Wonttakeitanymore wrote:
The so-called progressives, I call them regressive always say that everyone should be included, even boy and Girl Scouts! Now, how can you limit color and not be racist? White, Asian , Hispanic only? Helloooooo!
My grandfather told me that it's racist to envy or be jealous of what another group of people do or have. Growing up in the 60's, there was Miss Italian-American, Miss German-American, Miss Irish-American, Miss Asian-American et all, (plus the Asians were further refined with Miss Japanese-American, Miss Chinese-American). Essentially, there was a Miss America for every ethnic group you could think off. To my knowledge, in addition to all the ethnic "Miss Somethings", today there is also a Miss Pick-your-nose, Miss Low Tide, Miss Nebraska, Miss Connecticut, etc. So, what's the problem with Miss Black-San Antonio or Miss Black-Anywhere-USA? Or, Miss African-American or Miss Haitian-American? The question is "Why all the jealousy and envy?" It’s been my experience in 73 years that once I stopped the jealousy and envy my racist tendencies disappeared.
My grandfather was a very good teacher of life and I applied many of his teachings. There was one life learning lesson from him that has had a profound effect on my life. When I was about 12, he said (in his broken Italian) to fill up a basket with the hams, salamis, vegetables, and other food stuffs, plus go down to the basement and "getta me two jugga vino ana putta ina da back seat ofa da car". (He made his own Dago Red.)
When I got to car, the basket was in the back and he said, "Getta ina da fronta." At our destination, he said "You cumma witha me now." At the front door, he removed his hat as he rang the doorbell. The front door was opened by the biggest and blackest woman I'd ever seen.
Entering the house, my grandfather said, "My name Mike Romano. Disa my granda son. Ima knowa your husband longa time. He waza gooda man. Ima have someating fora you ana da family." He and the lady talked while me and a black boy about my age went to the car to get the basket and vino.
When I returned, I heard him tell the lady that he was a barber and to have all the males in her family to, "Comea toa da shoppa tomorrow ana I cutta alla da hair ana I no charge." They conversed for a few more minutes before we left.
As we drove home, the only words he said where "Tomorrow youa comea witha me toa da shoppa. Youa gonna helpa me."
The next day about 15 male family members (ranging in age from about 12 to 60) were waiting for us to arrive. My grandfather cut their hair without charge and made small talk about the man who died.
That day, I learned from Grandpa that there is no room in my life for racism. It was a good lesson I applied during my 20-year Navy career (well my entire life actually).
Going through life, it has become more and more apparent to me that jealousy and envy lead to hate, something that has infested and diseased our politics, and therefore how we view and interact with each other. It isn't realistic to think all hate will be eliminated; however, our country would be an even better place if there was much less of it.
Being jealous and envious of what others have or how they got it is a useless. If I want what others have, I work for it or hope I get it gifted to me (which occasionally happens).
One of the saddest days in my life was when I was 18, my grandfather died. I smile and feel good when I think of him, and I hope he would be proud knowing that I still apply the many lesson in life in taught me. Grandpa never sat me down to say he was going to teach me a life lesson. He lived what I learned from him. Sadly, for the younger generation of today, there is a lack of national leaders (in politics, sports, Hollywood, etc.), as well as local communities, whose actions and behavior they can learn from.