Alas, my friend is black. Race wasn’t an issue for us growing up, unless we divulge how I made fun of her little pink curlers that she had to wear to bed, or that hideous all-80’s mushroom hairstyle that she wore. I would also divulge how, when sporting our winter cheerleading skirts, she would advise me to run, not walk, to the nearest tanning salon as my blinding white legs were putting her eyes out. Ugh, sooo dramatic. We won’t talk about the many times she’d just shamefully shake her head at me whenever I tried out one of the latest dance steps in front of her. Ok, she one-upped me there. This white girl could never dance, but I could at least sing better. So there…again.
One of many things we both saw equally well was that there weren’t enough hours in the day to listen to New Edition and ooh-la-la over those 4 sexy baby-faces. If you were a female in high school in mid-late 80s and followed them through to BBD, you’re totally feeling me right now.
Shortly after high school I moved to Orlando from NC, she moved to Atlanta, and as typical of long-distance high school pals, our paths haven’t crossed since other than Facebook and emails. I did make other friends who, just like “C”, reminded me I couldn’t dance (courtesy of my black friends), nor could I cook (courtesy of my Hispanic friends), nor could I speak correctly (courtesy of my Indian friends…ok…to even my white buddies that weren’t originally from the South). Heck, I couldn’t even drink rum the right way (courtesy of my Caribbean buddies). Seriously, at the end of the day, does it really matter how you drink your rum (assuming you’re not hanging over a toilet)?
My oldest son’s one and only serious girlfriend: Hispanic. My middle son’s 2 best friends in the whole wide world: Hispanic and Black. My youngest son’s best friends are of a mixed race as they exist in the form of Pokemon. Should I be concerned? Racial barriers are non-existent to my children. I take that back. Race, itself, is very evident to them, such that the issue is so over-the-top supersensitive, they crack jokes about it. For example, "A" will say his mom's new car is black. "K" will call him a racist and laugh. "B" will say he likes red jellybeans better; "R" will call him a racist and laugh. Sad, that it's gotten this ridiculous, isn't it?
I hate even having to point this out because it almost sounds like we're living per a quota of some sort. Some would say that just because one has black or hispanic or asian friends, that one would still not appreciate the plights of these minorities. Well, a. I am a woman so I am some sort of minority myself, and b. I wasn't exactly at Golgotha either but totally appreciate the whole Jesus sacrifice thing and try to live my life by it.
I’m tired of the predictable cries of racism to anyone who opposes the liberal agenda. I’m tired of aging baby-boomers’ attempts to extend their racial insecurities to my generation and that of my children. I’m tired of being told by the elitist left that I couldn’t possibly be offended by government ownership of the auto industry, healthcare industry and financial industry; that my issue with Obama is that he is black. They simply can’t grasp that it’s the message, not the messenger, that’s being opposed. Um...hello...Pelosi and Reid aren't exactly black liberals and I oppose them for the very same reason. It’s so ironic that the generation before me was so gung-ho on ‘content of character’, yet these are the very people who won’t let go of ‘color of skin’.
I had the pleasure of attending a Town Hall this past Friday night for District 24. Our House Rep, Suzanne Kosmas, was a no-show. She declined before knowing the date and location. Speaking to us was Frantz Kebreau, who expressed our unity as Americans, not (insert race here) Americans. He is the President of the NAACPC , or, National Association for the Advancement of Conservative People of ALL Colors. Lloyd Marcus (Tea Party Express) is CEO.
The association’s Facebook page states:
The concept of a colorblind society is built upon the teachings of our greatest thinkers in society. As Thomas Jefferson once articulated, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…” Here at NAACPC we live our lives by those words. We believe that race is an institution designed to keep like minded citizens apart and separate. The institution of race has given us racism, social and political segregation and numerous barriers both physically and psychologically. The NAACPC stands strong behind the belief that there are no differences in people relative to skin color and in that respect, we ask all of our members to accept 3 oaths prior to joining our cause;
1. I pledge to judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
2. I pledge to expect the same results from individuals based on merit and achievements.
3. I pledge to teach those younger than me that there are no differences in people relative to the color of their skin.
There's my "race". The American one.
Posts
Thank You Sheri.
ReplyDeleteAs people, let us not be divided by such arbitrary values such as race. If we are to be divided, let it be on the issue of morality. In the fight between good and evil, I will stand by you against evil in our time. In that fight, we are family.
Frantz Kebreau
National Director
NAACPC
Sheri: Your Politales on RACISM getting under your SKiN is superb. I especially thought your 3 pledges were something that sh/be sent into the White House. Those 3 boys of yours - 17, 15 & 10 are lucky to have parents who are as open-minded as you are. As for myself (as a 57 years old woman who has SEEN IT ALL, I've just written 3 movie scripts of 6 (in the series) since August of 2009 addressing the TOPIC of RACISM which is certainly at the core of most of our concerns these days. Does it really matter? That's the main question I always wonder when it comes to SKiN color. Continue your thoughts on this topic - as they are so enlightening, Sheri.
