“The More Things Change, The More They Remain theSame.” This phrase was coined by French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr in 1848, or there abouts. The following is a story of an encounter my 22-year-old granddaughter had recently on a fishing trip. These are her words, with truly little editing. I read this and it pierced my soul. At seventy years of age, I have experienced a lot of mistreatment because of the color of my skin. I sometimes find myself momentarily cocooned in naivety, thinking, no hoping that my children and grandchildren will not have to experience certain things. Read this and see what your reaction is. I know that may seem like a strange request; however, I want you to let this simmer deep within the bowls of your being.
“Yesterday, I went fishing on Lake Wedington (I know, me fishing. Who knew?!) It was a fun time. My fishing line became the biggest tangled mess, but somehow, I still caught a small bass (again, who knew??) It was me, Daniel, and one of his friends. We’re out in the open, the road right next to us by the lake. Cars and motorcycles are flying by. A red truck came cruising around a curve, packed with guys who had their windows down. Everything was fine until one of them in the backseat saw me and yelled “f***in n****r” at me.
The way my body flooded with heat. I paused, surely, he wasn’t yelling that to me, in progressive Fayetteville, AR. (Fayetteville is a college town, with a reputation as being one of best small towns in the United states to live.) Surely this wasn’t reality. But it was. I looked to Daniel and his friend, praying they didn’t hear it, because for some reason I was embarrassed. Embarrassed that my skin color attracts the most hateful negative attention.
But what I felt the most was anger. I understand that there are plenty of wayward souls in the world who are plain nasty, hateful, and evil. But what I continue to struggle with is understanding why, as a country, we still back Trump, who has been the role model for such ugliness. We have a president who refuses to acknowledge the oppression of America’s black citizens. A president that does not condemn the actions of the hateful. Instead, he uses physical force to silence us. And because of his ignorance, many more American citizens refuse to see that change is needed. Refuse to see how this one man has negatively influenced those all around us.
What I want to see in the leader of the free world is someone who stands up for humanity. I want to see someone who holds compassion for all citizens, who fights for everyone’s rights. And I will make sure that my vote counts this November 3.
America deserves better. We deserve better.”
I’m old and blessed (despite the ugliness in the world) …hope you will be too.
oldblessedwordpresscom 
You want to know what my reaction is? I want to find that jerk and punch his lights out. Real Christian of me, right? But that was my immediate reaction. I have never punched anybody in my life. I’m a Christian and a great-grandmother. And I want to punch that guy right in the face.
I read a news story where some Republican politician was quoted as saying that he would rather vote for a tuna sandwich than vote for Trump. Right! I’m voting for the tuna sandwich.
I want to apologize to your granddaughter, because I am 98% white, only about 2% Nigerian. I want to apologize to her for how so many whites have treated her.
….and I want to punch that creep in the face.
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Right after I left my first comment here, I went back to the book that I am reading. It’s called The Day I Died by Freddy Vest. I picked up where I had stopped reading, at the beginning of Chapter 10: Heaven’s Message of Love.
The chapter begins with 1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
So, of course punching out that hateful guy isn’t the answer. But it’s an honest feeling. Loving haters isn’t easy. It amazes me to think that God loves everyone enough to send Christ to die for them, alone. John 3:16 says that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. The Bible also says that while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us.
I know that if I were ever to witness somebody yelling a racial slur like that, I would *want* to punch that person. But with God’s help, hopefully I would handle it in a better way.
My heart goes out to your granddaughter. And to you, because I know this hurt you, too, as her loving grandfather.
God bless you both.
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How can I click “LIKE” on this?? My blood boils, and I want to take your granddaughter in my arms and tell her not ever, ever to be embarrassed by the colour of her skin, hair, eyes or anythjng else. I ache for her and for you, as her grandfather. HOW DARE SUCH LOUTS BEHAVE LIKE THAT! I clicked “LIKE” on Linda’ comments above because she also speaks for me. But I have hope. It’s taking a very long time, but I think some progress is being made in your country and in my own native UK as more people become aware and “woke” (dreadful expression!). God bless you and all your family.
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It is impossible to understand what motivates someone to behave like this. Yes, I’m white. But I will never be able to understand.
I am so sorry for your granddaughter. It is sad that this can still occur today.
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While some of us worry about the many microaggressions we may have and are still guilty of, there still exists a body of outright white supremacists. And your granddaughter nailed it on the head when she blames our Covidiot for empowering these slimeballs. Sure, they would exist anyway, but at least they would have to control their basest impulses, given different leadership. The irony of white supremacism is that these humans who consider themselves so great, are in fact, the least evolved humans of our planet.
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