46 replies to this topic

[nomis]

I'm not one to usually listen to political speeches because they seldom deserve respect let alone my time. However, a friend referred me to Obama's "Perfect Union" speech from Philadelphia .

No matter what your politics, this is a speech worth listening to. If America (and equally my own country) is ever to understand what it is about and where it is going, here is the opportunity.

I strongly recommend you devote half an hour to it on youtube.

Sorry the link I have is from my local media and I'm sure you can locate one more appropriate to you:
http://www.nzherald....jectid=10499412

[longhaul]

The USA is a racist country white America has never accepted that fact. White America has never accepted it's role in slavery and the long lasting harm it did to black Americans. White America has never accepted the harm we did to the Indians. We need to have the conversion that Obama started but so far most of what I hear is more denial and hate.

[E-DOG]

longhaul, on Mar 20 2008, 10:04 PM, said:

The USA is a racist country white America has never accepted that fact. White America has never accepted it's role in slavery and the long lasting harm it did to black Americans. White America has never accepted the harm we did to the Indians. We need to have the conversion that Obama started but so far most of what I hear is more denial and hate.

Yo Longhaul,
I'm American, also white (though not by choice, I just happened to come out that way) what role did I play in enslaving black people 200 years ago? I'm also a Jew. What role did modern Germany play in enslaving and murdering 6 million of my people during World War II? Most would concider what we did to native Americans wrong. Others would say, Well shit, we needed the space, they had it and we had bigger guns. We won fair and square. Been done throughout history since the begining of time. Now all of a sudden what was done, back then, is today concidered "politically

incorrect"

Would you give up your home, land, apartment, whatever it is that you use for shelter and move back to where your ancesters are from so an American Indian and his family could take your place? What's done is done. Let's get over it. There are usually two sides to racism. Both seem to exacerbate the problem without concidering what the outcome will be.
We, as human beings, (the species) aren't really intelligent, and farsighted enough to deal properly with what we've been given. In the end it will probably be our downfall. Till then, "can't we all just get along?"
I'm willing to give it a try.
Unless u wanna step outside n' talk about it n' talk about it man to man
peace and love from way out west
e-dog

[longhaul]

Man when the country you live in was built by slave labor don't you think that we "America" owe those people a thank you? America never said we were sorry never said thank you, we "freed them then we forced apartheid on them we hung them we beat them sicked dogs on them back of the bus nigger and then when a black man is heard saying that all the hurt America put on them was wrong you say you did nothing are you an American? Damn man have you ever thought about anyone but yourself. Have you ever read a history book. We stole land from the Indians and it was OK because we had bigger guns? Does that mean that I can steal you shit because I have a bigger gun? The Germans paid money and apologized to the Jews and you say that is to good for black America? You my friend is whats wrong with America.

[E-DOG]

longhaul, on Mar 22 2008, 12:44 AM, said:

Man when the country you live in was built by slave labor don't you think that we "America" owe those people a thank you? America never said we were sorry never said thank you, we "freed them then we forced apartheid on them we hung them we beat them sicked dogs on them back of the bus nigger and then when a black man is heard saying that all the hurt America put on them was wrong you say you did nothing are you an American? Damn man have you ever thought about anyone but yourself. Have you ever read a history book. We stole land from the Indians and it was OK because we had bigger guns? Does that mean that I can steal you shit because I have a bigger gun? The Germans paid money and apologized to the Jews and you say that is to good for black America? You my friend is whats wrong with America.

Longhaul,
How can you compare the attempted systematic genocide of an entire PEOPLE, with the mistreatment, albeit egregious mistreatment of a few thousand slaves? Needless to say, both are wrong but we're talking apples and oranges here mi amigo.

Please read my post a little more carefully. The money paid out by the Germans; did I recieve any?
No. Wouldn't want it. I wasn't there when the holocaust occured. My ancesters weren't living in this country when the Africans were enslaved, then brought over here and sold to the tobbacco and cotton plantation owners. This country wasn't built with African slave labor. A select group of assholes decided to increase their profit margin by using free labor, and treating said labor like a bunch of pack animals. Wrong? Of course it was wrong. But the Chinese laborers who were forced to work on the railroads did more to build this country and were treated worse for it than the enslaved Africans ever were. What do we do about them?

