How Racism Works

Thanks to my friend, Jane R, who sent this by email. The writer, Kelvin LaFond, wrote this as a letter to the editor of the Star-Telegram in Dallas/Ft. Worth for the September 5th edition. I find it helpful in discernment for the election, but also a sound life lesson:

How racism works:

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to?

What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama were a member of the Keating 5?

What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are.This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

--Kelvin LaFond, Fort Worth

Alaskan Women Reject Palin Rally

Today I got this email that brought joy to my heart. Governor Sarah Palin is NOT recommended for veep by her own constituents in Alaska:

[The] Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage . Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men. I had no idea what to expect.

The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It's probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets.

One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots", and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received some nasty, harassing and threatening messages.

I felt a bit apprehensive. I'd been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically, in Anchorage , if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it's a success. So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren't sent by Eddie Burke, we'll be doing good. A real statement will have been made. I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing "socialist baby-killing maggot" haters.

It's a good thing I wasn't tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody's trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage.

The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned.

The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn't honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesn't happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn't be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.

So, if you've been doing the math? Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin's rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans. The citizens of Alaska , who know her best, have things to say.

There followed numerous delightful pix of intelligent Alaskans expressing their opinion of Sarah Palin, all delightful.

And I wish I could reproduce them all, but here is my favorite:

SNL Lives!

Saturday Night Live is back! And what a way to start. If you haven't already seen their Palin & Clinton segment, here's your chance:

Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!

Godparenting A Gay Child

I have been asked to prepare a reflection about being Godparent to a child who may be gay. This is the first draft. I invite your comments. (Careful now; be as critical as you like, but be nice!)


My Godchild May Be Gay: How Can I Help?

Children are not as shielded from references to sexuality in today’s culture. What they may be shielded from at home will likely be picked up at school or play. Most grade-school children know rudimentary (and sometimes erroneous) facts about sexuality, and some are shockingly knowledgeable at a young age. As a result a child may realize at quite a young age that he or she feels attracted to children of the same sex, or get crushes on adults of the same sex. Such children may or may not talk to their parents or other adults in their lives about this. Or they may approach the topic obliquely, saying something like “I have a friend….” Other children may display signs of gender confusion like dressing up in the opposite gender parent’s or friend’s clothing, or behaving more like opposite gender children.

Like me some children, no matter how cognitively knowledgeable they are about sexuality, may have no conscious feelings of same or different gender attractions, may never talk about gay* sexuality or demonstrate any signs of cross-gender behavior. Such children may not awaken to their sexual identity until their late teens or even later in life. This is as prevalent, or more so, than children with early conscious awareness of alternative sexuality. I was a tomboy from the time I could crawl with a swagger. Yet I had no conscious awareness of alternative sexual expression until my early twenties.

Sexuality is one facet of our God-created lives. We are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and sexual beings. We who may affect the lives of children need to evaluate how we feel about gay (or other) sexuality. If our feelings are negative or if we feel we don’t know enough about the subject to be able to help our Godchild, one of the best resources is PFLAG--Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. PFLAG’s website, http://community.pflag.org/, provides a wealth of information, including ways for you learn more about supporting anyone in your life who may be gay. There are local chapters in every state and if one is not far from you, I urge you to meet with members personally. I will recommend some additional resources later.

Here are some suggestions to help a child who may be gay:

Ø For all children, know that ‘gay’ behavior is not a predictor of adult sexuality. Keep an open mind, but realize that a child is trying on different personas as he or she is growing up.

Ø Let your Godchild know that some people are gay, just as some are of other races. Point out that God creates diversity in humanity just as in all nature.

Ø If you have a gay relative or friend that your Godchild knows also, express your appreciation of that person. It’s not necessary to point out that he or she is gay, just that he or she is a valued person in your life. (Think you don’t have any gay people in your life? Look again!)

Ø Let your Godchild know that there are different forms of family, and that love, respect, and spiritual well-being are characteristics of healthy families, whether large multi-generational families or single parent families, or same-sex families.

Ø Let your Godchild know that you are always open to questions about confusing subjects or things that come up at school that are not easily understood. Be open to “I have a friend…,” or other subtle openings to teachable moments.

Ø If your Godchild shares that he or she may be gay or is gay, ask how that is going. Open a conversational avenue to get your Godchild’s feelings about this. He or she may be elated or depressed or even hurt. Be prepared to provide tangible assistance if your Godchild is having a hard time with this. Know gay-friendly resources in your town such as doctors, counselors, clergy who can help support good mental, emotional, and spiritual health as your Godchild adapts to a new or renewed self-image.

Ø If a child under the age of 12 says he or she is gay or is going to grow up to be gay, treat it respectfully and check for support needs as above. Know, however, that it can probably be safely filed with I’m gonna be a fireman when I grow up, I wanna be an astronaut, and the myriad of other trial and error imaginations of most young children. The closer to twelve-years-old, however, the more carefully you need to assess for reality vs. imagination.

Ø Remind your Godchild that God created each of us just the way He meant us to be and that “God don’t make no junk!” God loves us with the sexuality He gave us, but he expects us to use the gift of our sexuality responsibly. The values we learn in our families, schools, and faith communities apply just as much to gay relationships as to straight ones.

For some people, coming out to a loved one about minority sexuality takes more courage than they will ever have to muster again. Our culture is not supportive of gay sexuality. Children and teens can be especially cruel to a ‘sissy’ classmate, even if that child is not gay. There is a frightening high incidence of suicide among gay or questioning teens and young adults. Likewise many states still do not have hate-crime legislation to prevent gay-bashing. Gays awakening to their sexuality are at high risk.

They also fear hurtful responses from their families and loved ones. A loving Godparent can manifest God’s love for a gay Godchild through acceptance and support.

* 'gay' meaning gay, lesbian or other minority sexual expression

Additional resources: For The Bible Tells Me So, Soulforce, Metropolitan Community Churches, Integrity, Dignity, etc.

Wise Words for Governor (VP Nominee) Sarah Palin

I am only one of hundreds who finds this quote relevant to Gov. Palin's criticism of Senator Obama's work experience as a community organizer:



"Mrs. Palin needs to be reminded that Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor." ("MJR, Michigan" via the NYT comments .)



Like my source, Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton's Telling Secrets, I'm guessing MJR, Michigan is a woman and an Episcopalian.