WARNING ***Discussion of race, religion, bigotry lies ahead. It's what I feel and think. If you don't like what I feel and think feel free to ignore this blog. If your mind is closed, do not read this blog. If you are afraid of your own truth, do not read this blog. If you are looking for honesty and acceptance, I hope you choose to read on. ***

I've been thinking about what is going on in our world besides COVID-19. I wish it wasn't what has been happening. I've been debating saying anything about how I feel but an online posting by a woman, who is an educator just made me decide. I wish I knew her name but it's not on what I listened to. However, there is a lot online about this topic.  About the scientific fact there is only a single race of people on the planet Earth.

Like other groups of animals we come in various colours, shapes and styles. Cats, for example, come in a rainbow of colours, some with folded ears, some with extra toes, some with no tails or fur... do we shun tailless cats? Think of them as less of a cat because of this fact? No. Do we think they are dogs because they have no tail, or some other lesser species? NO!

The same goes for skin colour. Skin pigmentation does not signal a different race, nor does your religion.  As the lady says, believing that is stupid and wrong.

The invention that Black people and others are a different race is, like religion, a human invention.  It was made up because it was easier to believe that, so oppressors and slavers could defend what they were doing. We still do it. We decide based on skin colour, who a person is, what they are.  Religion was made up also as a form of control. So a few could control many with the fear of the Almighty. 

Believe me, Jesus Christ, who I do believe existed, was not a white man. He did not have blue eyes and blond hair.  But how can such wisdom come from someone not white? Because it came from a fellow human being with the same depth of being, of caring that exists in many of us today. We come in all colours. 

Yesterday, I listened to weeping Black women, who were being robbed in their own stores by other Black people, at gun point. They were saying, Black lives don't even matter to ourselves. It's heartbreaking.

There are lots of instances of white people doing the same to fellow white people.

Racism is alive and well, same-colour on same-colour violence and hatred is alive and well.  

We need to stop. We need to use our intelligence and see there are good and bad people in all colours and genders. Colour is not a marker, it does not define if we will be good, bad, intelligent, racist, quiet, loud, violent, gentle, loving or hating. There is no racism gene. How we behave and what we believe is learned. 

And we can unlearn it.

Do not be afraid to look at yourself as I look at myself. Reach out to all your brothers and sisters and fellow humans, no matter what they call themselves, who they love or what they believe.

As a very out Gay man I have fought for my right to BE. Black Gay friends have had it doubly hard. That is wrong...WRONG! 

IT NEEDS TO STOP. STOP THE HATRED, STOP BEING AFRAID. Love your fellow man. 

Yes, there be monsters but they are not defined by colour. 

Michael S. 6/6/2020