Why does anyone have to mention the color of their

posted 12 months ago, updated 1 minute later

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1. 12 months ago no1bookmark wrote:

Ari11L: Thank you, thank you! I totally agree that no one on Eons needs to know what your ethnic background is, nor do we want to know. I also read the posts that hit Eons over the weekend while the staff was off and it infuriated me immensely. I went so far in one of the posts to state that they were the racists in referring to "their people" and their "brothers & sisters", that confirmed to me that they wanted to be singled out as something other than the rest of the folks on Eons. I appreciate that you took the time to write this.

2. 12 months ago slyver wrote:

You answered your own question.

"This is a chat site for people over 50."

In the vernacular of the younger generation, the subject is sooo twentieth century. But a lot of us are still stuck there. We haven't realized that, for the most part, if it's not a dead issue, it's certainly dying.

I grew up in an integrated environment. Hell, my own family was integrated in the forties. My adult children base their friendships on how folks treat others, period.

Very rarely, I'll run into an overt racist. It's not smart to be a racist nowadays. Racists are shunned by mainstream society, and should be.

But people who still live in the past aren't apt to notice.

3. 12 months ago whims wrote:

Excellent post - i grew up not knowing that some people did not respect some other people because of race or religion. I think i first became aware of it in high school and i can remember being shocked and furious. I guess i was just lucky to have been brought up that way - i have had wonderful role models in my parents. It wasn't discussed - it was just the way they behaved that taught me.

4. 11 months ago okhela wrote:

I'll take you at your word that race means nothing to you. However, just as you stated, this is a site for people over 50. In case you haven't noticed, the most resistance to progress in race relations has come from individuals in this generation. It is not surprising that they would bring their attitutes and propensities to this site. It is also understandable that you have no appreciation of what it means to be black in America. Just as I have rarely experienced the luxury of being considered just another child of God. There is a world of difference between being Irish, Italian, and or Scottish and being black in America. So, what is racism doing on EONS, it comes with the participants. One of the potential values of EONS is perhaps some of them will become enlightened. Old dogs can learn new tricks.(Not meant to be derogatory)

5. 11 months ago MarvaLu wrote:

I think people post what they post for the same reason you posted this on your blog, "because they have the freedom to do so." In the land of the free you will run across many things you don't agree with, that is the nature of freedom. We all have the freedom to think as we think and to pretty much say what we think.

Welcome to America!

6. 11 months ago orio wrote:

People are into racism because it focuses on the other person as 'different'. All people have problems with something being different. They either fear it, want to kill it or at least ostracize it. When people emotionally and mentally final evolve, they will reach out to those differences and embrace them.

I never understood the big thing about segregation and busing when I was growing up because all my classes, even from kindergarten, had all different nationalities represented. I really didn't understand until in the 70's and then I still didn't get it. Everybody was the same, right? Anyway, that's the way I was raised.

After functioning as an adult now for many generations and seeing hate crimes for what they are, they really sicken me. I don't care what faction the hate crime involves, either. Ignorance lashes out, not intelligence. I am amazed at the way ingnorance is justified and infiltrated into society. We all think that we are 'so together, that I wouldn't 'do what so-n-so does'. Well, you better wake up and smell the coffee. Really look at what you are doing and try to figure out why you think like you do about 'other people' that are 'different'.

I am not perfect and I hope that you realize that you are not either. When we stop learning, growing and evolving, we might as well just roll over and die. May God protect us from ourselves.

7. 11 months ago obent77 wrote:

Instead of castigating those who mention the problem of race, why don't you seek them out and attempt to ask them what is their reason for doing so? It could be that they are experiencing a problem that is not common to your group of individuals. I use this blog in an attempt to converse with others and attempting to understand them and their way of life, their joys and their sorrows. Instead of suggesting that all others have the same concerns that you do you probably should spend some time trying to understand the concerns of others. You will be a lot happier.

8. 11 months ago Domitila2 wrote:

First you are right about one thing. We especially those of us who have lived are or should be beyond material limitatiions. You are wrong about the use of Puerto Rican as a "skin color" thing. Puerto Ricans are white, black and mixed. Puerto Rican is not a race it is an ethnicity. That is a sharing of a common culture, region or origin and history. In your defense this is a VERY common misconception.

I personally love learning about the origins of individuals. The fact that you are Irish, Scottish and Italian is very interesting to me. I am Puerto Rican white raised in the states currently living in Puerto Rico and constantly mistaken by my fellow Puerto Ricans for Gringa, go figure. Well don't let all this get to you. It is obviously important to the person who raises the issues for reasons you can't explore in a chat room. Don't let it ruffle your feathers. If you are beyond obsession with skin color and other difference than it wont.

