A Word to My Critic(s)

Wow. I had no idea of the breadth of my readership, obviously, until "Grace" weighed in. (See comments on previous post.) And what I'm about to do is wrong, so wrong, because taking on people like "Grace" is like beating up on a cripple--but anyways, "Grace," I will address your "points," as the judges say, seriatim:

1. "I'm just wondering how happy you will be in say 10 years when your little daughter or grand daughter are dating or even marrying one of your neighbor's sons?" I don't know how I'll feel, "Grace." It depends on what this hypothetical prospective son-in-law is like. I imagine I'll ask the usual questions: Is he kind to my daughter? Does he love her? Is he employed? Does he have baggage (vengeful ex, 3 kids from a previous marriage etc.)? But since you and I obviously won't live in the same neighborhood, "Grace," given your take on things, I'm pretty sure he won't be your son. Which, frankly, is a point in his favor, sight unseen.

2. "You can say whatever you want but there is a REASON why this country is racially divided. It's called HISTORY!" .....Class, this is a perfect example of the logical fallacy known as "begging the question," frequently referred to as "circular reasoning." In it, the person derives a "conclusion" from a premise that looks remarkably like the conclusion--and which, in fact, is just a restatement of the conclusion. Thus: "There's a reason...." and "It's called HISTORY" say the same thing, but to the careless reader it might seem as if there is some brain action going on here. Not so. No brain action to see here, folks. Move along.

3. "A person, or a group's past is a fantastic indicator of what their future looks like." Okay, turn off "Dr. Phil" right now, and back away from the TV slowly. Yes, I know Dr. Phil says "the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior," and Dr. Phil has a teensy little point there. But, interestingly, it's not the point I was writing about. I was writing about this thing called "evolution," also known as "change."  But I sense I've lost you here, "Grace," so I'll boil it down for ya: You may be the same dumb shit you were in 1964, but not all of us are.

4. "Drive down Martin Luther King Blvd. in any city, in any state and tell me what you see! I'll tell you... you will see drug addicts, gang members, losers who mooch off the govt. and refuse to get up and WORK for a living, violence, and worse than all of the above... you will see a group of hateful, angry, human beings!" Really. Is this true? DRUGS and VIOLENCE in the inner city? People on WELFARE? Why wasn't I told?? But seriously, "Grace," what you say is true, but it's not all of the truth. Because I've been on streets like that (more than you have, I dare say) and I've met plenty of other kinds of people, too. Pity you can see only people who look like you. What? You don't see the resemblance? You were distracted by the skin tone, probably.

5. "Facts are Facts and I don't want that in my neighborhood, feeling up my daughter, like a disease, infecting my grandchildren.... You may want to re-think your thougths." This is unintentionally funny, "Grace"--I suspect facts will never get anywhere near your neighborhood, much less in your brain--but what I think you meant to say is that people of a different race (because, really, your way of thinking is hardly confined to African Americans, I'm sure) are "like a disease." A lecherous disease, too, because they'd be feeling up your daughter, etc. And that's where this stops being funny, and I'm not making any more jokes. In fact I'm blocking you from my site, "Grace," because I think I know all I ever want to know about your take on things. See ya.

Comments

[Sher]

While I understand the reasoning, maybe Grace should not have been blocked - it is my firm belief that if someone uses their right to free speech, there is a responsibility to hear the effect of their words.

"A person, or a group's past is a fantastic indicator of what their future looks like."

That statement made my blood boil. If that were true - I would be abusing my children. As that was the norm in the previous generations of my blood line. Thank god for evolution, I was able to recognise the ERRORS of the past and am working hard not to make the same mistakes. My children are growing up in a loving home.(I am NOT saying the problems of race are caused by themselves, I am only applying Graces statement of *fact* to my personal situation - and proving it wrong!)
Did it ever occur to you that the idea of reviewing history is to LEARN from it? Not to draw conclusions.

Like Tracey I too am grateful I have seen change and have been part of the change. And if we keep encouraging change - our children will live in an even better world.

Finally Grace, Bite me.

[Marieka]

I just wanted to say that you dispatched "Grace" very, very elegantly.

[thordora]

Wow. You were a LOT more polite than I would have been.

Sad to think those people still exist.

[Laurel Spence]

"Pity you can see only people who look like you. What? You don't see the resemblance? You were distracted by the skin tone, probably."

Good one there, Tracy! Two thoughts here: 1.) Don't we all need to look past the surface to get to the real person anyway? If we let something so super-ficial as looks or so unchangeable as a person's race stop us from getting to know others, learn different points of view and to understand that our particular point of view is not necessarily "the only way" to think, then our view is incredibly narrow and we are highly likely to sink into a pit of fear, skepticism, and paranoia by refusing to understand that differences are a GIFT! We are not the same - on purpose - we are designed to be unique! Why are we so afraid???
2.) Perhaps this type of narrow thinking (exhibited by "Grace," who could really stand to live up to her name a bit, eh?) explains why our society does gain comfort in the superficial - the "looking good" - driving the great car, wearing nice clothes, spending hours in front of the mirror and wearing our masks of perfection...all the while we are dying inside - crying out for understanding, for love and empathy. Who do we think we are anyway?

In honor of Easter I will mention that Jesus called the religious leaders of his day "white washed tombs" - who looked good on the outside, but were filled with death and decay on the inside.

Why don't we spend some time on our "insides" this Easter weekend and let the fear and hate go...making room for discovery of the other...

Laurel Spence, Houston, TX

[Becky]

Wow, Tracy. Just wow.