it has been. COVID19, deteriorating race relations, and rioting and looting by anarchists. So very sad, disturbing and troubling. My soul has felt the weight of it all.
I grew up the first generation of immigrants, in a very white Italian town, though we were not Italian. I was baptized Presbyterian and went to Sunday School where we sang and were taught that Jesus Loves the Little Children - all the children of the world, no matter their color. I guess I grew up believing that God loves us all. Our small congregation had one black family, and two Filipino families. Our church had a day care center that catered to low-income families many of whom were black. No one thought anything of that.
In my grade school, the special education teacher was black, Mrs. G. She offered Sign Language
classes before school for anyone interested. A few of us took the class and I had much admiration and respect for her. I liked her a lot.
In 5th grade, I took up flute (after 4 years of piano and continued with piano as well). I played in the district band composed of several grade schools in two neighboring towns, the other town had many black families. We all got along and looked forward to seeing each other every week and making music together. The girl next to me playing flute was black and there was a black boy who played flute as well. We ended up in the same high school. The girl who played flute beside me even gave me her grandma's chocolate chip cookie recipe which my family enjoyed and the same one I still use today. (better than Toll House). We even shared a hotel room together at some music event.
My high school was a totally integrated and I became a Thespian and a member of the Speech Team. In all the plays we presented, color never played a role. The best performers, whether black or white got the lead roles and they deserved them. There was never animosity between any of us. We celebrated one another's wins at Speech meets and cheered one another on. I thank them for from them I learned of Langston Hughes and James Wheldon Johnson. They expanded my world and
experience.
And I will always affirm that All Lives Matter. No one will guilt me into being racist for affirming that. Everyone's Life matters. All should be treated with dignity and respect.
I resent being called racist for believing that. My faith tells me otherwise. I will not be made to feel guilty for being born the color I was nor will I ever make some one else feel guilty for the color or nationality they were born. I had to work hard at my schooling and a couple less than stellar teachers in public school. But I learned even from them. I got into college on my own merit and worked to pay half of my tuition. I had no car when I went away to college in my junior year. I either took the train home over breaks or shared a ride with others from the Chicago area. I lived in the dorm. There were no Starbucks or spring break vacations. I lived simply and frugally. My first 2 years of college were at a community college taking required courses for a lot less money and living at home and working part-time. It was a big deal to get a pizza every couple of months. I never went hungry eating cafeteria fare, although, I did hit the salad bar a lot. I even worked at the school cafeteria, doing dishes and serving food during the last two years of college. Made barely a pittance, but it paid for that pizza once in a blue moon.
Most young people in college expect to live off campus, drink their expensive coffee and go out to eat - Panera and the like. Many have cars and expect to go on spring break vacations. They are the privileged. Or their parents indulge them.
I would support Black Lives Matter, but the fact that they are funded by anarchists, socialists and Marxist makes it difficult for me to do so. Most of the rioting, looting and chaos were caused by these misguided people who just want our nation to become socialist. I don't know, the last time I've studied socialist countries, they aren't doing too well, they have no freedom of speech and opportunities to better one's life are nonexistent. If those young people are so disenchanted with America, they should go to Cuba and live as the Cubans do. It would be an eye opening experience for them to be sure.
Yes, our country is not without flaws, not without some history that shames us, but we strive to do better and be better for all. We cannot forget or erase our history, but learn from it and do better. There are people from other countries (many of them socialist countries) that want to come to America, because opportunity is provided for a better life, for freedom to be themselves and express themselves. We do not guarantee that every one will be rich, or have a trouble-free life. But we
provide opportunity for education, innovation, business, etc. Working hard and being responsible
are a part of that opportunity.
Being given everything for "free" is sadly, a mere pipedream. Not possible in this world. Sure things can be "free" if one is willing to pay 80% of their salary in taxes. yes, issues of health care,
cost of medication, and education need to be addressed and worked on - but free college? Not everyone needs or should go to college. Some folks are better off in a trade and make a much living at it than I do with a Master's. I would hate for my car, airconditioning/heating/ plumbing not to work
properly. I depend on these skilled professionals as well as many others in manufacturing the products and appliances I use every day.
Free college? I believe that when you pay for something, when you work for it, it means so much more, you value it more, you put more of yourself into and the investment. Habitat for Humanity has
shown that is so. Rather than being given a house outright, there is a small mortgage and hours of
sweat equity required. And the satisfaction and pride a family feels when they move in is because it wasn't just free.
I pray for our country and nation, for understanding between races, for hatred to be turned into genuine care for others and not simply condemning them because they don't believe exactly as you. That doesn't make any of us more right or wrong, that's what freedom is about, and these angry
socialists and anacharists don't see the intolerance they have toward others even as they complain
about intolerance. Defacing public property, destroying small business that serve neighborhoods is counter productive. Let's address civilly those injustices, the things that wrong (choke holds) and
bad police officers and make changes that matter.
Those who are not content, give them a ticket to Cuba and let them live and experience socialism
on a daily basis.
But don't make me feel wrong when I believe all lives matter, yours as well as mine, no matter what color your skin is or what nationality you are.
