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"SOAP BOX"

 
 
Diane
 
  1  
Reply Mon 12 May, 2003 09:14 pm
She must be related to my mother-in-law!
0 Replies
 
oldandknew
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 09:14 am
Diane, back in the mid 50s you didn't see many black faces in the UK, even in London. A black family, mother, father, son and daughter, moved in nearby to us from The West Indies. The children were about my age, early teens. The family were well accepted by most people in the area, in part due to the father's prowess at cricket.
Once I said to my mother , I wished I had short tight black curly hair, like Tommy, the son. My mother's reaction was one of abject horror, telling me not to say such terrible things. I simply couldn't understand the problem. They are black, my mother told me very firmly. My silent reaction was one of, so what, I don't care.
At much the same time my father told me that the South African Rugby team were about to tour the UK for a series of games. I asked him if they would be black. I was told in no uncertain way that they definately would not be black. I asked why and was told not to ask such stupid questions.
Bigotry, racism are disgusting in any shape or form and I have never in my whole life subscribed to them. Equality is paramount in education, housing, jobs ann society in general.
0 Replies
 
patiodog
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 09:31 am
I may have told this one before, but here goes...

When the gf's grandmother met me, she viewed me with great suspicion, not only because we were living in sin (how quaint), but because she'd been told ahead of time, in response to her own questioning, that I was partly of German and Cherokee descent. (She still remembers with horror having to work in a bakery in Yorkshire while London suffered the blitz.) Upon discovering that I was courteous and helpful toward her, she softened a bit, and eventually the most astonishing thing happened. We were watching some bad western on TV (she loves the westerns) and she said, about the "Indians," "The way they were treated was just horrible." This was quite a shock from her, especially as she thinks the worst thing that ever happened to the "other" Indians was the fall of the English empire.

She still thinks the Mexicans are trying to "take over" Orange County and has visions of wicked mosques proliferating over the whole of England, but it's progress.
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the prince
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 09:37 am
racism exists, even now, in London/UK. Most of the time it is very subtle, but it is there. I have become pretty attuned to it, but I really don't care. At times when it is very overt, I give them a piece of my mind - but in the end I always feel sorry for these people, such closed minds, such limited thoughts..I mean how do u live with so much hate ?????
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 09:42 am
I never realized that my parents were prejudiced until I was a woman. That does say something for them, I suppose, given their cultural environment.

Another rant:

Someone just sent me an email that claims the FBI is producing a program which will surreptiously follow ever click of the mouse. Shocked
0 Replies
 
patiodog
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 09:54 am
Letty wrote:
I never realized that my parents were prejudiced until I was a woman.


Reminds me of my grandfather, who prefaced all his stories about the old days (a dirt farmer from texas who moved to california to work, keep bees, and maintain an enormous garden, he never purported that they were good) with "When I was a little girl..."
0 Replies
 
oldandknew
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 11:34 am
Gautam, I as a white anglo saxon englishman, would like to apologise to you for all the ignorant white racists who abuse you in the UK. I like to think that racism is on the decline here, but you would know better than I do about that.
I wish these freaking scumbags racists would grow up and get out of your face and my face
0 Replies
 
Diane
 
  1  
Reply Tue 13 May, 2003 11:55 am
This is interesting. Both my parents were quite verbal about their bigotry, especially my father. Luckily for me, I had enough other examples that it didn't take long to realize that he was little more than white trash. Amazing how much ugliness is still out there.

Letty, I agree about the emails with hysterical, paranoid messages. Snopes is an excellent site for checking out the validity of these statements.

Unfortunately, it seems more and more likely that we will soon have no privacy--our right to privacy has already been diminished by this administration.

Today's soap box is a rant about people who don't clean up after their dogs.
We take our dog Sam to a dog park which he loves. Most people are very good, but there are enough who don't bother that you have to watch where you step. Most of us go ahead and clean up after the others, but I tend to growl with each pile that I pick up. Grrrr!
0 Replies
 
BoGoWo
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 08:51 am
Geez!
You know, I can't figure out what you people have got against all those nice "racists"; what have they ever done to you?
I guess your parents must have taught you to hate them, and, for no reason, it just stuck!
Really, you've got to learn to think "outside the box"!! Rolling Eyes

Letty; paranoia is a very hardy weed, it'll grow wild almost anywhere, even in cyberspace! Shocked

and, Diane; I saw a book totally dedicated to the use of human excrement for fertilizer; I must admit I didn't read (or breath) very deeply. Embarrassed
But hey, what a solution to your doggy problem!!! Laughing
0 Replies
 
BoGoWo
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 08:54 am
Oh, I forgot; Lola;
about those pink pants, and the golf ;
I'd be willing to take a "swing" Embarrassed
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 09:30 am
I declare, Bo, I believe Lola has a run in those black silk hose. Smile

I'll let the Beatles do some ranting:


I read a news today, oh boy,
About a lucky man who made a grade,
And though the news was rather sad,
Well, I just had to laugh.
I saw the photograph.

He blew his mind out in a car,
He didn't notice that the lights have changed,
A crowd of people stood and stared,
They've seen his face before,
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords.

I saw a film today, oh boy,
The English army had just won the war,
A crowd of people turned away,
But I just had a look,
Having read a book, I'd like to turn you on...

Woke up, fell out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head,
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.

Found my coat and grabbed my head,
Made the bus in second flat,
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream.

I heard a news today, oh boy,
Four thousand holes in Blackburn Lancashire,
And though the holes were rather small,
They had to count them all,
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall,
I'd love to turn you on.
0 Replies
 
BoGoWo
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 09:41 am
Letty dear;
Need a little "pepper" on your "sergeant"?
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 09:57 am
Snneeeeeezzzzzze!

Today, I had Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door, and I always listen patiently because I do admire those who are persistent in what they believe or don't believe.

Just one tiny rant, however; The sweet lady who commenced her speil, could not find a swallowing place and I kept trying to say: "I know that...I know that..." Rolling Eyes
0 Replies
 
BoGoWo
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 10:33 am
At the risk of souding critical Letty, I think your politeness is misplaced;
If people feel a need to assault strangers with their ideologies in order to satisfy the requirements of their "faith", they should be examining the tenets of that faith much more closely, and would have no time left for such activities. Laughing
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 10:48 am
Critical? You, Bo? Nah. Cool

but I must admit that I get suckered less and less frequently.
0 Replies
 
BoGoWo
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 10:50 am
Atta girl;
we will judge you by the numbers of broken noses tuning up at SDA events!
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 03:58 pm
No, just pepper spray... Smile
0 Replies
 
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 04:05 pm
I think it's extreme arrogance, for those people to come along and presume to tell you what you should believe.

On the other hand, their creed tells them to spread the word.

No wonder they look miserable, the ones that haunt our neighbourhood.

McT
0 Replies
 
Letty
 
  1  
Reply Sat 17 May, 2003 04:17 pm
McTag, It's the same the world over. I have always believed that there are two emotions in the psyche of man, love and fear. I'm certain that is not unique with me. but I thought that it was.
0 Replies
 
patiodog
 
  1  
Reply Mon 19 May, 2003 09:31 am
Some of those door to door folks are truly worried that the rest of us are going to burn to hell. Poor people. What a frightening way to live, what a hopeless position to be in.

Still, they're off my porch inside 15 seconds. I've got a vicious looking dog to see to that.
0 Replies
 
 

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