Just Pixels on a Screen

Originally posted by HarlemHottie
I have been called ghetto, lazy, uneducated, and a "harlot" based on nothing but my politics, and nobody said a freaking word! I could pull up the posts if you want, but, really, it's water under the bridge. I just wanted to make the point that, although you may not have seen it, it definitely happens here.

I am very sorry that you or anyone would have to endure such open racism here especially you HarlemHottie. And I understand and respect your thoughts and opinions, also I appreciate having your reply here in this discussion.

I am not attempting to minimize the very real racism that exists here online, especially in this forum. I am attempting to show how utterly silly racism is, and how extremely ignorant it is to be a racist.

The ability to attack another based on race in a discussion here while maintaining anonymity, is pure cowardice, and is very attractive to racists who would otherwise be less vocal. Which in my opinion simply shows how low the human life form can go, and how a person can easily hide behind their online persona.

It is one thing for people to discuss racism, and another when people use it to gain attention, and/or to expose themselves as a racist in such ugly form.

The topic deserves discussion, and there are many great staff members trying to maintain decorum here, god bless them one and all. They have a tough job in this one forum, because of racial issues.

Racism online is silly, but a reality. Racism is pure ignorance.

Why cant we all just be people?



What kind of person are you today?




[edit on 11-4-2007 by UM_Gazz]

Originally posted by UM_Gazz
Why cant we all just be people?

Yes, we can... But there's also a problem with that (that I just finally am beginning to understand as I become less confused). Many of us (myself included) have aspects of ourselves that we identify with strongly and wish to be put forth as part of our persona. I am a "Soldier of Grace" and a "Woman of Strength". That's what an avatar is for in many of our minds.

I don't wish to be known by my online "friends" as pixels designated by the words "Benevolent Heretic" alone although my very username is descriptive of my person. There's more to me and more I wish to put forth to others.

I admit, Um_Gazz, your avatar and signature don't say too much about you, to me, anyway, but mine (usually a dog) and my signature (ever changing) say quite a bit about who I am and what's important to me. These are aspects of myself, I wish to put forth to others, because I identify so strongly with them.

This post, in the Demystifying Phrases thread says more:
www.abovepolitics.com...

What kind of person are you today?

I'm pretty much the same person as I am most other days. I'm full of thought, sad about the world situation, tired of the division, hopeful for the future, grateful for my circumstances and loving my family and my life.

Maybe I need to display more about myself, in my signature and avatar, but I would hope that anyone curious about me, and wants to know who I really am, would just simply click my profile, and then review my posting history, I believe there is enough in that body of work to show who I really am.

I spent most of my 42 years of life living in the south. I have seen acts of racism that would make any person with common decency fill with extreme rage and anger over such treatment of fellow human beings.

When I was first relocated to the south I was only 11 years old, it was a different world, completely, a world full of racial bigotry. I couldn't believe the things I would hear people say about black people, inside it was tearing me apart. yet after being around family and friends over time I became immune to it, I just didn't hear it anymore, or ignored it... and that is the worst crime I have committed in my life.

That all changed when I was 13, a black family moved in next door to us (Father, Stepmother, and me) they had a son my age, and they had moved there from Chicago, in a very short time I became a friend of that neighbor boy, and over the next summer we became best friends. We rode our bikes everywhere together, fished in the creek, played basketball, all the things that boys do. We were best friends.

After the summer break, we went to school together, and it didn't take long, in time I was an outcast, I was called the N word, but with the word lover at the end.. and there were worse things that happened, all because my neighbor and best friend was black. It was one of the worst times of my life. I knew there was no way I was going to lose my best friend over the insanity of racism, and the fact that I was considered white and he black. In time we were left alone and that was fine, at least we had each other at school. but no one else would speak to us, even teachers who were racists would tell me things like. "you should stick with people of your own color here"

I learned a lot in that episode of my life... But I kept a good friend, and have great memories! In time my father and step mother warmed up to my friend's parents and they became friends as well, we had barbecues in the back yards together, they (parents) played cards etc... It was great! All of us (both families) even went to the state fair together, out to eat occasionally. And my father the day my best friend's family moved in, cursed the fact that a black family was moving in next door. I know later he had to feel bad about saying that, because my friend's dad, and my dad became friends as well. They both went golfing together, and guess what? they had a similar experience as my friend and I did in school. It opened my father's eyes, and until the day my father died, I know he fought to forget his own racist ways in his life, that was before he met and became friends with those neighbors of ours.

Over the many years we've kept in touch.. and though a lot less frequent now, we still exchange letters. I will never forget those tough learning years of my life, and I can only hope that the days like that for today's youth are gone. But I'm still seeing a lot of racism in the south particularly. I will never understand it. I want to believe that the human race can find a way to rise above this form insanity known as racism.

We are all brothers and sisters, no matter what color your skin is.



[edit on 12-4-2007 by UM_Gazz]

Proof that racism hurts everyone. We don't even have to be the direct target of racism to feel its ugly sting.

Um_Gazz, I'm going to visit and study your profile and learn more about you.

I've updated my profile, and thank you for the comments BH, also your contributions to this thread.

Comments, thoughts, opinions, and even your own personal stories, and experiences of racism would be greatly appreciated, and welcome from anyone who can post here.

A great man once said "I ain't racist, but lets trade places." Rest in peace Tupac.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
Proof that racism hurts everyone. We don't even have to be the direct target of racism to feel its ugly sting.

I did feel the painful, ugliness of racism, and at a young age. But what I felt is nothing compared to the racism blacks in the south had to deal with, life long struggle for them, and many encountered this kind of racism on a daily basis throughout their lives. And though it may not seem as bad for them these days, they are still surrounded by a large number of racists to this day, even in the neighborhood where lived, and met my best friend.

