Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Racism
I don't know why I let things like this bother me...seriously, I should avoid newsxb of all forms so I can just focus on happy thoughts, but I was reading this article on Yahoo this morning, and I don't know what was more disturbing: the article or the crazy people who comment on the article. Seriously? Are these people for real, and if so, why are they roaming the earth? I think I'd like to be racist against dumb people.
Racism is a sad thing, no doubt. Though I also don't think we should be so overly sensitive either. Have I just been oblivious as a child to "stereotypical" antics just to be entertained and wasn't even aware of it? When I was watching Speedy Gonzales and Slowpoke Rodriguez, was I laughing at the expense of another Mexican child crying? When I was in 5th grade and painted my face black to sing "You Be Illin'" at our school's talent show, was I really being insensitive to the black students at our school? Surely, I didn't do it intentionally. It honestly never crossed my mind! I just wanted to look like DMC.
I also think - and I'm being completely honest here - that maybe white people aren't imitated and mocked (or offended) because we are so boring. For real! We have no culture, no defined thing that sets us apart from other races. How do you make fun of a white person? I dunno - put on sunscreen and eat a cheeseburger!? Wear a polo shirt and khakis? Seriously, if you were to throw a "white person"-themed party, what would you decorate with? What would you serve? What would you encourage your guests to wear? Can't come up with too much, can you? Maybe that's why no one wants to throw a caucasin themed party - cause it would be boring! I guess its because America is such the melting pot that there is hardly one dominate race anymore. What is race anyway?? White people can be described as American, French, Australian, Jewish, British....just like black people can be American, Nigerian, Haitian, or Trinidadian. It's just a skin color. So, why all the animosity?
I'm just defending not so much the Compton Cookout, but more so the Tijuana Sunrise party. (I have no idea what these parties consisted of or to what extent they went to). I guess I am guilty of throwing a Mexican Fiesta party myself, complete with Mexican decorations, sombreros, and Mexican food. Does that make me a racist against Mexicans? Does that mean I was mocking Mexican people? I am fully aware that my Mexican friends do not wear sombreros on a daily basis and that it is just a symbol of their heritage. I also threw a Luau. Does that mean I was mocking Hawaiians? I guess I am just so confused where the line is and when it is actually crossed.
White hood, I get. KKK, I get. Even a noose, to an extent, I understand. Those are all clear symbols of racism made to hurt others. Symbols of hate. It's ashame really that people have nothing more to do with their time than concentrate on hurting others.
It's sad that people would try to make others feel uncomfortable in the skin they're in. All I keep telling myself is that all I can do is raise my children to love everyone, and in this case, I would hope ignorance is bliss. If I don't put those negative thoughts in their heads, maybe they won't even give it a second thought. Hate breeds hate. Hopefully love breeds love too.
Racism is a sad thing, no doubt. Though I also don't think we should be so overly sensitive either. Have I just been oblivious as a child to "stereotypical" antics just to be entertained and wasn't even aware of it? When I was watching Speedy Gonzales and Slowpoke Rodriguez, was I laughing at the expense of another Mexican child crying? When I was in 5th grade and painted my face black to sing "You Be Illin'" at our school's talent show, was I really being insensitive to the black students at our school? Surely, I didn't do it intentionally. It honestly never crossed my mind! I just wanted to look like DMC.
I also think - and I'm being completely honest here - that maybe white people aren't imitated and mocked (or offended) because we are so boring. For real! We have no culture, no defined thing that sets us apart from other races. How do you make fun of a white person? I dunno - put on sunscreen and eat a cheeseburger!? Wear a polo shirt and khakis? Seriously, if you were to throw a "white person"-themed party, what would you decorate with? What would you serve? What would you encourage your guests to wear? Can't come up with too much, can you? Maybe that's why no one wants to throw a caucasin themed party - cause it would be boring! I guess its because America is such the melting pot that there is hardly one dominate race anymore. What is race anyway?? White people can be described as American, French, Australian, Jewish, British....just like black people can be American, Nigerian, Haitian, or Trinidadian. It's just a skin color. So, why all the animosity?
I'm just defending not so much the Compton Cookout, but more so the Tijuana Sunrise party. (I have no idea what these parties consisted of or to what extent they went to). I guess I am guilty of throwing a Mexican Fiesta party myself, complete with Mexican decorations, sombreros, and Mexican food. Does that make me a racist against Mexicans? Does that mean I was mocking Mexican people? I am fully aware that my Mexican friends do not wear sombreros on a daily basis and that it is just a symbol of their heritage. I also threw a Luau. Does that mean I was mocking Hawaiians? I guess I am just so confused where the line is and when it is actually crossed.
White hood, I get. KKK, I get. Even a noose, to an extent, I understand. Those are all clear symbols of racism made to hurt others. Symbols of hate. It's ashame really that people have nothing more to do with their time than concentrate on hurting others.
