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How many times have we heard these words from people, only to have them followed up by something racist? A little while ago, I coined the term ‘pseudo-racist’ – someone who pretends to be open-minded, but who in reality, is actually a closet racist.
As you all know, we have a Christmas party lined up for some children at a home. These children have no one to make Christmas a special time for them, so we have taken it upon ourselves to lend a helping hand.
The children at the home are black. But who cares, right? As far as I am concerned, they are children, and if we take a look at the word ‘children’, there is no mention of race in that word. A child is a child, regardless of race.
I only mention this due to the disgusting comment we received in response to our plea for toys and goodies for these children. “We only support charities with white children” and “stop begging” are only two of the lines in the putrid comment we received.
I don’t know who “we” refers to; perhaps some super-secret enclave of Nazi’s lurking in the area. And yes, I can equate this blatant racism to the Nazi’s of World War Two. You see, that particular group figured there was a ‘master race’, a race of humans better than everyone else. The Nazi’s did a lot promote and assist white children with blond hair and blue eyes. They also performed a few events for people and children of other races. You know, like gas chambers, firing squads, medical experiments and the like. Children and adults alike were slaughtered, from Jews to Gypsies. From Roman Catholics to blacks. All were killed. Is this what some people want?!
A Roman Catholic Holocaust survivor wrote something along these lines after the war: “When they (the Nazi’s) came for the Jews, I kept quiet, because it was, after all, the Jews and I am not Jewish. Then they came for the Gypsies, and I kept quiet, because I am not a Gypsy. Then they came for the Protestants, and again I kept quiet, for I am not a protestant. Then they came for the Catholics, and I knew I had to speak up, but by then it was too late, for there was no one left to listen.” To the wise man who wrote this, forgive me if I have some lines a little wrong.
My point with this is simple, when do we decide that poverty does not have a race? When do we decide poverty is not the choice of a child, but rather the result of circumstances beyond the control of a child? When do we look at a child and see exactly what is in front of us – a child? Must we punish the child for the sins of the father? Really? I thought we had evolved somewhat as a society. Clearly some have not. Clearly some people are stuck in a Neanderthal mindset – “Me tribe, you not tribe”.
To the Neanderthal who penned that comment – I hope you feel happy. I hope you feel at peace with your comment. I hope you feel satisfied that you have elicited a response from me. I hope this response is what you sought – you disgusting impersonator of humanity.
A child is a child – and I will fight to protect a child from all forms of evil, from all forms of racism. You see, children today do not have to grow up forced to believe in segregation and the like, like so many of us older folk. Children today deserve the right to form their own opinions about race and culture.
A child is a precious thing, innocent like we adults cannot understand.
So please, help us make this Christmas an awesome one for these CHILDREN. These CHILDREN who have no home, no parents, no family. These CHILDREN who survive only on the love and dedication of the staff at Pinocchio.