Dear Ari, Kacey, Zak, Joe and others who have commented on this thread,

  Many, many thanks for these heartfelt, moving, authentic expressions. To me, these are the ingredients of people of goodwill attempting to come together to enhance dignity and well-being with integrity. I am very much looking forward to the next two community TOK-Thrive meetings on building bridges to create common ground with Mike and hearing the panel discussion on perspectives of women of color led by Paulihna.

  These exchanges make me proud to be part of this community.

Best,
Gregg

From: tree of knowledge system discussion <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Wilson, Katherine Christine - wilso3kc (Dukes)
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 11:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Two articles on Policing

Dear Joe, Yes, Thank You! I appreciate your rant immensely and hope you don’t retire too soon!

Dear Ari,

this is a beautiful piece you have written that captures so much of what I see white liberals and moderates in my generation struggling with. I have written something similar in my head many times, but have feared that sharing at this point would incur the rebukes and judgments from peers who would see me as a part of the problem, less woke, and worthy of disdain. Which perhaps is accurate, but not a palatable pill to swallow. For anyone with a heart or nervous system, these are tough times to open your mouth from a place of vulnerability or honesty, especially if it doesn’t resound with the broader chorus that is undoubtedly several beats ahead of me in waking up to what has been going on for centuries. I “knew” about racism, but I didn’t “know”… I didn’t feel it in my bones every day, and stare it in the face, and feel for my friends of color every time a micro aggression passed me by as I moved forward unaware of what had even transpired. That level of blindness is shocking to wake up too. Unnerving and horrifying.

I see friends teetering on hiding in a corner right now because the sense of shame and judgment from others, and a sense of not “getting it” or not “getting it right enough.” I can imagine that shame is a tiny fraction of what BIPOC/QTPOC have experienced for centuries.

I really feel you when you write, "This is an enormous collective wound, I cannot heal it in myself quickly. I’m sorry.” I am right there with you; the healing is slow and even catching the subtle ways in which racism, historical systems of oppression, values of colonization and capitalism, competition, and meritocracy show up in me are sneaky, slippery, and hard to catch, check, and change (and I can often only do so in hindsight initially). In many ways the “doing” U.S. culture I grew up and swim within has trained me not to FEEL what is happening so that I don’t even know how divorced I am from self and others at times (let alone nature and other species). I feel we have immense work before us, and work that is going to be triggering, threatening, painful, and require a level of solidarity, compassion, patience, courage, persistence, and collaboration with thoughtful, grounded, and wise leaders across various fields, just to move the needle. I think we can do this work, and I think we need unity more than condemnation of those just beginning to acknowledge the ways in which the system has been and is broken.

As a mixed Irish American, who is also a descendant from slaves on my father’s side (this is my great grandfather: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-01-25-1994025180-story.html<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.baltimoresun.com_news_bs-2Dxpm-2D1994-2D01-2D25-2D1994025180-2Dstory.html&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=rQSowxTdRId-O4jkNvr4L8IFvh7g5hFAI8LSNFTwCKg&s=FrGmXlfrLBiNc77zgaKlqUBI27IndXHsijmxn28DcaY&e=>), I am a white passing person with a white-washed lineage due to a family history of fear of retribution for the color of one’s skin (that led to choices about who to marry and have children with). This history lives in our DNA, and is woven into the fabric of everything that the U.S. is built upon. We have to collectively take ownership for it, and figure out what legacy we want to leave behind. No two of us are going to see, feel, and recognize this time for what it is in the same way. And that is the power and vulnerability of “the epistemological problem” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge/201910/there-are-two-hard-problems-consciousness-not-one<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_theory-2Dknowledge_201910_there-2Dare-2Dtwo-2Dhard-2Dproblems-2Dconsciousness-2Dnot-2Done&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=rQSowxTdRId-O4jkNvr4L8IFvh7g5hFAI8LSNFTwCKg&s=Po8TMQMAIGr_tEyI-ew7F-x6mT5878_8SQCxxDPUcog&e=>) as Gregg has outlined.

