I have been in the same boat many times. You must always stick to:
“Racism, in all its forms, is the rock—hard, oppressive, unyielding. But I am water. I adapt, I flow, and I carve my own path, no matter how resistant the terrain. This doesn’t mean passivity; it means choosing my battles with precision, responding rather than reacting, and conserving my energy for what truly matters.”
Powerful. All your posts have a measure of the personal to them—and we often get to witness your vulnerability as you weave ancient, mystic teachings into the every day honesty of your lived life. But this one…. This one hit me deeply. And so I thank you for that. With gratitude my friend.
A portion of your piece reminded of the quote by Marianne Williamson: “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other’s won’t feel insecure around you.”
Yup, the writing beast has definately been released in me. My inner voice keeps telling me that it’s time to hit the accelerator and go amid our changing world.
That feels right. I mean, I don’t have your lived experience (especially as a man of the vanilla persuasion), but I have read your work for the past year and have been deeply moved by it. Yes, for the connections you make, with especially The Tao, and other mystics, but more importantly because of your voice and the manner in which your purity of heart and motivations pour through your words. I am grateful to have discovered you and I will continue to learn from you.
My heart cracked open I'm reading your post, Diamond-Michael. I felt connected with how exhausted you feel moving through the spaces within a country that still in bodies the legacy wound of seeing you as less than. How can your spirit soar when the chains of legacy oppression, racism and discrimination keep you bound to these daily survival habits that keep you safe. I wanted to welcome you into my home and space, invite you to put your feet up and relax, look you in the eye and tell you that I see you see your beautiful soul that was always and ever shall be an expression of the divine. With a grieving heart, I know I was raised in the same country as you, and so I no doubt carry lingering ignorance and blind spots that would wound you unintentionally. But the desire to connect with humility, grace, compassion, respect, and love at the core is a place to start.
Thank you for your kind and compassionate words. Let’s continue the conversation. Please DM me so we can setup a time to chat by phone or video call. 🙏 Onward and Forward
No words. If you might be considering a travel experience with and about enlightenment, may I suggest you look into Bhutan and the great city they plan to build called Gelephu. It is a Buddhist country. I am looking seriously at other places that offer, it seems, wisdom from centuries of cruel and sacrificial undertakings.
Not recently but been having tons of conversations with friends throughout the world. And they are all closely observing what’s happening in America with a bit of trepidation.
I can’t speak on racial tensions because I don’t experience it personally, but I hope it’s better here in Canada. I haven’t been to the Nordic countries but my sense of them is they are far advanced beyond us in North America in many ways, so I wouldn’t be surprised if race is less of an issue there.
I think anyone who experiences prejudice will benefit from this post of yours. It's horrible that you or anyone else experiences this kind of dehumanizing and degrading stuff.
You have a way of framing things that helps us all navigate a world that often can be cruel and indifferent.
Thank you for being who you are and helping us to grow in both wisdom and character. I am learning much about (sadly) my own shortsighted moments and I am also growing in my resolve to respond appropriately to others words and actions.
I don’t share your experience and when I read your words I’m filled with many emotions. From anger and sadness for this country’s failure to own its history and make significant progress to shame. I’m also grateful to have met you here on Substack where you inspire me through your work and how you live the teachings.
I was in Ireland back in March. The whole vibe is different. So peaceful and no police presence. My friend who hosted me said the Gardaí (Irish for guards), Ireland's police are exactly that -- guards. The police state there is pretty much non-existent unlike in the U.S.. I'm not saying there are no racist people in Ireland, but the several Black people I saw there were not bullied and targeted by the white Irish people with and around them.
I am sorry and aggravated that this continues to be the reality for you and other members of your community. When MAGA collects its bill, I agree a massive shift is going to occur. I have the Chinese characters of chaos and opportunity in my office. You keep reminding me of this, and I am grateful.
I remember a film/video clip of Bruce Lee telling the same thing about water to an interviewer.
A compassionate response Laura, thank you. And if I may, because I mean no disrespect as I sense a true kindred spirit, things will only change when we move from describing others as “members of your community,” to feeling and knowing them as “members of OUR community.”
True but as a white person, my daily experience is VERY different than Diamond-Michael’s. My great grandparents were called ethnic slurs because they were Irish and Southern Italian, but they assimilated into whiteness by entering civil service jobs and embracing racism. Everything Diamon-Michael wrote about I have never experienced.
