Comments on: Black History Today: Starting In the Middle But Refusing to “Use” King

By: helenl

helenl — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:40:43 +0000

Eric, I must explain. Skittles is WWs cat. Sweet Rosie O’Kitten is mine. Skittles has her own bog and is running for office, trying to get cats to vote for her. See http://kaboodlecats.blogspot.com/ Everything on Skittles’ blog is written from a cat’s point of view. Now cats come in different breeds, but breed has never come up as an issue in Skittles campaign. It’s mostly cats trying to figure out their (sorta dumb) pet humans. It’s for fun and is a light-hearted way of discussing various aspects of life.

As far a who cares about Obama’s race (ethnicity): I’d say quite a few people do.

As to what I said about Hillary, I spoke about health care and bringing soldiers home. Those are issues, but evidently not one’s that matter to you. I will look at the rest of your comment on your site.

By: Eric-Odessit

Eric-Odessit — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 09:18:19 +0000

Skittles, you described the Republicans by what they do and their life experience. You described the Democrats by their racial and gender identities. Why? Who cares about Obama’s race and Hillary’s gender and race? How do their identities impact their ability to the President? Their race and gender are absolutely irrelevant to the job they might have to do (although I hope they won’t get to do that). I will not vote for either of them, but I absolutely don’t care about Obama’s blackness or Hillary’s femininity. I simply disagree with their ideas. I don’t think that anything approaching Socialism is a good idea to implement. I should know: I grew up with that. But their identities have nothing to do with that, although their party affiliation does.
The rest of my comment is here:
http://conservativlib.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/feel-good-racism/
Eric.

By: helenl

helenl — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:06:57 +0000

Thanks, Jana.

By: Jana Allard

Jana Allard — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:41:08 +0000

Thank you, Helen, for your response. Well said.

By: helenl

helenl — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:10:39 +0000

Hi Skittles and WW, Glad you dropped by. Black history is so full of the richness of life. We need to stop and think about how much of a debt we owe to our fellow Americans. Racism is still existent, but we have a chance to be a part of the solution. I’m trying to find a variety of things to post about, which is harder than it sounds. Sweet Rosie O’Kitten sends her love.

By: Skittles, The Huntress

Skittles, The Huntress — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:42:42 +0000

I find it amazing that not only are a black man and a white woman running for president, but also a minister and a medical doctor and a soldier who survived years of torture.

How unfortunate that the media and others wish to put a negative spin on this. I believe we should be proud that our elections are wide open to all….we are very forward thinking and leaders in the race to eliminate discrimination. Yes, discrimination still exists, yet we are way ahead of other countries.

I shall look forward to your black history month posts.

Luv,

Skittles, The Huntress and her pet human

By: helenl

helenl — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:10:15 +0000

Jana, I’m presuming the child who said this is black (but maybe not). I would say, “I know black people have worked and struggled for many years in this country. But isn’t it wonderful that this year both a black man and a woman are running for president. Our country has come a long way from those sad days when we had separate bathrooms and wouldn’t let black people eat at public lunch counters. Now we can vote for a black man, if that’s what we choose to do.”

By: Jana Allard

Jana Allard — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:34:43 +0000

Helen, out of curiosity, how would you have replied to the elementary student saying, “Vote for Obama because he is black.” I probably would have responded similar to the person on the other thread and told my child no one should be judged according to skin color. Maybe you can give a better response that a child would understand.

By: helenl

helenl — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:16:35 +0000

Hi Eric,

The stories you mention are not limited to Black History Month. Black History is American History. History from a black point of view counts. Everyone and everyone’s story matters. Some blacks hate the idea of Black History Month for this very reason. But until we integrate their stories into the mainstream, the people, stories, and events need to be showcased. They are not yet mainstream and when taught someone screams, “What about White History Month?” That is why I choose to celebrate Black History Month.

Just as each person’s story matters, each person’s race matters, too. Race is a real part of who we are. Race and the country in which our ancestors lived. And what happened to those ancestors. There are heroes among us all. I am not black nor do I wish I were. If I were black, I wouldn’t be the person I am (and the one I’m becoming). Frankly, I like myself. I’m comfortable being me. I’m not perfect, but I work to be better – to be kinder to everyone and more informed about life.

I don’t believe that people of any race or ethnicity are better than those of others. But I do believe that to establish “equality,” we must know our history. And for all Americans that includes Black History. You say, “You seem to want to try to end racism by directing racism in the other direction. But that does not work. The only way to end racism is just to end it.” Would that that were so. I’d just end it now. But no, some slave would have ended it years ago. And we’d be talking about something else.

Black History Month is about keeping the story alive until we need it no more. It’s the same reason Jews remind us of the Holocaust: Never again. No, never again.

Please be aware that WordPress caught your comment as spam due to the number of URLs. I approved it and will again, but if one doesn’t appear and I’m off line, you may have to wait.

The poverty thing was sarcasm, Eric. I guess it flopped. Both you and I probably have more than we need.

I’ll check out your “true liberal” link and comment on it later.

All the best, Helen

By: Eric-Odessit

Eric-Odessit — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:47:46 +0000

Helen,
One more thing. My poverty is not bigger than your poverty. Because families with their own apartments, cars, TVs and other stuff are not pour, even if they are less well off than some other people.
Eric.