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Terry Freedman's avatar

I think betrayal, in whatever form it takes, is a very bitter pill to swallow, especially if, like you, one has based important life decisions on an empty promise. Glad you did so well by your own efforts though.

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

It was certainly difficult and it affected me more than I realized at the time.

Thank you.

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antoinette.uiterdijk's avatar

Did your uncle ever give you a reason ?

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

No, never.

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Luigi Cappel's avatar

I have a bias against passive racists. People who laugh at racist jokes, or see racist behaviour and don't call it out. It is really easy to just shrug it off, but until we all call it out, we will never overcome those who think they are better than others because of the tone of their skin. Ignoring it will not make it go away.

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

Agreed. There are certain things, like racism, that should definitely be called out and confronted. I certainly do, even in my own family.

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Pablo Andreu's avatar

Kudos to you for persevering, Israel. An uncle reneging on a promise like that would've made me really bitter.

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

Gracias, Pablo. To be completely honest, I was bitter for a long while.

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Pablo Andreu's avatar

I get it.

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Natasha Clarke's avatar

Betrayal, even when wrapped up in a oops im so sorry from afar is a hard thorn to swallow. And yet it becomes the medicine that opens us up. So im glad you kept following your dreams, reaching in for your self worth.

Right now I have unnecessary bias against pro vaxers. One of my favorite writers on substack, an irritable Métis just described the vaccinations as miracles. I had to reach really hard to not just shoot that belief down. I know I can reach beyond personal beliefs and experience to connect with the heart of what is human and what connects us. I can respect and enjoy and honor his words even though I don’t share that particular belief and still feel personally the betrayal of how unvaccinated people were treated and demonized.

So I see my bias and I sit with it and choose how I want to or will respond. It’s work though! The best part is, when I take the time and slow it all down, what I learn about myself in relationship.

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Israel Sanchez's avatar

Thanks so much for the comment, Natasha. I'm definitely a pro-vaxxer, to use that terminology, but I certainly believe that there has been a lot of unfair demonization of unvaccinated people. Reasonable people can have reasonable conversations and disagreements without making things personal or outright nasty. Thanks, again.

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antoinette.uiterdijk's avatar

People can be against vaccination thanks to herd-immunity. It is like being against cars, but always asking for a ride. If too many people refuse vaccinations the herd-immunity will go down. Of course like all medications there are side effects. And if you are the parent of a child that experiences severe side-effects after vaccination you will have doubts, you will be angry. More research should be done in this field. Money/services should be available for parents with an affected child.

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