...dispicable.

Never in my life, have I seen racism up close. There is so much of it going around. To be honest we all probably have bits of racism or race or religion judgment floating around deep within us. I've just never seen in manifested into words against a stranger right before my eyes.

So here's the story...
I was at Target on my lunch break, I was in the shoe section looking around. There were two other couples in the same isle as me; and I was standing in the middle of them. On of them was an older white couple and the other was a young middle eastern couple with two kids.

One of the kids were crying. Not very loudly at all...and the Mother was singing to him to try and soothe him. I was really paying neither couple much attention until I heard the older gentlemen start mumbling to his wife. H would say something and she would laugh and keep looking at shoes. After a minute or two of this, I felt a tap on my elbow as I was reaching for a pair of shoes on the top shelf, when I turned the man, he actually said to me laughing, "It's bad enough they send their people to kill ours, now we have to share our county and our stores with these 'darn' terrorists too?!"

My jaw. hit. the. floor.

I felt like I immediately began trembling...either out of shock or fear at what was rumbling inside of me all of the sudden, and all I could eek out was "EXCUSE ME?! You don't know them!" I was shocked. My voice cracked when I spoke. As I said them I couldn't believe I was even speaking up. I am completely a non-confrontational person, especially towards strangers; but the words came out before I could even think. It felt like all I wanted to do was scream at him. I wanted to yell at him for assuming he knew their religion, their beliefs, etc. I wanted to make him apologize to that Family. The same family that is going to have to fight racism and judgment like that for the rest of their lives, the same ones who will have to explain to their (what looked to be 8 or 9 year old) son why this man judged them the way he did.

I am sure it was written all over my face, especially as I picked my jaw up off the floor and hid my eyes from his. I know he could tell I was upset. I could see out of the corner of my eye, that he put his hand on his wife's back and led her out of the isle and quickly too.

I still wanted to run after him and slap him.

What was worse, what really turned my stomach was when I turned to look towards that Family. The Mother had stopped singing to her child and was just staring at her Husband. I couldn't see her eyes, but I felt the sadness. I know they heard what the man said. I was immediately sick to my stomach and wanted to leave, so as I walked by the family I felt the need to apologize for the man's horrible words, so I did. "I'm so sorry" I said, she just smiled at me.

In that brief 3 minute period, what felt like 20 minutes, I felt the pain of many people. The whole thing just made me sick. I've watched documentaries and shows about racism in America, especially post 9/11. And yeah you know, who knows? That family could have been devote Muslim extremists, who believed in terrorizing our Country. Or they could have been full-blooded Americans, having the same beliefs as that Man, or as Me.

And that's just the point.

We don't know.
He didn't know.

The way he acted was despicable.

I only hope I reacted well enough. I only hope that I was able to show God somehow in my response.

I know that this is America and people can have their own opinions, but seriously? To speak out things like that about people you don't even know...to make assumptions like that? That is not what our freedom of speech is about. And don't assume that because I am white like you, that I share your opinions.

I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around the whole situation. I really opened up alot of thoughtfulness within me, regarding how easily we all judge people around us. Whether it be because of race, religion, economic, family or career status. I'm just at a loss.

Thoughts?

a little sessy dancing with Martha...

April writing...

Yup, you heard right.
Martha Stewart.
Pole Dancing.

Overt your eyes...if you can...

Why people need "DRAMA"

April writing...

I just read a very interesting article that I felt the need to share...it truly sheds some light on why people need drama in their lives.

Taken from: Kurt Vonnegut Explains Drama

"I was at a Kurt Vonnegut talk in New York a few years ago. Talking about writing, life, and everything.

He explained why people have such a need for drama in their life.

He said, “People have been hearing fantastic stories since time began. The problem is, they think life is supposed to be like the stories. Let's look at a few examples.”

He drew an empty grid on the board, like this:

Time moves from left to right. Happiness from bottom to top.

