Um Sir, You Have Race All Over Your Face!

I have to say, over the past few weeks I have become exhausted with all the media reports about race or racism or racially charged situations.  I wonder how much emphasis would be on race if our President were White again.  Yes, I think the two are related.  Now, it seems like every time someone says the words "black" or "white" it makes national headlines.  I know race is an issue.  My next door neighbor's dog knows race is an issue.

Let's be honest, we all have some racism issues.  We all have pictures in our minds that we associate with a specific race.  When I think of trailer parks, I immediately imagine a White person.  When I think of the ghetto, I will most likely envision a black person. When I think of casinos or Oklahoma, I will probably think of a Native American.  I feel at liberty to say these things because I am Scottish, African-American, and Cherokee...in case you were about to be offended.  

Whether we say it at an NAACP meeting, on TMZ, or just think it, it's still there.  Honestly, I believe in some ways racism will literally have to die off.  Those who let their mental pictures or racist ideals dictate how they interact with people of other races will simply have to take a dirt nap.  Yeah, it sounds sensational, but really...some people will never change.  Actually, I think religion will be the new "race" in the next 100 years...but that's a whole different episode of Oprah.  For those who find it hard to let go of their racism, consider this...there are bad things about all races.  That's because it's not really a race thing...it's a people thing.  It takes all kinds of people...as they say.  We just need to learn to take a long look at ourselves instead of letting racism determine how we interact with our fellow man.

The Bottom Line: 
Let it go already!  We shouldn't need TMZ to catch Mel Gibson in a racial rant.  We shouldn't know who Shirley Sherrod is.  Life is about showing respect to all people regardless of what you are taught as a child or what stereotypes are out there.  We all have some hint of racism lingering just below the surface, no matter how small.  What matters is whether or not we allow that to control us.  Color is skin deep.  Peel away our skin and we're all hideously ugly.  Lighten up...no pun intended.  

The Life of a Fly

When I open my front door to let in the fresh air and sunshine, I can't help but be prepared for the attack of the flies.  They seem to be everywhere these days.  They are buzzing in my windows at home.  They are at the restaurant where I eat.  Every once in a while, they even take a car ride with me.  Then, as I walked along the sidewalk in a Dallas neighborhood this past Saturday, I saw a group of flies all nestled on what had to be the largest turd EVER.  I wanted to barf.

Once my disgust subsided, I began to ponder the life of a fly.  Yes, I'm strange like that.  I thought to myself that here is an insect, a being, if you will, that is constantly hunted and swatted at.  Some of them narrowly escape instant death while others are not so lucky.  They spend their lives feeding on things that would make even the most macho of men gag.  They are hated.  They are despised.  They have been labeled by society as one of the worst creations.  There are entire industries built upon the effort to wipe them out.  Even with all of world conspiring against them, they find a way to leave their mark.  They find a way to survive.  They literally make the best of a shitty situation.

That's when it occurred to me that we should all strive to be a little more like flies.  Obviously I'm not advocating a literal application here, but think about it...  Obstacles don't really matter to a fly.  Their persistence is unmatched.  They find ways to survive and prosper all while working with the worst resources in life.  There is something to be said for trying to find parallels in strange places.

The Bottom Line:
The next time life hands you a gigantic pile of shit, make a shit sandwich and keep on dodging the fly-swatter at all costs!  With a little fly-like determination, anything is possible!