Yes, Mary Jane did say some good things, pat on her back. I re-read both a couple times, what a terrible memory I can't seem to shake. Nothing in the writing limited the "White Man Arrogance" to just the white man. Yes, animals do the same but we should be a bit better than animals. Yes, we have a history of racism does not mean we should continue such. Yes, there will always be racism, well probably, but I suspect those will find themselves at the lowest or most disregarded of people. The harm to society, in my opinion, are those who hold onto racism.
I'm not argumentative, if someone has a different opinion, well good for you. All I can do is be responsible for myself, lesson learned also. If my life wasn't saved by a black man, then I wouldn't be here to chat.
Good luck Mary Jane & debeda

WOW saltwind, that was you? Yes, those 5" I saw a few of those.
You saved quite a few men.

Racist, I was one, all those years ago. Racism use to be worse than it is now. Some people are extreme racist with no excuse. I will never be racist again. I owe it to a very special person who changed my life.

The year was 1971, Vietnam. I was a young Marine sent on a mission. I was a quiet person, always serious. At the time, I felt I was saddled with a black man who couldn't shut-up. He talked all the time. He was a fairly new Spotter and when it was time for him to do his job, he did well, but so did I.
I told him some things I learned like never shoot out of a tree, never hide in a hole, always have two escapes, study your target, know the area around you, on and on. The mistake was just as much mine as his, they hid well. We set-up and finally the target was exposed enough to take advantage of it and we did. There were two of them, jumped out just after I shot. I think this Corporal saw them just a second before me. He was on-top of me saying "Watch-out!" by the time I looked up his head was shot in two. He saved my life.

If something like that has ever happened to you, it is a life-changing event. Men died all around me for almost 3 years in many circumstances but this one made a bigger impression than the rest.

Anyone who thinks/says people of a different color are less than he/she is is a pee-wit. I will stick to that to my dying breath. All those years ago the South Vietnamese use to say "White Man Arrogance" and they were right and I was one and just ignored them. There is no person in the world who is better or worse than you due to the color of their skin, national origin, religion, disability even language but you can't tell that to whoever has that "White Man Arrogance".

I sincerely dislike the racism with reason. I was able to change, awaken, open my mind to another thought in conflict with my own. Can you?

Cervical, thorasic, lumbar then the sacral a little different with the bottom tip was cracked resulting in hypersensitive. The other 3 parts had disc rupture damaging nerves. I still got off lucky being a hemiplegic left side incomplete. The incomplete comes from partial use of my left are, it goes out daily usually in the afternoon. Lucky I have a good right leg. I have this high-tech brace I call it from the VA with a walker that is modified so I rest my elbows on supports from the walker and I can get about 50 feet. It doesn't look like walking, but I'm lucky enough to walk a little. The brace is nice being spring-loaded to pick-up my left foot when not on the ground/floor otherwise it makes me trip & can't have that.
You seem like you're doing as well as can be. I'll break that 50' mark someday.
I agree the VA has a bad reputation and I push that bad reputation myself. My heart condition is a result of incompetent people at the VA, almost killed me.
Hanging in there.
Semper Fi

Cripple is me trying to make light of my condition. Spinal cord injury several places of my spine has placed me in a wheelchair. Yes, a physical injury.
No. not unethical to ask.

Yes, you are correct. I've learned 1 point at a time.
Why? Wish I had a positive comment but really don't.

If you didn't get the points made when all others have, well remember that 5th grade science test you can't pass!

Semper Fi brother! An old Jarhead myself. Dems. yes, you have a point about combat. Myself, I refuse to allow the Gulf of Tonkin to happen to me again. I owe that to those who bled-out in-front of me, even more.
I'm not either Dem or Republican. I remember Reps. all over the country fully supporting those who didn't make it back. There is plenty enough blame to go around. Myself, I blame. I blame all those who vote (especially those to don't vote). What are those idiots still doing in political office? Why isn't war or combat not your #1 issue? I can go on & on. My eyes now open!

