'Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends'.......

I know I've borrowed that line before, and it's a good one, imo. I did a little surfing this morning. I'm glad I did. It seems my friends are also thinking about some of the same issues that I have been pondering. Maybe I'm just shocked because I'm experiencing the sting of racism directed at me for the first time in my life. I'm not unfamiliar with being treated unfairly--I AM female, and unfortunately, I've met far too many males who have shown great gender bias. In fact, I believe the 'so-called friend' has shown that as well. It is very disturbing. I'm being challenged to dig deep into my own soul and to examine my own prejudices. I want to think I would not be so insensitive, and I hope I'm not being hypocritical. I will do all that I can to be honest with myself about this. I am, afterall, the only person I can change. Maybe I just need to examine the friends I have chosen and reconsider?!

I may be one of a small number of people who found the Wayne County (Detroit) prosecutor, Kym Worthy's speech to be worthwhile. Maybe others have a better understanding of the 'civics lesson' she wove into her speech than I do without having to hear it from her. Maybe it's not that I didn't understand before, but that I appreciated hearing it stated so precisely. I lived for years with a liar, much like the 'good mayor'. I've heard the excuses and the apologies and was told repeatedly that I was the problem--the reason he cheated. Maybe hearing someone address the issue in simple terms was good for my soul. Maybe the words address, also, why I am still so enraged with my friend for his slurs. I've heard them all my life from various people in one form or another in a myriad of circumstances. I worry that we, as a nation, have not progressed--perhaps we've just found elaborate excuses for what we do, or we are generally more accepting of such misconduct. Maybe we don't value morals. Maybe we don't appreciate the meaning of respect.

One of the newscasters at CNN offered commentary as Ms. Worthy gave her live speech. He was apologizing for her 'civics lesson' and for the fact that we had to wait for her to finish it before we could just hear the allegations. I should not be surprised--typically the news is not about seeking truth and the value of the law as much as it is about exploitation--just give us the goods you have on someone--that is what they want to report--the dirt!!!

If I am the only person who found value in what she had to say, whether she was sincere or not, and regardless of how 'condescending' or unnecessary as it may have sounded, then so be it. I think these words are worth remembering:

"You know, the fundamental principles of the justice system are fairly simple. We learned them as children. They aren't hard: tell the truth, take responsibility for your actions, admit when you're wrong, play fair and be fair, don't take or use things that aren't yours, and there are consequences for bad behavior. Even children understand that lying is wrong. "

Enough said.

How do you interpret this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_trash

Does the term 'white trash' qualify as a racial slur to you?!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs#W

So maybe this is how I should categorize my......

.....so-called friend?!?!

A bigot: intolerant person: somebody with strong opinions, especially on politics, religion, or ethnicity, who refuses to accept different views.

Well, at least now I am motivated to look into these issues for clarity on how to label them? Pity that one feels the need to understand this kind of behavior.

Racism and so-called 'friends'....

.....okay, and other subjects I'm pondering.....


I'm mentally and emotionally weary lately. I have lots of thoughts occupying my mind and making my brain tired, which is exactly why I don't feel like taking the time to write them out. But they make me crazy when they just sit there.....getting in the way of living my life and feeling productive. It's a very frustrating feeling.


So rather than spell it all out and elaborate, I think I'll just make note of some of the issues that are causing this pain in my brain!! Getting it out seems carthartic?!


I'm troubled by the political debates going on.....not just the official ones aried between the candidates, but the ones between myself and others.....I'm sure they are happening between folks everywhere. This campaign is unique.


What is troubling me most are comments that surface in conversations that are clearly influenced by what we are being fed by the media. It's frustrating that people are buying into these messages and sharing/using them in conversation/arguments as if they are not aware that they've received them...as if they were given to them subliminally.


Today a 'so-called friend' of mine called me ***'white trash'! He used it in an effort, imo, to win an argument. I suppose he could be considered 'ethnic' though he IS American and that is how I see him. I am digusted that he would stoop so low in order to have the last word. I don't know if my 'friend's' comment to me was a racist one--he says it was just a derogatory remark--either way, I am offended that he used it in reference to me for the sake of winning an argument. Earlier, we had a conversation about Obama and his former minister's remarks, and we talked about racism. I was shocked to find that my friend is truly seeing this political race in terms of race. He stated that he feels McCain represents the 'rich white' population. What is Hillary Clinton if not rich and white?! What a crock!!!!!!!! There are other components to this issue that trouble me (like the references by blacks about their 'all black churches'......if we talked about our churches as 'all white' we would clearly be called racists, right?), but as I stated, my mind is weary, and I just don't feel like going into detail just now....maybe later I will?!?!


And then there is the issue of sexual misconduct by politicians and how it is perceived. I read a comment somewhere that attacked a black spokesperson as catering to a white audience because the black person was not defending a black person accused of a crime that they likely committed. Why can't the black people just be seen as people and not as a race, and if the crime was committed, seen as a crime by a citizen for which they deserve punishment?!?! I guess what I'm saying is that I feel there is definitely what I would consider reverse discrimination in both of these situations I've mentioned. In both cases if the races were reversed and the allegations made by a white person....they would be considered racist, yet I feel when an ethnic/and or black person makes the remark, they are NOT seen as racist....or we're made to feel we should not call it that?!?


My 'so-called friend' has made me feel that he is a racist by the remark he made to me today. I believe this is why I am concerned about the words we hear coming from candidates and those people speaking for or about /in reference to them. There is racism on both sides. I'm tired of hearing that whites are predominately racist. I think there are many 'minorities' who fall into this category as well. It troubles me, especially in this election. I can only hope that it opens a 'dialogue' that heals this ongoing issue rather than perpetuates it. My fear is that we are becoming even more divided.


As for the sex scandals, my only question is: 'If Kilpatrick is found guilty of a crime, then why wasn't Bill Clinton found guilty of similar charges?' I may be wrong, but I think if you read the list of allegations presented today toward Kilpatrick, many of them would apply to Bill Clinton's tryst with Monica Lewinsky. Am I wrong? (Okay, I've been told that Clinton did not lie under oath.....no, only on national television in front of all those who elected him as their president....pahlease!!!!)


Okay...I've had my say for today!!! Whew, I feel better getting this off my chest!!!!

~~~~~~~
***Note....I spoke with my 'friend' further about the derogatory remark, as he labelled it, and I want to note that I do not take the accusation personally, because I do not think I am 'white trash'; therefore, the term does not apply to me. My complaint about the term is that someone would use it as a means for dealing with a problem. It is, at the very least, a low blow, and more about the person using it than vice versa. I feel it can be used in a number of ways, and I do feel that it can be considered a very racist remark. I'm open to feedback. I just feel there are better ways to resolve issues between people.....to resort to name-calling is an immature way to 'problem-solve'. How would YOU view this remark?

Does marriage make you smarter?!

If so, then does divorce (and a marriage that leads to it) make you dumber?!?! I'm just asking!?!