Race Relations.

Hi friends~

There’s a bit of brouhaha in blog-land about a friend named B who has been allegedly ‘race baiting’ other bloggers, ostensibly to draw traffic to his site. Several (including me) were lured by ‘bait’ only to end up ensnared in some of the most toxic, racially charged speech I’ve seen on blogs. This whole deal is not helpful, folks; not helpful to go there & certainly not helpful to participate. I tried very hard to leave carefully worded, respectful comments only to be ignored by the author. It seemed that only remarks which carried incendiary content were addressed, usually w/ equally toxic content from the author.

I've decided not to return to that blog, but did make one last trip to retrieve my comments. It’s important for me to state my case here, & below is one of them. (BTW, when my friend B decides to engage in authentic, productive discussion of ‘race relations’ I'll gladly return to his site. I invite him to comment here at any time, stating his intention to do so.)

Sus' response to B & P's comments:
B said: "All African Americans do not curse, listen to crazy rap music or dress in ways that are beneath me morally nor professionally. We do not run around the streets as drug addicts stealing and killing, and driving drunk." & then P said, "There is NO racism where we live. But in the South, racism is still prevalent."

Okay, I was pleasantly surprised to have B visit my blog & we had an interesting exchange in my comments. Regarding his comment above - of course not! Anyone who buys into that offensive stereotype is a boob. My Senior Pastor (a very kind & wise, Spirit-filled black man) would no doubt agree.

As for P's comment: Sorry, but do you live in the South? How would you know about which you speak except for the stereotype you've heard & perpetuated? I'd like to challenge your stereotype of 'The South.' To use B's template: we aren't all beer drinkin', redneck, KKK sheet wearing, hayseed, skinhead racists. My experience is that people go out of their way to dispel the stereotype. Maybe, just maybe, we're more aware & sensitive than the rest of the country. Ever contemplated that?

Folks could try to understand MY life perspective one of these days...I'm so weary of being lumped into such an offensive 'type' simply because of where I live. (MY ancestors were Scots - basically enslaved, brutalized, raped & murdered by the Brits for hundreds of years. Finally, we were stripped of our own culture -annihilated it, really- pushed out of our country & forced into indentured servitude in the 'New World' where we were unwelcome...sounding familiar??)

Sorry, but I am proud to be Southern, NOT racist, Master's level educated from a University who just lost (badly) in the NCAA Tournament. And I’m not complaining because nobody wants to try & understand me. I don't even care!

I'm living my life, serving my Savior, loving my husband & raising our family. I did NOT support Barack Obama, cannot abide what he & his friends doing to our country. But my politics versus Mr. Obama's has NOTHING to do with his race. NOTHING. And I will not be quiet about that.

Sad thing is, I'll be thought to be racist b/c of where I live & my politics. THAT's what really bugs me. Folks that are so quick to be offended @ perceived racism really don't see that they're doing the SAME thing to people like me - w/o even knowing who I am.

Whew! On my own blog, on a fresh day, I’m happy to share my true thoughts about race relations. Here it is in a nutshell:



People. The universe doesn’t revolve around humanity. It really isn’t all about us…

& thanks be to God for that!

~~~