It may be that I live in a fantasy world. Perhaps I am truly blinded by my life and experience and my "privilege", whatever that really means. The hate and violence of the weekend in Virginia is not the America I know.
In my life there are bad black people, bad white people and bad Hispanics. There are even more black and brown and white people who worry about bills, love their kids and root for their favorite sports team. We wake up and get on with the business of living without focusing on race or religion or politics every minute of the day. We work. We live.
I will not pretend I am color blind. I do notice if a person has darker skin than I do. I also notice hair color and tattoos and how you are dressed. And yes, I occasionally make judgments. Sorry, if you are sporting a Hell's Angels vest I am going to steer clear. The same goes for tear drops inked on your face. I will also form an opinion if you have a burned cross and rebel flag on your farm or are sporting a Black Lives Matter T-Shirt.
In my America you go to your church or synagogue or not. It is none of my business. You vote how you do. Maybe we agree and maybe we don't. You are probably wrong, but that doesn't mean we can't sit together and enjoy our kids' Little League game. Amazingly, politics rarely is a topic of discussion in my America. I have never talked religion, or Trump, or how I vote with a single one of my neighbors.
In my world the number of folks who actually "March" and protest and riot are, well, frankly non-existent; they are the fringe.
Of course bigots live and breathe. They are our neighbors and co-workers.They take your money at he store, the bank, the restaurant. They manage to get through the day without letting hate consume them. I am not dragged into their petty world.
Most of us just don't care what color your skin is. If you are surrounded by people who think of that aspect first, I suggest you find new friends.
On the other hand, I just might not live in the real America.
That is the America I see too
ReplyDeleteI think many live in your America. The critical question is what does that America do in response to Charlottesville? Stay quiet? Stand up? Or it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't touch you?
ReplyDeleteThose are real questions. Not judging - honestly asking.
Doesn't removing statues and/or allowing protesters to tear them down amount to book burning?
DeleteI believe if the Alt right group had been allowed to have a peaceful protest - we would have all sat back and chuckled at their stupidity but the left will not allow thoughts not their own.
I work with blacks. Guys I don't know are pleasant, hold the door if I'm behind them, and ask how my day is.
ReplyDeleteAnd I return or initiate the favor.
Same at Cracker Barrel on Sunday.
Of course we all work.