For the most part, I’d say that I am a fairly positive person, and in general, I believe the tone of my writing reflects this. I’m struggling to find positivity tonight, though… as a matter of fact, struggling to string together anything remotely meaningful or even coherent… after coming across an article this afternoon that completely threw me for a loop.
I’m not going to go into details as to what the article says, but I’ll post a link and leave it up to you as to whether or not you want to read it for yourself.
Racist Hunger Games Fans Are Very Disappointed
Obviously I’m aware that racism and bigotry exists. (If ever there was any doubt as to the extent, following US politics for the last several years cemented the fact in my mind.) This article doesn’t point out anything new – it’s only new, really, because it happens to be about a current movie. But for some reason, reading that particular collection of tweets hit me like a ton of bricks.
Between this (on the revoltingly ignorant side) and days of watching ongoing coverage of the Trayvon Martin case (at the deeply tragic end of things), I’m feeling really discouraged about humanity in general and having a tough time being cheerful and upbeat tonight.
Hopefully regularly scheduled programming will resume tomorrow.
Dawn, I agree with you. Actually, I was horrified that people would publish such ignorant thoughts in a public format. Yes, some of them are obviously racist and there is no disputing that. However, I couldn’t help but wonder (maybe because it is so shocking that it is hard to believe) if perhaps it is one of those situations where you read a book and picture the main character looking like Ryan Reynolds, but when the movie version comes out you are shocked to see Seth Rogen playing the beloved part. It just doesn’t work, for me anyways. So, as I grasp for some sort of optimism (about humanity because I’m not that great of a person either) and try my hardest to understand WHAT ON EARTH these people were thinking, maybe… just maybe, some of these people accidentally spoke out of their a** instead of using the more traditional method that includes brain cells. I don’t know for sure…
Oh and those two Canadian-born actors were not mentioned by accident. 🙂
Offer grace even when it seems undeserved. You just never know.
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March 27, 2012
You’re far more generous than I in this case, Ashley! Thank you for your perspective – I appreciate it.
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See, I’ve been saying for so many years that it’s not just us Southerners (in the US); that the whole country is racist, prejudice, whatever.
People always target the South, as if we have a corner on the racist market. Well, it’s clear now that we don’t.
Well, I guess that we in the South don’t have to be singled out any longer because the truth is out- the whole damned country’s eat up with racism. Our hideous side is showing bad.
Y’all just pray for us up there in Canada, alright?
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March 27, 2012
Oh, I’m afraid we have plenty of it here in Canada as well – just targeting different groups, perhaps – and it’s just as ugly and wrong. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… Words fail me
Dawn, I understand exactly how you feel. When you think about the state of morality and decency in our world today it is very depressing. I just don’t see how we reached this deplorable state. It really makes me sad.
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March 27, 2012
It is sad, isn’t it? I just don’t understand it.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Words fail me
Racism is unfortunately alive and well and everywhere. It is disheartening, but fact. Sometimes you just have to write about the things that upset you. Life isn’t all peaches and cream, so writing about the bad is just being real and showing all facets of yourself.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
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March 27, 2012
Very true, Kathy! Thank you. 🙂
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March 27, 2012
Words fail me too, Dawn. In India, it’s casteism and economic disparities that we see. We need to blog about such things and lend our voices to fight these evils in every way we can.
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March 27, 2012
I agree, Corinne! Thank you.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Words fail me
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March 27, 2012
I am lost as to figuring out how or why people of education still cannot accept other humans as nothing more or less than other humans.
As the years of my life have progressed, I have watched those in my life change and accept and cast off old hatreds based on nothing. I tend to believe that is a more widely held way of life than those we see and hear in the news. Those who hate or fear based on skin color or religious beliefs and nothing more. Those who hate all non-heterosexuals, hate all things not exactly like themselves, baffle me.
Our lives are enriched by our differences and we all grow by knowing each other, supporting each other and respecting each others differences.
I plan to continue living this way and teaching all who will listen that this is the only way to live a full and love filled life. I believe our world will rid itself of the haters. I believe in love conquering evil.
♥
Education cures ignorance but doesn’t cure stupidity. Bigots will be bigots regardless of how educated they are.
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March 27, 2012
Ignorance vs. stupidity – very important difference!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Words fail me
After having clicked the link and read the article, I rescind my comment. Clearly these fucks have no reading comprehension skills, and so calling them “educated” is a little too generous.
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March 27, 2012
Yeah, it’s a sad, stupid exhibit of humanity featured in that article. 🙁
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March 27, 2012
I think you’re right, Jo – the haters are most often the ones who get the media attention, but don’t necessarily represent the majority viewpoint. Thank goodness!
I really appreciate your perspective – thank you so much for sharing.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Words fail me
I posted about this today, too. We are truly post racial instead of post-racial.
People are more and more free to talk about their racist beliefs on public forums than ever before.
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March 27, 2012
It’s unbelievable to me. And totally depressing.
Laurel Regan recently posted… Surprised into mindfulness
I agree, it has been a taxing few weeks, Dawn. The internet has long provided an outlet for people to truly express how they feel. After a full day of playing nice, the ole’ alter ego takes to the net once behind closed doors. Unfortunately, the more there are commonalities, the bolder people get. Like you mentioned, it’s slowly been building momentum in politics and seen as acceptable so now it’s blatantly overflowing onto other areas. Things sometimes prioritize themselves by pushing to the front, seems this is becoming a priority.
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March 30, 2012
The only thing that keeps me going when it comes to this sort of thing is the thought that something can’t be dealt with unless it comes to light. And it is most certainly coming to light, sadly.
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