Yes, IT IS Race!

The incident in South Carolina has reminded me, once again of the totally disgusting disregard for Black life.  I do not believe that a white child would have been treated in this manner.  I am still  upset that a Black male teacher, stood in front of the class, and did NOTHING to save this child.

First of all, he should have known something of her fragility, and even if he did not, it was incumbent upon him to step up.  He is not my kind of man, period.  I still say, she is a child, and the teacher and the “security” officer were adults.  This was a phone, not a weapon.  A former student said, if a parent and into that classroom, and did that, they would be in JAIL, still.  It seems to get worse every day.

I don’t want to hear anything about “playing the race card,” because IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I am becoming more and more annoyed when I hear people say, it is not race.  One thing I have learned upon the election of our POTUS, and that is, IT IS RACE, and until people can admit it, and discuss it, and do something about it, we will remain in the dark ages.

Just because it is race, does not make one a racist, if they recognize that it is what it is.  What is worse is when no one wants to see, and discuss the truth. It has always been race, but nowadays, more overt than I have ever seen it.  IT IS NOT JUST SOUTH CAROLINA  (the South has always been an easy target)--it is the USA period.

I am a child of the South, and am very familiar with Columbia, and believe me it is a reflection of the entire country.  It happens everywhere.

Yes, I am ranting, but this incident is so utterly ridiculous, and it tears out a piece of my heart when people are, once again, blaming the victim.  No child is hopeless!!!! It is the adults who make them feel hopeless!!!

The village begins in the home and the phrase “It takes a village” has become another catch all phrase for many of the ills of society.  The village has been broken for some time.  There used to be strong villages--I grew up in one.  Now, people barely know their neighbors, and are more concerned with THINGS, rather than PEOPLE.  When we see a need, we should try to fill it.  Where has our compassion gone how have we become so immune to the plights of others?

That is what I saw in that classroom, and it is part of a far greater problem.

ON LOSING A FRIEMD

Exactly one week ago, as I sat in my Sumi-e Class, I received an email from my friend Marge giving me the news that our friend, Bill Male passed the night before.  The two of us were planning to visit him that day, and were meeting after my class and her golf to drive to Leucadia to see him.  She wanted to make sure I knew before I came to meet her.  She had called our home, called on my cell  phone, which I keep on silent in class, and resorted to email.

Bill, the ultimate organizer, had told his caretaker to make sure to call us before we came up, letting us know that he would not be there. (that is is humor, and his style)

  My phone flashes a light when I receive an email, so I was alerted that I had one.  It was shocking still even though we knew that he was ill.  All of I could think about was calling my husband, packing up my stuff and going home.  I did all of that, got home a little after 10:30, got in bed, pulled the covers over my head, and stayed there for a few hours.

I have known my friend, Bill, for over forty years, and first met him when I began teaching at Morse. Even then, his wit and wisdom were both amazing!

He, Marge Cole ( who was also a teacher at Morse),and I celebrated each of our birthdays with a dinner at a restaurant. We have done that for many years. The last few times, we took our celebrations to his house, and were scheduled to see him on Friday around noon. There are no words to describe the hole in our hearts left by his passing.

We will miss him so much. However, he was prepared, had everything prepared, and is somewhere checking to make sure it will all be done as he would like--full of laughter and joy. I can still hear his laughter, replay his stories in my head, and smile with joy when I think of him.

 His presence will be felt from the tremendous influence he had on all of us who knew  him. Rest well my dear old friend.