thank you

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Posted by jolynn on September 18, 2001 at 21:40:20:

In reply to: Re: sad news of hate posted by Maureen on September 18, 2001 at 14:11:43:

Thnak you , Maureen. I think that story hit me hard because I grew up
just outside of Rochester. Even growing up in a small rural town in
Minnesota I never learned bigotry first hand. It always shocked me
that people could treat someone badly just because their skin had more
or less pigment, or they spoke differently, or their features varied
more than others, etc.

My boys are 6 and 4. They have never 'seen' another kid's color, they
are just a kid. When one of the kids on the school bus called the
Mexican girl on the bus an "Indian" and made fun of her because she
can't speak English well, Duncan told him that he was being mean and
shouldn't do that. I was so proud of him. I hope that is how they
will always be. Even as little of this as they do understand they
blame on 'the bad man with the gun' they saw on tv. If they can figure
it out, why can't the adults?

Hopefully reason will return to the hot headed soon.
-j.

: Hi Jolynn,
:
: There was a similar story reported on the news here. It may have
: been the same event. I can't remember where it occurred but the man
: was reported to have been Pakistani on one station and Lebonese on
: another station. Even the news media did not bother to get correct
: his nationality and neither bothered to identify him by name. It is
: so easy for some to generalize hatred...too easy. It is so easy in
: subtle ways to live indifferently. This is the United States of
: America.
:
: This is the same United States that has shown intolerance to
lesbians
: and gays and failed in many states to afford them the same
: protections and rights under the law as its other citizens. The
same
: United States in which African Americans are confronted on a daily
: basis with racism and descrimination and some Native Americans still
: live on reservations. There is a list that can be created. And
: daily US citizens have chosen to turn blind eyes to it...deaf ears
to
: it...have perpetrated and/or perpetuated it. The US is indeed many
: of the wonderful things that we all love and hold dear about it. It
: is all of the things that make our eyes water when
: singing "America". But what puts anyone that might possibly be
: looked upon as Middle Eastern in jeopardy in this country right now
: is a continuation of a level of hatred, bigotry, descrimination,
: intolerance, and aggression acted out in ways that are not new to
our
: country. In ways too many have been comfortably indifferent to.
: People will use last Tuesday's disaster as another excuse to act out
: hatred. I do not expect the behavior of people who could commit
such
: acts to change. I just wonder how many of those who have lived
: indifferently and comfort corrupt will see...hear...speak out...and
: take action. This is the US confronting its deepest...darkest
: internal issues.
:
: More than the bombs that will be unleashed...the hatred that has
been
: unleashed will be what devastates ultimately. I can not explain the
: depth of my sadness. I am out of tears. But I feel you.
:
: Maureen
:
: Concerning the "Holy War", there is nothing more frightening than
the
: self proclaimed "righteous"!
:
:

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: Thnak you , Maureen. I think that story hit me hard because I grew up : just outside of Rochester. Even growing up in a small rural town in : Minnesota I never learned bigotry first hand. It always shocked me : that people could treat someone badly just because their skin had more : or less pigment, or they spoke differently, or their features varied : more than others, etc. : : My boys are 6 and 4. They have never 'seen' another kid's color, they : are just a kid. When one of the kids on the school bus called the : Mexican girl on the bus an "Indian" and made fun of her because she : can't speak English well, Duncan told him that he was being mean and : shouldn't do that. I was so proud of him. I hope that is how they : will always be. Even as little of this as they do understand they : blame on 'the bad man with the gun' they saw on tv. If they can figure : it out, why can't the adults? : : Hopefully reason will return to the hot headed soon. : -j. : : : Hi Jolynn, : : : : There was a similar story reported on the news here. It may have : : been the same event. I can't remember where it occurred but the man : : was reported to have been Pakistani on one station and Lebonese on : : another station. Even the news media did not bother to get correct : : his nationality and neither bothered to identify him by name. It is : : so easy for some to generalize hatred...too easy. It is so easy in : : subtle ways to live indifferently. This is the United States of : : America. : : : : This is the same United States that has shown intolerance to : lesbians : : and gays and failed in many states to afford them the same : : protections and rights under the law as its other citizens. The : same : : United States in which African Americans are confronted on a daily : : basis with racism and descrimination and some Native Americans still : : live on reservations. There is a list that can be created. And : : daily US citizens have chosen to turn blind eyes to it...deaf ears : to : : it...have perpetrated and/or perpetuated it. The US is indeed many : : of the wonderful things that we all love and hold dear about it. It : : is all of the things that make our eyes water when : : singing "America". But what puts anyone that might possibly be : : looked upon as Middle Eastern in jeopardy in this country right now : : is a continuation of a level of hatred, bigotry, descrimination, : : intolerance, and aggression acted out in ways that are not new to : our : : country. In ways too many have been comfortably indifferent to. : : People will use last Tuesday's disaster as another excuse to act out : : hatred. I do not expect the behavior of people who could commit : such : : acts to change. I just wonder how many of those who have lived : : indifferently and comfort corrupt will see...hear...speak out...and : : take action. This is the US confronting its deepest...darkest : : internal issues. : : : : More than the bombs that will be unleashed...the hatred that has : been : : unleashed will be what devastates ultimately. I can not explain the : : depth of my sadness. I am out of tears. But I feel you. : : : : Maureen : : : : Concerning the "Holy War", there is nothing more frightening than : the : : self proclaimed "righteous"! : : : :
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