"the drama"

No, you didn't offend me. It's funny, because when I worked in Georgia, I was always referred to as "that Yankee woman" ... but the two people who always treated me with respect were the two African American women that I sat between ... Ella and Jackie. We laughingly referred to the three of us as the Oreo sisters. I sat in between them. The other white women on the desk didn't like them very much, but I thought they were very nice, and they treated me with more kindness and respect than the Southerners did. Anyway, when my mom came down to visit me, she said, "Boy, there's sure a lot of coloreds down here." And she whispered it to me, as if it was a big secret. I said, "Mom, this is where there was slavery, so most black people (and I say this as I said it to her) settled." And then I told her the term colored was not a proper term to use, it was derogatory. Back then, the proper term was black. She still uses colored though. You can't change some people (she's 85).

Anyway, I don't refer to myself as a German/Polish/French American ... I just call myself an American. My ancestry is my past. I am of the Caucasian race. We are all human. Whatever our other differences should be celebrated and enjoyed.

I grew up in a predominantly lily white suburb of Chicago, never saw too many black people in school, but my mom taught me to be tolerant of all people (which is funny, considering her later comment). When I went to high school, we had a girl on scholarship at our school who was the only African American girl there and the first one. I went out of my way to be nice to her, knowing how difficult it must be to be an outsider (since I always felt like an outsider because of my weight). I understand how your grandson must feel. Bullies are horrible.

You didn't offend me. These open and honest dialogues are good.

Empathy! A wonderful thing indeed! Jean B. said when she first moved to TN. without her husband that followed,she was treated kindly by some "colored" women. She was in pain and a African American gave her meds.
I have often been in situations where I was the only one of my race. My school was mostlyJewish,and we hung. It was a great time in America as far as preaching love was concerned,as from Tale of Two Cities,"It was the best of times,it was the worse of times,it was the age of wisdom,it was the age of foolishness."
- Charles Dickens
Your mom was not racist at all,she was a person of her times.
Good people are good people,and they spread that,through this I believe hope and acceptance springs.
It is far easier to hate a race,religion,sexual orientation,when is a generalization, when we put a person against these generalities,our thoughts change. How can my grandson hate White people,which he does not,when they are a part of our family. How can he hate Asians,when his best friend is Asian. The young folk in our lives have corrected Olivia and myself if they think they hear a whiff of prejudice.We were talking to AJ the other night about girls,and I said I would rather you date a African American,he frowned and said but grandma,all people are good. I told him people are good,but to say You only date White women,as some men of my race say,is prejudiced because they are choosing a color not a person. We told him this might happen to him,and that would not be a good person.I told him we are happy when White women take these men because it is less we have to worry about,for a man such as this is apt to be not a great person. There is a song in Hair that an African American sings,he names all the names my people have been called,it is deep,as truth usually is.I do not think people wanting their own race are racists,we tend to relate more generally to people with the same background as our own.
I bid thee adieu,fair lady.

Margo,you are loved and respected. I will try even harder to make our "playground" nicer.
Hugs!

(((((HUGS)))))  Margo!!

Love ya.....connie d

The Minister in my church who came to us in October is African American. We are a Caucasian church but have had African Americans attend. I told Pastor that I felt sorry for him in the beginning since we have an abundance of seniors and we were not sure how they would take to this change...or change at all for that matter. He is accepted and loved as is his whole family and the friends that attend too. He is just about the best Pastor we have ever had and he is changing the church for the better. But...back to the conversation...he often refers to himself as African American and also black. I think it is a matter of choice which you choose...I call myself white at times and Causation other times....it depends on my mood I guess.

This is just my own opinion though. Take it or leave it because heck sometimes I do the same to me! ha ha

LOL! Brenda,you are precious.

Aloha dear Brenda....I have to chuckle, too...because you really ARE tryng to be open and accepting. But your sentence "We are a Caucasian church but have had African Americans attend" just says it all. It is the way we think in this country. I find it sad.

I was raised in a Christian Scientist household....and they do not believe in doctors or medical treatment. Also....the times I went to Sunday services there was NO SOUND from the congregation except for singing hymns or giving "testimonials." My little girl mind accepted that as the way things are....until I went to a church service in Hawaii. I walked in and there were BIRDS flying in and out of the open windows!! There were hula dancers, ukelele players, and laughing!! Loud laughing!! I felt like I was on the moon! Their love of their "god" was expressed in how they lived, and shared their lives with each other. I had never known anything like it. So, you see....I am a piece of clay...having been remolded over and over and I have come out loving life, and people, and my own version of a "big kahuna" who I thank every day for my life.

Again....I have to apologize if I've offended. This probably does not belong here.....but I think "family" should be honest and open and try to understand each other.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Dearest Karen,of course it belongs here. Anyone who does not want to read it can "change the channel",LOL.
All of this,has made us who we are. IMHO,my fat is a symptom of my disease,my life contributed to my eating disorder. I have often said food is the "good girl's" drug. We are the sum total of our existence.
The emotional and spiritual,is a part of us. Even Atheism is a belief.
I noticed when we were talking about sleeping in your marvelous thread,you were interested in the natural remedy.
Everything we experienced,especially in our youth,makes us who we are.
Aloha nui loa...smile.

Dearest Karen, you could never offend me. I do understand what you are saying. I sometimes have a difficult time getting across the things that I want to.

To me we are all created equal and should be treated as equal..I feel that there is a lot of racism in the world but I do not believe that it is all from Caucasians either. I hear it from all races....which tells me that we are all created the same.

I meant when I said about the Caucasian church that I belong to is that we are a just that...everyone is Caucasian. We have had many different races attend the church. Whether they be African American, Jewish and  Muslims. We welcome everyone who walks through our doors because we truly believe that we are all the same.

My fear on when my committee and I chose the new Minister and he was not Caucasian the senior people, who are mostly in the 70-90+ age range would have a hard time accepting because of the times they grew up in. I have to say that none of them had a problem and we are one happy family. My Minister jokes about being known around town since he is not white since there are other races in town but not like where he lives. We all feel so comfortable together that we often joke about the differences. I love that we can do that and wish that the whole world could do that.

I also wish that the whole world could be as accepting of each other as we are here on OFF. Nothing makes a difference to us..not color, nationality, thoughts or beliefs. We are all the same here and wouldn't it be wonderful if that could happen in the "real" world?

Sending love and hugs to you, dear sister of mine. And again, you could never offend me...that is one of the great things about this place. We are free to ask and it seems like no one gets offended.

Now I will shut my mouth since it has been going full force for to long!