Quote:I was in high school a long time ago, but we were required to read some amazing literature with political implications. 1984, Animal Farm, The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, Atlas Shrugged to name but a few. I hope students today are exposed to these but I suspect not as much as we were.
It wasn't that long ago, but now they have to focus on Fun with Dick and Jane, Heather Has Two Moms, and Great Moments in the Life of William Jefferson Clinton.
Quote:It wasn't that long ago, but now they have to focus on Fun with [BAD WORD REMOVED] and Jane, Heather Has Two Moms, and Great Moments in the Life of William Jefferson Clinton.
Yup. The modern classics.
Quote:Yup. The modern classics.
Funny how that filtered, though I guess the title could be a hetero sex ed book.
Quote:that book should be read in schools
Its a mandatory part of the English curriculum in Ireland.Its kind of a heavy book for teens to read but most end up loving it.Really drives home the importance of personal freedom which is crucial at that age.
The 1984 movie with John Hurt is a great tool to use alongside the book to keep them on track.
We are definitely on a downward spiral as a country but i could never hate people the way some do. As far as the new social media killings, that has been going on for decades; but thanks to technology now, even minorities and poor people in America can record and stream video to the world so it's a big deal. Nothing new to us except footage to see. Americans have needed alot of change in this country, but being African American, your raised on change but for a different reason. I was raised to be successful so that my own race of people after me could have better opportunities That may sound like something everyone can relate too, but this is for a minority race still fighting for equality and thinking money and power will make more of a difference for your families future than any march, vote, or rally would ever do. Everyone has rights, but as a black man, voting is just something i do to add my 2 cents but my #1 focus is Money. I've always been profiled, treated racist(verbally or by actions, but not by everyone), and even had to deal with it at work from peers, superiors, customers, etc., and still i just mush on. Owning a home and land is what matters to me during this lifetime in America. My kids are my future and little has changed in my 30 years of living as far as my racial treatment is concerned, so getting my family out of the "HOOD" is what will make me the biggest difference on my life and for my families future.
Some of you may be worried about martial law and losing rights but I've felt that way all my life from just being black so if this just means that everyone will be in the same boat then idk. If this means that, the hell most minorities live in and stay in their entire life will still be hell BUT we just wont have anywhere to live, thennnnnnnnnnnnnn you've got my attention.
Quote:I was in high school a long time ago, but we were required to read some amazing literature with political implications. 1984, Animal Farm, The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, Atlas Shrugged to name but a few. I hope students today are exposed to these but I suspect not as much as we were.
I graduated HS in 1990 and none of those were required reading. I had a copy of 1984 several years ago but have no idea where it is. I did see parts of the movie. I'm not sure if we're headed toward that or Idiocracy.
Quote:Funny how that filtered, though I guess the title could be a hetero sex ed book.
It's the Richard Cheney Effect.
Quote:We are definitely on a downward spiral as a country but i could never hate people the way some do. As far as the new social media killings, that has been going on for decades; but thanks to technology now, even minorities and poor people in America can record and stream video to the world so it's a big deal. Nothing new to us except footage to see. Americans have needed alot of change in this country, but being African American, your raised on change but for a different reason. I was raised to be successful so that my own race of people after me could have better opportunities That may sound like something everyone can relate too, but this is for a minority race still fighting for equality and thinking money and power will make more of a difference for your families future than any march, vote, or rally would ever do. Everyone has rights, but as a black man, voting is just something i do to add my 2 cents but my #1 focus is Money. I've always been profiled, treated racist(verbally or by actions, but not by everyone), and even had to deal with it at work from peers, superiors, customers, etc., and still i just mush on. Owning a home and land is what matters to me during this lifetime in America. My kids are my future and little has changed in my 30 years of living as far as my racial treatment is concerned, so getting my family out of the "HOOD" is what will make me the biggest difference on my life and for my families future.
Some of you may be worried about martial law and losing rights but I've felt that way all my life from just being black so if this just means that everyone will be in the same boat then idk. If this means that, the hell most minorities live in and stay in their entire life will still be hell BUT we just wont have anywhere to live, thennnnnnnnnnnnnn you've got my attention.
