I have to say the last little bit has gotten me down. The whole incident with Zoe's friend, then the next day my Mom texted with Grandpa's accident and honestly, this whole thing with Paula Dean is just the icing on the cake.
Here's the problem. She got caught doing something horrible a handful of years ago and only now is she sorry. Was she sorry when she was throwing around racial slurs and being horribly disrespectful? A lot of people are saying that we shouldn't blame her for this because it was so long ago, but even then she was of the right age to know what she was saying was inappropriate and downright disgusting. She had no problem with it until she started losing millions of dollars and people saw her for what she really is. Some argue that she's from the south and it's more acceptable there... seriously? More acceptable to think that you are better than somebody else because you are WHITE. What. The. Hell. More acceptable because she is a public icon who promotes terrible habits in the culinary world and makes one syllable words into two? "Put a little sou-outh in your mou-outh" South. Mouth. One syllable. Deep fried mayonnaise=disgusting. And the fact that she is a public icon we should hold her to a higher standard. People are looking at her and her decisions and if she decides that using the 'n' word to describe a people group is acceptable... well, then... she deserves all the millions she is losing and then some.
I did hear an interview where she tearfully said that if there is anybody out there who hasn't said something they regretted then they should cast the first stone. Yes, people say things all the time that they shouldn't and regret. No, not everybody is a celebrity and under scrutiny for it. There comes a certain amount of responsibility when it comes to being famous... its not all cameras, money and fun. And the reason why this is such a big deal and her sponsors are dropping her like its hot is because this is a testament to her character. I read a lawyer who said, "Anytime Wal-Mart drops you before they are prompted... you know you've done something wrong." (You can read this man's thoughts on her... its really insightful and makes you want to vomit at the things she and her brother said. http://www.blacklegalissues.com/Article_Details.aspx?artclid=7dfdbe0461) haha. You can't go around saying things like that and not have people know that you are a racist and a bigot.
I guess the upsetting thing is that there are still people out there who think this is true... that they are somehow better than you because you are different than they are. I admit, I am guilty of some of these things as well... Republicans for one. But, the thing that makes it worse for me is that people are saying it's OK. I can't tell you how many people on FB are liking these stupid memes of her and saying that it's no big deal and that we should all just forget it. Everytime I see somebody 'like' one of those pictures this e-card comes to mind that says, "of course history repeats itself... it's because we keep fucking it up." And if we are really going say that its 'ok' then we haven't moved past the injustice that has plagued the world since the, well, ever. And if people think that it's OK for celebrities to still be so close minded then, what hope do those fools who follow those celebrities have? They need to be an example, and if they are being made an example for their foolish behavior, this Momma doesn't feel sorry for them.
People need to GET A GRIP. I am all about forgiving and if she is truly sorry for being a racist then let's see a change. But, in the mean time, she is definitely getting what is coming to her. She may recover over time but not as quickly if she would've been caught in some sort of sex scandal or something (which, I think might be equally gross).
People need to realize that there is beauty in difference. That this is where we can learn grace, love and understanding. Humanity needs to step the hell up to the plate and quit sucking. Its terrible that people are now just starting to earn basic human rights because they chose to love somebody of the same sex. These are rights. And they are human. Lets try to see if we can make the world a better place by simply treating each other with the dignity, love and respect we all deserve. (Unless you are a dirty Republican... JK). But, seriously, this is something we can achieve, so let's frickin' do it. And, it starts with people like us. As a Momma it is my duty to instill better values in my children than what is being displayed now. And, if they can't show love to people who are different then they are, then I am failing. And, failure is not an option.
JVG
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