Charlottesville, VA; Violence; Racism

I was raised in such a way as to accept people of color. Particularly black people. I wasn't around a lot of Hispanics, but Asians were local.

Later on, I had a problem with myself. I became intolerant of diversity.

I got angry that so many Hispanics didn't speak English in California, forgetting that the land belonged to Mexico before it ever became part of the United States. Southern Border states all have a disproportionate number of Spanish-speaking residents, partially due to immigration, but also due to preserving their culture. I didn't understand that at the time.

I also had difficulty with California publishing their ballots (voting being for citizens only) in so many differing languages, from Spanish to Korean to Vietnamese, Arabic and others... It grated on me.

I ended up leaving California for the wilds of northern Nevada, only to be faced with indigenous cultures in the form of Paiute and Washoe Indian tribes. I immersed myself in the culture of the Native Americans as much as I could, being a child of the 50s and a white female of uncertain financial means.

For over 16 years, I lived there, blissfully unaware of my growing racism, bigotry, and whiteness.

Then, I moved to east Tennessee. It was culture-shock, to be thrown in with mixed races, mixed heritage peoples. To be in an area that seemed so backwards to me when I was "out west" and find that all my preconceived notions were false, was a wake-up call. As I acclimated to the people, I found that even though Southerners speak slowly, and often with a drawl, they are not stupid, imbecilic, or "hillbilly hicks." Yes, I was pretty bigoted.

I also finished my formal education in Tennessee. There are world-class institutions around here. There is world-class scholarship around here. And yes, there is bigotry, small-mindedness and racism around here. I contended with a lot of it. And I challenged my own bigotry and racism in the process.

I don't know if some of it will ever go away, but I'm comfortable where I am, and I don't think I'm hurting anyone with my current views. I accept all colors, genders, religious, and political views. I do NOT support all political views, but I will defend anyone's right to express themselves in a calm and non-violent manner. I also don't support many of the religious views around here - but again, the Constitution, it's Amendments, and this Republic were based on freedom of religion, as well as freedom of speech. You can have your religion and opinion.

So, having said all that, the Charlottesville riots were a disgrace. The Confederate flag is not a symbol of freedom, but a symbol of oppression. Oppression of all people of color, of any "Other" religious or political view than the person flying that flag. AND it is a statement that the person wants to opt-out of the United States and our democracy. Confederate statues commemorating Jim Crow laws - which challenge the notion that all people are created equal - should be taken down. True monuments of the Civil War are few in comparison.

All "white-supremacy" attitudes are silly. Yes, silly! The first people on this planet were black. And hairy. We came out of Africa. Jesus was dark-skinned with brown eyes and dark hair. He was a from Gallilee - in Palestine. His heritage is Semitic, Jewish, Israelite, Hebrew.

So where do these people get off telling everyone that their religion and color of skin is better than everyone else's? We are all stardust, after all.

The attitudes of the alt-right and white supremacists are racist in nature and practice. That there is somehow a "pure" or "master" race on this planet - espoused by whites (not blacks) is ridiculous. The very term brings back memories of Nazi Germany - which has pretty much outlawed the "Social Democrat Party" which lent it's support to the Nazis. The violence surrounding this militant attitude, with guns and driving cars into crowds, is a mania driven by sickness of heart and spirit.

The sickness is from believing that one is superior and the world not treating you right. It comes out of a "not fair to me" attitude that is pure entitlement because of one's skin color. That is also stupid.

The world doesn't owe anyone anything. We earn it. If you aren't getting what you deserve, be grateful for mercy! You might just deserve a whole lot worse than you are getting. Remember that your treatment of the least is what God will judge you on. Not on your baptism, your skin color or your bank balance. If you want more, give more.

If one truly believes that there is a God who is forgiving and loving, that Jesus walked the earth and taught compassion, and does not do the same for every person one meets, then it is pure bigotry. I don't care what your pastor tells you about it, read the Bible for yourself.

I am not a Christian, yet I follow the teaching of Jesus. I'm not a Christian. Get that through your head. Yet, I follow the teachings of Jesus. I guess I could be called a Jesus-ian.

I recognize that people of color have a hard time of it. Much harder than I have. Systemic racism makes it really hard for them to make ends meet, stay out of jail, or even to stay alive.

I hold a place for people of color. I'm compassionate and giving to people of color. I have relationships with people of color. However, it will also always be true that people of color know more about the way I live than I do about them. They MUST know more about me in order to stay alive. For me, it's curiosity, compassion and friendliness, not a matter of life and death.

I continually fight my own bigtry and racism, entitlement and whiteness. I question my place in the world.

Violence only begets violence. Hatred only begets hatred. Bigotry only begets isolation from your fellow man. Bigotry kills compassion. There is not one person on this planet who couldn't use a little more compassion. Not one. Not even that imbecile voted into the White House in 2016.

There is never a time when violence is acceptable. Not in the home, and not in the streets. And never, ever, in the cause of bigotry or racism.