P On Me and Tell Me It's Rain

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by SOUNWORTHY

Tell me about bullying. In the forth and fifth grade I had to find a different way home every day to keep from getting bullied because I had a birth defect. My Dad was bullied because he was handicapped. It did not cripple us for life. We both became successful in our own way. There was never any remorse from those who did the bullying but you know what, I don't care because I won in the end. I became a better man not in spite of it but because of it. People can go on wallowing in the problems of the past and make life miserable for themselves and everyone around them. As I was told one time. Quit your bellyachin and get on with your life and I did.

I'll remember that.

But your mentality is why there has been little to no healing about the history of this country.

But I would like to see you tell that to my father, who witnessed family members hanging from trees burned for trying to desegregate schools. The insensitivity is always what pours salt in wounds that are trying to heal. It is not the first thing I have read on the thread from you that was....less than becoming. Such is life.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by tstew

D4T, I think that often in these conversations, people are talking about two different things. You assume that the only issue is slavery that occurred hundreds of years ago obviously before any of out times. One point that I have been trying to make is that there are many people in our country who were raised in times of Jim Crow and other things (basically apartheid). We are only one generation removed from this. My own father was raised in this environment and can tell you stories that would surprise you. For these people we're not talking about stories and history, we're talking real life experiences.
In my opinion, it is amazing how far we have come in such a short period of time. And I do agree that those racist ideals are far fewer these days. I admire how my father has not allowed his experiences to affect him. I am sure that if he lived his life as a slave to those experiences, his own ministry would have suffered. I admire how many white Americans have throroughly rejected the mindset of even their preceding generation. I admire the fact that I have been able to have many great, fruitful conversations with many great people of all races.

tstew... let me first say that I admire the care that you take to word your posts. This medium of online forums is weak in it's ability to convey true intent when a post is made and it takes time and effort to compensate for that weakness.

You take great care in wording your posts and I am appreciative of that. I would consider it an honor one day to meet you and your family face to face.

I understand what you are saying and after I had made the post in question I went back and removed that portion leaving only the last sentence. But... by the time I had done so someone had replied to it and it was there forever now. The reason I had removed that portion is for the very reason that you state.

I felt that my post was too assumptive as to the healing being spoken of... and yet... once it was quoted in it's entirety I put the information back in.

I hear, understand and receive what you have stated.

[SOUNWORTHY]

Originally Posted by Mercy

I'll remember that.

But your mentality is why there has been little to no healing about the history of this country.

But I would like to see you tell that to my father, who witnessed family members hanging from trees burned for trying to desegregate schools. The insensitivity is always what pours salt in wounds that are trying to heal. It is not the first thing I have read on the thread from you that was....less than becoming. Such is life.

What can be done to heal the history of the country?

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by SOUNWORTHY

What can be done to heal the history of the country?

Time is what's needed!

How many years did southern people resent and hate northerners (and vice versa) for what happened in the Civil war? It has taken four or five generations.

Today, tension hardly exists at all between the two sides.

IMO, It will take a couple of generations being raised without resentment and hatred toward other races. IMO, this will only be accomplished if the government steps in and makes race baiting organizations illegal.

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by SOUNWORTHY

What can be done to heal the history of the country?

Perhaps open honesty and truly trying to understand the other side. Self evaluation about how we "really" feel and dealing with it honestly. For starters...

[Mercy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

Time is what's needed!

How many years did southern people resent and hate northerners (and vice versa) for what happened in the Civil war? It has taken four or five generations.

Today, tension hardly exists at all between the two sides.

IMO, It will take a couple of generations being raised without resentment and hatred toward other races. IMO, this will only be accomplished if the government steps in and makes race baiting organizations illegal.

In my opinion the old saying "time heals all things/wounds" is far from the truth. We've had time....we need action. We need to be real about what we feel and why we feel that way.

My Pastor once told me to ask myself "why" at least 5 times and you tend to get to the root of the question. I have found that has help me like crazy in my self evaluations to becoming a better person.

[Sam]

I am white or honky or Caucasian or cracker or whatever the current politically correct term is so I guess I see things different than someone who is Negro, colored, African-American, a person of color, or whatever the current politically correct term is.

P.S. If someone is a member of the NAACP, is it OK to refer to them as a colored person?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

Time is what's needed!

How many years did southern people resent and hate northerners (and vice versa) for what happened in the Civil war? It has taken four or five generations.

Today, tension hardly exists at all between the two sides.

IMO, It will take a couple of generations being raised without resentment and hatred toward other races. IMO, this will only be accomplished if the government steps in and makes race baiting organizations illegal.

Not long ago I was in a person's home and saw a plaque on the wall with a Confederate symbol and the words "h.. no, I'll never forget." Here in the SW Ohio, SE Indiana, and northern KY we still see confederate flag decor.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

tstew... let me first say that I admire the care that you take to word your posts. This medium of online forums is weak in it's ability to convey true intent when a post is made and it takes time and effort to compensate for that weakness.

You take great care in wording your posts and I am appreciative of that. I would consider it an honor one day to meet you and your family face to face.

You aren't the first to say it! But, I will Amen you anyway!!!

[StillStanding]

I remember reading about an experiment were a school somewhere in Texas brought in children of Israel and Palestine descent for special schooling. The children were not allowed to spend time with their families for a year.

There was a little awkwardness and resentment at first, but soon the children got to know each other and became more comfortable. By the end of the year, the children were all close friends.

The children all hugged each other when it was time to go back to their families.

In just a few weeks, the feelings and attitudes of their families caused the children to go back to were they were before.

It's the older generations that are causing the racial problems. They have first or second hand knowledge and memories of bad situations that were racially motivated.

These people will have to die off before a new generation of kids arises without racial biases that have crippled us all for years. Time will heal, if we are allowed to give it a chance.