More and more often I wake up wishing I were a black woman. Or a Hispanic woman. Or even a Cocker Spaniel. Because it is getting increasingly difficult to be a member of the white race. And for that matter, to be a man.
The most recent instances are the Starbucks matter in Philadelphia last week, and the incidents at The University of Portland and Syracuse University. I’m not going to explain what happened here. If you live in a bubble and don’t recognize what happened, Google it.
The head of Starbucks, in a grand PR move, announced they are closing all stores for a day for, “training” of their employees. Wonderful. Why is it, in 2018, that we still need to have training for sensitive racial issues? Why are we still having sensitive racial issues? What exactly is slipping through the cracks when employees are being hired in the first place? Why is this not happening as often with black employees treating white customers differently?
And why are young men being raised and taught that it is still okay to make sexist and racist remarks, in light of what has transpired over the past few years? Who exactly are their role models? Where are their mothers? Their aunts. Their sisters?
I always intended this blog to be primarily entertaining, but more and more it is getting difficult to ignore the issues growing out of control around us. With all of the global conflict and political slop ongoing, the two main issues continue to be racial and sexist discrimination.
In movies, George Burns played God. He was white. Morgan Freeman played God. He is black. And he was much more convincing, don’t you think?
For members of the white race who think this does not pertain to them, go back and watch the 1967 film, “Guess who’s coming to dinner”. Watch the entire film. And then, afterwards, look in the mirror and tell yourself how you really see yourself. Or better yet, watch the recently released, “Hidden Figures”. I’m not kidding, do it.
Regardless of how many awards it won, I didn’t (and won’t) see, “The Handmaid’s Tale”. Why would I…why would anyone want to watch something that deals with the mistreatment of women in such a manner?
Bigotry and sexism are two of the worst plagues on our society. Of course there are many, many more. But those two are holding us back from becoming a better society. A decent society. Isn’t that what we’re really talking about here, just being decent? Not stellar, not special…just, decent.
Here’s the positive thing, these two things are easily changeable. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN. I realize it is not quite that simple. But it is. Teach them what is right and what is wrong. Just as simply as explaining it is not okay to steal, that you must share. That you can’t butt ahead in line, you must wait your turn. Treat everyone with respect. Treat everyone as equal…not because you have to, but because they ARE equal. Treat them in a manner in which you want to be treated. I’ve yet to meet anyone who wants to be abused or discriminated against.
Obviously, the problem is, the people doing the teaching are not always those best equipped to be doing so. And children ALWAYS exemplify what they see. Even if it is subtle. Always.
White people seem to get bent out of shape when there is a black uprising every time a “Starbucks” type situation occurs. Many that’s because it is still happening. And it no longer needs to be. I’ve read, and I’ve heard them respond, “What’s the big deal, why didn’t the two men just up and leave and not say anything?” The people asking those questions didn’t have their ancestors dragged off in chains or were being told where to sit, where to eat, and where they could go to school.
Like the men accusing women today of being too sensitive. “Relax gals, it’s only a joke”. These are the same men, that if you made a similar overture towards their 16 year old daughter they’d be prepared to fight you to the death. They protect their own, but for everyone else, there are no rules. They are forgetting that these 16 year old girls grow up and become mothers and raise men of their own and so it goes on and on.
White people, wake up and realize you are no different and no better than anyone else. That you are going to die one day and you just might meet Morgan Freeman instead of George Burns.
And men, strive to be better life forms. I would say human beings, but more and more that’s lowering the bar. Try to treat all women like you would your 16 year old daughter.
If any part of this blog has pissed you off, then you’re part of the problem, not the solution. Please don’t read it anymore.
Trapped in a Happy Life 