I particularly liked the first one "How the mind counteracts offensive ideas". There was someone who "decided" I am a racist, something that from being a very small child I was taught against. And tolerance and acceptance of difference is one of the values my father instilled in me from as far back as I remember.

Racism is a disheartenting, saddening emotion brought about by lack of respect for the difference of each other, lack of understanding of that difference and worst of all lack of tolerance of that difference. It is a very simple thing to judge and I noted that there was one person who shows a "poised and peaceful front" who twisted into hatred and rage at someone who made a simple statement which was and still is important to some for their own particular reasons.

There was no indication at all that there was any ill feeling toward anyone but this person breathed a hatred that shocked and stunned me. But realising they had let their facade slip I could not feel warm toward that person again because he showed pure hatred to someone who merely stated her truth.

I have lost contact with people because they "assumed" I was a racist. Oh if only they knew the truth. I can't count those people who no longer have any contact with me as genuine people because they are trapped by the same hatred & rage that fuels racism, something that saddens my heart. It is the one legacy I can remain true to that my dad instilled in me.

Since this happened I have in my own mind and by my actions been reaffiriming that hatred of any kind is hatred and intolerance of any kind is hatred and there is no room for that in my life. It incences me that someone who is filled with hatred for me because he thinks I am a racist, also thinks he is better than me or others because he "Hates the RIGHT people". How saddening is that? How incomprehensibly redneck is that? All I can do is leave those people to it, they are in good company with one another. I know who I am and what non-inflamatory actions are best for those with sore hearts and broken lives.

I will be subscribing to this blog Perna because it carries so much interesting information and truly does carry the message "know thyself"