My Own Revolution

I would like to share with you a post election myspace status update from a member of my ‘friends’ list:

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“[insert name] is Obamas messenger!!!!! ALL WHITE PEOPLE MUST REPORT TO THE COTTON FEILDS TOMORROW MORNING AT 7AM FOR OREINTATION! DONT BE LATE! LOVE, OBAMAM”

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This was from a gal who claims to have known me in middle/high school that I have yet to remember. I feigned confusion and curiosity when asking what her status update was supposed to mean.

The conversation went a little something like this:

—————– Original Message —————–
From: juliafish
Date: Nov 5, 2008

Your status. I’m confused.
What’s it mean?

—————- Original Message —————–
From: [ ]
Date: Nov 6, 2008

just a joke I wanted to show humor with us having a black man for pres. back in da day blacks had to pick cotton now role is reversed.lol all in fun

—————– Original Message —————–
From: juliafish
Date: Nov 5, 2008

You do realize he is a bi-racial man raised with various cultural influences? and also that not only ‘da blacks’ had to pick cotton, but white farmers in the south as well?

how is the role reversed? i am curious.

It doesn’t come off as a joke at all. Not too funny.

—————– Original Message —————–
From: [ ]
Date: Nov 6, 2008

mmmmmm uhhhhhh yeah are you pissed off about my statis??? geezzzz lighten up just a joke I said…

It would have been so easy to quote history, facts and a million and one other reasons why her attempt at humor reeked of ignorance.  I decided it would have been a waste of common sense and simply replied:

—————– Original Message —————–
From: juliafish
Date: Nov 5, 2008

Um. No, dear I am not pissed off.

I just said it doesn’t come off as a joke. It reads an ignorant mindset which I would hope you are not. And being that I am not one to automatically assume ignorance or racism in a person I wanted to ask before forming my opinion.

Doesn’t piss me off but you should be more careful how u word your jokes.

Wow. I’m taken back @ your response to my inquiry.

Take care.

Momma says:  Think before you speak.

A friend recently told me that with free speech you have to take the good with the bad.  I am more astonished that in this day and age there are still people out there with this mindset.  Wow.

Quick- give me someone to blame!  Her Momma?  Absentee Daddy?  The Republicans?  Democrats?  Public School Systems?  Cause somewhere, something went wrong.

I respect everyone’s right to vote and express their opinions openly.  That being said, an acquaintance of mine has just posted the most ridiculous bulletin on Myspace.  I was already in a bit of shock over his recent status update which read:  (insert name) pleaze vote no-el-black-oma!!!!!!!!!!!

Now this:

(title of bulletin: pleaze vote no noblac-ma!!!!!!!)

They say it takes all kinds.  Well, this kind of person makes me appreciate those out there who have intelligence, are well spoken, tolerant, educated (even if it’s self education) and have tact.

What bothers me the most is that this sentiment is widely broadcast among members of the North Georgia community.  I’ve heard, more than once, worried voices speaking of race wars and poor treatment of caucasian Americans if Obama were to become president.  Can you believe this mentality?!  I am appalled and I’m not even an Obama supporter.  Whatever happened to caring about the REAL issues?  Too bad we can’t vote out ignorance, eh?

So I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to those who choose to ignore the propoganda and educate themselves.  Kudos to you, no matter how you vote, for making it an informed choice.