I Still Have a Dream

There are a lot of people, including some that actually agree with my viewpoints, who don’t understand why I “put it out there”.  Not only my writing, but my bumper stickers (current number: 3—Obama/Biden 2012;  Co-Exist; and  I Love Obamacare).  For me, it lets the world know who I am and I’m not ashamed.  Others have thought I was putting myself in danger or that I’m just annoying.  No question, everyone knows where I stand on pretty much everything.  The downside is they don’t listen to me; the upside is sometimes they do. 

If you read this blog, I’ll assume you don’t totally hate me.  If you don’t read this, it doesn’t really matter what I say to offend you, right?  I have a little plaque that reads:  “Stand up for your principles, even if you stand alone”.  That kind of sums it up for me.  There was a big stretch of my life (the raising children in bad marriages part) of being non-political and relatively uninvolved in the world around me.  There was some community involvement (most of which didn’t go too well, either—but I blame that on WaycrossJ).  I didn’t get really political again until before the last W election. 

In my earlier life I was quite the radical.  I guess it was my religion, in a way.  I come by it honestly from my left-wing parents, but I also was continually inspired during the 60s.  The Civil Rights and Anti-War movements were active, busy, and at times, thrilling.  I went on numerous marches and protests, and did political canvassing (most notably for LBJ).  I didn’t make the big March in 1963 (I was working—but honestly, I was kind of scared also).  I avoided putting myself in the way of the law and I sort of feel guilty about that.  There was a major protest against on-campus military recruitment at my school,  Brooklyn College, which led to a 3-day boycott.  Mounted police were called in to break it up and I saw one drag a girl off by her hair.  During college, my jacket bore every pin that was made (including the original famous peace sign put out by the Student Peace Union).  I stored them in a box which somehow has disappeared, along with many other tokens of that long-ago time.

August is the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington.  This year has been rife with discussions about the current status of racism in our country.  An anniversary March is planned and I probably won’t go to this one either.  Not because my belief is any less, but I really hate crowds, and this should be a big one.  The discussion is one I will continue, however.  Are things better since 1963?  In many ways, of course.  There are more black college graduates and professionals; there are no race-specific laws; racism is up for public discussion.  Much of the current discussion centers on what is perceived as “reverse” racism by the media.  This usually comes from the right wing of the political spectrum and states that the media defends black perpetrators of crime and ignores white victims.  There is also a lot of talk that racism really no longer exists

I do have black friends; they rarely march in the streets against racism.  Many of them never say an unpleasant word to white people who they know are racist.  But, believe me readers, they can tell you with certainty that the beast is not yet dead.  If you ask; if you listen.  It’s in the workplace, in healthcare, public agencies and even in the church.  The “N-word” is quieter, but still very much in use. 

I will continue to voice my opinions as long as there is inequality, injustice and unilateral wars.  Which means you can expect to keep hearing from me while I’m on this side of the grass.

Really?

The news here lately is gotten repetitive and annoying.  I’m tired of arguments about everything and definitely not interested in the royal baby.  I mean I like babies and all, but a baby is a baby.  When it’s yours it’s thrilling.  When it’s your grandchild it’s thrilling.  Maybe even a niece, nephew, close friend…..the royal couple is none of those things to me.  So let’s talk about reality. 

That is, reality as in virtual and TV shows.  As I recall, vaguely, from the mandatory Philosophy course I took in college, there has been a lot of discussion over the years about reality and what is it anyway.  That’s confusing enough for my non-stretchable brain matter; I decided to come up with my own acceptable idea of what is real and what is the universe anyway.  Reality is what I see, hear and feel; the older I get I’m sure my reality gets more and more debatable, but that’s the way it has to be.  As far as the universe goes, it makes me dizzy to just try to imagine it being either terminal or never-ending.

Virtual reality is almost easier to understand—it’s really just being in someone else’s imagination.  I’ve never worn one of those goggle things I’ve seen pictures of (I’m sure I’d be back with the dizzy thing again—it takes me a couple of weeks to adjust to new eyeglasses), but I do get lost in 3-D movies so I’m thinking it’s similar.  “Reality” TV—now that’s another matter altogether.

First of all the name “Reality TV” is an oxymoron.  If it’s recorded for the purpose of other people watching it on a screen at home it’s clearly NOT reality.  Reality is what you do in your own  environment—work, school, the battlefield, home, even Disneyworld.  People act pretty darn real when they’re waiting on line for attractions at Disneyworld.   I don’t exactly remember Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle, but I’m pretty sure it’s along the lines of “once you examine something, under a microscope or whatever, the thing itself changes because you’re looking at it” (I looked it up and there’s a lot of physics-type words in the definition but it’s still pretty close).  Psychological or anthropological studies that form conclusions based on observing a group of people are automatically invalid because they are changing the group’s reactions by studying them.

With me so far? (If not, you can stop reading now because I’m not going to get any clearer).   So Big Brother, Survivor and Amazing Race are far removed from reality.  I would prefer a fictionalized account of a group of strangers thrown together to make a reality TV show, because it would at least have a plot.   But don’t confuse Reality TV with non-fiction or documentary recordings.  Those are intentionally constructed and edited to relay information, hopefully of some actual value and artistic merit.  Compare and contrast with “Honey Boo Boo”. 

Maybe it’s not fair for me to even comment, since I don’t watch those shows.  It just seems to me that watching Honey Boo Boo has the same appeal as watching a train wreck—but much less attractive.   Someone please tell me why they call them “Beauty” pageants.  I’m positive that if I put makeup and tiaras on my dogs (even little one-eyed Johnny) they would be much more appealing to look at (no guys, I really wouldn’t, I promise!). 

 

Injustice has 20/20 vision

The verdict is done, but the trial is not over.  I have heard those who say Zimmerman was defending himself, Martin was dangerous or the high road of “no one really knows what happened”.  Of course someone does know and many can guess.  This case is historical because of the media and the expected repercussions.  I hope they are not violent ones but that it will serve as a lesson for Americans who believe racism is a thing of the past.

I don’t know George Zimmerman.  I didn’t know Trayvon Martin.  I do know that it was an unnecessary death of a young man whose future was unwritten.  Several on Facebook have written that Zimmerman will live his life in hiding; I doubt that.  He will write a book, have a TV movie made and be interviewed on numerous talk shows.  Maybe there will be threats on his life, but maybe he’ll have enough money to buy enough protection to stay alive. 

Sometimes it is embarrassing to be an American.  I’m not a “true” Southerner even though I’ve been living in Georgia for 42 years, most of them very close to Florida.  Today Florida is an embarrassment to the rest of the country.  How can a man walk free from a courtroom with no consequences after killing an unarmed teenager?  How can we not be angry that that happened?

There is grief and anger out there tonight.  I don’t know what others will do with their emotions.  To me, the most logical response is to understand the deep roots of racism and the ongoing saga of hate and injustice we live with every day.  When that is understood, the response should be to continue to fight it with speaking out and standing up.