I'm not disagreeing with you, what was done was wrong, no doubt about it. Lack of civil rights up
until damn near the 70's was wrong too. But I was born in 1956, spent most of my life in California
and I've never seen separate drinking fountains. But I have been forced out of my seat on a bus by a larger more intimidating African American, more than once. (shit happens)

All I'm saying is that the people responsible for those barbaric acts are dead and gone. The people upon whom they were inflicted are also dead and gone. Just a wild guess here but I'd bet that just about every country on this planet has some rather heinous skeletons in their closets. Who has time to dig though all that shit, and money to make amends, to every tom , dick , and harry who claims he is owed something because of how his great grand parents were treated. Better to learn from the mistakes of those who came before us and move on. We're making enough of our own mistakes to be worried about shit that happened 200 years ago.
Dude, relax, have a coke and a smile. Remember your blood pressure.
E-DOG

[kdenon01]

I have to agree with E-Dog.

[longhaul]

E-dog I am an American and that includes the obligations and debt's incurred by those Americans that came before me. We owe for wars we owe for bonds what ever debt it incurs I owe that debt as you do. We also have an obligation to make right the mistakes that our government made if we can. As long as America sees everything in the "I" ( I didn't do it) there will be no conversation. The problem is that America has never faced slavery we have never accepted the harm that it did and the debt we owe. We have never had that conversation and that is the conversation that Obama is talking about. Ask yourself why after all these years are so many blacks still so angry and what would make Obama's preacher say what he said. Why are there so many racists in America? you said "a few thousand slaves try millions read some history see if you are an American.

[longhaul]

kdenon01, on Mar 22 2008, 01:13 PM, said:

I have to agree with E-Dog.

About what? that there were only a few thousand slaves? Are you an American? Gotta talk to have a conversation.

[E-DOG]

longhaul, on Mar 22 2008, 09:50 PM, said:

E-dog I am an American and that includes the obligations and debt's incurred by those Americans that came before me. We owe for wars we owe for bonds what ever debt it incurs I owe that debt as you do. We also have an obligation to make right the mistakes that our government made if we can. As long as America sees everything in the "I" ( I didn't do it) there will be no conversation. The problem is that America has never faced slavery we have never accepted the harm that it did and the debt we owe. We have never had that conversation and that is the conversation that Obama is talking about. Ask yourself why after all these years are so many blacks still so angry and what would make Obama's preacher say what he said. Why are there so many racists in America? you said "a few thousand slaves try millions read some history see if you are an American.

Longhaul,
Glad to see you've calmed down a bit. Thought you were gonna blow a gasket for a minute there.
Some people will cling to a resentment, anger, acrimony as though they were a pitbull on crack. It gives them a false sense of security, like a warm blanket to protect them from the "dangers of modern society." The Farakahns of this world tend to perpetuate the hate and anger so they can keep the racism at a fever pitch to further their own petty causes. Some of the most vitriolic blacks in the United States never even had ancesters who were affected by the slave trade in early America. They've simply found a popular bandwagon upon which to jump.

A great many AfricanAmericans feel a sense of gratitude in being here in the U.S. where educational opportunities and capitalistic, democratic values make possible the chances for advancement they would otherwise not have had. Hard to get a good education when you and your buddies are busy all day hunting down dinner with nothing more than a few sharpened sticks and the determination brought about by an empty stomach.

My having to take responsability for the obligations and debts incurred by a bunch of asshole slave owners before my ancesters were even set foot in America; that's a tough one Longhaul. My responsability at this point in time, I believe, is to see to it that something like that doesn't happen again. Just as it is the responsability of the descendents of slaves to see to it that their children grow up in a society where racism and prejudice cannot, and will not be allowed to flourish.

Anywhoo, it's way past this old boy's bedtime
If ya want, we'll argue some more tommorrow there Longhaul
Meantime, here's hoping you sleep with the insouciance of a child, dreaming the dreams of angels!
E-DOG

[E-DOG]

kdenon01, on Mar 22 2008, 01:13 PM, said:

I have to agree with E-Dog.

thanx for the support
don't mind Longhaul, he's in a bad mood is all
E

[kdenon01]

Quote

My having to take responsability for the obligations and debts incurred by a bunch of asshole slave owners before my ancesters were even set foot in America; that's a tough one Longhaul. My responsability at this point in time, I believe, is to see to it that something like that doesn't happen again.

