JustMOMsensations

As with 9/11, this last week weighs heavily on so many of us.  Obviously all of the ISIS attacks and the humans lost, families mourning are top of mind.  Each day my heart gets heavier when hate and rhetoric spew from people in my own circles, out of what I believe can only be mishandled fear. I have actively and passionately thrown facts and love in the face of each hurl of bigotry and ignorance I witness.  I believe we can neutralize negativity with extreme light and love.  Yet in the wake of these efforts remains a lingering disappointment for some of the people I have respected and cared about throughout my life.  I won’t be quiet to sidestep conflict any longer.  I won’t accept excuses of age, fear and statements like “people don’t change – no point in arguing”. There is a HUGE point to argue. Terrorists rely on fear, divisiveness and hate to facilitate their goals. Terror can’t live in a house of love.    I refuse to...

My kids are “colorblind” – when it comes to people.   They are 8 and 5 years old and I have never heard a derogatory racial comment come out of their mouths.   I have not heard them refer to any person with a label, other than referring to someone as an adult, child, teenager, parent or teacher.   Perhaps we really are raising a generation of children who are better than we were. My parents grew up in the 20s and 30s.   They raised four children to have open minds. We were taught to decide about people for ourselves, based on individual qualities – not generalizations sometimes used in society.   My parents would not tolerate bad behavior or language toward any person; whether from our Scottish/Irish/English background or otherwise.   I do remember my Father describing some people as “colored”.   Not in a malicious or negative way but as a descriptor, that seemed acceptable when he was growing up.   When my Father would use that word, I ...