I was born a homo sapiens, white, able-bodied, able-minded, heterosexual male during the technological era of Industrial Civilization. Born to middle-class, educated, Christian parents in the United States, my inherent circumstances have been pretty good to say the least.

I, Michael Jon Sliwa would like to offer my sincerest written apology for not doing enough to address the injustices which my inherent privileges have inflicted upon others. I don’t feel at all guilty for my inborn, personal circumstances, but I do feel responsible for the injustice to other life that comes with such privilege. I have not lived up to those responsibilities.

I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born a humanoid of the homo sapiens variety. I have used my supremacist creation stories as an excuse to do whatever I want to other earthlings. Through my sense of entitlement I have brought about immense suffering. I have perpetuated a living arrangement that has changed not only the climate, but almost every physical feature on the planet.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born of German and Polish descent. These identities became collectively known as White over time. With whiteness comes white supremacy. Not just the kind of white supremacy that wears white sheets or shaves their heads. Systemic or institutional white supremacy is much more codified and insidious. It’s hard to get a handle on because it isn’t as blatant as burning villages or attacks with German Shepherds and police with fire hoses. Instead, it’s about housing, employment opportunities, the legal system and what’s considered normal. In other words, it’s about enforcing the status quo. Today we call it, “Making America Great Again.” If we change the third word in that slogan to “White” it seems a bit more accurate.

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I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

Systemic or institutional white supremacy is much more codified and insidious. It’s hard to get a handle on because it isn’t as blatant as burning villages or attacks with German Shepherds and police with fire hoses.

I was born able-bodied. I never have had to think about access to anything. I never had to think about those who had to think about their access because of their disability. I have taken my body for granted.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born able-minded. Again, I never had to think about access. I have been oblivious to the needs of those who require services I do not.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born heterosexual. I have family, friends, former colleagues and students who identify LGBTQ. I have not only not been a consistent enough ally. I have not taken enough time to learn about the impacts of my privilege on this community.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

♦◊♦

I was born male. This is perhaps the circumstance in which I’ve mostly not lived up to my responsibility. I have let my wife, grandmothers, mother, sister, aunts, nieces, cousins, friends, former girl friends, former colleagues and students down on countless occasions. Today, women are still being murdered, raped, assaulted, maimed, threatened, intimidated, and oppressed by men.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born into the middle class. In order for there to be a middle there must be a bottom and a top. I have not been there for those below me on the socioeconomic scale. I have too often only looked above me when criticizing, without challenging my own circumstances.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born into an educated household. I took my formal education for granted. I took the opportunities it afforded me for granted.

I was born into an educated household. I took my formal education for granted. I took the opportunities it afforded me for granted. As a teacher, I did not fight hard enough for those who were born without my privilege.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born into Christianity. The largest faith in the world and the one that the most powerful country in the world holds as its religion was the foundation of my religious upbringing. Being a Christian in a country where one’s faith was often used to justify genocide and slavery is a tough hurdle to clear at times. When you’re given a particular story at birth – a story that directly informs you as to how to reach salvation – this story makes personal responsibility a huge challenge. I no longer identify as a Christian but that does not negate my responsibilities to challenge a narrative that still harms people in the name of God.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born in the United States. Being born into the wealthiest, most powerful country in the history of the world has too many benefits to list here. I have not held my government and military nearly responsible enough for their horrific acts in my name. I have lived my entire life on land that was stolen through genocide and an economy that was established through slavery.

I apologize for not doing being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

♦◊♦

I was born during the technological era. This particular circumstance has allowed all areas of my supremacist belief system to be enhanced. The unseen damage in the name of technological progress has not been challenged enough by me.

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I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

I was born into Industrial Civilization. This is the most devastating living arrangement in the history of the human race. I have only begun to see its life-threatening impacts. My continued participation in it is a responsibility that I am currently addressing. I continue to be a hypocrite, as life on this planet disappears to support my own life.

I apologize for not being responsible. I will do better. I will do more. I will listen.

Apologies only go so far. There is work to be done. Acknowledging my mistakes and missteps are not enough. I must do more in my short time left here. I must check my privilege and ego and embrace humility as I proceed. I will be mindful. I will ask for help. I will defend, support and listen to those who remain vulnerable due to my inherent privilege. Most importantly, I will do these things out of respect and love instead of guilt or shame. After all, I did not choose my inherent circumstances but I am responsible for their impacts.

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