Chill Baby

9. 11 months ago anniec57 wrote:

because racism is a part of our personal problems. read my latest post. you cannot live in this world and not be affected by the different attitudes people have about skin color and that goes for people who claim not to be prejudiced. Maybe they aren't prejudiced, but you must know that it has crossed their mind in order for them to mention it. You can tell who is sensitive to black people's self image by the way they talk to you. They mean well and are sweet but race plays into every part of our lives whether we want it to or not or whether we think it does or not. HOw we relate to other people of other races sometimes means we have to think about race. Let's deal with the real world and not confine ourselves to just the good things. My problems include racism and if this is an open forum I demand the right to discuss it. anniec57.

10. 11 months ago roaddogone wrote:

I gusse you tell your slaves you just building the good old usa you be free after the job done, I think from what you say you not that smart.

11. 11 months ago LDBarge wrote:

Religion and politics seem to be out of bounds here and understandably so, as they are divisive. But I am not sure that racism is actually divisive among people who are worth talking to. I do hope that anyone who IS a racist will not come into eons. It is actually an often misunderstood word. Some people actually believe that, by definition, an african american cannot be a racist. I have been a victim of racial hatred. I dont feel the need to go into it in detail here, but others who have been victimized may feel the need to. To be opposed to racism is certainly no sign of ignorance, even if the racism was black against white. To be a racist is a sign of ignorance.

12. 11 months ago FlyWacko wrote:

I have opserved that there exists a great number of people who revel in being a "victim" of something or other. It is their excuse for whatever is happening to them that they are just too lazy to take care of. They play the race card or some other excuse to get their way without having to go through the trouble of actually earning something. But, boy can they spew hate. If you don'r fall at their feet with remorse, you will be called every vile name in the book, and a few others.
So just ignore them, they are incapable of change. Let them be bitter and call you whatever names they can sputter out. Let's go on enjoying life and catching Gods little fishes.

Hate away, it won't stop any of us who have your number from the things that are truely important.

FW

13. 11 months ago LDBarge wrote:

flyWacko certainly picked a good name for himself.

14. 11 months ago GregAlario wrote:

Racism is as revolting of a mentality as exists. As far as your Puerto Rican friend, I do not see any racism in her mentality just a pride in her heritage. There is nothing wrong with pride of heritage. Being able to interact and appreciate you and all your differences, including heritage is what it is all about. I think the one thing you are missing is to understand how different her background has been. I would imagine she has through her life been subjected to some degree of true racism. Our differences are what makes it interesting and our individual backgrounds keep it that way. Personally, I could think of nothing as boring and lacking stimulus than all of us being the same.

15. 11 months ago Goldy55 wrote:

"SO WHAT IS THE WORD RACISM DOING ON EONS?
If topics like this continue to crop up, Eons will indeed loose a lot of it's members."

What gives you the right to say that? Who will leave? How many? Getting this mess "boomed" to the home page doesn't shut down eons.

Some of us wear our skin color every day, and get constant reminders of it. Racism is real. It's at eons. And the topic will come up on the home page and everywhere else we decide to speak up about it.

What's next for your "prohibited-or-we-take-our-marbles-and-play-somewhere-else" gambit?

Sex? Sexism? 3600 of our troops dead? Anti-Bush commentary? Lesbian and Gay issues? Interracial dating or marriage? Hemhorroids? OB/GYN Kenobi? Atheism? Child abuse? Desegregation? Prostate exams? Mammograms? Overt flirtatiousness?

Maybe You're going, but "lots" of members will stay and enjoy this place.

eons is a great place, and it has the diversity and spark that the real internets have. Otherwise, those big advertisers (and we who wear our skin color daily, also spend our money daily) would go elsewhere.

Besides, none of us will have our eyes opened to the facts about difficult topics, if difficult topics continue to get such a censorious and manipulative backlash.

What a hoot: bring up racism, get cronies to "boom" the heck out of it, then tell us not to talk about it...or else...

Made my day.

16. 11 months ago Barbwire wrote:

Racial pride has nothing to do with racism. I am an American but everyday I look in the mirror, and I see a woman who is proud to be African-American.

I know and love many different races and nationalities of people who live all over the world that I both love and respect. Our cultural differences and similarities only make for good conversations because we share a mutual respect for one another.

Back to the original question...Why race is mentioned here on eons...because it is part of the world in which we (the collective we) exist. Therefore here on eons our thoughts, differences and similarities are represented.

Hopefully our years of life experience have made each of us wiser and better able to have intelligent discussions with our peers; therefore this discuss has arisen.

Thank God I live in America and have the right to feel free to be me.

God Bless America!

17. 11 months ago sheba2225 wrote:

I believe we, as a people, are the sum total of our experiences. We each bring that mix to any interaction. Through recognising that racism (or sexism, economic situation, etc.) exists, and that we have had that exposure in society, we hold the key to effect attitudes. Denying that a situation exists prevents its' examination and positive change.