I agree with this statement completely. This is exactly how I feel. Honestly, I just cannot stand how hypocritical African Americans are. How it's okay for them to have BLACK entertainment television. But could you even imagine the response if we had a WHITE entertainment television? How Obama can say "a typical WHITE woman." But could you imagine the response if Hilary Clinton said "a typical BLACK man?"

African Americans have so much anger in them. They are just as guilty of being racist as anyone else. Even more so, because they have "earned" the "right" to be open and free about their racism. Can they just move on already? They have the same opportunities as anyone else. Not everything is about the color of your skin...get over it.

Edited by kdenon01, 24 March 2008 - 03:55 AM.

[longhaul]

Let me give you guys the Monty Python history of blacks in America: 1642 slaves were brought to America they were treated like farm animals their labor made many whites very wealthy their labor helped build this nation they did it for free. The USA had a war and the slaves were "freed" they were not accepted by the whites and were forced into apartheid where they stayed until the civil rights movement of the 60's. They have been fighting racism and discrimination ever since. America has never apologized ( Virgina did). Many blacks still receive inadequate educations and live in areas of high crime and violence. The missing part of this history is that blacks have never been accepted by white America.

[buffie]

kdenon01,
walk a day in the shoes of the people whom you are choosing to come down on and you would probably think differently and be angry as well. Black people have no more anger than any other race of people. It was just in 1967 that blacks had to sit at the back of the bus because the majority of whites felt superior. Looking at things from the side I am on it appears that you are the one whose angry. I was never a slave and don't feel I am owed anything, but I saw first hand in the company I worked for black people with degrees and all the right credentials being passed over for positions that were given to white boys fresh out of high school because they played golf with and got in good with the big bosses. That is definitely something to be angry about and for you to act like it doesn't and isn't happening shows you are in denial.

[kdenon01]

Maybe the black people with degrees should have sucked up to the boss, then maybe they would have gotten the job. You are saying that is what made the difference...

Look, all I am saying is that I wish Obama would stop making EVERYTHING about race. I have no problem with black people, unless they are racist towards me. I have met several black doctors, nurses, caregivers, etc. since my fiance's accident that have been so very smart, kind, and not racist. And they got their jobs...probably over a handful of white people. Maybe even got those jobs over more deserving white people, because they were black. I'm not angry with blacks, so quit being angry with whites. Can't we all just get along, and move on. Jeez.

Slavery was bad, yes. It was horrible. I would never ever do that to somebody. But what's done is done. What do you want from me? An apology... We're sorry. I'm sorry a million years ago y'all were treated like crap. You didn't deserve it then, you don't deserve it now. And neither do white people.

So why don't you walk a day in the shoes of me...Should I give up everything that I have to a black person...because they are more deserving? Oh sure...just move into my house, take my back account, take my place in college. I've worked hard for it all but hey...you DESERVE it.

[kdenon01]

PS Buffie. You are really pretty.

[nomis]

I began this thread suggesting Obama's "Perfect Union" speech was worth a listen/read. That's sparked off debate by some who clearly either did not bother with the speech or did not understand it. I say again, it's worth a read...and it could save you from continuing to pursue unproductive discussion. It's about solutions, not entrenched defenses.

[E-DOG]

nomis, on Mar 24 2008, 03:09 PM, said:

I began this thread suggesting Obama's "Perfect Union" speech was worth a listen/read. That's sparked off debate by some who clearly either did not bother with the speech or did not understand it. I say again, it's worth a read...and it could save you from continuing to pursue unproductive discussion. It's about solutions, not entrenched defenses.

But Daaaaaaad,
We're having fuuuuuuun!
OK, tell me where the dang speech is and I'll read it.
E-dog

[longhaul]

[quote name='kdenon01' date='Mar 24 2008, 08:48 AM' post='55197']
Maybe the black people with degrees should have sucked up to the boss, then maybe they would have gotten the job. You are saying that is what made the difference...

Look, all I am saying is that I wish Obama would stop making EVERYTHING about race. I have no problem with black people, unless they are racist towards me. I have met several black doctors, nurses, caregivers, etc. since my fiance's accident that have been so very smart, kind, and not racist. And they got their jobs...probably over a handful of white people. Maybe even got those jobs over more deserving white people, because they were black. I'm not angry with blacks, so quit being angry with whites. Can't we all just get along, and move on. Jeez.

Slavery was bad, yes. It was horrible. I would never ever do that to somebody. But what's done is done. What do you want from me? An apology... We're sorry. I'm sorry a million years ago y'all were treated like crap. You didn't deserve it then, you don't deserve it now. And neither do white people.

