103. Mark Charles – Unsettling Truths

Mark Charles, the author of Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, is a dual citizen of the United States and the Navajo Nation running as an Independent candidate for the U.S. presidency. Mark is a thought-provoking writer and public speaker whose mission is to create a country where the words “We the People” means “all the people.” Together with his family and supporters, Mark advocates for a path of common memory and healing for the nation through a Truth + Conciliation Commission. Mark joins me today to share his experience living in the Navajo Nation and what he realized about the marginalized and disenfranchised. He explores how the enduring social issues of today are institutionalized and deeply rooted in history. He explains what the Doctrine of Discovery is and how it perpetuates white supremacy. He also reveals how trauma and the lack of knowledge on American history hinders racial dialogue and emphasizes the importance of agreeing as a nation on the meaning of life. “The way we live and who we are has to reflect our value for life. We have to agree that ‘we the people’ means ‘all the people.’” – Mark Charles This week on The School for Good Living Podcast: Mark’s background, ancestry, and what life is about for himWhat it means to ‘walk in duty’ for the Navajo peopleThe practice of walking and praying with the sun and its benefitsHow Mark maintains his connection with Creation and the world despite living in urban citiesGrowing up disconnected from his ancestry and the reason Mark decided to move from Denver, CO to live in the Navajo NationThe need to create a common memory and to look at issues from an intersectional perspectiveHow ‘We the People’ are the most misunderstood words in American historyWhat the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ is, its institutionalization, and how it perpetuates social issues and racial injusticeThe different levels of trauma and how they make it difficult to have conversations about social issuesPerpetrator-induced trauma and why people disrupt the racial dialogueExposing an “apology” buried in the 2010 Defense Appropriations ActMark’s First 100 Day Plans and his proposed amendments to the U.S. ConstitutionThe importance of writing a collective value for life in the ConstitutionResources Mentioned: Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark CharlesA People’s History of the United States by Howard ZinnPagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery by Steven NewcombWhite Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngeloPerpetration-Induced Traumatic Stress: The Psychological Consequences of Killing by Rachel Macnair‘We the People’ – The Three Most Misunderstood Words in U.S. HistoryNative LandConnect with Mark Charles: Mark Charles 2020 WebsiteWirelesshogan: Reflections from the HoganMark Charles on TwitterMark Charles on InstagramMark Charles on YouTubeMark Charles on FacebookSubscribe, Rate & Share! Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the School for Good Living Podcast, with your host, Bryan Miller. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave us a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And be sure to share your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to inspire others to improve their lives and reach their full potential. The post 103. Mark Charles – Unsettling Truths first appeared on School for Good Living Podcasts.