Inequality & Violence: Patterns of VIolence

Today we are faced with many obstacles that threaten our way of dealing with life. When I was a child it wasn't unsafe to play in my neighborhood, or wander away from your mother at the supermarket. Now we are faced with many things that people see as threats. There are terrorist activities along with crimes against fellow humans. It is getting out of hand. Now with the failing economy, the rising number of poor and hungry people in America and many more individuals out of work. Crime will sure to increase exponentially.
Now as I sit and wonder about the future of my children, I am faced with even more fear. How are the political leaders going to get us out of the horrible mess the economy has become. More and more we see on the news that certain officials who are supposed to be doing right by us are actually dealing with corruption and misguided behavior. I wonder who I can trust and where the future is headed.
There are stories about fear of terrorism, crime, drugs and such throughout this chapter that have negatively affected us all immensely. I remember 911 like it was yesterday. The surreal image on the television that looked like a scene out of a Hollywood movie. Only it was something much more terrible. Yet, in the aftermath it was amazing to see the nation stand together in such a time of need. I hope that in the rest of my life I do not get to see that image ever again, nor do my children.

Chapter 3: Racism

I have a hard time reading this book. It is good to learn about how things evolved, except when it comes to something so ugly. Is it so hard to accept that we are all in our own unique ways different. Why do people have to label people as something other than a person. It is unbelievable to me the atrocities that have unfolded over our history. The space on a job application has so many boxes to choose if you are white, black, Asian and I still don't understand why? Is it so people can discriminate you before they even meet you. What was the purpose of dividing the world in such a way? It is still a mystery to me why it matters. If you leave it blank, do they not hire you? If you are multi-racial do you choose all that apply. What if you are an other. It disgusts me that they even listed an "other."
Do we not pay taxes? Do we not bleed when we are cut? I sit with my family on special occasions and look across a room of wonderful faces. They are full of lovfe and I am honored to have them in my life. I am saddened by what has happened to all races that have been the victims of racism. I can only hope that the less the majority is that are racist the less power racism will have over the world.

I look to the future................

After reading the materials this week I end up coming to a conclusion that for me is disturbing. I have lived a life where nothing has seemed fair. Everything seems to be riddled with excerpts that pertain to men. Gendered writings that are supposed to offer hope to a better future, but at what cost. People have lost their freedom for many of these writings and it is sad that it still happens to this day. I have had the pleasure to grow up looking beyond the color of a person’s skin, to see beyond the culture lines that separate us. I look to the future and hope that we have learned from past failures and can give to my children a brighter life. A life where slavery, prejudice and rage will be something they only have to read about and not have to experience. I realize this could be farther away than I had hoped, but now with a new President brings a new line of sight to my eyes. I see 50 years of racism fade with the glory of a leader that promises change. I listen to Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream that as of Tuesday came true. It is with this hope I can see through the eyes of my children a light that shines brighter than ever before.