Agreed. I identify with that myself as a white male. I thank you for the brief story of your great grandparents—a story that exemplifies my point about community. Your ancestors experienced the paradox of first being outside of the dominant community (presumably here in America?), only until they adopted that dominant culture’s “unspoken value” of racism after which they were likely welcomed and assimilated as one of “our own.” That’s a common story, isn’t it, among of European immigrants back during that era of American history. But, if I also may, you wrote “everything” Diamond-Michael writes are things you’ve never experienced. But you have your own unique story that exemplifies even the different “communities” that you live among—with its own challenges, prejudices, and judgements. You, and I’m happy and grateful to see this, proudly celebrate your “differently-abled” body. Neither Diamond-Michael, nor me, have experienced things you see and experience daily that maybe (no, for sure) “other” even you. I don’t know you enough to know this about your story (to say nothing of not having built up a trust level with you so that you could see my heart here), but I’d love to read something of yours if you have written about this. I see you are a presence here on Substack—can you point me to a piece that could teach me more about your own experiences? I suspect the challenges and prejudices both you and D-M have personally experienced, though they look different on the surface, may be just as profound and meaningful, and in effect similar, at a greater depth.
I guess when I first spoke of community in reference to “yours” vs “ours,” I wanted community to mean the greater human community that should only recognize and celebrate, always and safely, all individuals in all their unique glories. Of course we also belong to the smaller communities of kin and friendships, geographical or otherwise, of which we also should rightfully celebrate and be proud of.
Water jets are used to cut stone in factories; so the process that formed th Grand Canyon can be used to create a granite slab for countertops, only sped up many millions of times by high pressure. When a waterjet cuts stone, they add tiny ground gems--diamond dust, as it were--to aid the process. I hope you keep grinding, but please, for all of us, as well as for yourself, I hope you emulate the Colorado River, rather than transforming into a slurry of high speed sharp edged hydroparticles.
This is instructive stuff. As a white male in my 50's in the UK I don't see the things you do. Thanks for sharing them warts and all. I am genuinely sorry that anyone has to put up with horrible nonsense based on any kind of 'difference'. I have subscribed to learn more and also will share a link on this in my Sunday newsletter for others too.
I have been in the same boat many times. You must always stick to:
“Racism, in all its forms, is the rock—hard, oppressive, unyielding. But I am water. I adapt, I flow, and I carve my own path, no matter how resistant the terrain. This doesn’t mean passivity; it means choosing my battles with precision, responding rather than reacting, and conserving my energy for what truly matters.”
Powerful. All your posts have a measure of the personal to them—and we often get to witness your vulnerability as you weave ancient, mystic teachings into the every day honesty of your lived life. But this one…. This one hit me deeply. And so I thank you for that. With gratitude my friend.
A portion of your piece reminded of the quote by Marianne Williamson: “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other’s won’t feel insecure around you.”
Yup, the writing beast has definately been released in me. My inner voice keeps telling me that it’s time to hit the accelerator and go amid our changing world.
That feels right. I mean, I don’t have your lived experience (especially as a man of the vanilla persuasion), but I have read your work for the past year and have been deeply moved by it. Yes, for the connections you make, with especially The Tao, and other mystics, but more importantly because of your voice and the manner in which your purity of heart and motivations pour through your words. I am grateful to have discovered you and I will continue to learn from you.
Thanks Kert. Happy Thanksgiving and let’s continue to converse. Appreciate you my good brotha.
From one brother to another, thank you. Sending a tip your way. Keep the faith.
Great to connect James and thank you. Reach out anytime my good brotha.
My heart cracked open I'm reading your post, Diamond-Michael. I felt connected with how exhausted you feel moving through the spaces within a country that still in bodies the legacy wound of seeing you as less than. How can your spirit soar when the chains of legacy oppression, racism and discrimination keep you bound to these daily survival habits that keep you safe. I wanted to welcome you into my home and space, invite you to put your feet up and relax, look you in the eye and tell you that I see you see your beautiful soul that was always and ever shall be an expression of the divine. With a grieving heart, I know I was raised in the same country as you, and so I no doubt carry lingering ignorance and blind spots that would wound you unintentionally. But the desire to connect with humility, grace, compassion, respect, and love at the core is a place to start.
Thank you for your kind and compassionate words. Let’s continue the conversation. Please DM me so we can setup a time to chat by phone or video call. 🙏 Onward and Forward
No words. If you might be considering a travel experience with and about enlightenment, may I suggest you look into Bhutan and the great city they plan to build called Gelephu. It is a Buddhist country. I am looking seriously at other places that offer, it seems, wisdom from centuries of cruel and sacrificial undertakings.
I am curious if you’ve travelled to other countries and if your experience was different elsewhere.
