tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post7829979258287815994..comments2023-12-17T18:02:23.070-05:00Comments on ~Upstream and Down~: Beyond race and gender~Ruth L.~http://www.blogger.com/profile/01008932486010118709noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-30902881268107183412008-01-18T00:24:00.000-05:002008-01-18T00:24:00.000-05:00Wow, that's so true, isn't it? I have been trying...Wow, that's so true, isn't it? I have been trying to figure out what it is about both of them that disturbs me, and you have nailed it.<BR/><BR/>In the area where I work, I work with East Indians, Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Canadian Aboriginals, and I have to stop and think for a minute, because I forget they're a different race. It really shouldn't matter, should it?Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06979114933441527890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-58642705987199963392008-01-17T13:50:00.000-05:002008-01-17T13:50:00.000-05:00My favorite story/lesson about differences is the ...My favorite story/lesson about differences is the one about <A HREF="http://www.uulongview.com/sermons/bellies_with_stars.html" REL="nofollow">Star Bellied Sneeches from </A> Dr. Seuss. I used to read it outloud to my Sociology class when we got to the unit on stratification.Belladonnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13704410443745252997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-52198366964417266352008-01-16T14:44:00.000-05:002008-01-16T14:44:00.000-05:00I have to add that the media drives this discussio...I have to add that the media drives this discussion of race and gender. I'm admittedly naive, but I really think the three candidates on TV last night would just as soon discuss issues as gender or race. I thought that was reinforced with the way they attempted to change the subject and move past the media's questions that were race and gender based. It is time for our media to grow up, but they haven't figured that out yet. <BR/><BR/>DawnDawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18419344655830579965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-49341943702470127172008-01-15T22:31:00.000-05:002008-01-15T22:31:00.000-05:00Unfortunately the politician who sticks to the hig...Unfortunately the politician who sticks to the high road never seems to win the race. The country clamors for dissension in the same way it salivates over bad news. I wonder why that is?Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18356998698106275372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-43127726302890849102008-01-15T16:21:00.000-05:002008-01-15T16:21:00.000-05:00What a beautiful post, Ruth. I hope the candidates...What a beautiful post, Ruth. I hope the candidates do show us what really matters to them. I'm tired of these stupid games they're playing. I wish Kucinich was more popular, because so far he's the only one I like.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12131161905010968838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-50565846144541380292008-01-15T14:45:00.000-05:002008-01-15T14:45:00.000-05:00Hi Ruth: Another excellent post. Carter, a great f...Hi Ruth: Another excellent post. Carter, a great follow-on. Last Autumn I followed a General Election campaign in Bermuda (from the safety of the UK) and was reminded how racial politics comes so easily to those who are "Proud to be ..." Cuiously, perhaps, the "white" commentators wished that Bermuda's "black" Premier could be more like Barack Obama. Notably, when Senator Obama did so well in (was it?) Iowa, Bermuda's newly re-elected "black" Premier sent him a letter on Government of Bermuda paper congratulating him. Here's a story: Back in (was it?) 1992 when Bill Clinton was running against George Bush for President, Bermuda's then-Premier, a "white" according to the people in charge now ... though he was actually "black" ... publically announced that Bermuda was backing Bush. Of course, Bill Clinton won, and not long after the Clinton Administration took office, it pulled the considerable and economically important (for Bermuda) US armed forces bases out of Bermuda, which had not been expected. It's very nearly funny! The Clinton Administration also dawdled over the clean-up of the highly polluted land and sea that the US bases in Bermuda had used. Everything from Agent Orange to asbestos to heavy oils to toxins yet to be named. Crystal caverns full of the stuff. You'd have expected the second George Bush to have rewarded Bermuda for its support of his Daddy back in '92, to send in a team to scrub the place clean (last cost estimate near $70 million). No. It is not the policy of the United States military to clean up after itself. Take note, world! In the end, proud politicians rule the world. Proud to be me. Me. Me. Where is a Mahatma Gandhi when we all could use one? Or a feeble boy-king? Someone sans pride. I have rambled on, Ruth. Typing keeps my fingers from icing up! Best ... ROSSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-86096455277113011012008-01-15T14:25:00.000-05:002008-01-15T14:25:00.000-05:00Thanks for the nice words you left on my blog, Rut...Thanks for the nice words you left on my blog, Ruth. I just read your last post and I liked it a lot. I also enjoyed Carter's comment (you are right, he should take up blogging).