So why don't you walk a day in the shoes of me...Should I give up everything that I have to a black person...because they are more deserving? Oh sure...just move into my house, take my back account, take my place in college. I've worked hard for it all but hey...you DESERVE it.
[/quote
Some of the stuff you and E-Dog say is racist all you think about is yourself.

Edited by longhaul, 25 March 2008 - 04:55 AM.

[edlee]

Seem someone is trying to get a job with the "politically correct police".

As was already stated,, racism is not a good thing,,, but look around the world. This is not the only country wherein it thrives. Can we do better??? Damn right!!! Does it get better every year??? I believe it does. Will it ever go away??? Absolutely not!!!

And as a final question that is for longhaul alone to answer,,,since the rest of us have already given our view,,,, In a FREE country, do you have the right to dislike someone ( or something for that matter) for any reason you choose???? If not,,,,,just how free is it after all???

Nomis,, I apologize for perpetuating this terribly off thread discussion. I did listen to the speech and found it to be very well stated and quite appropriate, but nothing I haven't heard from others, both white and black many times in the past.

The difference is that it was made by a viable candidate for the highest office in my country. What is so unusual about it is that he spoke to the American public as though they were intelligent adults,,,,,,what WAS he thinking?????
ed

[Motor]

edlee, on Mar 25 2008, 06:15 PM, said:

Seem someone is trying to get a job with the "politically correct police".

As was already stated,, racism is not a good thing,,, but look around the world. This is not the only country wherein it thrives. Can we do better??? Damn right!!! Does it get better every year??? I believe it does. Will it ever go away??? Absolutely not!!!

And as a final question that is for longhaul alone to answer,,,since the rest of us have already given our view,,,, In a FREE country, do you have the right to dislike someone ( or something for that matter) for any reason you choose???? If not,,,,,just how free is it after all???

Nomis,, I apologize for perpetuating this terribly off thread discussion. I did listen to the speech and found it to be very well stated and quite appropriate, but nothing I haven't heard from others, both white and black many times in the past.

The difference is that it was made by a viable candidate for the highest office in my country. What is so unusual about it is that he spoke to the American public as though they were intelligent adults,,,,,,what WAS he thinking?????
ed

I apologize in advance for being all over the place with this post.
First let me say that I heard the speech and found it articulate and good. However on the other hand Obama goes to a church where the minister rants and raves about screw the white man etc etc. The same minister married him and he still associates with this man. Doesn't look good. To move on we have racism everywhere and against blacks, jews, muslims,and the list goes on and on. I am a white, american irish jew. I feel no one in Germany owes me a thing, and I had family in camps way back when. No one here today has anything to do with what happend a loooonnnggg time ago. Yes it sucked what we did to the indians. It suckes what happened to african americans, but none of us had anything to do with it. None of us have anything coming to us. I as a cop for 19 years worked in a mostly african american neighborhood and dealt with mostly african americans for a good part of my career. If I had a penny for every time I stopped a black man behind a store with a crow bar or carrying a gun & drugs say to me "your messing me because I'm black" I'd be rich. No sir I stopped you because you were prying open the rear door, or I am arresting you because you are in possession of a handgun and 100 vials crack cocaine. I treat everyone as being green. If you did any of the above, I don't care what color, race or occupation you had you were going away in handcuffs. I also worked in an orthodox jewish area and after pulling over a rabbi on a non religious holiday for speeding found out he had his license suspended 55 times and offered to call someone to come for him and his car to extend courtesy. He yelled if you were a jew you'd understand. How shocked was he when I answered him in hebrew. What I'm getting at is all races and religions play the race card at one time or another and it sucks. I have had many young spanish and african americans tell me straight out why work at a mall for $8.00 an hour when I can hustle and make $500.00 a day. Thats the chance they take and sometimes consequences are paid. Jail, death or addictions. I have dated blacks, hispanics and so on. My police partener was black and I am the godfather of his son. Bad apples come in every color. What I think is funny is how black on black crime is high and they say the white man started it by selling crack in black areas. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are on the 6 o'clock news if its a white on black issue but where were they when that black correction officer threw that white guy out of his chair...no where. It actually drifted out of the news in less than a week. Oh well that was probally a terriable rant and makes no sense but they call me Motor for a reason...LOL as in mouth!


