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harusame

mae
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*warning, some trigger words here, appropriation racism and other words of the like adressed*

Whats on my mind facebook asked me today,

A topic or ten, that have been bothering me, niggleing me for the last few months.
I was raised to have an open mind, to seek things that inspire.
Other cultures are beautiful and worthy of learning ALL about! If I am not worthy of learning about them and appreciating them, then why was I raised that way?
I'm trying so hard to understand the differences and the line between inspiration and stealing, learning and appropriation, prejudice and racism .
I'm trying to understand what each of these things mean for me. As an artist I look for inspiration everywhere , and often find it in other cultures with rich backgrounds, histories and stories. Often, they are not my own.
The color of skin shouldn't limit who anyone is. I realize , that it does.
But I can wish that it didn't.

I expressed a thought to a friend a while back, that I think now, was an unrefined statement, and I would like the chance to expand on it if everyone has the patience to bear with me.

I don't see in race, color,creed, size, gender, disabiliy etc.
I see everyone as human.
This was the initial thought, and I got reamed for it. I felt so bad I cried and its been on my mind for some months.

What I couldn't communicate was this:

I don't see in race or color, but I see your color. I respect that you have a history! I respect your history, the place you or your family came from in the past, I respect and see you for the human that is the product of that history. You have a long and difficult history, and it is still being written.
I see that you are treated differently because of that , and I see the trouble you still have because the world at large still judges you that way. I am sorry, I'm sorry for the way people judge you, and I hope it changes, if not today, someday. I see your color, and you are a beautiful person because of it, and I respect you as you are, a human being.

I don't see in creed, but I see your religion and culture identity. I respect these things because they make up an existing part of our world, they taught you to be the person you are , and are so enmeshed in you that it might actually be a peice of your soul showing itself to the world. I respect these because like your history they are beautiful and important! I see that people treat you differently because you wear the traditional attire of your religion, what your God, Messenger, Teacher or Guru asks you to think about wearing. I am sorry that the world at large, doesn't understand the importance of carrying your faith with you every day. I find many lack in faith and conviction and don't understand why it is so important.
I understand that there is choice in some cultures and religions and there are hard rules in some. I understand and respect the differences in each and I appreciate what each can teach me. Someday I hope to be very knowing and spiritual, and I would love to learn about each one all around the world as much as I am able, being not of one resolute faith.
I see your religion and culture, and I respect them as they are, different and beautiful and usually about loving our fellow humans as imperfect as we are to the best of our abilities.

I don't see your size, but I see how gorgeous a human being is in the body that you have. Your soul is what counts, many people are mistreated because of the way they look, they are small , short , thin , tall , fat, obese , and any other number of physical attributes. I'm so sorry that the people who've hurt you cannot see past your physical form to the person, the mind the soul on the inside. I know how difficult it can be to live in a body the world does not readily accept, and I was angry for a long long time, but I feel its made me a stronger more beautiful soul. Someday humans will know better than to judge by physical characteristics.
I see your physical self, and I respect you , you are each beautiful in your own way.

I don't see in gender, but I see you, I see what you ask me to see.
Male, Female, Asexual, Transgender, Twospirit , lesbian, gay, queer these are all still names for human people. I respect your body and mind, these things are yours. No one else controls or has a say, and I wish the world at large accepted and respected these things too. I see how people treat you differently just because your sexuallity being different than their own. You have a history, a long and difficult history and it is still being written.
For myself, how you introduce yourself is how I will address you , no matter what your orientation, sexual preference, where you started your journey or where you will end it. *but if your preferences on him her zer zim mr or miss changes, let me know what you prefer so I can continue to be a support to you *
I see your gender, and I respect it, keep being the beautiful person you are.

I don't see disability, but I see you, sometimes disability cannot be seen physically and sometimes it can, and I respect the difference between your brain and mine, your body and mine. This makes up a huge portion of your daily life and the world you live in, I understand that it is something that is most likely constantly on your mind, I understand because I'm living a life with hidden disability too. I hear you when you speak about your troubles, and I hurt when you hurt because of people's judgement, I have felt those too. I know and understand the limitations that you have and those that you want to surpass for yourself, you have dreams goals and ambitions that I really hope will be fullfilled, even if people tell you you can't just because they judge you before knowing you. I'm sorry that they can't see past a label.
I don't see disability, I respect who you are, and that is a part of you and you are a beautiful person.

