Whites.

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"The irony of American history is the tendency of good white Americans to presume racial innocence. Ignorance of how we are shaped racially is the first sign of privilege.

In other words. It is a privilege to ignore the consequences of race in America."

-Tim Wise

I'm encountering a lot of people who are tired of political correctness as if the very act of not being offensive is exhausting. I mean, how tiresome it is to be mindful of what you're saying. 

Really?

I mean, really?

I think it is complete bullshit we have an NFL team called the Redskins. Call me a bleeding heart, PC liberal all you want. I'd rather be that than an ignorant, offensive racist. It is almost 2014, we need to be better. I try to explain it this way: if the NFL had a team called the Blackies with a black person as the mascot, we'd shut that shit down, because most of us by now know you can't do that. THE SAME THING APPLIES TO NATIVE AMERICANS. God, as if stealing their land, killing them, etc wasn't enough, we appropriate their culture and get offended at their offense. I am so sick of it. The worst part is that it's generally very privileged white people getting so up in arms against being "politically correct." Because god-forbid anyone takes away their comfort found in objectifying minorities. 

The kicker: when white people use the, "well, why can they get away with calling us cracker [insert any other white slur]." Please, tell me, are you truly offended by that? Is anyone? Right, no. Because we're fucking white and there are so so so many advantages to being white. See: arewhitepeopleraciallyoppressed.com/

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Sorry I’m being so negative. I’m a bummer, I don’t know I shouldn’t be I’m a very lucky guy. I got a lot going from me. I’m a healthy, I’m relatively young. I’m white; which thank God for that sh** boy. That is a huge leg up, are you kidding me? I love being white I really do. Seriously, if you’re not white you’re missing out because this sh** is thoroughly good. Let me be clear by the way, I’m not saying that white people are better. I’m saying that being white is clearly better, who could even argue? If it was an option I would reup ever year. Oh yeah I’ll take white again absolutely, I've been enjoying that, I’ll stick with white thank you. Here’s how great it is to be white, I could get in a time machine and go to any time and it would be fuckin’ awesome when I get there. That is exclusively a white privilege. Black people can’t fuck with time machines. A black guy in a time machine is like hey anything before 1980 no thank you, I don’t want to go. But I can go to any time. The year 2, I don’t even know what was happening then but I know when I get there, welcome we have a table right here for you sir. … thank you, it’s lovely here in the year 2. I can go to any time in the past, I don’t want to go to the future and find out what happens to white people because we’re going to pay hard for this shit, you gotta know that … we’re not just gonna fall from number 1 to 2. They’re going to hold us down and fuck us in the ass forever and we totally deserve it but for now wheeeee. If you’re white and you don’t admit that it’s great, you’re an asshole. It is great and I’m a man. How many advantages can one person have? I’m a white man, you can’t even hurt my feelings. What can you really call a white man that really digs deep? Hey cracker … oh ruined my day. Boy shouldn’t have called me a cracker, bringing me back to owning land and people what a drag.

The first thing we can do is recognize our privilege. And then not be such huge, massive dicks about it.

I don't want blogs like this to have to exist: http://thisiswhiteprivilege.tumblr.com/ I don't want to be associated with this awful, terrible side of a people. Which is why I take the time to be politically correct... it really shouldn't even be called that. It should be called, being a decent human being, thinking before speaking, considering those outside of myself. 

Link-heavy writing, I know, but there's a wealth of material on the internet about white privilege. Last one: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

It's frustrating... by writing (venting) this very post, I'm participating in my skin color advantage. As a white person, I can criticize white people more freely than a minority could, because I belong to this large, ruling group. 

Anyhow. I don't know what any of this means except that I want people to be better. I want people to stop being racist assholes in front of me and then being affronted when I voice my opinion as well. I'm through with remaining silent just to placate. I will not be a willing participant in society's expectations of me to be pleasing, quiet, diminutive, calm. If you feel so free to vocalize your ignorance, I will, just as freely, attempt to educate your ass. 

.

Stars

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"We are all star stuff."