Don't read well do you. I wrote my political affiliation.
Besides, political affiliation does not make a person ethical or not.

"The Gimp" I would say your father would have been best served to pick a better, more flattering name.
Yes, "cripple" came from me. I'm condemned to a wheelchair. Get my medical from the V.A.
Actually, I'm a very loyal friend. Been around the block a couple times and growing everyday. My mind is like I was 21 my body disagrees.
Take Care

nwtk OK response. There isn't enough paper & pencil on so many topics of what is a fact and what isn't. You'll have to be more specific. As to me having the truth? Ethics, it has taken too many years, even too many decades, for me to realize how important ethics is & using such in conversation. I wish I knew then what I know now; as people have said since the first civilization, probably before. My opinion has changed on so many political issues when I was forced into an eye-opening position. I was wrong! I just took the position of what I heard & discovered I was lied to (right-wing network news). I have become a researcher (honestly I dislike being a researcher, not my specialty) to find the facts (& facts are always true, the issue is if the fact is relevant).
Been there myself, the comment meaning me, myself have the truth. I don't know everything, but have learned to keep my mouth shut on a topic until I have researched and learned the truth via relevant facts. I have used the same words as an insult to someone. You are correct to the point I just said. Once I research a topic (issue or statement made) and discover facts then I do know the truth (as much as is relevant). A topic I have not personally researched (I've become a cynic, taken critical thinking to the next level) I've recently learned to keep my mouth shut & don't trust anyone any-longer.

Former Mayor Giuliani I've previously researched (learning what/who is a credible site is difficult) to discover that man should have been dis-barred and service prison time. I don't think he would have been a Mayor with that behind him. Now, if you want to know the SCOTUS involved identifying ol Rudy is scum then I may put in the effort to dig-up that info. (specifics)
I do know that if you lie to me once is all it takes for me to not trust you again (you meaning anyone). I'm a bit sick of so many believing lies and clearly unethical people. Those who still support someone (elected or not) when unethical conduct has been proven. I first say they deserve what they get, the problem is I'm getting it also and don't believe I deserve it, good or bad.
I'm old enough to remember a few things the old comments "Only Nixon could go to China", I was disgusted when I discovered North VC withdrew from the bargaining table, then Nixon ordered Hanoi bombed and after a bit of that back to the bargaining table they came. The clear quotes of Nixon via his tapes and clear facts like the Saturday Night Massacre, Nixon no longer deserves to be President. Get ready, polls taken just after Nixon resigned showed he had 25% support. That's people who knew they were lied to but didn't care, they supported Nixon regardless.
Hope I provided an adequate response.

I just read some survey that 85% of Republicans believe the Mueller investigation into the Russian stuff has been a waist of time with NO indictments. Deceit, where did you hear/read such a lie? 19 criminal indictments (Fact not in dispute but clearly most of those are Russians), 6 U.S. people indictments, 5 of the 6 plead guilty in court (that's criminal conduct), 1 person disputing such a charge (he will be going to court with a judge & jury), 72 criminal charges.

A Lie of Omission is Still a Lie!

Being ignorant of certain Facts is not your fault, if you continue to ignore relevant Facts is your fault, hence you are an unethical person! I'm only concentrating on the top 3 to 5 ideals of what you think Ethics are. No, I stay away from using the word morals since the word morals tends to relate to religion and I would rather avoid such a discussion in this writing. If you want to talk religion leaving the politics out, yes I could do that.
If YOU are a person who continues to support those lying to you then YOU are not an ethical person, you know that. Too many people could not pass a 5th grade science test refusing to accept a relevant fact. Lawyer & former Mayer of New York, is almost everywhere you look being a lawyer fighting in the public opinion arena. What a liar!
Rudy Giuliani is not an ethical person. If you patronize, support, pay attention to any of those lies then you are not an ethical person who also could not pass a 5th grade science test.