Not recently but been having tons of conversations with friends throughout the world. And they are all closely observing what’s happening in America with a bit of trepidation.
How about you?
I can’t speak on racial tensions because I don’t experience it personally, but I hope it’s better here in Canada. I haven’t been to the Nordic countries but my sense of them is they are far advanced beyond us in North America in many ways, so I wouldn’t be surprised if race is less of an issue there.
Galvanized. Good on you, Diamond-Michael.
I think anyone who experiences prejudice will benefit from this post of yours. It's horrible that you or anyone else experiences this kind of dehumanizing and degrading stuff.
You have a way of framing things that helps us all navigate a world that often can be cruel and indifferent.
Take care, and thanks for these powerful words.
Thank you for being who you are and helping us to grow in both wisdom and character. I am learning much about (sadly) my own shortsighted moments and I am also growing in my resolve to respond appropriately to others words and actions.
I don’t share your experience and when I read your words I’m filled with many emotions. From anger and sadness for this country’s failure to own its history and make significant progress to shame. I’m also grateful to have met you here on Substack where you inspire me through your work and how you live the teachings.
Thank you for writing this. It vividly expresses the reality of race and America yet offers a way forward as challenging as it can be at times.
I was in Ireland back in March. The whole vibe is different. So peaceful and no police presence. My friend who hosted me said the Gardaí (Irish for guards), Ireland's police are exactly that -- guards. The police state there is pretty much non-existent unlike in the U.S.. I'm not saying there are no racist people in Ireland, but the several Black people I saw there were not bullied and targeted by the white Irish people with and around them.
I am sorry and aggravated that this continues to be the reality for you and other members of your community. When MAGA collects its bill, I agree a massive shift is going to occur. I have the Chinese characters of chaos and opportunity in my office. You keep reminding me of this, and I am grateful.
I remember a film/video clip of Bruce Lee telling the same thing about water to an interviewer.
A compassionate response Laura, thank you. And if I may, because I mean no disrespect as I sense a true kindred spirit, things will only change when we move from describing others as “members of your community,” to feeling and knowing them as “members of OUR community.”
True but as a white person, my daily experience is VERY different than Diamond-Michael’s. My great grandparents were called ethnic slurs because they were Irish and Southern Italian, but they assimilated into whiteness by entering civil service jobs and embracing racism. Everything Diamon-Michael wrote about I have never experienced.
Agreed. I identify with that myself as a white male. I thank you for the brief story of your great grandparents—a story that exemplifies my point about community. Your ancestors experienced the paradox of first being outside of the dominant community (presumably here in America?), only until they adopted that dominant culture’s “unspoken value” of racism after which they were likely welcomed and assimilated as one of “our own.” That’s a common story, isn’t it, among of European immigrants back during that era of American history. But, if I also may, you wrote “everything” Diamond-Michael writes are things you’ve never experienced. But you have your own unique story that exemplifies even the different “communities” that you live among—with its own challenges, prejudices, and judgements. You, and I’m happy and grateful to see this, proudly celebrate your “differently-abled” body. Neither Diamond-Michael, nor me, have experienced things you see and experience daily that maybe (no, for sure) “other” even you. I don’t know you enough to know this about your story (to say nothing of not having built up a trust level with you so that you could see my heart here), but I’d love to read something of yours if you have written about this. I see you are a presence here on Substack—can you point me to a piece that could teach me more about your own experiences? I suspect the challenges and prejudices both you and D-M have personally experienced, though they look different on the surface, may be just as profound and meaningful, and in effect similar, at a greater depth.
I guess when I first spoke of community in reference to “yours” vs “ours,” I wanted community to mean the greater human community that should only recognize and celebrate, always and safely, all individuals in all their unique glories. Of course we also belong to the smaller communities of kin and friendships, geographical or otherwise, of which we also should rightfully celebrate and be proud of.
Thank you. I have written about disability in past posts. I will look through my Substack and its archives to find one for you to read.
Water jets are used to cut stone in factories; so the process that formed th Grand Canyon can be used to create a granite slab for countertops, only sped up many millions of times by high pressure. When a waterjet cuts stone, they add tiny ground gems--diamond dust, as it were--to aid the process. I hope you keep grinding, but please, for all of us, as well as for yourself, I hope you emulate the Colorado River, rather than transforming into a slurry of high speed sharp edged hydroparticles.
This is instructive stuff. As a white male in my 50's in the UK I don't see the things you do. Thanks for sharing them warts and all. I am genuinely sorry that anyone has to put up with horrible nonsense based on any kind of 'difference'. I have subscribed to learn more and also will share a link on this in my Sunday newsletter for others too.