He said, “Let's look at a very common story arc. The story of Cinderella.”

It starts with her awful life with evil stepsisters, scrubbing the fireplace. Then she get an invitation to the ball! Things look up. Then the fairy godmother makes her a dress and a coach. Even better! Then she goes to the ball, and dances with the prince! This is great! But then it's midnight. She has to go. Oh no. Sadness. Back to her humdrum life scrubbing the fireplace. But it's not as bad as before, because she's had this encouraging experience. Then, the prince finds her, and the happiness factor is off the chart! Happily ever after.

“People LOVE that story! This story arc has been written a thousand times in a thousand tales. And because of it, people think their lives are supposed to be like this.”

He wiped the board clean and said, “Now let's look at another popular story arc: the disaster.”

It's an ordinary day in an ordinary town. But something horrible happens! A child falls down a well! The whole town gathers to save her. Old grudges surface, but are belittled in the light of this tragedy. Rifts are bonded as people work together. The child is saved, and all is well. But notice it's a little better than it was before, now that this incident has brought them all closer together.

“People LOVE that story! This story arc has been written a thousand times in a thousand tales. And because of it, people think their lives are supposed to be like this.”

But the problem is, life is really like this...

Our lives drifts along with normal things happening. Some ups, some downs, but nothing to go down in history about. Nothing so fantastic or terrible that it'll be told for a thousand years.

“But because we grew up surrounded by big dramatic story arcs in books and movies, we think our lives are supposed to be filled with huge ups and downs! So people pretend there is drama where there is none.”

That's why people invent fights. That's why we're drawn to sports. That's why we act like everything that happens to us is such a big deal.

We're trying to make our life into a fairy tale."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That intrigues me. I know a few people/acquaintances that are like that. Drama is created in every nook and cranny of their lives. It has always stumped me. Drama, to me...is tiring and useless and all around unhealthy. However I can see how easy it is to be SUCKED in.

What are your thoughts on Drama? Do you get sucked in? Do you know people that LIVE in Drama? Are you one of those people?

I waste toilet paper.

April writing...

A friend randomly sent me an email with this article included.

It got me to thinking...I wonder if I waste toilet paper. If my consumption of this hopefully fluffy and soft bathroom paper is above average or not.

I started with breaking it down into types of toilet paper users. Let's use "TP" in reference to toilet paper from here on out.

You have your couple-three sheet users, your one-sheeters (eww), your spin-till-it-stops users, your full-arms-length users (yours truly), the use-based-on-type-of-potty-break users, and the list could literally go on.

I stopped at these because I feel the average person could fall into one or more of these categories.

Let's start with the couple-three sheet users...my thoughts...this could never be me, how do you know if you have enough? Don't you sometimes have to go back for more?

And the one-sheeters...I mean seriously...sorry for the TMI, but unless only a DROP came out...that junks gonna soak through.

The Spin-till-it-stops users...what is this the Russian roulette of potty breaks? Are you hoping that it will stop and be the exact amount you need? I imagine for, let's say #1 breaks, you have WAY too much TP doing it's job down there.

The full-arms-length users...as I mentioned I am. I agree that at times, based on the type of potty break there may be too much TP...but here's my motto, "If it's wet, don't fret, cover your hand to protect where it lands." For realz...I can't feel like anything, and I mean anything soaked through. So I literally wrap my hand in TP and get the job done.

The use-based-on-type-of-potty-break users...you truly are the most sensible, smart tp users. You simply take an extra moment to silently gauge how much TP is warranted and only take that amount. Well done.

I won't even get started on the men's shake-it-and-tuck-it-away method. Ewww.

Above all, whatever type of TP user you are...we all wash our hands?! Right? Even you "shake-it" men...I don't care if you didn't touch it or not...you A L W A Y S wash.

So let's hear it...what type of TP user are you? Do you feel like it's a waste?
Next weeks discussion...Do you load the TP so it unrolls from the top or the bottom? (heehee)