Hope for the future
I'm recreating this from a post that I made on Facebook which was reported and summarily deleted after someone got their feelings hurt.
With all this mayhem going on in Charlottesville, VA and the emboldened Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists, this was bound to happen to me at some time or another.
First of all, let me set this up. My friends know me well and they know how I am about race, sexuality and many other social issues. I'm very tolerant. You do you and I'll do me; that's my personal philosophy. My appearance suggests otherwise. I'm a 49-year-old medically retired, Disabled Veteran with a big red beard and a shaved head who wears a big silver Mjölnir (Thor's Hammer) around my neck. I also ride a Harley-Davidson.
I'm also the father of two lovely daughters, a husband, Master Mason and Past Master of my Masonic Lodge in Atlanta.
Now, on with the story.
On Wednesday August 16th I was busy running errands. I had stopped by a friend's place to help her get ready for her move to Northern California to take a new job. I was scheduled to meet some Brother Master Masons for a ritual rehearsal so I was on my way to the Masonic Lodge. Along my route there was a QT (a southern regional convenience store). Since it was in the high 80's that day, I decided to stop there for a nice cold drink. This QT happened to be in Decatur, GA which is a racially diverse area.
I had purchased my drink and was sitting on my Hog when a rather tall, muscularly toned man of African descent approached me. His eyes were locked hard on my Mjölnir, then he looked up at me and said, "Hey! Are you one of those cracker ass, honky motherfuckin' racists?" I immediately looked peacefully at him, right in the eyes and I said, "No way dude! Those guys are complete asshats and I don't want to have anything to do with them! They're assholes!"
A look of mild confusion came over his face. I said, "Look...not only are those guys assholes, but they're thieves. Their predecessors stole the Swastika from my people, as well as the Hindus, Buddhists, Native Americans and others and now they're trying to take more from us. Personally, I've had enough of their bullshit." His face relaxed. "Hey, do you have some time? Let's go over in the shade and I can explain this to you a little more in detail." He agreed.
We spend the next 30 minutes or so sitting in the shade and talking. We even got refills on our fountain drinks. I told him the Ásatrú story of creation, the nature of our Gods and how our community was adamantly opposed to White Supremacy in any way, shape or form. In turn, he shared with me his concerns about being a Black man in the 21st Century and how, in some areas, it seemed like little progress has been made since the 1970's. We both agreed that a few asshats were screwing it up for everyone who just wanted to get along, make a living and enjoy their life.
At the end, we both had places to be. We both smiled at each other, gave each other a bro-hug, shook hands and went our separate ways. He said that he was going to share what he learned with his friends, but he wasn't sure how many would believe him. I told him that it was worth a shot if we were going to fight the ass-clowns of our society...and with that, we parted ways. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his name, nor do I think I gave mine to him. Still, what is important here is that two men were able to meet in peace, share common experiences and leave in peace...each feeling better about the other and with a hope for our mutual future.
For those fellow Heathens of mine out there, I say this: Don't be afraid to wear your Hammers, Runes, Valknuts or any other of your sacred symbols. More will understand than won't and it will give you an opportunity to engage and educate instead of hiding in fear.
Hail to the Gods!
Björn
With all this mayhem going on in Charlottesville, VA and the emboldened Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists, this was bound to happen to me at some time or another.
First of all, let me set this up. My friends know me well and they know how I am about race, sexuality and many other social issues. I'm very tolerant. You do you and I'll do me; that's my personal philosophy. My appearance suggests otherwise. I'm a 49-year-old medically retired, Disabled Veteran with a big red beard and a shaved head who wears a big silver Mjölnir (Thor's Hammer) around my neck. I also ride a Harley-Davidson.I'm also the father of two lovely daughters, a husband, Master Mason and Past Master of my Masonic Lodge in Atlanta.
Now, on with the story.
On Wednesday August 16th I was busy running errands. I had stopped by a friend's place to help her get ready for her move to Northern California to take a new job. I was scheduled to meet some Brother Master Masons for a ritual rehearsal so I was on my way to the Masonic Lodge. Along my route there was a QT (a southern regional convenience store). Since it was in the high 80's that day, I decided to stop there for a nice cold drink. This QT happened to be in Decatur, GA which is a racially diverse area.
A look of mild confusion came over his face. I said, "Look...not only are those guys assholes, but they're thieves. Their predecessors stole the Swastika from my people, as well as the Hindus, Buddhists, Native Americans and others and now they're trying to take more from us. Personally, I've had enough of their bullshit." His face relaxed. "Hey, do you have some time? Let's go over in the shade and I can explain this to you a little more in detail." He agreed.
We spend the next 30 minutes or so sitting in the shade and talking. We even got refills on our fountain drinks. I told him the Ásatrú story of creation, the nature of our Gods and how our community was adamantly opposed to White Supremacy in any way, shape or form. In turn, he shared with me his concerns about being a Black man in the 21st Century and how, in some areas, it seemed like little progress has been made since the 1970's. We both agreed that a few asshats were screwing it up for everyone who just wanted to get along, make a living and enjoy their life.
At the end, we both had places to be. We both smiled at each other, gave each other a bro-hug, shook hands and went our separate ways. He said that he was going to share what he learned with his friends, but he wasn't sure how many would believe him. I told him that it was worth a shot if we were going to fight the ass-clowns of our society...and with that, we parted ways. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his name, nor do I think I gave mine to him. Still, what is important here is that two men were able to meet in peace, share common experiences and leave in peace...each feeling better about the other and with a hope for our mutual future.
For those fellow Heathens of mine out there, I say this: Don't be afraid to wear your Hammers, Runes, Valknuts or any other of your sacred symbols. More will understand than won't and it will give you an opportunity to engage and educate instead of hiding in fear.
Hail to the Gods!
Björn
Reaver Harbardsen - I'm fully sharing this to my page. This was a great story (Thank you for linking it to me by the way) that many others should read. We, unfortunately, have let this racism within our communities go on for far too long, it's time we took a stand against it and took back what rightfully belongs to us from the white supremacists who are doing no good in anything, other than bringing shame and hatred towards those of us who just want to be at peace.
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