[SweetSunshine]

A couple things going on in my community here. I dont know how to express my feelings about the one because its all so new to my community. It has to do with racism, and the FBI is involved. I've lived here all my life and never has anthing of this sort happened. How does one deal with this when you've not been exposed to it directly?

The other thing is about 5 years ago, a family lost their son in a moped/semi truck accident on a foggy day. This weekend,a cousin of this boy, was on his four wheeler and didnt stop at a stop sign and got hit. He is in serious condition. Both boys were 15. My heart is just going out to this family. How much do they have to endure? And I know sometimes teens feel they are invisible to things like this happening. I just would think that knowing what happened to this cousin, that they would be more careful? I just hope this kid makes it ok.

Please keep the boy and his family and the people involved in the racism situation in your thoughts if you will.

Thanks so much,
Beth

[(JD)]

Of course.

Try not to blur the separation of your own life and that which is going on around you. It's ok to have a sense of sadness for them, but not to be personally saddened where you're overwhelmed with their issues.

I see my own community changing too. It used to be an even mix of people, well, there's still a mix of people (not like camels are moving in lol) but anytime a community is not balanced, problems being to arise, imo.

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{{Beth}}}}}}}}}}} I'm so sorry that you feel this close to the situations. I'm with Sky, though:

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Try not to blur the separation of your own life and that which is going on around you. It's ok to have a sense of sadness for them, but not to be personally saddened where you're overwhelmed with their issues.

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[Timgt5]

Being the very naturally compassionate and empathetic person you are Sweetsunshine, its hard not to feel the effects of such terrible events so close to you. Sky and SeptemberMorn are correct here, do not let it consume you. Chanel such feelings instead, maybe one thing would be to volunteer to help with classes on vehicle safety for children and teenagers. Just a suggestion.

As for racism, well I have never understood the concept of hating someone for being born with a certain set of genes, and thats all it really is when you strip away the BS and propaganda surrounding this issue. In the end we cannot change the color of our skin, or our bone structures, all we can do is become the best INDIVIDUALS we can be regardless of our appearance.

After all whether you take a literal interpretaion of the "Good Book", or "Evolution" we are all decendents of the same singular mother. Hence when we strip the artificial and cultural biases from the equation, the very idea of "Race" has no scientific merit whatsoever, we are in essence all the same with less than a 1 percent genetic variance between, whites, blacks, aisans, hindi, etc.. and thats what all this conflict has really been over.

The good news is that the majority of people on all sides are over this and continue to be so, the fact that a person of mixed race is a major party contender for the presidency says a lot. Unfortunatly there will always be a few ignorant neadrathals on all sides that will continue to perpetuate hate for nothing more than the sake of perpetuating hate.

Worry not with such folks, be compassionate and help them to gently understand that their negative attitudes toward someone because they are certain color, gender, preference, religion or ethnic background are completely out of touch and unenlightened, educate them as best you can. Just remember though, only they can change their attitudes from within.

take care and stay sweet!

TJ

[Sabrina]

My thoughts are with you!!