We have to find a method, practice, linguistic tool, set of agreements, etc. to come together to really understand the summation of the collective experience, discrepancies, injustices, various viewpoints, to even have the right “data” to work with to paint a clear picture. Maybe this is what the “Singularity” will actually be about (assuming it is a benevolent singularity that works in the collective interests of humanity in general). So while the systems of current data collection may be limited and inherently biased due to the foundations upon which they operate, perhaps this is changing in a direction that, if intentionally and consciously employed, could curate a more clear picture of where we have been and the possibilities of where to go from here with the most optimal outcome for all. This is super idealistic, but I am honestly too afraid to consider alternatives that could be coming down the pipeline…

If anyone has already figured out the solution, and can explain to us like we are six-year-olds (as not all of us share a genius IQ here, but still want to help!), I entreat you to do so. For what better moment should solutions be proffered?


Okay, "young person rant” is now over.

p.s. for those interested in a faith-based perspective on racism, here is webinar from a Baha’i professor that I found insightful: https://wilmetteinstitute.org/centering-the-pupil-of-the-eye/<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__wilmetteinstitute.org_centering-2Dthe-2Dpupil-2Dof-2Dthe-2Deye_&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=rQSowxTdRId-O4jkNvr4L8IFvh7g5hFAI8LSNFTwCKg&s=i1rcCRgDbLM01xS202JHUdwjRqZ8NC3pZdkooVqcKE8&e=>


On Jun 11, 2020, at 3:30 PM, Ari Delashmutt <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:

Joe's rant was pretty epic and knocked me in the head hard. It made some things click. I wrote an article about said things, Medium says its a 6 minute read. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

https://medium.com/@ariintheair/inquiring-about-all-lives-matter-3a248f6e568<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__medium.com_-40ariintheair_inquiring-2Dabout-2Dall-2Dlives-2Dmatter-2D3a248f6e568&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=zBJ6lBDpCiQ4Bhq3euXX5MZVnTU26c6Dwa6pgV0hj3Q&s=1nPhh9I2G6sNcfQdNXTlBXMG1P33L3umcXo8VIJrIXI&e=>

With love,
Ari

On Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 9:44 AM Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Joe,
  Thanks for this analysis. Very helpful in clarifying the sociological issues.

Best,
Gregg

From: tree of knowledge system discussion <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> On Behalf Of Joseph Michalski
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 12:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Two articles on Policing

Dear Colleagues:


With all due respect, I simply cannot support a "50-50, he said, she said" approach to the analysis the state of policing and justification systems invoked to support particular agendas. Please feel free to ignore the following "rant" from a stereotypical "left-wing" sociologist, yours truly. I don't agree w/ that characterization, but what choice do I have?

Even if one could step outside of the political firestorm, the social scientific theories and certainly the empirical evidence - including that which Heather MacDonald (author, btw, of a book that I read a couple years ago titled The War on Cops) cites - points to deep-seated biases & differential treatment, as well as real-life differential outcomes for what happens to "real people" in "real communities." But the discourse is so tilted in the U.S. (even moreso than in Canada where I live) that it would take far too much time to make the case for why even much of the discourse even in the current framing tends to be far more "right-wing" and conservative, as well as at odds with the social scientific literature. MacDonald states that "I urge this committee to reject the proposition that law enforcement today is systemically biased. The evidence does not support that charge." And yet her own highly distorted & limited presentation of the numbers still provides evidence of biases in policing and disproportionate surveillance & criminalization of African-American (and racialized minorities) in general. And, of course, she ignores the far wider range of evidence that's even more damning and that would subvert her claims entirely.