-Carl Sagan

Bright Night Watchers,
What do you see,
When you peer down
and shine on me?

My eyes closed tightly
in lazy slumber?
Or perhaps I'm awake
in midnight wonder.

When you read my words,
Do you mock them aloud?
In translucent, permanent
celestial sound?

Dream in my eyes

You are tired,
(I think)
Of the always puzzle of living and doing;
And so am I.

Come with me, then,
And we'll leave it far and far away—
(Only you and I, understand!)

You have played,
(I think)
And broke the toys you were fondest of,
And are a little tired now;
Tired of things that break, and—
Just tired.
So am I.

But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,
And knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—
Open to me!
For I will show you the places Nobody knows,
And, if you like,
The perfect places of Sleep.

Ah, come with me!
I'll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,
That floats forever and a day;
I'll sing you the jacinth song
Of the probable stars;
I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,
Until I find the Only Flower,
Which shall keep (I think) your little heart
While the moon comes out of the sea.

- e e cummings

You brought me a bright moon.

Like a Boss

credit: thought questions

"Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Guess what?! I got a promotion and a raise! After two years of drudgery, no recognition, and underappreciation at my last company, this feels amazing. It only took 7 months of doing what I do and it paid off. 

They announced in the company meeting today about my promotion and that I'll be transitioned as soon as my replacement is located. 

Damn. It feels so good to be here. 

Granted, this isn't my ~*~DrEaM~*~ career, but I've worked hard to establish myself in this industry and I'm proud I'm finally, finally, finally getting somewhere. Which brings me to a point: you don't have to have a job in your passion in order to be fulfilled. It would be nice if I could find a lucrative career which would enable my desired lifestyle by reading all day, but alas, that isn't going to happen. So now, I work at a job that isn't the most fun but I respect its value and see the importance of it.

Aaaaand it brings in a paycheck which DOES enable my lifestyle of leisure while putting a bit away in savings and cutting down some of that pesky student loan debt.

Anyhow. I am happy. 

All I Wanna Do

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

-C.S. Lewis

This is the face I make when inefficient communicators and perpetually poor planners interrupt what I thought was going to be a night of R&R: Reading & Relaxation.

So... in lieu of this pleasurable past time, I reflect on the things which I would love do all the time, forever and ever amen:

Read: Obviously. I majored in English because it was the closest I could get to reading all of the time. Words, books, my best friends. I am blown away by the creativity in this world and the fact WHOLE LIVES AND UNIVERSES ARE CREATED AND DESTROYED BY PEOPLE! Just think, J.K. Rowling created books from her books: publishing the stories mentioned in passing in her stories. How does her brain function?! WHY DID SHE KILL SO MANY PEOPLE I LOVED? I become emotionally invested in stories. But seriously, anything with words, be warned, I will devour you.

Cook: Doubling my student loan debt to allllllmost get a culinary arts degree could be seen as foolish. But ask Tom, well worth every penny as I crank out homemade dinner after homemade dinner from scratch. It is so satisfying to create a marvelous menu and fill your loved one's tummies with yummy food. Also, it's so interesting on so many varied levels. There's the science behind different culinary aspects (maillard reaction, yo), the aesthetically pleasing art value of a well-crafted plating, and the joy derived from creation. 

Sleep: It's weird to me how much sleep our bodies need and I think people are complete freaks who brag about only getting 5 or fewer hours of sleep per night. Dreaming is awesome! Sleeping is awesome! 

Draw/Paint/Craft: I'm not a gifted artist. I paint and I draw because the act of creation fulfills me. It reminds me that I should approach writing with such recklessness; I really don't give a shit if anyone likes my art or if it's even any good. I made it exist and that is enough for me. But seriously, I could scrapbook forever. I want to live in Hobby Lobby sans the religious zealots keeping me from my birth control. Babies are too messy in craft stores.

 It boils down to this: I want to be creating, enjoying other's creations, or asleep.

love

christine

P.S. I forgot to mention wine, so just assume it's involved in all of the above.