The Great Divide

Written a year ago on Memorial Day in memory of our fallen soldiers; but even moreso a "call out" to racism everywhere.

THE GREAT DIVIDE:

 

On July 2^nd, 1964, The Civil Rights Act was signed granting Blacks the right to vote, to enter theatres, restraunts etc…46 years ago.  Today on May 31^st, 2010, as a country, we celebrate and remember the soldiers, men and women, who fought and continue to fight for our rights.  No one asks what color they were, no one ever says that the white servicemen and women were more worth remembering than the Asians or the Blacks or the Native Americans, we just remember them as the Soldiers who sacrificed their lives, their families, everything.  We think of those men and women who are still out there today, right now, fighting; they won’t be sitting around grills today with their families, at least not the families they were born into, the ones that they had to leave behind so that you and I could enjoy our backyards and our BBQ’s, but they will be out there with family, because see, I’ve learned something along the way, FAMILY is not defined merely by the blood that courses through your veins, it is defined by all those who stand next to you, behind you, in front of you; those who protect you and care about your well being as much as their own because they know that this fight is about all of us, no matter where we came from, and they know that when they look next to them, behind them and in front of them, that man or woman cares about them and will protect them too, regardless of the color of their skin.  The war out there is color blind.

 

I am a white woman, but the blood that runs through my body isn’t white, it’s red; amazingly enough, just like everyone else’s.  That’s something that we can’t help but recognize, we all bleed the same, we all cry salty tears, and we all hurt and rejoice.  Once upon a time I felt shame in the color of my skin because of the hatred and the violence that it symbolized to so many along the way.  It sickened me to know that people could be so ugly and disgusting inside, people who shared my skin color.  I’m not ashamed to be White today, I am a proud White Woman who loves myself because when I look in the mirror I don’t see hatred, or violence or prejudice. I see a woman who loves from her heart, a mother who teaches her children about Love, not about color.  I refuse to let the world change me, I refuse to let the world limit my Love or my ability to be a friend based on something as petty as the color of someone’s skin or the reservation they live on.  GOD made me this way, full of Love, and He never told me that I had to limit who I gave it to, so neither will YOU. 

 

There are good people, and there are sad people, people who will not see beyond their own selfishness and self justified righteousness, and feel somehow superior to the rest because your skin is white.  “But I’ve been wronged by them!” you exclaim so loudly, and those who have no courage of their own will stand by you and justify your hatred and your bigotry. I’m here to exclaim just as loudly that there is NO justification for the condemnation and persecution of another human being because of the color of their skin!  But you can rest assured that when your time is up, there will be no rest for those who hate.  None of that will go unknown, and for those who stand by silently and nod your head in agreement with them, SHAME on you for not having your own voice. I am a White woman who was raped and abused most of my life by WHITE men, so talk to me about a reason to Hate! I dare you!  Oh yes, this superior race of ours, this race who feels so free to take what isn’t theirs, to abuse their power, to violate others. How superior of us!  But I don’t hate them, because my father is white, my son is white, my brothers and my nephews, cousins, friends, and I know enough to know that not ALL white men are bad, just as I know that not all men of any race or background are bad or good.

 

I’m about to lose friends over this I can assure you. I will cause ripples among certain people in my own “family”, because you will not disrespect me or my choices any longer, and I won’t stand silent while you talk about it behind my back like it’s some ugly secret that I have black friends, some of the best I might add, or because I date a black man.  My tolerance for your narrow minds and your self righteous bullshit is done.  I’ve allowed my best friends man to call me a N****r Lover, while she stood by and allowed it too for reasons that I may not ever understand. I’ve allowed people in my family to question my dating choices since my divorce 7 years ago, and have felt the need to try to explain myself. Why? Who are you, any of you, to condemn me or question me?  I’ve never been hit by a man, I’ve never allowed a man to disrespect my children, Except for their WHITE father, and that was never by choice, and it was not without a fight from me, but some people just have hate in their hearts and they tell themselves so often that they have a right to feel what they do, that eventually they really believe it.  I have been a good sister, and a good daughter no matter what some people may tell themselves and others. I have always loved from my heart, I have always put my soul on the line for those I love and care about, and I will continue to fight for goodness and Love until I take my last breath.  So there are really only two options left; you won’t change me or guilt me, or take away the pure Love that I was born with in my heart, so you will either respect me and those around me or you can kindly find the exit. I forgive you already if you choose to leave, it isn’t for me to judge, but you can be assured that some One, will one day. And all I can do is be sorry for you. Sorry for all that you miss because you refuse to see beyond the end of your own nose and the confines of your own self created box.

 

Main Entry: big·ot

Pronunciation: ˈbi-gət

Function: noun

Etymology: French, hypocrite, bigot

Date: 1660

: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance

 

 

 

Reviews

[Jaded Mermaid]

Powerful and glorious. It's driven by your real desire to conquer the weaknesses this world places around you in attempts to keep you away from your dreams of peace. I agree with you, and I've written about this before on a note of my own even if it isn't found on this account page of mine, racism and the put downs need to come to a screeching halt, certain people in their actions need to wake up right now and realize they've been wrong all along and we've been more than enough patient to help them see it to change it. Keep on fighting this battle, you'll win and be stronger as an individual, you have very much respect and clarity in this perspective.

[Elijah Gleaves]

Stirring words. Judge not by the color of skin by the integrity of character.