Enough from me!

Can't we all get along!

Love

Richie aka Motor


PS...I'd be happy to WALK IN ANY ONES SHOES RIGHT NOW!

Edited by Motor, 26 March 2008 - 01:26 AM.

[E-DOG]

[quote name='Motor' date='Mar 25 2008, 06:25 PM' post='55313']
[quote name='edlee' post='55286' date='Mar 25 2008, 06:15 PM']
Seem someone is trying to get a job with the "politically correct police".

As was already stated,, racism is not a good thing,,, but look around the world. This is not the only country wherein it thrives. Can we do better??? Damn right!!! Does it get better every year??? I believe it does. Will it ever go away??? Absolutely not!!!

And as a final question that is for longhaul alone to answer,,,since the rest of us have already given our view,,,, In a FREE country, do you have the [u]right[/u] to dislike someone ( or something for that matter) for [u]any[/u] reason you choose???? If not,,,,,just how free is it after all???

Nomis,, I apologize for perpetuating this terribly off thread discussion. I did listen to the speech and found it to be very well stated and quite appropriate, but nothing I haven't heard from others, both white and black many times in the past.

The difference is that it was made by a viable candidate for the highest office in my country. What is so unusual about it is that he spoke to the American public as though they were intelligent adults,,,,,,what WAS he thinking?????
ed
[/quote]

I apologize in advance for being all over the place with this post.
First let me say that I heard the speech and found it articulate and good. However on the other hand Obama goes to a church where the minister rants and raves about screw the white man etc etc. The same minister married him and he still associates with this man. Doesn't look good. To move on we have racism everywhere and against blacks, jews, muslims,and the list goes on and on. I am a white, american irish jew. I feel no one in Germany owes me a thing, and I had family in camps way back when. No one here today has anything to do with what happend a loooonnnggg time ago. Yes it sucked what we did to the indians. It suckes what happened to african americans, but none of us had anything to do with it. None of us have anything coming to us. I as a cop for 19 years worked in a mostly african american neighborhood and dealt with mostly african americans for a good part of my career. If I had a penny for every time I stopped a black man behind a store with a crow bar or carrying a gun & drugs say to me "your messing me because I'm black" I'd be rich. No sir I stopped you because you were prying open the rear door, or I am arresting you because you are in possession of a handgun and 100 vials crack cocaine. I treat everyone as being green. If you did any of the above, I don't care what color, race or occupation you had you were going away in handcuffs. I also worked in an orthodox jewish area and after pulling over a rabbi on a non religious holiday for speeding found out he had his license suspended 55 times and offered to call someone to come for him and his car to extend courtesy. He yelled if you were a jew you'd understand. How shocked was he when I answered him in hebrew. What I'm getting at is all races and religions play the race card at one time or another and it sucks. I have had many young spanish and african americans tell me straight out why work at a mall for $8.00 an hour when I can hustle and make $500.00 a day. Thats the chance they take and sometimes consequences are paid. Jail, death or addictions. I have dated blacks, hispanics and so on. My police partener was black and I am the godfather of his son. Bad apples come in every color. What I think is funny is how black on black crime is high and they say the white man started it by selling crack in black areas. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are on the 6 o'clock news if its a white on black issue but where were they when that black correction officer threw that white guy out of his chair...no where. It actually drifted out of the news in less than a week. Oh well that was probally a terriable rant and makes no sense but they call me Motor for a reason...LOL as in mouth!

[/quote]
"Enough from me!

Can't we all get along!

Love

Richie aka Motor


PS...I'd be happy to WALK IN ANY ONES SHOES RIGHT NOW!
[/quote]

Motor,
Why in the HELL ain't YOU runnin' fer President??
anyones shoes. Farging hilarious!
E-dog

[kdenon01]

Quote

PS...I'd be happy to WALK IN ANY ONES SHOES RIGHT NOW!

Haha. My bad.

[buffie]

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are on the 6 o'clock news if its a white on black issue but where were they when that black correction officer threw that white guy out of his chair...no where. It actually drifted out of the news in less than a week. Oh well that was probally a terriable rant and makes no sense but they call me Motor for a reason


No offense intended but Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton represent the black community not the white community. For them to jump on the wheelchair incident makes about as much sense as PETA or MADD running to defend that situation.

