MLK Weekend

[Franny]

Where are you? Alpharetta? Or the surrounding Roswell/Cumming areas? Just wondering b/c we are just moved from that area down here and we are a multiracial family, who definitely stood out around there. Many of the African American families did talk about not having enough multi-culturalism there, but that they also wanted the pluses of living in that area.

Sadly, race still does come up today. Talking about it freely makes it lose its hold over people, though. It is part of what makes a person who he/she is, but it should not be a determinating factor in being friends, hiring or falling in love with another person. You can't take away the color of one's skin, although it means very little, as in I look "white," but I have African, Native American, European, etc. in me.

We talk with our children about it continuously because we want them to know it's a safe subject and it takes away the taboo of it all.

Ironically, while typing this message, my 3 year old wanted me to comb her hair straight. She has the corkscrew curls but knows that it makes her different from others, including her older sister. It is something that I felt would happen with at least one of our children, as their are sociological studies that show "white" features are preferred over "black" features, even in small African American children. There was a video taken of a study where small children were asked to choose which doll they liked better, a white or a black doll. All of the African American children chose the white doll, because they said it was "prettier" than the black doll. No matter how many times I saw that film, I cried.

My oldest daughter and I were talking about MLK Jr and Rosa Parks today. She said, he was trying to help the world and someone killed him. But even in his death, MLK has done so much to help this world. Being able to talk about his life and his achievements with each other still keeps his dream alive.

My wish is that one day, we will all be able to celebrate the rainbow of colors of everyone's skin and not have to pretend that there are not differences in shades and hues. Everyone is beautiful in their own right. That is what we need to focus on. Colorblindness will keep us blind.

Beautiful! After the first post I did not want to read more and now I am so happy that I did. God Bless Martin Luther King.

 

[6thGen]

I think that a racist is someone who talks about Dr. King's "morals" as if his personal decisions have anything to do with his "dream" for african americans and all people of the world.

Tootsie,
That is a non sequitur and incredibly ignorant. I'd expect any Christian preacher to practice what they preach. I would have said the same thing on Bakker if the government named a holiday after him. I have a problem with a man that preaches morality, and lives far more an immoral life than his congregation. I have a problem with a man that preaches equality, then expects race based compensation (not for all minorities, mind you, just American blacks). It all boils down to consistency. As I mentioned before, his actions undermined his great and powerful speeches. The fact that you are too small minded to grasp that does not reflect on me. Until you are a little better read, I'd suggest that you keep the racist barbs to yourself.

 

[Teresa]

Tootsie,
That is a non sequitur and incredibly ignorant. I'd expect any Christian preacher to practice what they preach. I would have said the same thing on Bakker if the government named a holiday after him. I have a problem with a man that preaches morality, and lives far more an immoral life than his congregation. I have a problem with a man that preaches equality, then expects race based compensation (not for all minorities, mind you, just American blacks). It all boils down to consistency. As I mentioned before, his actions undermined his great and powerful speeches. The fact that you are too small minded to grasp that does not reflect on me. Until you are a little better read, I'd suggest that you keep the racist barbs to yourself.

his personal life may not meet with your approval, but his courage to "dream" made all the difference for so many people in our country and beyond. that's all I'm saying.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Tootsie,
That is a non sequitur and incredibly ignorant. I'd expect any Christian preacher to practice what they preach. I would have said the same thing on Bakker if the government named a holiday after him. I have a problem with a man that preaches morality, and lives far more an immoral life than his congregation. I have a problem with a man that preaches equality, then expects race based compensation (not for all minorities, mind you, just American blacks). It all boils down to consistency. As I mentioned before, his actions undermined his great and powerful speeches. The fact that you are too small minded to grasp that does not reflect on me. Until you are a little better read, I'd suggest that you keep the racist barbs to yourself.

6thGen, I don't think your statement is racist. Speaking of Christianity, I believe the word on the street is that all humans are imperfect. Don't get me started on the Catholic Church leaders. I hear you on the expectations we have of others, but in truth, the only people we can control are ourselves, and too often, we cannot even do a good job of that. Go see my thread regarding the chocolate chip cookies and you will see that I know better than to eat an entire sleeve of cookies, but my stomach over-rides my brain sometimes, so I never know what to expect from even myself. ;-)

 

[6thGen]

his personal life may not meet with your approval, but his courage to "dream" made all the difference for so many people in our country and beyond. that's all I'm saying.

I'll spell it out for you. His belief in practicing race based compensation (specifically government subsidies and job programs) undermines his message of equality, or judging a man by his character rather than skin color (notice he's the one that brought up character, not me). Beside that fact, any economics 101 student understands that the subsidy programs do more harm than good for the individual that the government is supposedly trying to help. Second, his personal indiscretions undermined his Christian message, not necessarily his political speeches.

 

[whiteyfunn]

:roll:

 

[6thGen]

6thGen, I don't think your statement is racist. Speaking of Christianity, I believe the word on the street is that all humans are imperfect. Don't get me started on the Catholic Church leaders. I hear you on the expectations we have of others, but in truth, the only people we can control are ourselves, and too often, we cannot even do a good job of that. Go see my thread regarding the chocolate chip cookies and you will see that I know better than to eat an entire sleeve of cookies, but my stomach over-rides my brain sometimes, so I never know what to expect from even myself. ;-)

I agree. And I believe that clergy, Protestant or Catholic, who opening and repeatedly engage in questionable actions should be dealt with accordingly.

 

[kathydwells]

Tootsie,
That is a non sequitur and incredibly ignorant. I'd expect any Christian preacher to practice what they preach. I would have said the same thing on Bakker if the government named a holiday after him. I have a problem with a man that preaches morality, and lives far more an immoral life than his congregation. I have a problem with a man that preaches equality, then expects race based compensation (not for all minorities, mind you, just American blacks). It all boils down to consistency. As I mentioned before, his actions undermined his great and powerful speeches. The fact that you are too small minded to grasp that does not reflect on me. Until you are a little better read, I'd suggest that you keep the racist barbs to yourself.

So obviously you do not like the man or what he stood for. You have your opinion, tootsie as well as I, have mine. Ours are different from yours. That is how things work. God forbid we all felt the same about everything.

However, you do not have to attack tootsie for her beliefs. Nor are we attacking you for yours. You can make your point without specifically calling someone "small minded". IMHO.

 

[6thGen]

So obviously you do not like the man or what he stood for. You have your opinion, tootsie as well as I, have mine. Ours are different from yours. That is how things work. God forbid we all felt the same about everything.

However, you do not have to attack tootsie for her beliefs. Nor are we attacking you for yours. You can make your point without specifically calling someone "small minded". IMHO.

But it's cool for her to call me a racist? Gotcha.

 

[Teresa]

But it's cool for her to call me a racist? Gotcha.

I was talking in general about people who discount MLK's ideals and contributions to our nation based on his personal life - they do not know that they are racist, but in many cases they certainly are. in your case, I would say its an absolute. IMO.

I am not saying that Dr King's proposals were all appropriate, but they were a start. we've come a long long way because of his courage to make a difference.