“So I’m in Nashville for an away rotation at Vanderbilt, and I’m staying with one of their grad students I found through the student classifieds. He’s a nice enough white guy, super quiet and soft spoken, no issues in the week I’ve been here. I’ve also been gone a lot, working quite a bit at the hospital. Today was my first off day and this morning was the first morning I had to really see the house in daylight (I’m gone from 6am-8pm). Well, while rummaging through his cabinets for a coffee mug, looking forward to finally having some time to brew my favorite Guatemalan coffee and read a novel before church, I had a hard time finding a mug that wasn’t emblazoned with the Confederate flag.
*record scratch* uh say wha?
O_O
o_O
-_____-
My prickly senses heightened, and have been so all day. I’ve lived with a white person before, but he was super liberal, from California. We may have not had many words for each other, but there was a mutual respect. We were cool. To be sharing a roof with a racist is a whole new ball game that I’m not prepared for. We got a lot of Tribe members in the South so my question is: Is the Confederate flag //really// racist, or just a symbol of Southern pride? I mean really? I found some really good points here. (I’ve clearly been thinking about this all day)
http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-the-confederate-flag-racist
”
Question
Do you have any half-siblings?
Did you grow up with them?
If you didn't grow up with them...are you close?
Scenario from Real Life
You have a half-sibling you used to be close to.
For whatever reason...the half-sibling stopped talking to you.
You don't know why.
10 years later you hear the sibling isn't doing well so you reach out.
They don't return your call.
You're hurt but keep it moving.
Years later you hear good news about the half-sibling.
Would you reach out again or would you consider that ship sailed as far as YOUR initiating contact is concerned?
Books Can Change Your Life!
Being kinder and gentler in your old age seems to be the norm. What also seems to be the norm is the old saying, "To whom much is given...much is expected." Because of this...some of us have a much greater penchant to forgive and let live because we are blessed in so many ways we know we can use the energy to hold grudges for other, far more positive, things.
Human nature is kinda cool like that.
HOWEVER...it makes you wonder...how is inner peace reached by those who seem to consistently have it hard? If you don't have something to look forward to...where does your imagination take you? Especially if you've never been someone who reads often?
Do you think adults can start picking up books and reading and get the same sense of everything those of us who are lifelong readers have? Can people be taught that it's okay to expect more of life because they will see more than they ever thought possible by reading?
Or would those same grudge holders stay in place treading water mad because others are moving?
What are YOU reading now? What's the last book you told folks about?
Hanging Family from Tree. Halloween Decor?
So...a home on the Ft. Campbell military base had the above as Halloween decor.
http://www.wkrn.com/story/27119461/offensive-halloween-display-removed-from-ft-campbell-home
Neighbors complained and, when brought to the attention of the occupant...they removed it.
Someone in the comments of the article defended the occupant saying that it's Halloween and people shouldn't be so sensitive. It's just scary stuff.
What are your thoughts? Does it concern you that SOMEONE who lives in that house is in our military?