Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Years ago I read a book that transformed my life. It's called "Pedagogy of the Oppressed". While it was written in the 60s and, as a result, is filled with the vocabulary of those tumultous times, what Paulo Friere, the author, teaches is even more relevant today than ever.

One of the points that's really stuck with me is that you can't use the oppressor's methodology to free the oppressed. I've translated that lesson to areas of my daily life, not just conceptual talks about revolution or whole scale social change. In a very personal way, I remind myself I can't dominate others to avoid being dominated. I have to create a relationship in which domination is not available to either person. To do that, a new paradigm must replace it. That paradigm can be anything, the possibility of love, acceptance, joy, peacefulness, communion, etc.

And when we enter relationships with a principled foundation, we avoid situational ethics and behavior. In other words, it's much easier to keep your cool, stay focused on problems, and committed to solutions, when you've already decided aggression, attack, defensiveness and positioning are not weapons you're willing to employ or tolerate. There is a deep peacefulness that comes from choosing who you want to be and being that person despite who stands in front of you. You don't have to force your identity on them. You can just be, and your identity will speak for itself.