I believe this thread, in the long view, will be one of the more valuable Mudcat threads. It is a virtual smorgasbord of modern day responses to racism. It demonstrates clearer than any song, or single essay, that racism, and racial/cultural misunderstanding, is alive, well, and completely misunderstood by most folks. We see in one place the code words, the class guilt, the trivializers, the do gooders wanting to save folks, we see those folks who are trying their best, with varying degrees of success, to understand and grow ........ and one brave, and well spoken, woman who cares enough to try, with great grace, to explain a very difficult subject. I applaud her.

I once made the observation to her that she brings a unique perspective to this place. In addition to expressing some frustration with that (in a very gentle way), she also indicated that she tries to focus less on what things are, and more on the how and why of it. I would suggest to all that that is such a valuable perspective that we need to appreciate it. It really isn't much different than when we hear the folks that lived in the North of Ireland under those conditions, or the folks who lost loved ones in IRA bombings. These things are so valuable because they allow us to dump our perceptual biases and generalizations, and see through the eyes of friends who have walked the path. It brings enlightenment, and ultimately can lead to a more balanced look at the world.

I appreciate your stepping out front on this, Azizi. I appreciate your motive, and I recognize the difficulty of it. I admire the strength you show in defending your right to express and value yourself based on the traditions, values, and the culture of those who came before you. I am grateful to you for taking your time to try and explain and educate those of us whose backgrounds are different.

Great thread,

All the best,

Mick