ReplyDeletePosted by:
ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
SKiN: Sacred Kinship in Nature
How 10 Beloved Plush Toys Redefine Race (C)2009
Chicago, IL USA
askoopersmith(at)hotmail(dot)com
BLOGSPOT: @ Koopersmithin'
4-11-2010 - 4:18 PM CST
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Thank you both for your comments!
ReplyDelete-You assert that you, "expect the same results from individuals based on merit and achievements" on the basis of there being,"no differences in people relative to the color of their skin."
ReplyDelete-This sounds more like an argument against affirmative action than against racism.
-This pledge leads to some strange conclusions:
1)Do not allow ANY privilege that is not based on merit or achievement. (e.g: affirmative action)
2)Do not discriminate EVER on the basis of race. (not even when it is remedial or helps minorities who are born into disadvantages)
3)But, DO promote the interests of conservatives on the basis that they are conservatives.
Strange, they don't want to give any advantage to minorities, but they do want to advance conservatives. Deny the interests of one group, promote them for another. If that is not discrimination, I don't know what is.
You somehow attributed government ownership of the auto, health-care, and financial industries to the "elitist leftists". I must ask you: 1)Have you already forgotten that 2/3 of those (auto&finance) were bailed out and bought out under the Bush administration? Bush is not a leftist! 2)The government doesn't "own" the health-care industry. Look at Canada's system if you want an example of that.
ReplyDelete"She and I sat next to each other in homeroom for 6 years, were on the cheerleading squad together for too many years to count..."
ReplyDelete-OK, how many years could you possibly have been on the chearleading squad? I'm going to assuming you didn't attend grade school for more than 12 years. So, at the most, you were in the 'squad' for 12 years. I have to ask, You can't count up to 12?
Thank you for reading my blog!
ReplyDeleteMy short response is that I choose to evaluate a person as a human being. AA is simply a by-product that can be applied to race, and I believe the practice to be offensive and insulting. Racial minorities are not the whole of the "disadvatanged" as clearly seen in children (off all colors) born into poverty, therefore I see race- or gender-based AA applications as simply a tool of appeasement rather than an effective solution to a more cultural and/or socioeconomic concern. In my opinion, AA practices, in the long run, only affirm that one class of citizen is less worthy of merit or capable of achievement than another, making that citizen a slave to the benevolence of others. The solution (if there even is one) to this is a whole new concept, of which is not related to this post.
Perhaps I'm not understanding your point, but I do not see how promoting conservative ideas is in any way relevant to racism and/or the practices of AA. Conservative ideas are not bound by color of skin, gender, or class status.
ReplyDelete1) Oh no, I most certainly have not forgotten Bush's signature on TARP! You assert that I am permissive when a (so-called) conservative supports bail-outs. The entire Tea Party movement was built upon this activity, and Bush's signature, and his Republican colleagues, was ultimately the last straw, which is why we saw the beginning of the movement as early as October of 2008 when TARP was signed. That's not to deny democratic involvement, and encouragement, of this financial catastrophe.
ReplyDelete2)When Government has the ability to dictate my means of negotiation with my physician, i.e. the type of insurance policy I carry, and when the Government is inacting policy that will ulitmately drive up the costs, or drive out of business, that same means of negotiations, and when the Government is cutting or proposing to cut payments to physicians which in turn forces physicians et al to deny services to citizens i.e., Medicare, then the Government, in effect, owns the health care industry. At the very least, Congress and this President is purposefully setting the stage for true Universal health care, which will result in more of stated cuts in spending, meaning more control of health care, as seen in Canada.
Actually, yes, I can count up to 12. I can eat soup without dribbling it on my chin, too.
ReplyDeleteI was genuinely excited to see dialogue on my blog, but now I understand your goal. You don't like what I have to say, so you essentially call me stupid. My time is very precious to me, therefore I'll refrain from any responses to your comments on my other posts.
Note to any soup-eating readers out there, my above comment is not to imply that all chin-dribblers are stupid. It was the first example that came to mind. Example, as teenagers ALWAYS pick on each other, mine can't make one mistake while at the dinner table without the other laughing and saying "what, are you stooopid?"
ReplyDeleteI actually do know some adequately educated soup-eating chin-dribblers. I just don't eat out in public with them. *grins*
I always have to ask the question;
ReplyDeleteIs there anything empowering when referring to and/or calling an individual...a MINORITY?
And if so, what does that make you?
I have never been nor will I ever be a Minority. That term is left to those who would like to keep me down. I don't accept it as I don't accept a fate of diminished opportunity or excellence based purely on my skin color.
Emilio, you must strive to get beyond the politics of division. It will only keep all Americans down.
Frantz Kebreau
National Director
NAACPC