest heart of hearts.

Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction. The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words. -Baha’u’llah

Dear friends, From my friend Don Camp in Philly: You are warmly invited to share devotions and conversation tomorrow, Sunday, at 2:00 P.M. This Second Sunday Devotional was announced on Facebook as being in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birth we commemorate this month. As the events of January 6th have spotlighted, again, the "patent evil"* of racism in America, this space is offered especially for any who wish to consult, pray, grieve, and encourage each other... as we work to fulfill "the mission entrusted to [our] community by the hand of 'Abdu'l-Baha."** Topic: Second Sunday Devotional Time: Jan 10, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86063300271 Meeting ID: 860 6330 0271 Passcode: Justice One tap mobile +13017158592,,86063300271#,,,,*4165119# US (Washington D.C) +13126266799,,86063300271#,,,,*4165119# US (Chicago) Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 860 6330 0271 Passcode: 4165119 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdNcQs7dnc