"We're not allowed to say anything racist, even if we aren't!"

Said multiple times by a coworker in the middle of a racist rant about how angry she is that that "they" can say anything they want but "we" can't.

Does anyone else see the irony here?

I present this with a tone sarcastic humor, but honestly this makes me very sad. It is an example of the many evils of the American psyche and another sticking point which separates me from nearly everyone else in the rural midwest. 

First of all, comments such as my coworker's speak to a disturbing and dangerous ignorance about the history of American culture and how the world works. It also implies, as does post-racialism in general, that racism is "ok" one way but not in the "reverse." It is an assertion of privilege among the already highly privileged. 

I'd like to ask White women such as my coworker how they'd feel were someone to say the same thing in regard to gender. "Those BITCHES. It isn't fair that they can call each other "bitches"and when WE call them that, they say we're sexist," says the patriarch. 

It is a petty complaint launched by people who have everything they need, much of what they want, and don't ask questions that lead to uncomfortable conclusions. 

Non-racists do not say "racist" things. Bottom line. If you have to qualify your intentions as "non-racist" then you ARE racist!

Finally, "reverse racism" rants are frequently launched in the company of other Whites, obviously under the assumption that since we share the same skin color category, we share the same sentiment. Quite an audacious, and quite mistaken, assumption. "We" don't all share your racial bias, and we do not appreciate your racist vitriol. 



http://www.dailydot.com/opinion/reverse-racism-doesnt-exist/

Pride of America...

Saw this handwritten sign on the roadside on the way home from work:

Yorkie puppie's for sale

Who Am I?

I am a person who is having a lot of trouble adjusting to a rapidly changing world.

New Rules for Life

I think I have finally figured out the key to happiness, that apparently everyone but me was privy to long ago:

1. Do not talk about social issues/politics to anyone- even mentioning current events in passing has elicited much vitriol and resulted in personal attacks
2. Do not talk about myself unless asked, and then keep it short and to the point- no one wants the full story, I am not that interesting
3. Do not talk about work- no one understands my field or my job and they don't care
4. Do not ask anyone for favors- they don't want to do them and they feel put on the spot when asked, just take care of it myself

Am I forgetting anything?

George Zimmerman was found not guilty, but he is surely not innocent

I want to slap the smile off his face, for to me it says, "I got away with it" and lacks any sign of remorse.


Do I think Zimmerman targeted Martin to murder in cold blood? No. He is the victim of a racist society that criminalizes young Black men. He is a wanna-be cop with a vigilante bug up his ass. He acted stupidly, irresponsibly, and against orders. It is for these things that he must take responsibility.

As for the Whites out there who revel in Zimmerman's verdict, who feel vindicated in their racist assumptions about Trayvon Martin, I have to say to you... FUCKING BE HONEST ABOUT WHO YOU ARE! If you feel as I have described then YOU ARE A RACIST.

I don't have time to school the ignorant in their intellectual and moral failings, but Tim Wise gets paid to do so. I suggest you check it out:

No Innocence Left to Kill

Also look at this assessment of the situation from the New York Times:

Blood on the Leaves

Leave it to Texas...

To be the linchpin of the totally ludicrous, illogical, cruel, and selfish practice of canned hunting in the name of “conservation.” According to the story on 60 Minutes on January 29, Texas is home to the largest population of exotic wildlife in the country.  Exotic, endangered, and even extinct animals from all over the world are brought to and bred on Texas ranches. Why? For the purpose of “conservation,” i.e. so white men can make money off of other white men who like to commit murder.

A couple of ranch owners and patrons were interviewed and predictably resorted to the typical, non-sensical  argument that hunting these animals keeps them alive. It is only due to the “value” (derived from hunting) of these animals that many of them even still exist at all, as some have already gone extinct in the wild. Hunters, as I’ve heard only a million times, are the ultimate conservationists. If they were not hunting and placing a value on the heads of these animals, they would simply die out.

It is an argument as tired, old, and ridiculous as Rupert Murdoch. The hunters in the story claim that animal rights groups are their biggest enemies and it is because “[animal rights groups] just don’t understand what we’re doing.”

Excuse me? We animal rights people KNOW EXACTLY what you are doing and that is why we oppose it! Acquiring and breeding animals for the purpose of fulfilling your violent desires and easing the hurt of your fragile ego is simply not morally sound. It is exploitation, plain and simple. You can call it whatever you want- try to cover up that fact with dubious conservation claims, but the bottom line is still the same. Plus, how does it escape hunters that the very reason these animals are on the verge of extinction to begin with is because of people just like them? It is because of hunting that the animals are suffering! It is by virtue of the value attached to these animals that they are sought after and become murder victims, not in spite of it. 

