tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post2382714773500043753..comments2024-03-18T22:27:20.948-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: Racism and MeOvidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-24979197184154475602016-07-12T23:12:31.898-04:002016-07-12T23:12:31.898-04:00I do love that the Italian and Black miners decide...I do love that the Italian and Black miners decided to unite and work together. Sometimes in the toughest circumstances, people overcome their differences because it's in their interests -- and they realize they have more in common than differences.<br />Unity and solidarity is always good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-58291088042982355312016-07-12T21:39:57.046-04:002016-07-12T21:39:57.046-04:00Susan, Thank you for your lovely words. I have a s...Susan, Thank you for your lovely words. I have a sequel to this for next week with an optimistic take on what is happening these days. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-78834574120612798622016-07-12T21:35:31.867-04:002016-07-12T21:35:31.867-04:00Kathy, yes, not all the nuns I ran into in my long...Kathy, yes, not all the nuns I ran into in my long career in school were as benevolent as the one who taught Philosiophy 101. And certainly parenting methods have changed. I am glad that children are treated more gently these days. I have no use for physical punishment. But I do think that children are now sometimes not disciplined at all.Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-13778431983776070292016-07-12T17:54:19.993-04:002016-07-12T17:54:19.993-04:00I love this post, for so many reasons. Like you, m...I love this post, for so many reasons. Like you, my parents taught me not just the absence of hate, but the active obligation to love other people in a way that includes standing up and actively fighting injustice when I see it. It saddens and sickens me to see so much hatred in the world, and it encourages me to know there are people like you (and our MIE family) who are shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight to advance love and understanding rather than hate.Susan Spannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770560542416086762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-86186109953119141202016-07-12T05:06:07.883-04:002016-07-12T05:06:07.883-04:00Well, the young in Britain voted not to Brexit; th...Well, the young in Britain voted not to Brexit; they want to live in multicultural, multinationl communities.<br />And it's the young leading the protests here against racism. But, wow, what's going on here is horrific.<br />I watched a brilliant attorney/TV personality , who is Black, weep today as she worried about her teenage son's safety and his future and the danger of police brutality.<br />This whole society has to change. Nelson Mandela's words are beautiful -- if only they were believed by everyone, this would be a much better country and world.<br />But when you tell the story of the nun, I'll mention that years ago friends told me, the grandaughter of Jewish immigrants, of the terrible anti-Semitism espoused by nuns in their parochial grammar schools. I cannot repeat what was said as it sickens me.<br />The protests against racism here have been very multinational, which is great. The Black community wants and needs solidarity, and we should all do what we can to show that.<br />And, finally, your father was harsh. In my family, no one ever used bigoted words against anyone and we children learned by example not to ever do that. I can't even stand to read bigoted words in fiction, which prevents me from reading certain authors, which is fine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-57272260581286093222016-07-11T17:15:15.757-04:002016-07-11T17:15:15.757-04:00Jono, this is the only answer. I see a continuum ...Jono, this is the only answer. I see a continuum to get us to love: teach tolerance, insist on an integrated workforce. These two efforts will lead to people living and working together peacefully, which will lead to friendships, which will lead to love.<br />When Obama as elected, I heard a pundit explaining why the young who supported him had eschewed the racist ideology of the past. That professor said that for the then under twenty-five generation, they were so used to seeing black people in positions of trust: the letter carrier, the school principal, the radiologist in the hospital, the manager of the supermarket, that they didn't look at a person with brown skin and automatically think ill of him.<br />This is why I think the future will be better. But we must confront this hate mongers in order to get there. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-24026275289846124572016-07-11T15:49:23.110-04:002016-07-11T15:49:23.110-04:00Love is the only thing stronger than hate. Teach t...Love is the only thing stronger than hate. Teach the people to love and the hate will subside.Jonohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18170214396483091419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-90274265742138892772016-07-11T15:36:52.486-04:002016-07-11T15:36:52.486-04:00Thank you, Stan. The fabulous Trevor: horrifying ...Thank you, Stan. The fabulous Trevor: horrifying truths and laughs in the same speech. I love it!Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-91624632950285797572016-07-11T14:59:39.237-04:002016-07-11T14:59:39.237-04:00Listen to what another South African has to say on...Listen to what another South African has to say on the matter. It's good.