Politics, lies everywhere, what are you thinking? I don't blame those elected idiots who lie to you (to me they are just scum), but I do blame YOU for refusing to believe relevant facts disputing what you believe. A fact is not simply a fact because it falls into your belief system.

"Everything you say/do is a direct result of your ethics."

I agree the Media can not be trusted. Yes, you can read volumes of newspapers that omit news so you are not aware of. Hence, I would NOT call whoever calls themselves news, they are entertainment. Those who call themselves news is really no different than an animated show. What kind of unethical idiot are you to keep supporting lies?
Show me a person who says all politicians lie and I'll show you an unethical person (they may be correct but I ask about their vote). How did this politician get in that elected position? You voted them in (what an idiot I call them). Who is your domestic enemy? Those who could vote and decide not to. Those with a different opinion are just fun, makes the world go around.
Show me a person who says you have to violate laws to be President and I'll show you an unethical person!
No I'm not a Hillary supporter, Trump supporter, in-fact I'm a registered Independent. I see unethical slaves running around doing the bidding of their unethical masters. Yes, I'm a rude & crude person but I'm also an ethical person surrounded by unethical people.

"Do you believe in equality?" Who's going to say no? Believe it or not there are people who would say no. We look upon those people as scum and will not do anything to support/encourage such non-belief in equality. If you do anything to support un-equality believers then you are encouraging unethical conduct hence you are an unethical person. Hey, you did it to yourself, the real question is if YOU are going to continue such conduct?
If the major political parties (Republicans & Democrats) saw people doing to them what I did (call someone in your State and switch from Republican to Independent) then you would see a major change in thinking/sound-bites from these people.
"Is a woman a person?" Yes, a little shock-n-awe! Of course a woman is a person! You then believe in equality, in-part so the "in-part" applying to you proves you are an unethical person.
I like to get this stuff off my chest because I once fell into the gullible idiots I mentioned before, Not Any More! I will not allow another "Gulf of Tonkin" to change my thinking. If you don't know what I'm talking about then shame on you! U.S. society did not want another war, so the politicians at the time just "made-it-up" and the media all jumped on it so the attitude across the country changed so the percentages in surveys changed & U.S. people supported a war. So recognizing those who still did not support a war the politicians played-games with the description calling Vietnam a "Police Action", the same as they did with the Korea War, was never a war then or now, rather a "Police Action". So back then the U.S. society believed a lie since the August incidents in the "Gulf of Tonkin" NEVER HAPPENED! So many Americans died like 58,000+ and now nobody seems to care because here they are today believing lies over and over again. The majority still believes in bigotry and all the lies no different than ancient Greece a few hundred years B.C. Look for yourself, unless you're that lazy and like being ignorant!
I stopped the network news some time ago seeing they only think of financial profit, Money. So they make money lying to you, so they lie! These people are paid outrageous amounts of money to keep talking and when you believe the lies you are an unethical as those unethical slaves. These people are not reading news, they are reading a script. Not a Journalist, rather an actor/Host.
I had another incident yesterday afternoon discussing the lies she believed. I get so shocked and mostly disappointed seeing all the proof they are just as stupid (ignorant, dumb, unethical) as those ancient Greeks around 2,500 years ago. Examples all around you.
Nothing is going to change until YOU change. Yes, that might be effort on your part so many won't even try that they would rather remain stupid, dumb, ignorant, really an unethical person. They find it easier to argue in support of lies than put any effort to be an ethical person.