Being a white female in the south isn't all that great. Not unless you have money which I never have. It's not comparative to what you have dealt with but yeah.....female in the south and you don't much care for men who treat you like you're a second class citizen, like you should be seen but not heard, and your purpose in life is to take care of your man however he wants. I've had to deal with my fair share of that crap and not always in a polite manner.
My mother-in-law thought it was so nice that my husband let me take a trip to upstate New York recently. I was like- are you serious? He doesn't "let" me do a darn thing, and I don't "let" him do anything. We discuss things and come to an agreement. She and my father-in-law were not sure how to take that because he makes pretty much all the decisions. There are a lot of folks around here who live that way. It freaks me out a bit but it's their life.
I think everyone of any gender, color, and/or class has their own realities that are very real to them that others wouldn't blink an eye to. No one is better or worse. We're all human beings. I just wish we treated each other as such. The old saying, "treat others as you would like to be treated" either doesn't mean what it used to or people just don't mind being treated like crap. We really are circling the drain.
Quote:Being a white female in the south isn't all that great. Not unless you have money which I never have. It's not comparative to what you have dealt with but yeah.....female in the south and you don't much care for men who treat you like you're a second class citizen, like you should be seen but not heard, and your purpose in life is to take care of your man however he wants. I've had to deal with my fair share of that crap and not always in a polite manner.
My mother-in-law thought it was so nice that my husband let me take a trip to upstate New York recently. I was like- are you serious? He doesn't "let" me do a darn thing, and I don't "let" him do anything. We discuss things and come to an agreement. She and my father-in-law were not sure how to take that because he makes pretty much all the decisions. There are a lot of folks around here who live that way. It freaks me out a bit but it's their life.
I think everyone of any gender, color, and/or class has their own realities that are very real to them that others wouldn't blink an eye to. No one is better or worse. We're all human beings. I just wish we treated each other as such. The old saying, "treat others as you would like to be treated" either doesn't mean what it used to or people just don't mind being treated like crap. We really are circling the drain.
100% Agree, and it makes me feel good everytime i hear someone speak truth. The sad thing is, it's usually the minds of those that don't get heard, or respected enough, or have the immediate reach and power to change things that feel this way. I tend to focus on just trying to make life for me and my family as fun, adventurous, and exciting as possible with our budget and block the negativity.
IDK. I like challenges, so racism kind of gave every non-racist friend outside of my race that much more honor to me, soul to soul, from the moment i fully understood it.
Quote:Being a white female in the south isn't all that great. Not unless you have money which I never have. It's not comparative to what you have dealt with but yeah.....female in the south and you don't much care for men who treat you like you're a second class citizen, like you should be seen but not heard, and your purpose in life is to take care of your man however he wants. I've had to deal with my fair share of that crap and not always in a polite manner.
My mother-in-law thought it was so nice that my husband let me take a trip to upstate New York recently. I was like- are you serious? He doesn't "let" me do a darn thing, and I don't "let" him do anything. We discuss things and come to an agreement. She and my father-in-law were not sure how to take that because he makes pretty much all the decisions. There are a lot of folks around here who live that way. It freaks me out a bit but it's their life.
I think everyone of any gender, color, and/or class has their own realities that are very real to them that others wouldn't blink an eye to. No one is better or worse. We're all human beings. I just wish we treated each other as such. The old saying, "treat others as you would like to be treated" either doesn't mean what it used to or people just don't mind being treated like crap. We really are circling the drain.
That's pretty much a solid partnership (marriage). In my opinion, those types of relationships are slowly being eroded. Part of the problem with today's society is the deterioration of family. You have people having children out of wedlock who either didn't plan or can't afford to raise them. People are more interested in the latest app or game on their cell phones than they are with interacting and getting to know one another. People are too "me" oriented rather than trying to help one another out.
