I can't hate the South. It's lived up to most of the stereotype about it, which is horrible and depressing. But 'they know not what they do.'
Fair enough and to each their own, but I see it sorta like how I was taught in law class..... "Ignorance is not an excuse from the law" ~ And in that, ignorance is not an excuse for their ways, esspecially when they live in a nation that is supposed to treat everyone as equals, no matter what their race, religion or personal beliefs may be.
But that's going a bit side tracked, and I don't need to dabble further into that here. I'm sure where I live, my area, and perhaps even myself, we are ignorant and offensive over other things..... nobody's perfect.... but I can not tollerate others who seek to harm or keep others below them just because of ignorant/racist ways.
In fact, I've got some shame about leavnig the non-profit I work for down here and running back to SoCal. Staying here would mean helping hundreds and hoping one or two catch on and help others. I'm just a coward and don't have the mental fortitude to stick it out.
Well that's how I attempt to live as well..... shoot my mouth off about all the things wrong I see, and hope perhaps someone might catch on that there is something actually wrong. When I can help I do..... but everybody has their limit and sometimes it's just like you're the only one fighting it out in the Alamo against thousands who don't want to co-operate.... after so long, it'll wear anybody down..... everybody breaks at one point or another.
All one can do is fall back, regroup on safer grounds, build up from there, and then expand again, slowly making your mark into the fringes of those who opposed before, and spread that way.
Sometimes that's the only way one can make a decent impact, as opposed to jumping in the middle of it all and overwelming yourself. You can't continue to help others if you burn yourself out and give up.
And I get all kinds of offended and self-righteous on a daily basis and realize I'm the a-hole, later. I can't kick someone for doing something their parents taught them to do.
Oh, I can and will.... :twisted: how else are they going to learn it's not accepted and why?
That's sorta why I bitch and moan about the US from time to time..... I used to like the US to a degree, for many of the things the US once did... the US has (under the Bush Administration above all else) lost it's ways, it's view as a "World Leader" to the rest of the world.... and ultimately, respect.
But if I and everybody else, inside or outside of the US, just simply stands by and says/does nothing, then how is anybody going to figure out that what they are doing is wrong and/or not accepted by everyone?
That's just how I see it anyways.
This place is stuck in a time warp circa 1945. I saw Gulfport, Mississippi with my own eyes two weekends ago. I thought all the destruction and damage there (and it was horrifying) was from Gustav. Nope, it was from Katrina. THREE F'ING YEARS AGO. And the best they've done is put in a really fancy casino to bring in money to re-build. Preying on people's alcohol and gambling dependence issues to salvage the local economy. It's disgusting.
Well our government isn't perfect and also preys on addictions via regulation of tobacco, alcohol and gambling...... but when there is a disaster, sh*t better get done, or sh*t will certainly fly.
I have heard that there is still plenty left to clean up and fix from Katrina, and to me, that is sick. Frig, by this time the worst I would expect is 90% complete.... not what I seen in recent reports.
I met a man in an AA meeting last night who had his arm ripped off in a DUI accident a few months ago (he was the drunk). It was re-attached, but the reattachment is not taking and he's going to have to have it amputated. Words can't describe what it looked like. Maybe if he'd been approved for the meds he's supposed to be on and the disability so he can live in a house and not on the streets he wouldn't be in that position.
While I usually have very little sympathy for anybody who DUI's, the fact that his arm is rotting off his body from not getting simple medication that would fix it, is appalling. Much of those issues bother me when it comes to the US's health care.
At least when I am in an emergency, be that my fault or not.... .I'll still get the proper medical treatment, and can't be capped off of services because I can't continue to buy a doctor off to take a look at me.
Anyway, I'm on a soap box. I could go on and on. I'm not going to. I'm just glad to be in a fortunate enough position to get the hell out of the U.S. before the toilet flush that's bound to happen.
Sounds like a wise decision, however, Canada will not be totally be immune to the US's fallout, as much of our trade has been with the US..... which to me always seemed like a stupid idea from the begining.
Putting all your eggs in one basket as they say. Once the US basket drops, all our eggs are broke. In another thread, I've been saying we should be covering our own asses and begining to look at other places to shift our trade with. We do trade with a lot of other countries, but it's not a lot in comparison to the US..... which is why many have lost jobs in the auto industry, lumber, etc.
Luckily my company deals just within the country and it won't have a big effect on our business.