[Motor]

buffie, on Mar 26 2008, 01:34 AM, said:

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are on the 6 o'clock news if its a white on black issue but where were they when that black correction officer threw that white guy out of his chair...no where. It actually drifted out of the news in less than a week. Oh well that was probally a terriable rant and makes no sense but they call me Motor for a reason


No offense intended but Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton represent the black community not the white community. For them to jump on the wheelchair incident makes about as much sense as PETA or MADD running to defend that situation.

Peta and Madd aren't politicians or clergy they are organizations! Like night and day! And don't fight only black, white or hispanic issues!
My point being that people of power should work for all races. Why only come to the forfront when its a white on black issue. If you noticed we didn't have any white politicians, priests or regular people make a big deal out of it. It came and left in a week. Not so with there issues. Yes some are valid. I have delt with them on many occasions as a cop in NYC. However some of there fight were false..remember Tiwanna Brawley. They just seem to stir up so much hatred. Its an opinion and I talk from expieriance. I actuall spoke to Al Sharpton a few times when he tried to shut down Manhattan and the George Washington Bridge. With the wheelchair incident the whites didn't make a huge media circus out of it. It seems everything they touch becomes a side show and it would be nice to hear one time the guy was african american and he was wrong. They never do retract anything!

Any Way nice to meet you. We are getting away from things. I'm here to mentor SCI patients!

Richie aka Motor

Edited by Motor, 26 March 2008 - 05:45 AM.

[longhaul]

Everyone is talking around the issue. The problem is that a segment of our population was treated very badly it went on for a couple hundred years without anyone caring no one ever said sorry or welcome. That treatment is part of who they are it is their history it shapes how they see the world. White America has never faced the truth about what white America did to them. I am not very optimistic that we ever will be able to have an intelligent meaningful conversion on racism because all we seem to think about is ourselves. Most of the responses talked about "me" "I" but it is a conversation "we" need to have but can't. Sad very sad.............

Edited by longhaul, 26 March 2008 - 06:42 AM.

[longhaul]

kdenon01' You said: "How Obama can say "a typical WHITE woman." and you go on to say:
"Maybe the black people with degrees should have sucked up to the boss, then maybe they would have gotten the job."
and this: "And they got their jobs...probably over a handful of white people. Maybe even got those jobs over more deserving white people"
Does this sound like something a white grandmother would say to her black grandson? That is what he said and you proved his point.

[longhaul]

Motor you said"First let me say that I heard the speech and found it articulate and good. However on the other hand Obama goes to a church where the minister rants and raves about screw the white man etc etc." That is not what the minister said the media took it out of context. If you listen to the whole sermon you can hear what he was ranting about and it's hard to disagree with most of what he says. He comes from a different era one where dogs were sicked on people for demanding their rights. He came from a time when it was ok to lynch a black man for sport. I can't imagine what that would do to a mans mind but I can understand the distrust and anger. Obama said he disagreed with the preacher but he was a friend and he was not going to turn his back on him because he said stuff he disagreed with. That is the kind of friends that I have and that's the kind of friend I am. Later

[longhaul]

edlee you said: "And as a final question that is for longhaul alone to answer,,,since the rest of us have already given our view,,,, In a FREE country, do you have the right to dislike someone ( or something for that matter) for any reason you choose???? If not,,,,,just how free is it after all???" Ya I could dislike someone for being a gimp or mentally challenged or a woman but hating someone for something they have no choice in is really only something an ignorant person would do. I dislike some people for different reasons but never for the color of their skin. That is racist.

[LuckyinKentucky]

My goodness, go do a little spring breakin and come back to find the breakout of World War Free. It's obvious that slavery,the holocaust and racism are bad... at least that we can agree on. Regarding my point of view I see racism and slavery as related but different topics. Racism thrived long before slavery and obviously still has plenty of fuel in the modern world, a good point was made about the numerous other peoples of differing races that have been enslaved or down trodden through a period of US history only to rise up (maybe from the ashes of those who paved their road with toil, death and sorrow) and enjoy the benefits of this country.


In a way it mirrors the struggles that most of us have gone through in our own lives... we can either choose to sulk, mourn, and dwell on that which has gone wrong//// or we can accept that the past is just that, and get busy on looking to the future and to try and make the best out of what we have...and remembering that by being a black, white, or disabled American we're better off than much of the world.
The road of my life like many of yalls has had it's stretches paved with blood and as for myself (whose scope may be admittedly limited) it's just made me that much more happy to be here.