Hey, Spartacus... may you have peace!
SIGH! I am not sure if you are aware, but in light of all the 'finger pointing' going around on the subject, I believe that in truth, it was I who started this last 'round' of verbal abuse. Not that I used the language and lingo some have, but I made a statement that riled someone... and... well, 'the rest is history'.
Although I have personally left that particular battle (its productivity was lost quite a while ago), your post here compels me to comment. First, I want to commend you for your attitude, in light of what your family has suffered, and say that that is exactly what I meant. You see, I am black and so have, of course, experienced racism personally (albeit not only from whites, and I stated that).
But I chose a LONG time ago, and with even more purpose and intent since coming to 'know' by Lord, to NOT 'return evil for evil'... and NOT conduct myself in the same manner as those who decry such conduct. I just can't 'see' the difference... but instead 'see' hypocrisy. And I have a hard time with hypocrisy. Maybe because I have been subjected to it all my life... from ALL facets, including my own race.
I've had white guys call me a 'black bitch' because, well, I was black. But I've also had black guys call me such, too, because I wouldn't dance, ride, go with or sleep with them. I mean, what the heck... if I did, I was a 'ho'... and if I didn't, I was a 'bitch'. Dear one, if you think being derided by white folks sabotages your self esteem, imagine what happens when you receive derision from your own folks?
And so, I decided that racism and hypocrisy... was racism and hypocrisy... no matter where it came from... if that was the INTENT. If a white guy was calling me such because he had a problem with blacks, then his intent was malicious. And if a black guy was, because he had a problem with ME... then his intent, too, was malicious. However, if either had said such... or any other slanderous word... out of ignorance, THINKING I wouldn't be offended and actually confused if I was... how could I take offense? None was intended!
When I said to Emmyrose that BY HER STATEMENT she was a 'racist', for which I apologized in advance, but spoke truth, she asked for clarification. I provided the definition of the word... reiterated her statement... and tried to show her that her statement WAS racist. Perhaps I SHOULD have just said, "Your statement was racist", rather than implicating her. But I don't think I was wrong, just by the posts since that one.
I just don't understand, though, why when 'they' say stuff it's racist... but when WE say it, it's not. I am sorry, but I just can't 'buy' that. Now, I know that there are MANY 'bruthas and sistas' out there who think I should jump on the band wagon... just because. But, in truth, that wouldn't be me. For me, that would be the same thing as seeing the hypocrisy in the WTBTS... and religion in general... and saying, "Yeah, but those are my PEOPLE and I will stand up for them, no matter what... right OR wrong." I'm just not that kind of person. And for any who would wish me to be, I am sorry. I just can't be that way. Ask my kids... wrong... is wrong... and such 'wrong' had BETTER not been theirs.
Now, in response to my 'revelation' of what I saw exhibited from Ms. Rose's heart, I have been called everything from stupid to freak. And that dear woman is entitled to her opinion. I probably would have been more susceptible to HEARING her opinion, had she stated it a bit less... well, um... maliciously. But what I saw, instead, was MORE of that 'heart'... coming out. And I am SO saddened by that. For it meant that indeed, I HAD spoke truth with reference to her. As a black woman, that does not make me happy... it makes me cry.
Why? Because I think Ms. Rose did what she was expected to do... what 'they' (and by 'they', I mean racist white people, NOT white people in general) expect 'us' to do and many think we WILL do... act ignorant. Act 'ghetto'. Act violent. Speak and act... without rhyme or reason... stupid. Along with many OTHER things, 'they' don't think we can hold intelligent conversations to begin with... and day after day after day after day... 'we'... prove them right. Dammit! (Sorry, Father...)
Well, Spartacus, I can't give 'them' the pleasure. A wise woman once said:
"A sign of GOOD breeding is... never let others know
how much you think of yourself... or how little you
think of others."
With the exception of You Know (who just ires me due to his restriction of the kingdom from the 'little children' of God...), I try to ALWAYS exhibit 'good' breeding... not in SPITE of being black, but BECAUSE I AM BLACK. I am NOT ignorant, I am NOT ghetto, I am NOT a 'hopeless welfare case', I was NOT born 'street-wise', and although I CAN speak Ebonics, it is not my 'first' language. Perhaps it was my parents, grandparents, etc., but it was not mine. And that was choice my parents made for me.
But if history is correct, and if what black people WANT to believe about our ancestry is true... we hail from kings. Perhaps I have the privilege, too, of hailing from such a family. I do not know. But I do know that I hail from the Household of God, which IS a household of kings and priests. Yet, from whatEVER household he hails, even in the face of the worst oppression and persecution, a true king... or queen... NEVER loses his or her dignity.
Yes, 'our' dignity was stripped in former times, and there are those who would strip it again today. From among 'them'... AND from among 'us'. I will not, however, GIVE mine willingly. And I can see that neither will you.
In my eyes, you are a 'true' black man, by your humble asking of Kent HIS position, and acceptance of his answer, without trying to read between the lines or FIND malicious intent... if indeed he stated there was none. For love... believes all things. Your love, to me, has been regally displayed.
May the undeserved kindness and mercy of my God and Father, JAH OF ARMIES, and the peace of His Son and Christ, my Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH, serve to be upon you... you and your entire household... if you so 'wish' it.
I bid you peace... to time indefinite.
YOUR servant, and a slave of Christ.
SJ
