On January 11th, 2016, I started a daily practice of writing a joke meditation of the day called Cracked Pot Meditations. I was still recovering from the treatment of cancer, and I was having very challenging cognitive issues, so I chose just to put something simple and easy to write every day. Posting it to the blog allowed me to have some accountability. Some of those meditations were poorly written and unedited. I have gone back and begun editing these and adding an illustration, starting with the April 27th meditation. I hope you enjoy.
Meditation for July 6th
The Art of Offense (A Spiritual Rerun)
People can be easily offended. There has been a backlash where people say that others are too easily offended, that they are softer and weaker than people used to be, or even that they are making up being offended just for attention. Some people take pride in offending others, while others seem angry that they are not allowed to say whatever they want without being corrected.
When you find yourself proud of offending others than you might be a selfish piece of shit, humans are pack animals, and part of being in a pack is getting along with one another. Saying things just for the sake of ire is unproductive, and what makes it offensive is that it isn’t even that funny. Don Rickles already did it fifty years ago, you’re a bore.
The frustrated one who feels like his or her, but let’s be honest: his, freedom of speech is being muzzled by the vast army of PC police, people are just going to have to realize that freedom of speech means you can say whatever you want, but that people get to be offended. You are saying antiquated privileged phrases, and the rest of the world is trying to evolve. Punching down just isn’t funny. Grow up. Consider maybe, could you stop fighting for assholes and start fighting for love? Or are you a fucking caveman? Some of you will proudly say, ‘Yes, Dave, I am a caveman, and I’m proud of it.’
Is the world a softer, weaker place? No. You are hearing people’s voices that had been shut for far too long. The offended crowd is courageous and strong by saying enough is enough. Do you know how much guts it takes a person to let another person know it hurts when a person uses certain hurtful words? If you are a marginalized minority with a history of being enslaved and silenced due to strong-arm tactics, then it is the hardest thing in the world. Facing criticism for standing up for yourself, defending the person who tells the joke, and the false idea that we were a stronger group of people in the past can be frustrating for someone trying to assert their right to exist with dignity.
People of color, the queer community, and women have had only fifty years or less even to have a big enough of an audience to raise their voice. Racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia are very active and very real in today’s society. We didn’t have many comedians and personalities representing minority groups in the past. Before, the audience was just white men and a few women, and it’s hard to be offended when everyone else is below you.
People who feel like people are too easily offended are people who have never been scared for their life or marginalized by society as a whole.
Prayer
God,
Thank you for being an awesome God.
I have enjoyed the power bestowed upon me for my maleness.
I have never been scared to be out past sundown.
I have enjoyed the courtesy of my whiteness.
I have never worried about what intentions other people think I have when I’m shopping.
Thank you for the gender I was born and identified with.
I will never worry about violence from confused, angry men. Or cries of sin from self-righteous people
Thank you for the sexual preference I was born with.
I get to enjoy a whole society marketing to my idea of sex and commitment.
Thank you for the leg up due to my class.
I could have been born in poverty with no hope or chance.
Thank you for all the privileges I enjoy because of who I am.
I have to dress weird or scar my own body to make society slightly uncomfortable around me, but since my fashion is middle-aged normal core, I am invisible in the eyes of the Judges.
I get so much from doing so little. I get the whole world just by being born with all the right classifications.
Amen, amen indeed.
Craft
How do you know if you’re privileged?
Easy!
Are you ever scared of the police just because you are who you are?
Does an entire gender scare you because of their possible intentions?
Do lawmakers try to stir up fear about you to scare people into focusing on that instead of the real issues?
Do you walk through a store, and all eyes are on you, waiting for you to break a law?
Do people want to build a wall between here and your country of origin?
Do you wake up and everyday is a reminder that at one time this was your land, but through violence, disease and ignoring treaties you were moved to a new plot of shitty land?
Is your entire means of finding respect based on the way you look or being one of the boys?
Are people confused by the things you need to do to be you?
Could you be murdered by just being you?
Is the high school you go to not a bridge to a higher education that will help you get a high-paying career?
Are people buying houses around you and making them cute but never acknowledging your existence?
Are you not Christian?
If you’ve answered no to all of these questions, you are privileged and, therefore, have no right to be offended by others who are offended.
Goal
In many ways, the world with humans is very young. People found ways to acquire and maintain power, which meant creating a society of us versus them. Slavery is still practiced in our world by societies we respect.
If you are offended by people who are easily offended, you have never had to fear for your life.
“They” are getting louder, and you are getting worried about losing your privilege.
You may need to be more than mediocre to be successful today, as there is increased competition.
Namaste, whitey!