But here's the bigger point. Most people ignore the fact that if you want "more crime," then hold constant civilian behavior and simply increase the number of police. More surveillance alone leads to more crime, all else constant. More people looking for "bad behavior" will lead to more observations, more arrests, etc. And who's in positions to "identify" and "observe" and then "sanction" perceived crime? Those in positions of social advantage and power. And that story has not changed all that much, despite the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Law enforcement continues to be highly skewed and biased, almost regardless of the metric that you use. Tons of empirical stuff does not even get counted, such as the # of times that people who are stopped for "identical reasons" if you could hold all else constant (e.g., speeding) end up being treated differently on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or any # of other social factors, to say nothing of human psychology, that might affect how transactions & interactions unfold. Where's all that data? Nowhere. And yet, do a thought experiment with me. Imagine if you were to test all the police in terms of their propensities for implicit bias or even overt manifestations of racism? What if you did comprehensive personality profiles? What would you find? And, then take that a step further. Despite the training they receive (often only 12 weeks or less), how might they end up interacting with "random" samples of people from the general public? What do you think you might find if you were to really study these issues in-depth and scientifically? Do you think you might see various forms of differential treatment, especially if "unfiltered" (although, apparently in the case of some officers like Derek Chauvin, it really doesn't even matter if the camera is rolling)? What would be the distribution in terms of the general police force, even if 90% were totally enlightened, fair-minded individuals committed to the highest aspirations of the "protect and serve" philosophy (btw, the evidence on who the police "are" from social scientific research paints a vastly different picture)? So, if "only" 10% act on their biases, what effect would that have & who would disproportionately be targeted? And so on.

And so the problems are far more deep-seated. If you want certain groups to be targeted, then increase police presence & see what happens. For example, what happens to "peaceful protesters" if there are more police around to "watch"? Forget the rioting and looting - how many arrests of looters have been caught on tape (and even then there are other issues to consider)? How many peaceful protesters have been beaten, or tear-gassed, or abused in one way or another?

If there's a call to "de-fund" the police, does that mean no policing services? Or does that mean shifting some of the funding to investments in other types of services, education, health, infrastructure, opportunities, and investments in "poor" communities? Even among self-identified "liberals," how many want to live among and work with the poorest of the poor, be the awesome teachers I had in Fairfax County in the 1970s (white, privileged, wealthy, and largely segregated outside of TC Williams!) for young people "at risk" in those communities, move their families & live among & befriend those in the poorest neighbourhoods, and invest in small businesses or have their larger corporations relocate in those communities to create work incentives? And who's providing the health and social services, working with those suffering from substance abuse problems, or coaching the kids in sports and extra-curricular activities? No, none of THAT stuff can really be "legislated" and you certainly cannot force people to live in more integrated or diverse 'hoods, but at least recognize that much of the funding and tax relief directly benefits the wealthy (as Billie Eilish might sing, "Duh") and those in positions of power, including the police & the military. Far more money is spent on the U.S. military (yes, that's directly relevant to this discussion) and to U.S. policing than to all other publicly-funded health and human services. Not even close, especially if you set aside social security (which no one seems to define as "socialism" in the U.S., but I digress...) But what's the narrative being advanced in halls of power and certainly by the Trumpian leadership on the right?

I cannot even begin to do justice to the thousands of scientific research studies that demonstrate the full range of biases and inequalities built into the systems of advanced-industrial democracies in general, to say nothing of what's happening in the most extremely polarized & militarized system on the face of the planet:  the U.S. military-industrial complex, who funding exceeds the next 10 countries in the world combined. I'm sorry, but I have spent my life trying to understand human behavior and, specifically crime, violence, and social control - and none of that (or the best of the work by the top leaders and pioneers in the field) gets noticed, acknowledged, or built into most of the discussions. Speaking only for myself, I think I may have reached the end of my career in even trying to have intelligent conversations about any of this stuff any longer. I'm sure I sound like a raving idiot. I just wish people could see at least some of the arguments and evidence as to how far to the right the discourse & justifications have shifted to the right. The one small kernel of hope? Some white protesters getting beaten again randomly & for no reason being detained are starting to ask, "Hey, I can't believe I'm being attacked for simply 'living my life' and 'being here'." No shit. That's what African-Americans and Indigenous peoples and racialized minorities have been saying for centuries. Duh.