Video link

Almost nothing but chicken nuggets for 15 years

I was disgusted, but not totally shocked, when I heard the story of the 17 year-old girl in Britain who has eaten nothing but chicken nuggets since she was two. I see an episode of "Freaky Eaters" in her future. That is, if she has a future. Can't be sure, given that she apparently became very ill recently.

The girl's mother claims that she went to "great lengths to try to fed her daughter more nutritious food." Nope. Sorry. Not buyin' it. No kid will starve itself to death- it will eventually eat what you give it. Furthermore, kids model their parents' behaviour, leading me to believe that the parents did not eat real food either.

As I heard somewhere recently, "behind every kid who won't eat vegetables is a parent who doesn't."

This should be considered child abuse. I mean, it is bad enough that Western parents slowly poison their children in their formative and critical years by feeding them the standard trashy Western diet, but to go above and beyond even that is just criminal.

Maybe this girl should sue her parents for criminal neglect? That would be an interesting case, for certain.

Vegan Cupcake Victory!

I just watched Cupcake Wars and was pleased that, once again, vegan cupcakes prevailed.

The victory goes to Sticky Fingers Bakery in Washington, D.C.

Despite the fact that I have wanted to go to Sticky Fingers ever since I heard of them, I have not yet had the opportunity. I visited the D.C. area in 2008, but the bakery was closed on the day I wanted to go. It looks like Sticky Fingers is now open 7 days a week, but a bit late for me.

You can order their treats online and have them delivered, but shipping is phenomenal! A 4 cupcake set that costs $16 is $21 to ship! I think I will just have to wait until the next time I am in D.C.

Anyway, this victory is the second for Sticky Fingers on Cupcake Wars and at least the third one that I know of for vegan bakers. It goes to show that vegan stuff is just as good, if not better, than the animal-laden and much less healthy conventional versions.

Shocking News! Paula Deen has Diabetes!

Who would have thought that the woman who deep fries mayonnaise could possibly have diabetes?

Deen addressed “rumors” about her health on the Today show this morning,  saying that she wanted to show everyone that diabetes is not a death sentence. She refused to admit that her food plays any significant role in the disease, maintaining that it is all about “moderation,” something that she has “always” practiced despite the appearance of abundance on her cooking shows.

She skillfully demonstrated well-rehearsed aversion tactics when it comes to providing direct answers to Al Roker’s questions, and played her role as pharmaceutical shill to a “T.” She kept referring to Diabetes in a New Light, the promotional website of Novo Nordisk for their diabetes drug Victoza, for which Deen is now a paid spokesperson.

Later in the show, Deen and her sons showed us how to make “healthy” lasagna. Use half the amount of ground beef, by cutting it with a mixture of mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. Wow! SO MANY vegetables!  Add a no-salt tomato sauce. Make a healthy cheese filling by replacing your ricotta with a reduced fat version and filling it out with fat free cottage cheese. Instead of 2 whole eggs, just use one egg and one egg white. Mix in some parmesan cheese. Layer cheese mixture with sauce, gruyere and mozzarella cheeses, and whole wheat pasta. Serve it with a chocolate sour cream bundt cake made healthier by smaller portions and fresh fruit. Oh- and don’t forget your Victoza!

So healthy OMG! Hmmm....

Problems, anyone?

According to Deen, diabetes is more the result of genetics, stress, overweight, and “lifestyle.”  Diet is only a small part of the puzzle. She refused to make a connection to the quality of food, despite Al Roker’s insistence on getting an answer to this question.  It is all about moderation.

Well, if Ms. Paula has always eaten in moderation and moderation is the key to health, then why was she ever fat? And, if the type of food you eat doesn’t have much bearing on health, why do you need to bother finding ways to make it “healthy” anyway?

All you need is drugs, dugs; drugs are all you need.

When asked why she waited 3 years to publicly reveal her disease, Deen said it was because she needed to learn about herself and figure out how to deal with it. Really, I think she waited because she needed the time to prepare for her spokesperson role. I noticed a while back that she had started to lose weight and I suspect this was not so much to improve her health as it was to present herself in a more healthful light and to reinforce the message that diabetes is beyond one’s control and that drugs are necessary to control it.

Finally, when confronted with the suggestion that she is promoting crappy food to the public, Deen responds, "Honey, I'm your cook, not your doctor. You are going to have to be responsible for yourself."

Ahhh... Personal responsibility- the mantra of those who get rich off of inflicting harm on others.

Maybe Ms. Deen should listen to her own advice and take some responsibility for her disease: admit that it is HER OWN FAULT.

Yahoo story

Huffington Post story