Admittedly, due to the government-sanctioned race war we have brewing in America, I’m a bit tense. I’m horrified every time I see images of last week’s “rally” in Charlottesville; and I’m disgusted when I hear the “leader” of our country try to neutralize a clearly heinous situation. But it’s the nice, appropriate people who, throughout the day, are plucking my nerves, like new strings on a jumbo guitar.
Look, we’ve all read, liked and downloaded countless memes about the power of possessing a positive attitude. I have attended seminars; and fully believe in the power of positive thinking. But there is positive thinking; and there is delusional thinking. When a horse shits in the middle of a field, there is positivity in thinking about how well it will fertilize the ground. If a horse shits in the middle of your living room; it’s horse shit: it stinks.
What’s happening currently in America stinks—it stinks horribly. And I can’t take another seemingly “nice” person trying to spray strawberry air freshener to cover it up (this type of stank can’t be covered). `
“Nice” folks need to stop saying the following:
My Goodness! This isn’t America.
This is America. America was designed by slave holders; and built on the backs of slaves.
These Folks are Dumb Rednecks!
Racists aren’t only a small group of easily classified bad guys, who live in remote towns like Greenfrog, Georgia and Lilypad, Idaho. Classifying and compartmentalizing makes us all feel safe. It’s nice to think that we know who all the “bad guys” are; that they wear easily identifiable black hats. In reality though, racists are everywhere. They work with us, go to church with us, and go to school with us. They are our grocery store cashier, our loan bank officers, our children’s teachers, our doctors, our politicians.
This is Horrible! We are all American. We all Bleed Red!
Your hallmark card statements ain’t gonna help things. Please don’t tell anyone that “we all bleed the same” because the only people who have lost millions of people to racism are the Jews and the Blacks. Yes, all of our blood is technically the same color; but we’ve had to shed a whole lot more. Plus, our reality is that people ain’t looking at or noticing our blood color or type.
It’s the “Alt-Right”
The alt-right sounds like a legitimate political group. This term was created as a euphemism, intended to soften, neutralize and legitimize what and who they really are. Let’s call a thing a thing. They are White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and Racists. Let’s not try to put lipstick on this pig.
I Don’t See Color
Don’t say that you don’t see color. You do. Scientific studies prove that race and gender are the first things we notice about a person. You may not treat people differently based on race (which is even a stretch because most of us do – even if subconsciously) but understand that others may not be as evolved as you are.
This is All Because of Trump
Trump has emboldened racists to be open with their hatred and to push their agendas into the street; but don’t get it twisted — they were always there. Racism isn’t new. The racists simply have a new and powerful leader and feel empowered and emboldened.
This situation is very real for us; so the most positive thing that can be done is for us to all get real. Look at it directly, honestly and do not look away: it’s uncomfortable to do so because it’s ugly and it stinks. But if we don’t acknowledge it, it will continue to fester and grow. And we will all be worse off.