Hope against hostility?

[iwillrisenow]

I am currently living in an environment that is very taxing on the soul due to its long history of segregation and discrimination. I have been largely isolated since moving here, which I am beginning to see as a blessing. What most people don’t talk about is how it’s not so much the “big” incidents of someone using one of those words against you or in your presence (which has happened as well here, on two separate occasions) or committing violent hate crimes, but it’s the every day, small dismissals of the humanity of another person (in some circles, what is referred to as micro-aggressions). For instance, asking a person who doesn’t appear to be white “But where are you **really **from?” if you ask and they say an American city instead of another country…or making jibs about Christian beliefs in a public setting, assuming that everyone is on the same page…both (not so) subtly communicate that certain people do not belong and are not, in fact, worthy of respect and dignity.This, on top of constantly being ignored and treated like I’m five years old if I’m out with a group of white friends, dealing with some ugly prejudice at work every day for the past two years, and constantly encountering hostility wherever I go is really starting to take its toll…and I don’t know how much more I can take…

I am not “different” from myself and I am, quite frankly, tired of the assertion that I should accept or expect prejudice because others “are not used to” people like me. I’m exhausted-- work is taxing (and also happens to be an environment where it is perfectly acceptable to ridicule people of faith-- particularly Christians) and then, on top of this, I’m treated like I have a disease. I’m started to really dislike going out in public…and, believe me, I am counting the days until I leave this place.

If there’s anyone else out there who has (or is) going through something similar…how did (or do) you cope on a daily basis? How do you talk yourself into going outside of the house when you’re weak and just don’t think you can deal with another day of hostility? Is there a patron saint of those who suffer from discrimination? I am aware that, unfortunately, this is familiar territory for many Catholic communities around the world…what got you and your family through the darkest times?

 

[mountee]

It was a little difficult for me to be sure what you are experiencing without an example but it sounds like you live somewhere among people who discriminate against you for some reason. These days it seems like the people I am around go out of their way not to do that to anyone for any reason, so it makes me feel bad that you have to exist somewhere that is causing you to feel so bad. I am not sure exactly how to pray but I will pray for you to be treated with the dignity and respect that each human is entitled to.

 

[ynotzap]

I am currently living in an environment that is very taxing on the soul due to its long history of segregation and discrimination. I have been largely isolated since moving here, which I am beginning to see as a blessing. What most people don’t talk about is how it’s not so much the “big” incidents of someone using one of those words against you or in your presence (which has happened as well here, on two separate occasions) or committing violent hate crimes, but it’s the every day, small dismissals of the humanity of another person (in some circles, what is referred to as micro-aggressions). For instance, asking a person who doesn’t appear to be white “But where are you **really **from?” if you ask and they say an American city instead of another country…or making jibs about Christian beliefs in a public setting, assuming that everyone is on the same page…both (not so) subtly communicate that certain people do not belong and are not, in fact, worthy of respect and dignity.This, on top of constantly being ignored and treated like I’m five years old if I’m out with a group of white friends, dealing with some ugly prejudice at work every day for the past two years, and constantly encountering hostility wherever I go is really starting to take its toll…and I don’t know how much more I can take…

I am not “different” from myself and I am, quite frankly, tired of the assertion that I should accept or expect prejudice because others “are not used to” people like me. I’m exhausted-- work is taxing (and also happens to be an environment where it is perfectly acceptable to ridicule people of faith-- particularly Christians) and then, on top of this, I’m treated like I have a disease. I’m started to really dislike going out in public…and, believe me, I am counting the days until I leave this place.

If there’s anyone else out there who has (or is) going through something similar…how did (or do) you cope on a daily basis? How do you talk yourself into going outside of the house when you’re weak and just don’t think you can deal with another day of hostility? Is there a patron saint of those who suffer from discrimination? I am aware that, unfortunately, this is familiar territory for many Catholic communities around the world…what got you and your family through the darkest times?

 

[ynotzap]

One thing God revealed to me through painful experience, is that people can not give what they don’t have. When you are in the world you will encounter many hostile environments. This means many are without the grace of God, unconverted. When this is the case, Satan a reality which the incredulous world does not even consider, or uphold controls these hostile situations through hatred, and ignorance, selfishness, pride and all of the failing of the human personality. They need salvation that comes only through Jesus, who gives His Spirit that supplies the love, truth, humility and all the others virtues that people do not have. So we must approach these situations not as losers, defeatists, but as conquerors with God’s grace. We must treat our apparent enemies with the love Jesus displayed to His enemies. For there go I if not for the grace of God. This is no easy task, you must be determined not to let Satan get to you, tell him to bug off in the Name of Jesus. He is the one who has caused us so much suffering through the weakness of humanity, we blame each other, when in truth we are handicapped spiritually. Become strong in Christ, use all the means you can. The sacraments, especially Communion, and Reconciliation, expect to make a few mistakes, but get back up, you are in a spiritual war, not a physical one. Jesus will see you through with flying colors, courage and faith.

 

[ynotzap]

Any one who is a Christian has the devil as his sworn enemy, because he is consumed with hatred for God, and will try to destroy His creation. Jesus knocked him for a loop into Hell, so he is whooped, as they say in the South, now with Jesus it’s your turn to fight him, he is already softened up.

 

[the_phoenix]

If there’s anyone else out there who has (or is) going through something similar…how did (or do) you cope on a daily basis? How do you talk yourself into going outside of the house when you’re weak and just don’t think you can deal with another day of hostility? Is there a patron saint of those who suffer from discrimination? I am aware that, unfortunately, this is familiar territory for many Catholic communities around the world…what got you and your family through the darkest times?

Here’s what I did when in a situation at work similar to what you describe … I was eventually forced to resign that particular job due to my being a pro-life Catholic, and if you take a look at some of the threads I posted starting back in 2008 asking for prayer, you can find out more about that situation.

Meanwhile, the work environment was so bad that I’d rather not describe it all here, but just give you a list of some ways I handled it:

1. Bless myself with holy water to begin the day.
2. Pray to St. Michael the Archangel for protection (the short prayer) before entering the workplace for the day.
3. When given the silent treatment, I would imagine myself as a cloistered nun who had taken a vow of silence, and imagine myself cloaked in an invisible habit of offering up that silence for the Lord.
4. The Rosary.

ynotzap has some excellent suggestions in of course participating in the Sacraments. This should really be number one.

Also, you can ask your guardian angel to protect and guide you.

And you can pray the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel.

Praying for you …

 

[ready]

Our Lord suffered the worst pains and insults during His Passion. Please meditate on our Lord’s Passion and console Him whenever you begin to feel injured or aggravated by others. Place yourself in the Pierced Side of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and remain there in peace and with security. Pray for the people who hurt you and aggravate you, just like Jesus prayed for the people who hurt Him and treated Him badly. Please do not let yourself be resentful – pity the people who insult and injure you. Some of them may not even mean to hurt you while others may be downright prejudiced. Regardless of whom you are dealing with (you needn’t try to figure them out), pray for your persecutors and do good to those who hate you – just as Jesus has instructed you to do. Do not give into sadness or anger – pity your persecutors, for they are hurting themselves if they mean you harm. NOTHING these people do can hurt you, unless you allow it to. God bless you.