I have a dream of Normal.....

The wee hours morning seems to be time my to write this blog. The new addition to my list of routines. Yes, I have a good cup coffee with half and half cream and two sugars.This is bliss, the simple things, and that works for me to start the day.

That said, what does not work for me is the game of Chinese Whispers.This is my new name for what used to be called The News Media.An event occurs and by the time it reaches our ears the facts have been distorted.The tragedy of the death of Trayvon Martin, the seventeen year old African American boy who was gunned down for walking in a 'white ' neighborhood shocked us all.Fox News have hardly mentioned this story.Why is that not surprising?.But, I digress.

What shocks me is that this has been turned into a White vs Black battle.The murder took place in an Hispanic neighborhood, not a white one. Hispanics are also a minority, lest we forget.

The Black vs White paradigm stirs up historical, and current, racial divisions and makes a great media story. It has polarized public opinion, generating heated debate, as it should.But, this is an irresponsible thing for the media to do. Why ?, it is not only about White vs Black. It has everything to do with ethnic minorities hatred of each other in a climate where both African Americans and Hispanics are being disenfranchised.It is watching minority groups turn against each other when they should stand united in a common cause for mutual equality and respect in society.

Hispanics in Florida can be racist toward African Americans.And, that is true in reverse. I lived there.It is a fact of life.In the gay community a high percentage of gay Hispanics only wanted white partners, not black ones.It might be unpopular to say that, but it's an unspoken truth. To witness  minority groups, who are not loved by the Republican Party, repeat the pattern of racism, that they complain of, toward each other is short sighted and blindingly ignorant.They mirror the racism they seek to end.That irony is not lost on me.

We also share a collective guilt regarding this incident.Be honest now and think about this construct: A black male teen in a white neighborhood = potential criminal.A white teen in a black neighborhood = potential victim.That is what most people automatically think.Come on you know its true!. It is easy to say the police are bad, and point fingers, but I know many people who jump to the same conclusions, but who have to edit that first thought understanding the prejudice that created it.They are not bad people, they just grew up having that perception beaten into their brains.But, they have an awareness of that internal pop up thought given to them by society enough to edit it.That is not true for everyone.

It is good that racism is exposed.It is ugly and we should reflect on the ugliness we our selves hold within us and not point fingers at others until we can all one day say : A black male teen in white neighborhood = perfectly normal.A white male teen in black neighborhood = perfectly normal.

So, normal is a wonderful thing.Am not hoping for the extraordinary, just a spoonful of normal.It is beautiful and attainable.

Peace