OK agree eagleye, well most of it. Nixon never denied what was on tape. Remember, he disputed releasing some tapes to SCOTUS that ruled against him. I can see why cuz the tape specifically related how can they cover-up that mess. A day or two later he was impeached. I think they should have gone further to court to prove Article 2 Section 4 of our Constitution, then Ford did the pardon thing. Strange I heard recently from someone who was way too young to be born then that the pardon was to unite the country. From people around me at the time nobody said that.
As I said before, I really could not tell on the issue of Trump what was fabricated and what is not, so I fall-back on "Ethics" well deceit. Caught Trump lying many times over. To be an ethical person myself, I cannot attach myself in any way to someone unethical. I'll bet many people will support Trump while calling themselves ethical when they are far on the unethical side via support of deceit.
Yes, I stopped watching TV news including MSN. Gave up FOX. I read my news now.
By design? You are so correct. I see that everyday.
What is interesting in the statement "A lie of omission..." still is a lie. Yes, you could state a fact then talk all day about other relevant facts, so to have a little common sense a relevant fact omitted is clearly not news, entertainment and meant to sway whoever is listening.

eagleye, the wife here wants me to write a little about what I was complaining about yesterday evening. U.S. school shootings. I again blame our society. Remember when the issue of "Family Structure" has failed was a big topic? Yes, I see something a bit different when the "Family" isn't so involved in raising the kids and the boob-tube and other media is raising our children. Something to think about.

eagleye13 you are correct again. I'm no Treky either. I do like sci-fi though. So disappointed in the boob toob as well. It's all about money to me. How they can get money out of you or otherwise us.
I think I can speak about our govt. in D.C. with a level of intelligence. I worked there for 8 years. Reading what other people say about our govt. when they have no experience about it all always has bothered me. Yes, I was invited many times and worked in the West Wing of the White House. I've always thought this country is so great due to democracy. Imagine if we had 100% (or awful close to that) involved in voting. I believe the greatest right we have is our VOTE. We have the opportunity to overthrow our govt. every 2 years and really should do so. Everywhere I look I see Ethical issues. I've read much on our Fed. Reserve and so far you are correct again.
Question: What if the law was changed so that the #1 priority was not simply making money but first take care of community first (community defined as local [city-town], state, region, country, global)? I mentioned commercials because such pays for so much including what we get as news. I refuse to allow the "Gulf of Tonkin" to happen to me again. I like to quote our 1st President, General George Washington when he said not to believe a word govt. says to question everything. We, as a society, are lied-to so much that people believe that a person could not be President unless he/she knows how to violate the law and with experience in violating the law; somehow it has become "acceptable conduct" to lie. I don't use the word "Morals" since I would rather avoid the religious debate with anyone though I was once an "Alter Boy" catholic church. So I say "Ethics". I am only trying to concentrate on the top 3 to 5 issues people will include as ethical conduct. Studying global ethics, there are many differences, but none on the top 3 or 5 except the order of priorities.
Time to ask a few things of U.S. society (exactly why I would never be elected again) "Is that who you are?" meaning "Everything we say/do is a direct result of your own personal ethics.", if you think of yourself as an "ethical" person then deceit is "unacceptable conduct" that you are well within your rights to insist upon your elected representatives, including President.
So far I see that you are so correct that the "game playing" with money has convinced too many such is the correct way or thing to do. Can we as a global society exist without money? I think so as long as we have "empathy". I don't want to be too trusting, but other people should all have the same advantages to them as the "rich & famous" so to speak. So much is simply not applicable, the color of ones skin, religion, age, disability, national origin, on and on. Are we that bigoted?
Remember the saying "Only Nixon could go to China", or how about the North VC leaving the bargaining table so Nixon bombed the hell out of Hanoi and back to the table came the North VC. No Nobel for Nixon and the thought of that is ridiculous. I still remember 25% of the U.S. voting public supported Nixon even after the tapes were released. This guy killed himself on tape. Nixon still saying upon resignation "I'm not a crook". He doesn't even know. Nowadays it looks like 35-40% of U.S. voting society are sheeple.
Exactly why I listen to you and your point of view. Our govt. has done well convincing people what is a "Conspiracy Theory" and what is not. I'm no "Flat Earth" person, "Hollow Earth" and so on. So could U.S. society pass a 5th grade science test? Probably not. We've lowered the bar so low on education the majority of our society don't even know what our Constitution says.
I'm rambling again, gotta stop that.