Dutchie,
I was willing to let your post of misinformation go unchallenged until Was' post. Now I feel I have no choice but to respond.
Among other things I could point out, you said
Teejay, women in your community didn't always have a choice.
For me, it's far from being a new argument. I've heard it many times before. There is one word you used in this short quote that puts everything else you said into complete perspective relative to my comments about some of the women in my community. The word? "Didn't." Now, reread your quote and think of the import of that one word in your quote.
Do you realize that in discussions with BLACK PEOPLE over the years I have heard that the reason ("excuse", really) some Blacks are forever late for appointments is because of slavery? That's right. Slavery. What happened one hundred fifty years ago, they say, affects the way people living now view time. Do you view that, as I do, as one of the stupidest things you have ever heard? I hope so. Still, some people actually believe the absolute truth of it and wear slavery almost like a badge of honor.
My point is, what happened before, while having *some* impact on the present, should not overrule a person's free will. What people (long dead) endured in the past should have little bearing on those living in the present. To do otherwise would be only to stifle personal growth. Why, if I wanted to, I could use events in my own life to mar my perception of people to such an extent that I probably would not be able to carry on a civil conversation with anyone not of my race.
So, while I will never forget what happened to women like my mother and grandmother and great-grandmother back in the old days, if it's okay with you I'd rather not hear about those events and times as the reason why a twenty-something year-old woman is a masculine bitch when she hasn't had a whiff of those problems.
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>> Keep it up, Bro, keep it up.
>> It took us thousands of years to get where we are. We
>> don't expect miracles overnight. Appreciate the effort, tho.
But that's just the thing, Was!
I don't intend to change!! I guess you could say my efforts to relate to all people the same have been... uh... half-hearted.
I rather like my sexism, such as it is. It fits me. After noticing them, something I can't help and don't try to, I normally prefer the company of females, particularly those of the feminine variety... the more feminine the better. Sometimes on my job I might walk into a roomful of women. In that setting--being the only male in the room--I've been asked if I was nervous. Little did they realize how much at home I was! Y'all don't scare me!!
Now, does that mean that I'm not relating to women as people? If so, so be it. It's the way I am and they don't seem to mind.
>> Side note: ain't the internet grand in some ways? I didn't know Teejay was African-
>> American until he said so. Nice to have a sort of even playing field sometimes, isn't it?
It truly is, no question. Here, ideas rule more than anything else, and like my friend Martha would say, it's a good thing.