Hypocrisy Is the Sword of the Indignant

Despite affirming that two wrongs don't make a right -

- many of us attest that wrong is right -

~ * ~

Hypocrisy Is the Sword of the Indignant

Have we forgotten what hypocrisy is?

     We are justifying -

     - while indignantly protesting them justifying - the same.

     We are legitimizing -

     - while indignantly protesting them legitimizing - the same.

     We are defending -

     - while indignantly protesting them defending - the same.

     We are sanctifying -

     - while indignantly protesting them sanctifying - the same.

~ * ~

Such that -

- we demand justice and equality - by demanding injustice and inequality.

How?

(1) - by defining meaningful classification - as classification on the basis of labels alone, lens alone, isms alone - 

(2) - by classifying our selves and each other into categories delineated by labels alone, lens alone, isms alone - 

(3) - by validating differences between categories defined by labels alone, lens alone, isms alone - as evidence of labelism, lensism, ism -

(4) - by scaffolding processes and policies based on this evidence - that institute different treatment - by virtue of and per - categories that classify our selves and each other on the basis of labels alone, lens alone, isms alone - 

(5) - by justifying, legitimizing, defending, sanctifying - extensions of privileges, advantages, entitlements - that are not earned - that are, instead, conferred - by virtue of and per - categories that classify our selves and each other on the basis of labels alone, lens alone, isms alone - 

~ * ~

How is this - not -

- the framework by which we reduce our selves and each other -

- to labels and lens?

How is this -

- reduction of our selves and each other - to labels and lens - not -

- the definition -

- of isms?

How is this -

- institutionalization of different treatment -

- on the basis of labels and lens - not -

- the institutionalization of - separate but equal?

- the institutionalization of - segregation?

- verily -

- the institutionalization of - bias?

- the institutionalization of - ism?

How is this - not -

- that which we seek to remedy, redress, rectify?

~ * ~

When our strategies -

When our tactics -

- are the same -

- as the strategies and the tactics of that which we seek to remedy, redress, rectify -

Such strategies -

Such tactics -

- are - not just, not legitimate, not defensible, not sacrosanct - 

- simply because such strategies and such tactics are ours -

~ * ~

Homogeneity -

- is an ambition of ethnic cleansing -

Homogeneity -

- is a goal of eugenics -

Homogeneity -

- is an aim of apartheid -

Homogeneity -

- is an objective of concentration camps -

Homogeneity -

- is an aspiration of segregationists -

~ * ~

The myth of separate but equal -

- is that homogeneity is ideal -

Why?

- because homogeneity is preferable to heterogeneity -

Why?

- because homogeneity ensures equality -

Why?

- because equality is impossible with heterogeneity -

Why?

- because inequality is inevitable with heterogeneity -

Why?

- because we assume the myth of separate but equal - is true -

~ * ~

What is idealized homogeneity?

It is the assumption - that when we reduce our selves and each other - to labels, lens, isms - we see and we know - what is alike and what is different -

Then?

- when we see and we know - what is alike and what is different -

- we choose what is comfortable -

Which is?

- the familiar -

Which is?

- what is alike -

Why?

- because what is alike - is - familiar and comfortable -

And -

Because -

- we idealize - what is alike, familiar, comfortable - homogeneous -

- we idealize homogeneity -

~ * ~

The myth of idealized homogeneity is -

Because -

- homogeneity on the basis of classification and categorization - is real and meaningful -

- and - heterogeneity is unnatural and wrong -

And -

- within classes and within categories -

- we are alike - familiar and comfortable -

And -

- between classes and between categories -

- we are dissimilar - unfamiliar and uncomfortable -

And -

Because

- we - deny, minimize, ignore, invalidate -

- differences within classes and within categories -

- differences within labels, lens, isms -

Because -

- we determine that these differences - are irrelevant -

And -

Because -

- we determine that differences between classes and between categories -

- are - relevant, vital, real -

We conclude -

- that homogeneity is an ideal utopia -

- and - heterogeneity is the opposite -

Because -

- the myth of idealized homogeneity is irrefutable -

~ * ~

Therefore -

- reducing our selves and each other - to labels and lens -

- is just, legitimate, defensible, sacrosanct - 

Because -

When -

- we - reduce our selves and each other - to labels and lens -

- we - uplift, validate, advance, elevate - our selves and each other -

But -

When -

- reducing our selves and each other - to labels and lens -

- is not by us -

- and -

- doesn't uplift us - doesn't validate us - doesn't advance us - doesn't elevate us -

- then -

- it is oppression and tyranny -

~ * ~

How is this - not -

- the defense of isms?

Moreover -

How is this - not -

- an ist defense of ism-based privileges, advantages, entitlements?

- to be uplifted, validated, advanced, elevated - on the basis of labels and lens - alone?

~ * ~

When isms by our hand -

- reduce our selves to labels and lens -

- are they just?

When isms by our hand - 

- reduce each other to labels and lens -

- are they just?

What if -

- labels and lens -

- isms -

- are wrong?

What if -

- labels and lens -

- isms -

- are not true?

What if -

- the myth of separate but equal -

- the myth of idealized homogeneity -

- are not true?

What if -

- these myths -

- are based on ignorance, intolerance, hatred?

What if -

- these myths -

- are isms in plain sight?

~ * ~

No wrong - 

- by mere virtue of being - by our hands -

- is made right.

More

The illogic of this hypocrisy is so blatant -

- that it boggles my mind that it is so vehemently defended.

Yet - this illogic is so entrenched - within our society -

- from our schools to our governments to our medias -

- that it is unsurprising how little progress we've made as a people - beyond labels, lens isms.

Indeed - we are so intent on blame seeking within the hearts and minds of others -

- that we deny our perpetuation of the very illogic that mires us in -

- sexism, racism, classism, socioeconomic statusism, nationism, religionism, sexual orientationism, marital statusism, educational attainmentism - every ism by every label by every lens, ad infinitum.

Verily - this is the crop that all of us reap -

- as devout sowers of ignorance, intolerance, and hatred.

On the basis of indisputably shallow and arbitrary boxes -

- we defend our isms with staunch and zealous righteousness.

As if such boxing - is our divine right.

And - as if by virtue of such divine right -

- we are not wrong.

While simultaneously vilifying others - on the basis of our boxing of others per our labels of others per our lens of others -

- with the militant sanctimony of crusaders.

As if - it is defensible - to claim such ignorance, such intolerance, such hatred - to be just and legitimate - wholly by virtue of being ours per our labels per our lens -

- for - verily - our isms is the wrong that will right the wrong of the isms of others.

Though never in the history of all - have two wrongs ever made a right -

- our hubris is such - that we decree with unequivocal certainty - that our wrong defies this truth that has never been untrue.

- M.

~ * ~

Note

The hypocrisies illustrated herein are hardly the only hypocrisies we excuse and condone -

~ * ~

The Pen: Hypocrisy is ever the sword of the ignoble, the indignant, the graceless.

The Sword: The Truth is ever the word of the noble, the virtuous, the sublime.

The Pen: Alas, the indignant insist that hypocrisy is the truth.

The Sword: Even so, my friend, the truth is the truth. Hypocrisy masquerading as truth is hypocrisy no less for pretension otherwise.

The Pen: Indeed, my friend.

~ * ~