Hopefully one day things will change, or a cure for racism is invented, perhaps a pill that turns the entire population of earth _________.

Fill in the blank with any color you choose.

Today I've decided to make a change, I am no longer happy with the color of my pixels, in fact I no longer want to be pixels.

I'm changing to binary code.

0000101010100111110100101010100100101010010010101001010010100
1010100101001010101001010101001010101001010101010010101111111
1111010010101111100101001001010111101001010011111010100101010
1011111100101001000001010010010000010100100101001000000101001
0101001000011000000101111110010010010010010111100010100101001
0010100101001001010010010100101001010010001101111111010010101
0100100000101001010010111010100101010010111111001010100101001
0101010101010010001110101010100100101001111110010100101001001
0100101111111110000100100100000100100100101010111101010010111
0010001010001111000011100000110000000100101111010001010010010
1001001010100101010010010101

My REAL name in binary code: 010001000110111101101110 0100010001100001011101100110110001110011


Race only defines you if you accept the fact that your race is who you really are...

Originally posted by UM_Gazz
Today I've decided to make a change, I am no longer happy with the color of my pixels, in fact I no longer want to be pixels.

Me, too! Today, I will be "the dog-lover".

Race only defines you if you accept the fact that your race is who you really are...

I posted this in another thread:

This myspace page sports a great (and beautiful) song called "I am not my Hair" by Pink and India.Arie

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations (no)
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am the soul that lives within

I am not my Hair

Lyrics


[edit on 14-4-2007 by Benevolent Heretic]

Well well well, all of this time, and not one comment from a racist, remember I said all opinions are welcome here.

I suppose as time goes by racism will be more hidden from the public eye, and more vocal in the online world of discussion forums, mainly because it is easy to hide behind a made up digital persona, while attacking others who are perceived to be their racial targets.

If indeed racism is pure ignorance, then ultimately we may always have to deal with both, because mankind will always find a way to be ignorant, apathetic, and racist!


-END-

_Gazz,

Racism isn't nearly as proclamated as it is excercised, yet it holds a place in each and every one of us to some extent ... as do ignorance and apathy. A fault of human nature ... if you will.

Personally, I'd like to hear from Anyone who has Never:

• had an ill thought towards another due to their race or outward appearance.
  
  
• found themself ignorant of Something.
  
  
• been apathetic towards Any aspect of themselves, their lives.
  

As long as there are different races, minds, and goals, there will be racism, ignorance, and apathy ... Color yourself stupid and join the [human] race.

Personally, I would hope that everyone wakes with the conscious effort to overcome these faults, but Sadly that doesn't seem the case ...

R.I.A. abounds ... and Each of us contributes in some form or fashion, whether we like to admit it or not.



My $.02

 

Originally posted by 12m8keall2c
Racism isn't nearly as proclamated as it is excercised, yet it holds a place in each and every one of us to some extent ... as do ignorance and apathy. A fault of human nature ... if you will.

Interesting points 12m8keall2c.

I'm not so sure about the human nature part though. Personally I believe that we are all born equal, no matter what sex, race, or culture we are born into.. As we grow we are influenced by those who teach us to walk talk, and all other life lessons as we move toward to adulthood. Somewhere in that process we can be conditioned by these influences, therefore I believe what causes racism is passed down through generations, and through being surrounded by racists. Even adults who perhaps never were racists in life, when placed in an environment where they are influenced by others around them can become racist.

Racism is not a genetic flaw in humans, it is a curse, a kind of evil that invades a mind over time, and if strong enough it can take over.

Just my $0.000000000000000002

Originally posted by UM_Gazz
Racism is not a genetic flaw in humans, it is a curse, a kind of evil that invades a mind over time, and if strong enough it can take over.

I agree, hence my comment of it being a fault of human nature ... not an inherent genetic flaw.

The point I was trying to make was that we're All guilty to an extent, and the goal for each and every one of us should be a conscious effort to minimize our role in contributing to, or furthering the existence of, such faults.


 

[align=center][size=10]One[/align]







....Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus?
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much?
More than a lot.
You gave me nothing,
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you've got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...
One...



[edit on 18-4-2007 by UM_Gazz]

`






[align=center][size=10]One[/align]

Very cool video! "We're one... But we're not the same"




.
[align=center][size=10]One[/align]

Right, we're not the same, each of us is our own person, together we can carry each other, and if we work together to break down the ignorance of racism, learn to except everyone as nothing more or less than we, we can, one day say without a doubt we are all truly

[align=center][size=10]One[/align]

We should never abandon that which made us.

Never let go of the past that is our history.

Never forget the struggle some have endured to overcome racial prejudice and still face struggles to this very day because of the same.

You and I are not the same. we are each an individual, we are all human beings. Some with the potential to do harm to others, some purely ignorant, some evil, but a grand multitude from every walk of life, and corner of the world, every color, and every culture are wonderful, caring, decent human beings who deserve no more or less than you and I and ultimately, that is all most victims of racism really want.

[edit on 19-4-2007 by UM_Gazz]

Are we one yet?

I've been informed that I am...

[align=center][size=10]Crazy[/align]




Aren't we all, at least to some degree?

Racism is not just crazy, it is insane!


[edit on 12-5-2007 by UM_Gazz]

I have never given the thought of race much thought other then that I'm just like any other person when you take away my skin colour and physical appearance. People are divided by culture more then anything. Certain cultures can prevent a person from improving themselves and the conditions they were born into.