<BR/><BR/>Cheers! :)Fénix - Bostonscapeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656859345629639973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-89399156242270793312008-01-15T09:35:00.000-05:002008-01-15T09:35:00.000-05:00I guess they can both plan an appearance on that m...I guess they can both plan an appearance on that make-over program, but I'd still like to see concrete plans on what they'd do. I'm so undecided this year, I might end up voting for the NJ pig farmer.Rick Bylinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10493557860835710721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-63029880745456108362008-01-14T17:19:00.000-05:002008-01-14T17:19:00.000-05:00Carter~ You really need to take up blogging. Until...Carter~ You really need to take up blogging. Until you do, you can be a guest blogger here anytime. <BR/><BR/>Wanda~ One of my kids made a comment like that a long time ago. The world through kids eyes is a lot different.<BR/><BR/>Pauline~ Thanks Pauline. They wouldn't waste their time here. I'm only one small vote with one small voice. :>)<BR/><BR/>Sarah~ I don't <B>love</B> it at all. The whole "messy, grand circus" alternately infuriates me and depresses me. Mostly infuriates! You'll find more of my feelings here than politics, I'm afraid. But there's plenty out there online if you need a <B>real</B> American politics fix.Ruth L.~https://www.blogger.com/profile/01008932486010118709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-11650344716274727362008-01-14T16:48:00.000-05:002008-01-14T16:48:00.000-05:00I enjoyed your post, Ruth (and the added rant from...I enjoyed your post, Ruth (and the added rant from Carter). I see that the election is "upon you." May you be blessed by a TV outage somewhere nearby, OR, if you love the whole messy, grand circus the way I do, write on! I will be reading all your commentary.sarah corbett morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327514344421041651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-89524636538213946082008-01-14T16:24:00.000-05:002008-01-14T16:24:00.000-05:00I like your closing paragraph. If only the candida...I like your closing paragraph. If only the candidates read your blog!Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14555472024981357622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-74976694034533142922008-01-14T15:41:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:41:00.000-05:00What a wonderful post and story, Ruth.It reminds m...What a wonderful post and story, Ruth.<BR/>It reminds me of years ago, when we had a black girl babysitter. Someone ask my 4 year son if she was black, his response was "No, she's Gloria."<BR/>Oh that all of us could be so colorblind.<BR/>Thanks for a wonderful way to start my day.Wandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06941735389982354519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563921876019154209.post-29935037851300368602008-01-14T15:24:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:24:00.000-05:00You mean you want them to talk about what they mig...You mean you want them to talk about what they might actually <I>do</I> if<BR/>elected? How naive! Is she pretty? Does he have a nice face? Would I like to sit and<BR/>have a beer with either of them? Are they really folks just like me?<BR/><BR/>That's what counts. Not whether they have a clue about economics--McCain just<BR/>announced that he doesn't, but why should we care about a little thing like that? Not<BR/>whether they had ever heard of Iraq when Bush said we really needed to attack the<BR/>place, or whether they think maybe we should stop getting our soldiers killed in a<BR/>futile effort to export what they call democracy to hordes of people who absolutely<BR/>do not want anything like it. Or whether they think we should immediately fire<BR/>every Arab-speaking gay man in the State Department. Or just how they might pay<BR/>off the biggest national debt in the history of the world. Or why corporate CEOs<BR/>should make a billion a year while some poor slob who lost his job when it was<BR/>outsourced to India is flipping burgers somewhere, if he can get a job at all. Or why<BR/>it is that illegal immigrants who came to the US for jobs should get punished, but the<BR/>people who employ them should go scot free. Or what they might do about the fact<BR/>that the library in Bridgewater can't stay open more than a few hours a week, and<BR/>most of the librarians had to be fired. <BR/><BR/>Nah. The thing that really counts is whether they have hearts of gold. Can't you tell<BR/>that just by looking?Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08521960157526055910noreply@blogger.com