Its a question I have for any and everyone reading this. I define hypocrisy as saying one thing in public and doing something totally contradictory to what you profess in private. I believe we are ripe with hypocrisy today. Don't get me wrong. No one is perfect. We are all works in progress and I'm at the top of that list. Besides, I'm the last person who can cast any judgement on anyone. So, that's not the point of this post. The point is there is a distinct difference in my mind between being judgemental and/or insensitive to people's inability to wage consistency between thought and action and a culture where people can say whatever, but they are never accountable to what they say with their actions. To me, the latter is a serious problem that must be addressed.
My definition isn't meant to target people's personal lives or habits either. In other words, I'm not talking about those of you who cheat on a partner or steal from your parents, etc. Those are issues you need to address with yourself, the person you have a relationship with, and your God if you believe in one. I'm more interested and focused on the aspects of our lives that impact greater society. Like, is it hypocritical for us to say we want justice against oppression that impacts our particular communities e.g. African, Indigenous, women, etc., when we also believe that oppression against Trans people, for example, is not something we need to connect with or talk about? Is it hypocritical for us to denounce state sponsored violence against our communities while some of us inflict violence against our partners and other people who are not oppressive instruments in society? Is it hypocritical for us to challenge the legacy and work of serious activists for social change when we know all that we do is front while doing nothing to challenge the status quo? Is it hypocritical for us to hold up institutions that further oppression, like Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July, simply because we don't possess the backbone to properly challenge those entities?
Is it hypocritical for us to take up time and space, consuming a lot, and contributing virtually nothing? No reason to get mad at these questions. Just things to think about.
My definition isn't meant to target people's personal lives or habits either. In other words, I'm not talking about those of you who cheat on a partner or steal from your parents, etc. Those are issues you need to address with yourself, the person you have a relationship with, and your God if you believe in one. I'm more interested and focused on the aspects of our lives that impact greater society. Like, is it hypocritical for us to say we want justice against oppression that impacts our particular communities e.g. African, Indigenous, women, etc., when we also believe that oppression against Trans people, for example, is not something we need to connect with or talk about? Is it hypocritical for us to denounce state sponsored violence against our communities while some of us inflict violence against our partners and other people who are not oppressive instruments in society? Is it hypocritical for us to challenge the legacy and work of serious activists for social change when we know all that we do is front while doing nothing to challenge the status quo? Is it hypocritical for us to hold up institutions that further oppression, like Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, or the Fourth of July, simply because we don't possess the backbone to properly challenge those entities?
Is it hypocritical for us to take up time and space, consuming a lot, and contributing virtually nothing? No reason to get mad at these questions. Just things to think about.
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