In Neighbor, A Handbook, educator and writer Amy Payne enters a conversation with her readers about how to combine understanding with specific actions to reduce today’s societal division. Inspired by the examples set by the young people in her life, she proposes that - one by one - we can choose to create a world where we live with and see one another as Neighbors rather than enemies. Written in an accessible, current, personal way, Neighbor invites the necessary self-reflection, learning, and forever return to Love that choosing this work requires.
The Handbook is broken into two parts. Part one covers the human elements that help or hinder our attempts to be a Neighbor in the largest sense of the word; elements like listening and asking, anger, group loyalty, individuation, calling in, courage. Part two unpacks contemporary language currently used to divide us, language we hear on the air waves day in and day out. Term by term, Payne takes us to the human heart of this language - through explanation, history, intent, example, and personal stories - with the hopes that, by understanding it, we can and will reclaim these terms as tools rather than as weapons for fear, anger, hurt, and further isolation.
In these times, Neighbor, A Handbook is a gesture of hope and a belief in our best selves. While so many of the world’s leaders in politics, religion, and media seem intent on proving why we should no longer care about loving the world around us, this book invites us to choose a different path; one where, step by step, we again see and honor one another’s humanity. Neighbor, A Handbook gives each of us the opportunity to choose the way taught by the many heart-leaders of human history – through finding our own willingness and courage to Love others as much as we love the people in our immediate lives.
Introduction
Part One: Elements of Becoming a Neighbor
Chapter 1: What’s a Neighbor Anyway? and The Heroes Who Teach Us
Chapter 3: Post-Apocalyptic Stories and If Not You, Who?
Chapter 4: Groups/Group Loyalty
Chapter 6: Good, Bad, and Fragility
Chapter 11: Asking and Listening
Chapter 12: Courage
Part Two: The Terms- Introduction
Chapter 13: Part 2(b), The Terms- Weaponize and Intent vs. Impact
Chapter 14: Part 2(c), The Terms- Politically Correct
Chapter 15: Part 2(d), The Terms- Race
Chapter 16: Part 2(e), Social and Cultural Norms
Chapter 16: Part 2(f), Privilege
Chapter 18: Part 2(h)Ok Boomer
Chapter 19: Part 2(i) Calling In, Calling Out, Cancel Culture
Chapter 20: Part 2(j) Marginalized
Chapter 21: Part 2(k), Racial Prejudice, Racism, Reverse Racism, Anti-Racist
Chapter 22: Part 2 (l), White Supremacy
Chapter 23: Part 2 (m), Systemic Racism
Chapter 24: Part 2 (n), White Privilege (Boosted by Medium)
Chapter 25: Part 2 (o), White Fragility
Chapter 26: Part 2 (p), Critical Race Theory (Given Top Race Writer badge by Medium)
Chapter 27: Part 2 (q), Intersectional, Intersectional Feminism (and looking at sources)
Chapter 28: Part 2 (r), Cultural Appropriation
Chapter 29: Part 2 (s), Sex, Gender, and Sexuality, An Introduction
Chapter 30: Part 2 (t), Spectrum
Chapter 31: Part 2 (u), Sex
Chapter 32: Part 2 (v), Gender
Chapter 33: Part 2 (w), Gender Norms
Chapter 34: Part 2 (x), Gender Identity, Gender Terms, Litterboxes and Groomers
Chapter 35: Part 2 (y), Gender Pronouns
Chapter 36: Part 2 (z), Gender Expression
Chapter 37: Part 2 (za), Consent
Chapter 38: Part 2 (zb), Sexuality
Chapter 39: Part 2 (zc), The Weaponization of Sexuality
Chapter 40: Part 2 (zd) Patriarchy (Boosted by Medium)
Chapter 41: Part 2 (ze) Woke
Final Chapter, 42: Part 2 (zf) Ally