<br />http://www.vox.com/2016/7/8/12128586/trevor-noah-police-shootingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-70213609674377745342016-07-11T14:39:42.757-04:002016-07-11T14:39:42.757-04:00LJS, I think such a commission is just what we nee...LJS, I think such a commission is just what we need. Given Stan Trollip's observation that South Africa is now ahead of us in fighting racism, we would be idiotic not to follow their example. Evidently, we have some catching up as well as a lot of studying up to do. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-76982663159666839002016-07-11T14:35:51.609-04:002016-07-11T14:35:51.609-04:00EvKa, I remain the cockeyed optimist. You have he...EvKa, I remain the cockeyed optimist. You have heard me say this all before, but I insist it bears repeating. The president is black. Gay marriage is the law in many countries. The young are largely on the side of these changes. The march of time is on our side. Non illigitamus carborundum nos! Don't let the bastards grind us down. We will overcome! Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-52286578892774123752016-07-11T13:41:17.906-04:002016-07-11T13:41:17.906-04:00i wonder if we are past the point where our countr...i wonder if we are past the point where our country could benefit from a Truth and Reconcilliation Commisision, like the convened in post-apartheid South Africa. Eljay Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16254330250399913681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-54393945817623940422016-07-11T12:55:01.635-04:002016-07-11T12:55:01.635-04:00Lovely column, Ama, lovely thoughts. Truth will o...Lovely column, Ama, lovely thoughts. Truth will out...Everett Kaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371555243187874414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-22115265635551762232016-07-11T09:37:03.243-04:002016-07-11T09:37:03.243-04:00It's a great questions, Bro. I was not born t...It's a great questions, Bro. I was not born to have the life I have had: working class, poor, female. If I have been black? I wonder if I would have seen even the little glimmer of hope that led me to where I am. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-91173573177542817172016-07-11T09:34:01.872-04:002016-07-11T09:34:01.872-04:00Jerry, Thank you for this story. You committed an...Jerry, Thank you for this story. You committed an act of protest. You shook up the locals by doing so. Whether you fully understood it or not. Kids are often very quick to see the difference between fair and not fair. It seems to be instinctive. Adults tell them, "Life is not fair." Well, yes, and I guess we must accept that when happenings are a matter of chance. But where society has a choice--as it had in the segregated south, we have to cry "NO FAIR." If you ask me that was what you did.Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-87476475093031156602016-07-11T09:26:58.240-04:002016-07-11T09:26:58.240-04:00Sujata, I recognized, as soon as I met you, the wa...Sujata, I recognized, as soon as I met you, the warmth of your heart. HOORAY for warmth!Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-26353123557393740632016-07-11T09:23:36.050-04:002016-07-11T09:23:36.050-04:00Thank you, Michael. I truly believe that Mandella...Thank you, Michael. I truly believe that Mandella's description of the human heart is correct. So the credit goes to my being human. At least his words describe what I feel. Love, laughter, dancing, caring come naturally to us. We do them in worst of of circumstances. Oh, I know. It is possible to focus on the negatives. Same people do. But in the pursuit of happiness, those negatives are obstacles. Having fun together is what makes us happy, no? I'd rather be happy. I can think of a lot of reasons for me to be miserable. But I can't stay there long. Maybe it's all body chemistry, but happiness feels like my default position.Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-71237714798345184002016-07-11T08:42:46.938-04:002016-07-11T08:42:46.938-04:00I think the appropriate question for every white p...I think the appropriate question for every white person to ask themselves in the privacy of their own thoughts is: "Could I have achieved what I have in my life if I were not white?" Perhaps then and only then will one realize the insidious effects of racism. Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-64660013886314973462016-07-11T07:57:53.597-04:002016-07-11T07:57:53.597-04:00Right on.Remember as a kid going to see Williamsbu...Right on.Remember as a kid going to see Williamsburg VA circa 1950's.In local bus stop had to visit the bathroom so I went thru door marked Men-Coloreds. Much angst arose from local white folks. I didn't see what the issue was. Must have been brought up with the same family values as yours<br />Jerry@thecloakanddagger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-46066158577660088272016-07-11T07:40:20.314-04:002016-07-11T07:40:20.314-04:00I agree with you, Annamaria. Thanks for this heart...I agree with you, Annamaria. Thanks for this heartfelt, moving column.Sujata in Baltimore, MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17958776635749620496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-90106720473313827672016-07-11T06:18:48.072-04:002016-07-11T06:18:48.072-04:00Wonderful, timely post, Annamaria. And give yours...Wonderful, timely post, Annamaria. And give yourself some credit. Anyone can be taught, but not everyone learns.Michael Sears (of Michael Stanley)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09886295534214542834noreply@blogger.com