I enjoyed reading  the passage from Audre Lorde’s “There Is No Hierarchy of Oppressions.” I completely agree that social issues like racism and homophobia interact with one another and should be treated equally seriously. I have a strong commitment to end the cycles of racism and homophobia. 

Another great read was Patriarchy, the System by Alan Johnson. It’s true that some individuals use the term “the system” as a scapegoat to escape responsibility for social concerns. When it comes down to it, though, it is undoubtedly the consequence of a number of systems, all of which were created by humans and are supported in multiple ways by members of our society. We must look further into the roots of patriarchal thoughts and ideas if the patriarchy is to be overthrown. We continue to be impacted by the systems we build because we live in them, which feeds the cycle. We essentially support a system that harms us just by being here and doing what we must to survive. We feel obligated to take part. It certainly gives me a lot to think about.