I’m about to say something that is talked about all the time. But before you flee for fear of boredom....please read just a little further.

Do you know what Americans talk about ALL the time? Race. And yet, we still get accused of not wanting to talk about it as an “open” issue. We are constantly accused of being racist. Race is continually labeled as a problem in our country.

To be honest with you; I’m absolutely sick of this issue. We’ve had it fed to us in every possible form. I am not about to say it is not a problem…but I think the media triggers a great deal of how Americans view it as a problem.

Just for the record, I don’t have any problem talking or associating with people who have darker skin than I. However, living in rural North Dakota there just isn’t lots of dark skinned people here. We’re all Scandinavians.

I also realize that in America black people used to be segregated: in schools, stores, and many social activities. Not everyone in our country believed this was right, which is why these people fought and eventually won against the discrimination held against fellow humans solely because they happened to have more melanin in there skin. However in the last 50 years, things have changed.

What I’m wondering is: why is this even an issue?

Oh yes, we’ve advanced so much in our country. Communication has gone through the roof. Our economy has gone to pot. Our school system is crap. But our technology is beyond the wildest imagination of 50 years ago. Yes, we are an innovative and developed people.

And yet, we shake our heads perplexed as to why we struggle with what should be far behind us.

Do you know what I notice about myself? I notice that if I begin to think about this issue in the way the media discusses it, I fall into their trap. You look at the world just like they do: dividing everyone up by their skin colour. You notice black people. You think about them differently.

I believe that the people that scream about this issue are the very people who do have problems themselves with how they think about black people.

But white people are not the only ones who are racist. Oh no. But we are the only ones slammed for it. Haven’t you notice? Black people can be just as racist. Do you remember the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, saying, “It's time for us to rebuild a New Orleans, the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans. And I don't care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day.” If that isn’t a racist statement I don’t know what is. Yes, there was uproar afterwards and he took back his remarks. But, can you imagine what would have happened to a white person who said as much?

If our country has problems with race, it is because it is continually thrown at us.

I think the media needs to shut up about things they know nothing about. Maybe find out how real average Americans think about this. Instead of perpetually feeling sorry for black people…how about treating them like normal people. Taking people for who they really are and not judging them by their colour.

Please, stand up for yourself. Don’t believe everything the media feeds you. Use the backbone that, as an American, you’re credited with.

May I quote thee?

"Attention to health is life's greatest hindrance."
- Plato (427-347 B.C.)

"Plato was a bore."
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

"Nietzsche was stupid and abnormal."
- Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)

"I'm not going to get into the ring with Tolstoy."
- Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

"Hemingway was a jerk."
- Harold Robbins

Wonders never cease.

Well, let me rephrase that: Accidents never cease.

at least at this joint.

But for sure, with that, God's blessings and protection never cease. Or else, we'd have long ago perished.

When I review my day I realize what a great idea it was for God to give us a sense of humor.

And really, 'bad' circumstances lead to so many more reasons to thank God.

Like for the following:

For getting to Fargo to work safely on nasty roads.

How stupid one feels for almost slipping on the icy sidewalk 3 times right on the street.

The humor of being offered a job (when I wasn't looking for one) in this economic recession.

The hilarity of having three people think I worked at UPS while running several hundred copies there in single afternoon.

Hearing that my 11 year old brother cut his left hand badly with a chop saw...and was being rushed to the ER. And the blessedness of actually working right up near the hospital so I could visit as soon as I was off.

Elevators are amazing, ya know...I don't think I've ever appreciated them before. I have almost always opted for stairs, but today I didn't have much energy for stairs and they sure saved me a lot.

There was so many smiley nurses today. What a blessing. And the Romanian Nurse was the best of all! She had an amazing sense of dry snappy wit.

My dear brother was sick of everyone asking him his age, weight, & d.o.b....that he started to purposely say the wrong thing. "1000 lbs" and that it was his right arm and not his left that needed operating. He was a tough little cookie and I'm proud of him. And, he was trying to make candlesticks for mom to begin with so I imagine it will be some time before he gets to accomplish that feat!

God also blessed us by having our bishop be at the hospital about seven hours! It was so good of him.


How different of a day than I anticipated!

Like A Real American She Start's At The Bottom:

Moments ago the three and five year old sisters are playing.

The three year old, Talitha, screams, "I'm da servant. I'm da servant. I'm da servant!"

Three seconds pass.

"I'm da mother. I'm da mother!"

Three seconds pass.

"I'm the Queen! I'm the Queen!"

Understanding 'bortion

The other day I was looking at the front of a magazine featuring President Obama and his family. Esther, my five year old sister, suddenly appeared and demanded, "why hasn't he killed them?"

"What do you mean?!" I asked.

"Well, he likes 'bortion, why hasn't he killed his children yet?"


Out of the mouth of babes....

Once upon a time a sensible girl thought up an entire blog post, went to bed, and promptly forgot every word.

Our Feathery Friends?

The other day I was thinking about Angels. Probably because I'd seen a picture of a really cute one holding a harp. Anyway, it made me wonder why we Christians have dumbed down such a phenomenon?

If you think about it, the bible talks about Angels as incredible heavenly beings.

In all honesty, do you think God would place an angel like this to guard Eden:








God often used Angels in the bible as messengers. They passed on His orders...If you were Joseph you would totally flee to Egypt after seeing this adorable, blond, curly haired entity, right?

Why do we de-glorify something so awesome? It's as if we are mocking the real thing. As if we really don't believe that there are angels like the bible describes. I think Angels are spectacular, fierce, and awesomely powerful.

What's scarier still: if angels really look like fluffy things on clouds peacefully playing harps....I'm really hoping my guardian angel is the toughest one of the bunch.

Yikes.

I haven't been on a blogger in forever.

I haven't written on a blog in months. Instead I've been doing other valuable things: like journaling.

I don't have a lot of time to write, but there have been many times of late when I really wished I did,-- because I miss getting various thoughts sorted out. Besides, writing is fun...when you get an inkling for it.