Hatred in the Heartland

So, I normally prefer to remain (relatively) poised on social media, but today something happened that embarrassed me for the state of my country. I am "friends" on Facebook with one of my Mother's old co-workers, and she is your typical hardcore right wing conservative. She thinks we help the needy too much, and thinks all Muslims are terrorists. A real gem. 

Anyway, I am happily scrolling through my feed when I happen upon a listing; pages long of why Muslims are a terrorist group. Generalizing a whole people because of the actions of a few people who have taken the idea and twisted it. I immediately felt heat in my face radiating to my torso and I was ready to comment her a new asshole, when I stopped. I had typed out a scathing comment about being a racist and being degrading, and I stopped. I blocked this woman and reported her post for being "offensive to a group, race, or minority" (I think that's how Facebook phrases it.) 

This got me to thinking about the problem with races and religions in America. Why is it SO hard for certain American's to let go of their pre (and often ill) conceived notions about race and religious affiliations. I hate to say this, but it doesn't just stop at Muslims. Black men and women; men and women from the Middle East; men and women who practice in the Church of Latter Day Saints. There is stigma attached to every single one of those groups of people. And it's all horse shit. 

Racism (along with sexism and prejudice) is NOT nature for human beings. There is scientific research out there to prove that. It's taught. Racism is learned. Sexism is learned. Prejudice is learned. You are the greatest reflection of what you want the world to be like. Yes, I have made racist statements before. I admit it. Do I regret those choices I made? Yes. Am I deeply sorry? Yes. It doesn't make it okay, at all, and I agree. Please know that I know more now than I used to, and while not knowing isn't an excuse, I hope education (educating myself and others) will fix the issue. 

Please believe me when I say that these views aren't shared by all people. I know that Muslim does not equal terrorist. Please people, change your way of seeing others. If you believe in God and the Bible, than please, consider the words "love thy neighbor as thyself." If you are calling your neighbor a terrorist or insinuating that your neighbor is a terrorist, you are only part of the problem. Be proactive, instead of complaining, change yourself instead. 

-screenshots of original Facebook post, warning post contains strong stupidity-

-EDITORS NOTE: a lot of these "facts" aren't even real, please take this for what it is worth and consider.-

The Oklahoma "Confederacy"

Oklahoma has been a perpetual national embarrassment as of late. Between the embarrassment of being openly hateful towards homosexuals, and the actions of our governor Mary Fallin, we have made national news quite a bit lately. I will say not much of this comes as a surprise to a veteran Okie like me, I have after all lived here my whole life. Honestly, I love being an Oklahoman. However, this hate, this rage fueled expression of disgusting proportions, is not My Oklahoma.  

My Oklahoma, the place where we wave to strangers at a 4 way stop; My Oklahoma, where when tragedy strikes, we band together to make a difference in the lives of people who lost something; My Oklahoma, where there are open skies and (mostly) open hearted people; My Oklahoma, the place where my friend's family's adopted me when I lost mine, and where someone is fairly likely to give you directions using the phrases: "y'all", "up the road a-ways", and maybe even "over yonder". My Oklahoma is a place where people from all walks of life gather to attend a local food truck rally, and where we can all get behind one basketball team, be it high school, college, or professional. My Oklahoma loves high school football. My Oklahoma is shaped like a pan, and generally only extends hatred towards the Texas Longhorns. 

I realize that when President Barack Obama visited our "Great State", what he was shown was disgusting (not to mention, stupid. Oklahoma wasn't even part of the Confederacy). Especially with what has been going on with racism across America, to display the Confederate battle flag to our President, (who also happens to be a person of color) is just distasteful. It was wrong, and I do not agree with it. On behalf of all the people in Oklahoma who do NOT represent that Oklahoma, I am sorry. I am sorry that the interaction you saw represented this state in a way that I don't agree with. I am sorry that they represented us in a way that is so offensive to so many. I am sorry that you were subjected to the hideous behavior that these few people committed. Most of all, I am sorry that I have to go out into the world a proud Okie, and that I could forever carry the label that so few portrayed the actions of. 

The Confederate battle flag represented a separate entity than the United States of America. The Confederacy represented hatred, and the oppression of the "inferior colored people" (—William T. Thompson (April 23, 1863), Daily Morning News) The men who decided that this was the issue they wanted to fight for, we're not what I see today when I look at my life in Oklahoma. Yes, our governor is a dipshit. Yes, there ARE racists here (systemically, they are everywhere). Yes, there are people here who Bible thump their way through any and all situations. There are also people here who love unconditionally. There are people here who represent the true spirit of America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. There are genuine people here, not everyone is a backwards redneck who doesn't understand that it does not mean what he thinks it means. 

This is a small Okie blogger reaching out to say, we aren't all the same, and it will take time for some of them to understand, but we will all get there. We have to fight this fight together, because that's the only way we win. 

-I know Martin Luther King wasn't around for the Civil War, I just really like his thoughts on hate-

Ashley, the beautiful.

As we all are aware, July 4th consists of Americans being more American for a 24 hour period than they are the other 364 days of the (non-leap) year. At 11:59 PM on July 3rd, we can all agree that America as a whole could definitely improve a bit. However, once that clock rolls around to 12:00 AM July 4th, the bald eagle inside all of us is unleashed and we start to bleed red, white, and blue. The same effect is quickly achieved at 12:00 AM July 5th, where we move on from the torrent of star spangled debauchery, back into our homes and into our beds to await the next glistening holiday weekend. 

Today, I woke up, much like any other Saturday, ready to go back to sleep. So, I called my friend to tell her that I would not be attending our weekly ritual of heading out to our local farmers market, and would instead be enjoying a few more hours with the inside of my eyelids. About an hour into this, I woke up from a nightmare about school, and got out of bed to get dressed and head to the grocery store. 

As I approached the store, the parking lot was over-run with soccer moms, and dads who probably forgot that their wives great aunt Charlene is a vegan, who needs a food substitute. I decided that Crest was a little too full for me, so I moved on to the slightly over priced, but definitely more convenient, Sprouts, up the street. As I walked up to the store, they had a small display of multi colored neon cacti. I'm serious when I say that these were living neon cacti. I bought a pink one. I bought my groceries and headed back to my apartment. Shortly after, my friend and I were hungry, so we celebrated America Day by investing in some Vietnamese Pho. What a trip! 

We drove to the other side of town to go to her moms to meet up with her family to go to the carnival being held at the biggest park in Bethany. We rode 2 rides and walked through the maze house. One called Cliff Hanger (a sort of hang-gliding ride) and the other a generic Ferris Wheel. We had a blast. I played a farirway game in the hopes to win a goldfish, and I ended up winning a turtle and a goldfish! The turtle, now named Crush, will be taking residence at my best friend's house. The goldfish on the other hand, a soon to be new resident at my house, named Nixon, will be moving in tomorrow after I can get to Petsmart to get him a new bowl and some food. 

All and all, I had a wonderful evening that I wouldn't trade for anything.