In These Times

ALL Lives Matter.

I am not a racist.

The pigmentation in my skin does not make me one.

I am a human, as are you and all the others of various pigmentations around this globe.

Human.

Not a color in a crayon box. Not a race. Not a racist.

I am not blind to what is happening. It breaks my heart.

But I am not going to erase years of progress with the single act of a terrible human being – and all the acts of the cowards who merely videoed that act instead of stopping it.

The media has declared me a racist because I am “white.”

The media wants to divide us and make us angry and make us activists. Us versus them. They want me to believe deep in my heart I am racist merely because I was born “privileged” and “white.” (I'm merely the latter.) But saying that implies that there aren’t any people of other “colors” who are born into privilege? Isn’t that racist to imply that couldn’t happen based on the fact that they’re not white?

I’ve seen a lot of African Americans who are very well off – some are even quite wealthy. They’ve earned it. They’re privileged and so are their children. They are more than worthy of what they have. Many of the people I attended college with who are other ethnicities are well-educated and earning way more than me.

Does this make them “white” now? Since only “white” people can be privileged?

I am not racist deep in my heart. I love people. Just people. I don’t care what they look like, who they are, what their ancestry is. I might disagree with their actions or attitudes, but that’s not who they are as a person, and their pigmentation does not affect that.

I am not a slave owner. 

I am not and will not be mean to a person based on their “coloring.” 

I do not believe in paying people more or less than what their skills and talents are worth, especially not based on their race.

Despite what the media wants us to believe, we have made great strides against racism. Look around. It is a fair to say that the world has a plethora of "people of different pigmentations" working, living, and educating together. There are still places that have issues, but those are neighborhood issues. (See Chicago and Memorial Day Weekend.) The wrong acts of one person do not equal the sum of the rest of the population’s beliefs.

Go home. Gather your family. Pray for peace. Love your neighbor MORE than yourself. And stop telling me who I am. 

God made you and me who we are. And only He knows our hearts. 

CITIZENSHIP DAY!!!!

Today was a HUGE day for our family -- for Stuart, specifically.

Today is the day that Stuart became an American!

It was something I had said I would never force him to do when we first married. It had to be something he wanted. I didn't mind paying for a Green Card every 10 years.

But Stuart said he wanted to do it, to "belong." And he wanted to vote, to have a voice behind the taxes he pays. He said he would only do it when he could say the Oath and mean it.

And that day had come.

It was a beautiful -- if cold -- day! And we were all so excited and nervous as we headed into Philadelphia. And we were SO proud of him!

Wordless Wednesday -- Happy 4th of July!

Happy Birthday, America!!

Happy 4th of July!
One of my favorite songs from when I was a little girl.

God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.

God bless America,
My home, sweet home.

~ Irving Berlin

Momentous Moment in Time

An historic snapshot!

Freedom Stands

Thanksgiving always brings to mind all the things I love the most yet often take for granted.

I loved this song and video because it reminded me of how thankful I am for freedom...

(Be sure to pause/stop the sidebar music video.)

Proud to Be an American

**The flag Edward designed in art class**

During a science lesson on "Taking Care of Our World" yesterday, Edward and I were learning about pollution and how to prevent it.

The lesson involved a story about "Billy the Bass" who lived in a wonderfully clear stream...that wasn't always that way. (Insert sinister music here.)

Okay. Okay. A little too simplistic, but Edward got the point.

The lesson continued by teaching us how people pollute streams by leaving their trash around instead of...throwing it in the trashcan. It even had an experiment to show how that happens.

All in all, it was a great way to say: Don't Pollute!

At the end of the lesson, I asked Edward what the people could do to help "Billy the Bass." He said all the appropriate answers about throwing out their trash and using less paper products.

Then he added in his usual deadpan way, "They could eat him."

Hmmm....I don't think that's what the K12 curriculum developers had in mind.

* * *

On another note, I love the song I currently have playing on my sidebar video box-thingy(?).

Before I was married and when I'd just started working for the newspaper, I had to find a second job to make ends meet (I certainly can't say I became a journalist for the money). Since I worked in the afternoon/evenings for the newspaper, I found a job in the morning, working for a daycare center as a preschool assistant teacher.

What a hoot!

It was definitely a good form of "birth control" (also read as: I didn't want any children).

Towards the end of the year, the preschoolers prepared for their end-of-year program, in which they would be singing "God Bless the U.S.A." among other songs.

I loved listening to their sweet voices and seeing their cherubic faces as they fervently practiced this song. They didn't know all the words correctly and some sang very off-key, but you never saw a more earnest and patriotic group of 4- and 5-year-olds!

My favorite "incorrect" line: "And I won't forget the MAN who died to give that right to me..."

Ironic, huh?