So I know I'm going out on a very thin limb of a very tall tree here, and I am by no means a perfect person. I was raised to accept people for who they are, to respect their color , culture , physical selves, inner selves and see them all beautiful. The differences between people are what makes the world exiting and interesting, I feel that I am not a racist, I feel that I am not judgemental in a negative way. I feel the hurts of others, very deeply and when I think about Black history, Stonewall, the 2nd World war, the Trail of Tears, all these things. They break my heart that humans are capable of such awefulness. Not all people, but some. I understand that because I am the color that the Universe/God made me I have the privilege of sometimes not being judged right off the bat *even though it doesn't take people long to start judging when I chirp tick or flap* I dislike the fact that I am often judged for trying to learn about different cultures, adapting certain traditions or cultures or practicing different peices of religions as an appropriator or some silly white person trying to copy or steal culture. I don't have a religion but I find solace and peace in the traditions and words of a few of them from around the world, and when I hear the big Grandfather drums beating at the Pow wow , my heart echos that beat for days months and years.
I dislike the fact that I am judged, but I accept your decision to view me so, because so many people judge you.

I hope never to be a person who judges others just by these things that I have written *now at length* about. I am not perfect, I will slip sometimes help me be better than that.
I hope someday , we can all be better.

THAT is what I wanted to say, there is a lot of emotion that I feel so deeply that my first statement was simple, unrefined, but when I tread into those deep thought waters, I can't help but feel the sadness that often comes to me when I think of how humans treat one another in this world.
Lets be better.
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Another summer come and gone,
thats ok :)

I love fall, even though its only the first week of September I feel invigorated! Creative again!
Most people are in love with the idea of spring, rebirth of nature etc. I should have figured it out
long ago that I am one Topsy Turvey Lady. I love the death of fall, its inherently lovely and inspiring
to me. Its nature falling asleep in trust that it will wake again, its the night coming back from the long summer sun. The air is leaden with new smells, soggy leaves, dirt, wood stoves being lit, tea brewing, and fresh fall baking XD
* I am an avid baker soon as fall turns, just ask the happy tummies in my house!*

And then, there is the sacred time of the All Hallows Eve!
The veils are thinning and you can almost run your hands through strands of wispy spirits when
you walk in the night, feel their breath on your cheek as they whisper to you of things that have been and will be. Or maybe just a friendly hand on the shoulder from someone dearly missed <3

My creativity has been long dormant, hibernating through a rough year its about time for it to come back and shake away the sandman's sleepy dust!

Are you ready for fall? I sure am, let the colors turn and bring me the sunset!

Much love out there to the world <3

Mae
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Tea time.

1 min read
Time for some tea!
And to update my journal , since its been approximately FOREVER! O.O

Its pretty wicked yikky weather in Canada's capital today, the cats have hunkered
down on the heaters, Jack Frost popped by and painted some lovely ice patterns
on my windows and I am going to enjoy a good cup of my favorite tea :3
Oh!
Also, Pb fudge, because it is delicious!

That is all today.
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MONTREAL COMIC CON TOMORROW! YEA! XD

Yasmeen from Yarkspiri, Jason of Pin Ups for Cancer and Myself will be at table 1309 and 1311
all weekend! Drop by and say hello if you're going :)
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Came back from the country, with a yikky cold!

Happy birthday! Here I got you a cold , hope you like it! XD
Gee, thanks karma, what did I do to deserve that!?

Oh well!
The count down is on until Montreal Comic con!
Still more work to be done,
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Featured

Creativity fresh out of the Tea Pot by harusame, journal

Tea time. by harusame, journal

MONTREAL COMIC CON! XD by harusame, journal

It's no good to be sick, but Tea is always nice :) by harusame, journal

Alrighty then. THIS IS A RANT, deal with it. by harusame, journal