Quote:We are definitely on a downward spiral as a country but i could never hate people the way some do. As far as the new social media killings, that has been going on for decades; but thanks to technology now, even minorities and poor people in America can record and stream video to the world so it's a big deal. Nothing new to us except footage to see. Americans have needed alot of change in this country, but being African American, your raised on change but for a different reason. I was raised to be successful so that my own race of people after me could have better opportunities That may sound like something everyone can relate too, but this is for a minority race still fighting for equality and thinking money and power will make more of a difference for your families future than any march, vote, or rally would ever do. Everyone has rights, but as a black man, voting is just something i do to add my 2 cents but my #1 focus is Money. I've always been profiled, treated racist(verbally or by actions, but not by everyone), and even had to deal with it at work from peers, superiors, customers, etc., and still i just mush on. Owning a home and land is what matters to me during this lifetime in America. My kids are my future and little has changed in my 30 years of living as far as my racial treatment is concerned, so getting my family out of the "HOOD" is what will make me the biggest difference on my life and for my families future.
Some of you may be worried about martial law and losing rights but I've felt that way all my life from just being black so if this just means that everyone will be in the same boat then idk. If this means that, the hell most minorities live in and stay in their entire life will still be hell BUT we just wont have anywhere to live, thennnnnnnnnnnnnn you've got my attention.
I can certainly understand where you're coming from, but you know what? My family and I have gone through the same struggles. Imagine what it's like to be of Mexican descent and living/working in the south.
Quote:100% Agree, and it makes me feel good everytime i hear someone speak truth. The sad thing is, it's usually the minds of those that don't get heard, or respected enough, or have the immediate reach and power to change things that feel this way. I tend to focus on just trying to make life for me and my family as fun, adventurous, and exciting as possible with our budget and block the negativity.
IDK. I like challenges, so racism kind of gave every non-racist friend outside of my race that much more honor to me, soul to soul, from the moment i fully understood it.
The thing that makes it so difficult for me is I was not raised by people who were from the south. My mom was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Colorado (and where I was born), my dad was born and raised in Rhode Island and my stepdad was born in Arkansas but his family moved to Arizona when he was very young. Long story short, we all converged in FL when I was a kid and went from there. I wasn't raised with 'southern pride' or by people who had that mindset. I was around those kind of people but they were not instrumental in forming my personality, mindset, whatever you want to call it, to be southern. I spent time in CO and RI in the summers which had a part in forming my mindset. From the ages of 17 to 39 I lived all over the US and in Germany, finally settling here in central NC so understanding the southern mindset is something I've never quite caught on to.
Where I live now is very different than anywhere else I've lived, the people are very different. Most of the folks I know were born and raised here or have been here for so long they don't remember the life they had before. I definitely feel like a stranger in a foreign land most times and a lot of my world knowledge/life experiences are so foreign to them it's hard to relate. I'm always being looked at sideways when I speak up or do things in ways that they think are not......right, I guess that's the only way I know how to put it. Or not the way they would go about something. On election day back in 2012 I was in a mixed group of folks and I reminded everyone to go out and vote and the lady next to me said, "Ssshhhh, there are democrats here. We don't want them to vote." I'm not kidding. I looked at her and told her that's a small minded way to think and it's every American's right to vote even if we don't agree with who they vote for. She just didn't get it. It's this and other such mindsets that set me apart from a lot of people I call friends and family and it can be difficult but I just agree to disagree and move on. It's not the same as racism or sexism or any other -ism I can think of but it is an issue.
Quote:I can certainly understand where you're coming from, but you know what? My family and I have gone through the same struggles. Imagine what it's like to be of Mexican descent and living/working in the south.
We have a lot of Mexicans here and I hear the stuff folks say and it's sad. There are things that set people apart, cultural differences being a big one that, in my opinion, are often called racial differences/issues. I wish people could get past that stuff and see the PEOPLE and accept everyone's differences. But people are people and we're not comfortable with things we don't understand no matter how much we think we are.
Quote:I can certainly understand where you're coming from, but you know what? My family and I have gone through the same struggles. Imagine what it's like to be of Mexican descent and living/working in the south.
Trust me, i understand. People are people and once race is eliminated we can move on as human beings.
My grandson is a perfect example of the melding races in America. He's white, Filipino, Dominican, and Japanese. I call him my little United Nations.