18. 11 months ago RobtC wrote:

quote"Racial pride has nothing to do with racism. I am an American but everyday I look in the mirror, and I see a woman who is proud to be African-American." end quote.

quote"I gusse you tell your slaves you just building the good old usa you be free after the job done, I think from what you say you not that smart." end quote

These are prime examples of why race is an issue, no matter where you go. You are correct, you are an American, period. When we lose all the titles, and become one group, racism will begin to fade away. Blame part of it on the news-readers to boost viewship and sales. You can not read a story, or watch the news, where race does not become a major portion. I fail to see what relevance it has when someone robs a store if he was black/white/hispanic/other. The fact remains, a person, robbed a store; period. Did labeling them by race make it worse? We are too hung up on titles in this country. I do not label myself as Irish American, nor have I met any Italian Americans, but I have met lots of Americans. I have met a lot of Americans who simply are black, also. But the one thing they all had in common, is they were human beings first, not labeling themselves by a certain race, creed, sexual connotation. Heck, I'm proud of my heritage, too, and once a year I may hoist a pint in honor of old St. Patty, but on that day, we are all Irish. As long as we continue to focus on race, it is going to be an issue. Can't we all just be one?

19. 11 months ago Geri53 wrote:

Racism? Hellooo -- We live in America.

I've often marveled at the fact the when I meet people, they feel the need to tell me that they are Jewish, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Gay or whatever. My conclusion is simply that this means there's lots of different folks from lots of different backgounds who want to be seen as individuals who still belong to a certain group. For those who don't see their ethnicity in the mirror every day, I believe belonging to a certain group may just be important to them and they simply want you to know that it is. Nothing more-Nothing less. While it may seem strange to us, it is their right to tell us and I don't feel that because they do so, it should be seen as Racism. My Advice to you is to relax and let people be who they are. Yes it may be slightly annoying, but "It is what it is". As a side note: Once you've experienced a racist attack, you will certainly know the difference.

20. 11 months ago jimdandi wrote:

People talk about race because there exists in today's world a huge divide among different races. If we talk about it and bring it out into the open, we can take steps to lessen and maybe even someday eliminate the problem.

21. 11 months ago icefish wrote:

Dear Ari,
I am a white woman living in a liberal Northwest city. I see many ways in which life is different for me than for my black neighbors, and especially ways in which growing up and raising a family has been different over the course of my lifetime. For example, the little town where I grew up, a few miles north of this city, had no African American residents. I didn't know it at the time, but there were many properties in and near my town that carried racially restrictive covenants, stating for example, "No person or persons of Asiatic, African or Negro blood, lineage, or extraction shall be permitted to occupy a portion of said property." Because of these covenants, an African American or Asian family with the same income and education as my family had much more limited residential choices than my family, and could not choose to live where I did.
It did not become illegal to enforce these covenants until 1968, when the US congress passed the Fair Housing act. The youngest members of Eons (50 years old) were born in 1957, so had to live under a legal system that denied equal rights on the basis of race throughout their elementary school years. Some Eons members are old enough to have experienced the World War II years, when African American veterans came home to find that enemy prisoners of war were treated with more respect than these veterans.
Even if it were true that our nation has now overcome this legacy of racially-based injustice, and that no one is now denied oppportunities due to their heritage or skin color, these elements of our recent past have shaped all of us. We will never become one people until we are all able to listen with compassion to each other's stories. And unfortunately my African American colleagues still have stories to tell of encountering overt racial prejudice, even here in this liberal city. For example, an African American nurse was told by her patient, "I don't want anyone of your kind touching me." This nurse explained in a most professional and dignified way that it was her responsibility to care for this woman anyway. Months later, this patient told my colleague that through her care, she had finally understood that her prejudice was wrong. This did not happen in 1950, it happened last year.

22. 11 months ago jaw16 wrote:

I totally agree with you. There is no need to comment on what race you are, ever!

23. 11 months ago Porsche911 wrote:

I agree with what Geri53 and RobtC wrote. Racism and Ethnicity have nothing to do with one another. Two different things entirely. I work in a small company that employs just about every ethnic group you can think of. We talk about our different colors all the time. It would be weird if we didn't. With different colors of skin, often times comes different traditions and criteria that have absolutely nothing to do with anything other than more excuses to party and eat yummy treats.
Recognizing different ethnicity other than your own is merely a means of getting to know what makes any person who he/she is. It's all good. It's not racism. Racism is hate.
As Popeye once said, "I ams what I ams".

Pam

24. 11 months ago GrammyD1955 wrote:

I agree with you, personally I don't care what a person's heritage is I want to know what kind of person they are and I think one of the reasons why the topic of Racism shows up on Eons is because some people on Eons wear it like it's some sort of battle scar or a medal of victimization; if it is politically correct to not use the N word then in "MY" opinion the R word should also not be used.