I finally figured it out!!!!

As an african american I absolve your ancestors from any personal responsibility for how they treated mine.

The beatings, the killings, the raping of our women; were the unrepentant acts of those who were given absolute power over others; and as we know absolute power corrupts absolutely


Hotwater

 

Well thank you. My ancestors,the Hays from Missouri "owned" human machinery. My gramma,who raised me told me that when they were set free they didn't want to leave because " they were treated so well". Yes,I can imagine! Her son,my dad, told me not to let my step father (mexican)kiss me because it would leave a black mark on my face. Not to ever bring the little black friend from the 1st grade to my house again the first time he came home with me.I knew at 5 or 6 that there was something wrong right there in river city. I've never felt guilty about our past, because it doesn't really have much to do with me. But I can see how that kind of history with off kilter attitudes can either be passed down or properly corrected. But I'm sure as hell not going to be one of those "some of my best friends are" kinda guy. I don't like too many people ,regardless of outward appearance. Take 'em as they come,I say. I 'spose I'm as innately racist in some ways as many who grow up here. All one can do is try to do the right thing by anyone.

The one thing my gramma taught me was "do unto others as you would have them do to unto you". Too bad she didn't follow that advice. Again=we humans are a strange bunch.

 

That’s not too surprising a victimologist using advanced modern theory would conclude that the slaves were suffering from stockholm syndrome


Hotwater

 

only until someone decides this thread is racist and closes it.

 

John Steinbeck was one of the first big name writers to start writing about the plight of African Americans and Mexican Americans because when he was young he worked on a lot of farms around California on which most of the hired help was either black or mexican. He saw the way they were treated and sympathized with them and decided to use it for material in his stories. His first published, successful novel was 'Tortilla Flat', a story about some guys of mexican decent who just have a good time and enjoy life.

Sort of off topic, just thought I'd throw that in.

 

I thought Mark Twain was a big name, could be wrong though.

 

Steinbeck certainly wasn't the first. Twain probably was.

 

You got me there. I supposed I was just being annoying cause Steinbeck tortured me in English class

 

I wish you could fill me in then as I read this whole thread and I am not ashamed to state I still have not figured it out.

 

Ah. I love Steinbeck. I read a few of his short stories in english class, one in particular was depressing and a little tedious. I love his novels though. His characters always have a lot of humility, I like that.

 

I saw the movie version of Mice and Men and liked that.

In English we spent about a month on Steinbeck, read some articles, some short stories, and an excerpt from Grapes of Wrath; and I just couldn't stand the way he wrote. All dry like Orwell, but with a tedious and (seemingly) arrogant vocabulary.

I was 15 though; who knows if I'd feel the same now *shrug*

 

I always enjoyed his writing because I felt that it was simplistic in language but his imagery was really pretty. He always described things with an everyday sort of quality, his writing never felt scholarly or esoteric.

I really dislike Hemingway for his simplicity, his writing comes off like a 6 year-old wrote it.

Of Mice and Men was a great movie, Gary Sinise played George and John Malkovich played Lennie. I watched that in grade 11 english class.

 

I think it was the source of a personal peeve he had not quite put a finger on... the reason that some personalities evoke an adverse almost visceral response within our friend Sam.

Frankly time has been a steady process of coming to grips with how much I hadn't figured out by my mid-20's.

In time he will likely have the sheer delight of discovering so many more ways such "wolves in sheep's clothing" cloak themselves with the garb of social justice for the purpose of fooling perhaps themselves as anyone else that they are something that in fact they are not. Somehow their claim to enforce the constraints of political correctness onto others is the same as being enlightened and open minded when it is arguably the antithesis to these. Loathing such elements is an art form.

Hate the blatant racists a little less because at least they are being honest about who they are.

 

I think that most of us have taken that journey at one time or another and I am still not sure if the wisdom is any more prevalent.

Blatant racists are easy to identify and dealing with them is up to each persons own values. Assuming that they are not breaking the laws that are designed to protect others.

The subtle ones are sometimes a little more difficult to ferret out as they tend to either wrap it up nicely in a little packet or use supposed humour to convey it. Big hint is that when you are the only one who thinks it is funny or have to explain yourself afterward it tends to mean that you are walking more than a fine line.

Perhaps that fine line is defined for many by what it makes them feel like to hear or be a part of something said rather than PC.

Having a right to say as you wish does not mean you always should. That is not just a part of being PC that is a part of being held accountable for what you do choose to say.

PC is someone telling you that you should not. Common sense and often maturity is when you know you should not.

 

Thats alot of hate!
:love:

 

i keep reading "i finally fingered it out!!"

 

That's in a different forum.

 

In grade school The Red Pony was mandatory reading and in high school The Grapes of Wrath :2thumbsup:



Hotwater