Welcome To A Trump Black History Month!
By
Terry Shulman
Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.
Some people (especially those who aren’t black) may ask: why should I observe, let alone celebrate, black history. I remember as a white Jewish kid growing up in Detroit, I innocently asked that question of a teacher. Frankly, I can’t even remember if she was black or white, but I will never forget her answer: “Because we celebrate white history month throughout the year.” Now, whatever you think of her answer, it has stuck with me and prods me to be curious, sensitive and open to understanding others’ perspectives, especially those of minorities or those with less societal power and who also have experienced a history or oppression, discrimination and negative stereotypes.
Black History Month is also a reminder not to take too much for granted. Yes, African-Americans and people of color around the globe have made much progress in the last century. But, if you haven’t noticed, such progress is dependent on vigilance and can easily slip away. We’ve seen an increase in police brutality, erosion of voting rights, and a disturbing emergence of white supremacy and racist comments and actions taking place in the public and, to many, in our government.
The Jews-also a minority with a rough history-continue to remember the Holocaust and various Jewish achievements. And anti-semitism is resurgent across the globe. Women have come a long way but they, generally, still aren’t paid as well as men for the same work and domestic violence and sexual assault toward women (even in the military and in schools) are epidemic! The LGBT cause has certainly evolved rapidly and the Supreme Court’s legalization of gay marriage two years ago is proof that you can’t stop progress… but it seems that forces are certainly trying to do so.
It was Finley Peter Dunne, the 19th century humorist who gave us the famous quote: “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” On the heels of the Martin Luther King Day, the President’s State of the Union address, the upcoming Super Bowl and The Olympics, it’s important we remember the courage of many to agitate peacefully for high ideals such as freedom of expression and civil rights. These fights are not done! In many ways, they’ve only begun. There are those who are threatened by freedom and expression and equal and civil rights. As Dr. King said, “the arc of justice is long but it bends towards justice. “Whose side are you on?
The Olympics of Recovery
by
Terry Shulman
The XXXII (32nd) Winter Olympics are upon us! And while much attention has been paid to the Russian athlete doping scandal, North Korea and concems about tension in South Korea (the host country).
What do the Olympics have to do with recovery? Well, for one, I have previously found myself addicted to them! I don’t know about you but I can watch them 24/7 (at least for the 2 weeks they’re on TV).
First, the opening ceremony will be spectacular!
Second, I am a sports nut to begin with!
Third, I get to root for my fellow countrymen and countrywomen!
Fourth, I get to be amazed by all the different events and colorful people and stories!
Fifth, I get to be inspired by the discipline and heart of the athletes to push themselves to their limits!
And sixth, I get to take a break from my other addiction-following politics!
On another level, I get to remind myself that as a recovering person I, too, am an Olympian of sorts. For recovery is like a marathon (or at least an event made up of many, many sprints). We work hard to understand ourselves and our addictions and to practice, practice, practice new ways to avoid relapse, get stronger, heal, grow and meet the challenges of life each and every day. All that training can make the difference between caving and succumbing to an urge to use/relapse or declaring a greater victory of achieving a personal best, breaking our own record(s), and standing on the podium (if only for a brief time), with our heads held high in dignity. And like the Olympics which bring together men and women from across the globe and show us how similar we are, addiction is also the great equalizer.
None of us can take on addiction by ourselves just as no athlete gets to the Olympics alone: he or she has many coaches, many supporters, and many fellow athletes to be inspired by and to learn from. One of the ultimate goals of both the Olympics and recovery certainly is to be all we can be-or at least to give it our all! And that sounds a lot to me what recovery is meant to be.
Valentine’s Day in The Age of #Me, Too!
By
Terry Shulman
Here comes Valentine’s Day-the first hallmark holiday of each year! My wife and I were talking recently about it. I admit, I take note of the holiday each year, recognizing it as an annual prompt to appreciate my partner and to try my best to make her actually feel appreciated-as if I really needed a holiday for that! In a way, it’s almost an excuse not to be quite as mindful daily, weekly, and monthly since Valentines Day (and Sweetest Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas) will come. Oh, and-of course–all these holidays are at least partly designed to stimulate the economy through individual and collective gift buying.
I know, I sound pretty jaded and cynical don’t I? Well, before you judge me (or maybe you actually agree?), even my wife (no romance curmudgeon) expressed to me that all these holidays do feel forced and that she has to remind herself that she’s at choice about how or if to even observe them. Easy for her to say! Even with women’s lib and more equality between genders, It’s my observation and experience that men are still the ones in charge of arranging, buying and creating the romance for our female partners (I wonder how LGBT couples decide who takes the lead? or the polyamorous or clandestine bigamists?) I’m just sayin’…
And if all this wasn’t pressure enough, here we’re in the midst of the #me,too movement. So, proceed nicely and cautiously and don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Valentine’s is more than about sex and romance, it’s about respect, communication, creativity, surprise, and fun. Enjoy!