Race & Ethnicity

I have been raised to believe that being white is normal and common, my race was never really an issue of concern. As i get older and become more aware of the actual dynamics of my upbringing, I realize that I have a warped perspective of who I am and what i am capable of.

I have a deep feeling of guilt that is lingering from my ancestors actions in the past. I am appalled with many of the choices they made. I feel the shame of how they treated so many people as they forced their way to the top of this country's leadership. One obstacle i have due to my race and the environment my race has created is harmony between races. Because of the brutally ignorant behavior of my ancestors who exercised prejudice and discrimination as well as power and coercion toward other races. As a result there is fear and resentment lingering between us. I do not look down on other races, yet i feel disconnected from some of them. I do not feel accepted by them, but somewhat rejected

instead. I do not get to experience as much of the wisdom and creativity of these other races as i would like to because the wrongs that were done still linger.

It reminds me of a beautiful ocean floor once in its natural state with vibrant colors of various coal and sea life rich with numerous fish. Now it has been raked down to the bare sea floor destroying all fragile beautiful life that dwelt there.

Had my race resp

ected the native Americans when they came to invade their home we could have become a wiser, healthier people that are much better off.

Had my race left the african american alone and respected them we could be blessed in this country with their huge amounts of joy and intelligence which would have made us all abundantly better off. Instead, we are healing from the wounds of our ancestors and trying to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all.

My heart screams out to the wrongs my ancestors did! I want to make it right and help to heal the lingering pain. I want to build up and bring back the wisdom

of the native Americans! I want to go back to the African people we brought here and let them have respect and freedom to life as they choose. I want to live in harmony with all these races and learn from each-other the sweet secrets of life that make everything worth while!