It's sad that people would try to make others feel uncomfortable in the skin they're in. All I keep telling myself is that all I can do is raise my children to love everyone, and in this case, I would hope ignorance is bliss. If I don't put those negative thoughts in their heads, maybe they won't even give it a second thought. Hate breeds hate. Hopefully love breeds love too.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Joe Stack is whack!
I know I have been MIA, and it's ashame because I hate to have THIS as my comeback post, but I am so frustrated! I am watching Fox News, and they're reporting on this whacko Joseph Stack who flew his plane into the IRS building in Austin, Texas.
What is wrong with people these days? I understand that not everyone is of sound body and mind, and that's been going on for years. It's called mental illness, and I can somewhat wrap my head around that. But what I don't understand is why these people feel the need to kill others to make themselves feel better. To channel their anger, they feel the need to hurt others AND then be the major coward and kill themselves in the process. God forbid we actually stick around and take responsibility for our actions. Not to sound incredibly insensitive, but why not just go kill yourself and get it over with? I am in no way condoning suicide, but I would rather that person take just their own life than plan out this big production and hurt others in the process. Innocent people dying because you are mad at an agency or the government or the country for that matter is just stupid. Since when did suicide go from a private event to something we have to see on the national news?? So, just do us all a favor and get it done quickly and quietly. Or even better, why not get help when you feel yourself spiralling out of control??
It also makes me so mad that people can blame everyone else for their misfortunes except themselves. Yes, bad things happen. Yes, sometimes it's not always fair. But that's life. This has been going on for centuries, and life is what you make of it. Children fighting cancer don't get through it by saying, "oh, woe is me." It's the positive attitude and the will to live that gets them through it, and what more of a crappier hand is that?? Ugh....it's just so frustrating.
And it's not just this Joe Stack whacko...this includes that other nutball that took out fire at Fort Hood or that crazy that shot the students in Alabama or that spineless jerk who killed all the people at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, that's just to name a few, and that's sad. That's hard to stomach for a mother bringing children into the world. It's hard to handle when I can raise my children as best as I can and send them out into the world, and one day some unstable, trigger-happy coward can change everything because he had a bad day. THAT is not fair.
It's time for people to stop blaming everyone else. It's time for people to take responsibility for their actions. It's time for us to start looking on the bright side and making do with what God gave us. Joe Stack, you are WRONG. Violence is NOT the answer, and what you did today will make no difference in your arguement with the government. It will only make us remember you as a sick, pathetic coward of a man, if we remember you at all.
P.S. I am really sorry about the insensitivity on the subject of suicide. I do think that it's a horrible, final thing to do, and I don't think anyone should ever have to get to that point. Life is precious, and there is always someone who is worse off than you are.
What is wrong with people these days? I understand that not everyone is of sound body and mind, and that's been going on for years. It's called mental illness, and I can somewhat wrap my head around that. But what I don't understand is why these people feel the need to kill others to make themselves feel better. To channel their anger, they feel the need to hurt others AND then be the major coward and kill themselves in the process. God forbid we actually stick around and take responsibility for our actions. Not to sound incredibly insensitive, but why not just go kill yourself and get it over with? I am in no way condoning suicide, but I would rather that person take just their own life than plan out this big production and hurt others in the process. Innocent people dying because you are mad at an agency or the government or the country for that matter is just stupid. Since when did suicide go from a private event to something we have to see on the national news?? So, just do us all a favor and get it done quickly and quietly. Or even better, why not get help when you feel yourself spiralling out of control??
It also makes me so mad that people can blame everyone else for their misfortunes except themselves. Yes, bad things happen. Yes, sometimes it's not always fair. But that's life. This has been going on for centuries, and life is what you make of it. Children fighting cancer don't get through it by saying, "oh, woe is me." It's the positive attitude and the will to live that gets them through it, and what more of a crappier hand is that?? Ugh....it's just so frustrating.
And it's not just this Joe Stack whacko...this includes that other nutball that took out fire at Fort Hood or that crazy that shot the students in Alabama or that spineless jerk who killed all the people at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, that's just to name a few, and that's sad. That's hard to stomach for a mother bringing children into the world. It's hard to handle when I can raise my children as best as I can and send them out into the world, and one day some unstable, trigger-happy coward can change everything because he had a bad day. THAT is not fair.
It's time for people to stop blaming everyone else. It's time for people to take responsibility for their actions. It's time for us to start looking on the bright side and making do with what God gave us. Joe Stack, you are WRONG. Violence is NOT the answer, and what you did today will make no difference in your arguement with the government. It will only make us remember you as a sick, pathetic coward of a man, if we remember you at all.
P.S. I am really sorry about the insensitivity on the subject of suicide. I do think that it's a horrible, final thing to do, and I don't think anyone should ever have to get to that point. Life is precious, and there is always someone who is worse off than you are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