Or, as a right-wing nutcase brother of mine once complained, "I can't believe a group of young black kids stopped & yelled at me 'hey Honky' while I was playing tennis in LA." He was so angry that these youngsters would throw that epithet in his direction, unprovoked & without knowing him. I thought: Great, a teachable moment. I asked him to reflect on how angry he got that this happened to him exactly once and as a successful, wealthy, 40-something lawyer w/ a multi-million dollar home. And could he imagine how his African-American counterpart might feel who experienced this type of prejudice, bias, and discrimination regularly from the time of being a child right on up throughout one's life. No, not everyone would act that way toward the African-American walking among them. MOST people would be kind and treat each person fairly and with respect. But, that said, how many in the population would treat the racialized minority or the "other" differently, negatively, and/or with hostility? And how many times would that have happened over the many years? And what impact would that have on one's self-esteem, confidence, or general feeling of well-being? And yet look at what impact, my dear brother, just ONE incident had upon your mental health and well-being as a successful grown man. He still doesn't get it, and never will.

So much more to say, but I'll move along as an "old guy" now. But, in contrast to a lot of others in my generation, I have a different sign on my lawn. It's not "get off my lawn", but rather "all are welcome - come and hang out on my lawn & I'll even get you a drink if you're thirsty..." Best, -joe

Dr. Joseph H. Michalski
King’s University College at Western University
266 Epworth Avenue, DL-201
London, Ontario, Canada  N6A 2M3
Tel: (519) 433-3491
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
______________________
eiπ + 1 = 0

________________________________
From: tree of knowledge system discussion <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2020 7:47 AM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Two articles on Policing


Dear TOK List,



  For folks who are interested in understanding the divergent “justification systems” that are operating about the state of policing in this country, I recommend the following articles:



Heather MacDonald is a conservative scholar who has long argued that the fundamental progressive narrative about brutal cops as an aggregate is misguided. This is a transcript of her testimony to congress yesterday: https://www.city-journal.org/repudiate-the-anti-police-narrative<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.city-2Djournal.org_repudiate-2Dthe-2Danti-2Dpolice-2Dnarrative&d=DwMF-w&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=h6kB7iQCbvdCGiWf2dX8DsIsU4IDPEmOLWq59xpgmxA&s=2s_tONfe_Ppbxvo1_VFMw_2AtomzpYiwXjJUPwpWx2E&e=>



Nicholas Kristof is a liberal NY Times columnist who has long advocated for social justice causes. This is his call for how to effectively think about “defunding the police”:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/opinion/defund-police-floyd-protests.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_200611&instance_id=19255&nl=todaysheadlines&regi_id=35223894&segment_id=30632&user_id=8e4f03af2447d5adeb5069c9fb9bdf47<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.nytimes.com_2020_06_10_opinion_defund-2Dpolice-2Dfloyd-2Dprotests.html-3Fcampaign-5Fid-3D2-26emc-3Dedit-5Fth-5F200611-26instance-5Fid-3D19255-26nl-3Dtodaysheadlines-26regi-5Fid-3D35223894-26segment-5Fid-3D30632-26user-5Fid-3D8e4f03af2447d5adeb5069c9fb9bdf47&d=DwMF-w&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=h6kB7iQCbvdCGiWf2dX8DsIsU4IDPEmOLWq59xpgmxA&s=pmUhEi7QK-PfiU3_NKYdXNTORTXOCsIISOzgZPnoEXI&e=>





  NEXT MONDAY at 5:30 pm EDT we will be having Professor Mike Mascolo offer his insightful framework for understanding conflict, and bridging divides to create common ground. A formal announcement will be coming soon.

Best,
Gregg








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Bend Oregon


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