Tuesday, June 24, 2008

If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together"
- Aboriginal Activist


So last quarter at school in the Dialogue class they gave us this purple piece of paper that has this quote on it, and ever since I got it I have been thinking about it..and what is means to be in an Alliance with people and to really be their to work and not "Save them" but to work together alongside people who are in the everyday struggle of life such as discrimination and racism. I often think of the classic example of when I moved to Seattle, a VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITY, I began to work with the kids at the elementary school, my goal was to help and save the kids for Jesus but soon I got tired and my energy got really low as soon as I looked to God and said "I cant be the savior for these kids only you can, I need you to show me how to work along side them and work with them to fight their battles". My whole way of working with kids and even people has changed. to walk alongside people and to work with people who sometimes don't have a voice in society. I want to be an example of someone who isn't using their white privilege when working with people but to let go of that and help someone fight a fight that is hard to fight alone...I think that this can come to be true by being in community that is diverse and to be open minded...I loved this class cause we were so vulnerable to each other, we weren't there to save people but rather talk about and work our way through tough issues with each other. I think that this Quote is really important for all people specifically whites who want to help people, to realize that they don't need help people need someone who is willing to building an alliance and to walk hand in hand, helping to work through issues together..... I want to be that person who is walking along side people who are less fortunate than me and to build a community of people who are will to listen and fight for Freedom............