Michelle Hits Her Stride

Also, to let you know bo, I'm better at speaking than writing my comments. I can read people while I speak to them and know which way to go next to get my point accross because unlike hearing them, reading someones comments give a person too much time to focus on them and possibly take them the wrong way. Plus, alot of times, I have too long to respond, and can do like a test, rethinking and changing what I say, posting it, and then thinking crap that came out wrong. After the last few months I've gotten to where I don't read as much of this magazine as I used to, but one of my coworkers go me started on this particular article. I shouldn't have let it get me wired up, but it was one of those days where I turned on the news to see what stunt our representatives have pulled and what the economy's doing, and instead they're talking about what Michelle was wearing at an event, and how much she spent on her freakn' shoes. The number of complaints we heard about Palins wardrobe, but few peole see what Michelle is doing as a waste of money, people don't seem to realize that we're the ones that bought her a $500 pair of shoes. When I state my opinion on these issues, unlike you, many view my statements as racist. The people that see me when I'm speaking, and can hear my tone of voice know that I'm not trying to come across that way. I don't know if this makes since, but I feel that we should look beyond race and sex, yet so many adults want to focus on it. I read a statement the black people are FINALLY getting whats due to them. If that were a true statement there wouldn't be any other black people in congress, or black movie stars, or black professional athletes. Peole like Powell and Rice wouldn't have been in their positions either. I think that one of the biggest problems is we continue to pass grudges to the next generation. Alot of us are trying to move past racial issues, but the people in the media make it more and more difficult every day. Does any of that come across wrong to you? It's not meant to.

bo, thank you for your criticism. I admit that I don't know everything, and some of my statements are opinions of that is seen in the media. On the news, as well as this magazine, you see so much about the Obamas. When it came to the taxes, the other Charities they donated to weren't mentioned, just the particular college fund. My biggest issue right now is that so many people are focused on Michelle, her feminest acts, and her relationships to those that were slaves. So many are focused on her feeling about ST, which is fine that she looks up to that woman. Everywhere we look it's Michelle, Michelle, Michell. That's worse than Marsha...lol. It's great that she's involved. But we, of all colors, should be focused on her husband, the Obama that was elected, instead of being mislead by these journalists that are foaming at the mouth to point out what Michelle is doing. As far as ethnicity, it is a part of our life that needs remembered so that the same mistakes aren't made again. Learn from your past, don't dwell on it. But we've got teen agers that are stil complaining about slavery and civil rights...I'm sorry, but they're out of place. Unlike many of us, they weren't around to see what went on during the civil rights movements, or Jim Crow. There are still parishes that harp on those things, regardless of the age of the population.

In my sociology class, the main student I studied with was a black man. Both us got looked at as odd, but between the two of us, we did a better job in that class because we could openly discuss our impressions of ethnic upbringing. He told me how he felt about so many young black men yelling out racism at the drop of a hat, but it was all right for them to talk trash and use slang toward one another that wasn't acceptable for others to call them...if you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, back to my point, he scored higher in the class than I did. We now are in the same field, working to teach our youth that white don't make you better, and being black doesn't mean you deserve more than anyone else. Many of my co-workers, including the black ones, agree that the media is making too big a deal about the color of the Obamas. The pole that I discussed about the 96% supporting and the other 4% undecided was on CNN, Wolf Blitzer was the reporter. Several of the black people I know were upset with this pole in that they didn't support him, they were more to the red wing of things.

Honestly, I wish it could all be so simple. Whatever, they do in the White House is goinna be viewed in some ways of another as different, diverse, racist, or WHATEVER....It's not the same old thing....so let's just say CHANGE is....CHANGE! No, bkack people are not the only people who are unique....however, not since Bill Clinton, has so much been handled so different in the WHITE HOUSE!!!!!! I welcome it and find it exciting and far from boring....a much needed SPICE to the same old, same old!

Gardner, it's obvious that you are more concerned with getting a rise out of readers than actually contributing anything substantial to the conversation; that being said, I'm going to give you my two cents even though I am positive that it will go in one ear and out the other...

I am a bi-racial woman (a black father and white mother) and am married to a Jewish man with many diverse (and not) friends and relatives. With my parents, I was fortunate enough to grow up around two very opposite cultures and learn the true meaning of acceptance. My father often comments about the boundries he's faced growing up (he's 73 and from the South). I was always amazed at the fact that my mother did not have to face the same obsticals as him. I know she's been frustrated with the treatment she's received as a white woman, married to a black man, and with bi-racial children. She often says she had never experienced racism before she met my father and had her children. I can tell that she gets thrown off when my father expresses his frustration, resentment, shame, and feeling of helplessness as a black man. But instead of invalidating his feelings, she took a step back, realized that there are things that have happend in his life that she will not understand or experience (and vice versa for him) and even though that's not her reality- it's his, and she'll honor that.

That is the true meaning of diversity. It's not about making us all the same. It's about celebrating, accepting (genuinely), and exploring others' cultures and backgrounds. That is impossible to do when you're busy pointing fingers.

Ever heard of St. Patricks's Day? Try Columbus Day. Do you know what they are in fact celebrating? Try Octoberfest. etc.

Not only that, Jordan, but we have black churches because we were barred from white churches. That wasn't our idea, it was Southern white who came up with that one. By the way, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear one of my white co-workers say, "I'm part Italian, and my mother is Engish" or "My father is Polish and my mother is Swedish." Do we complain about that? Of course not. I don't care what whites call themselves. I just wish they'd get over telling us what we should call ourselves.

"How about shut your cake hole and actually do a GOOD JOB instead of crying about how badly you're treated. Geez!!"

Wow if some one said that to you lawsuits would be flying. - How typical