Are My Attitudes About Race Any Of Your Business?
PG was living his life when see saw something on facebook: “And another thing: if you are going to claim NOT to be racist, I feel like you should familiarize yourself with some contemporary writings and definitions of racism, not just what Mirriam Webster says.” The first reaction was to ignore this. If you reply to a comment about racism on facebook, you are asking for trouble. Life is too short to be wasting time on such unpleasantness.
But the thought engine had been kickstarted, and continued to idle in the background. When PG pulled into the Kroger parking lot, the idea hit full force. Maybe whether you are, or are not, a racist, is no one else’s business.
Some people say that a PWOC is not affected by racism. If this is the case, then why should the racial attitudes of a PWOC affect another PWOC? If a person treats you fairly, do you really need to know this person’s attitudes about race?
The fbf ex-fbf does not say what the context of this claim is. Did anyone ask you whether or not you were a racist? If not, are you assuming that they are interested? Maybe someone assumed the listener was interested. Maybe the proper response to look bored, and say TMI.
PG was filling out a profile once, and was using some questioned borrowed from another blog profile. One of the questions was, are you a racist? “It depends on who is doing the judging”.
The comment mentioned “contemporary writings and definitions of racism”. Who are the people who set themselves up as arbiters about what we should think about race? What are the qualifications? Who asked them what they thought? How do we know that these people are dependable?.
Maybe the answer is to show compassion and kindness to your neighbor, and don’t judge them about their racial attitudes. If you are proud of your racial attitudes, please refrain from boasting. Not everyone is interested. This is a repost. Pictures are from The Library of Congress.
Dorothy Parker and Thomas Jefferson
BigO is a site with mp3 downloads. Most of them are concerts. PG found one exception. It was a 1960 interview, STUDS TERKEL WITH DOROTHY PARKER/BOB NEWHART – CHICAGO 1959/1960. Pictures today are from The Library of Congress.
Dorothy Parker is somewhat of a legend. There were the funny sayings, a few poems and stories, and her life. Mrs. Parker was well known as a witty person during the twenties. She drank, a lot, and talked often of suicide. It was surprising to find a 1960 interview.
In fact, Dorothy Parker died in 1967, at the age of 73. By 1960, she was in decline, living at the Manhattan’s Volney Hotel. “Edmund Wilson … paid occasional painful visits to her at the Volney. (“She lives with a small and nervous bad-smelling poodle bitch, drinks a lot, and does not care to go out.”) … She was still revered, a legend, but she had also become a pathetic relic. Yes, “you might as well live,” but for what? And on what? Not only was she running out of old friends, she was running out of money, though uncashed checks, some quite large, were strewn around her apartment (along with the empty bottles), not helping with unpaid bills.”
There were some zesty quotes in the interview with Mr. Terkel. “I can’t call myself a critic. Honestly. I can only put down what I think and pray there isn’t a libel suit.” “I’m not a poet, you know, I just write verse” “The beat boys aren’t saying anything except look at us aren’t we great … I don’t think the beat generation is much worth worrying about. Very soon, in the very near future, they will be as forgotten as mah jongg.”
Towards the end of the interview, Mr. Terkel said “i know some people would want me to ask, did she really say all those things that she was quoted as saying” “… no, no, and it was a curse on me, it was simply awful the things that were attributed to me. I wouldn’t have minded if they had been good. I was, in effect, the shaggy dog of my time.”
Another quote magnet for the meme generation is Thomas Jefferson. PG saw yet another inspiring quote on facebook today. Mr. Google was consulted. It turns out the quote is real.
Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, 22 April 1800 is the source. Vice President Jefferson was going to be elected President later that year. It is not known what effect that had on the quote in the meme. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” It is not known whether a twenty first century Jefferson would unfriends anyone who says anything unappealing.
WTF
Twice a week, Marc Maron puts out an episode of WTF. This is not Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Mr. Maron is a retired drinker/druggi. If he can dance, he keeps it to himself. The show is ten minutes of chatter, and an hour of talking to someone. Mr. Maron has a gnarly personality, and more than ten minutes of solo talk is too much.
WTF usually bats about five hundred. The celebrities alternate with the standup comics. Some of the stars were not that great. The comedy talk can be inside baseball. Once, PG turned off the show when conversation turned to growing up with a jewish doctor for a father.
Out of the last five episodes, four have been great. David Crosby, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ron Howard, and Roger Waters made their way to the garage. Tomorrow is Paul Major and Jesper Eklow. It might be more talk about jewish doctor daddy issues. There are lots of other things to listen to.
The first star was David Crosby. The man is a legend in his own time, or his own mind, or both. Croz admits that the Byrds fired him because he is an asshole. PG has always been fascinated by the contrast between the pretty, pretty sound of CSN, and putrid personalities of Stephen Stills, and David Crosby. Graham Nash is the most patient man alive. Neil Young, who?
“You are blocked from following @thedavidcrosby and viewing @thedavidcrosby’s Tweets.” Before blocking @chamblee54, this conversation took place.
@chamblee54 @thedavidcrosby Did you ever meet Bing Crosby?
@thedavidcrosby “@chamblee54: @thedavidcrosby Did you ever meet Bing Crosby?” Yes I did
@FoxH2181 @thedavidcrosby @chamblee54 DC tells the late robin williams about it on youtube.
PG is easily amused, and decided to go for part two. David Crosby tells a story of going to see the symphony as a young boy. He is impressed by the sounds that are produced by all the elbows sawing on violins at the same time. David Crosby winds up as someone that likes to collaborate, to be a part of a team. At 24:01 of the show, David Crosby says, regarding CSN, “We do shit together.”
@chamblee54 @thedavidcrosby David Crosby on CSN at 24:01 “We douche it together”
David Crosby retweeted your tweet. @chamblee54 @FoxH2181 @thedavidcrosby David Crosby on CSN at 24:01 “We douche it together”
Sarah Jessica Parker was on the next monday. PG saw a few episodes of Sex And The City, so it was familiar territory. It turns out that SJP was a child actress, dated Robert Downey Jr., and had a crush on Harold Pinter.
Ron Howard appeared three days later. PG is the same age as Opie, which helps PG fit in to the The Andy Griffith Show. Mr. Howard has a nice guy reputation, but tells a story about being an asshole. It involves raising money, and John Belushi, so maybe he can be excused.
During the previews for Apollo 13, there was only one negative comment. “This movie is typical hollywood bullshit. There is no way those guys survived.”
Both Miss Parker and Mr. Howard were fun to listen to. The next monday, PG thought that there was sure to be another unknown jewish comedian. Instead, the guest was Roger Waters. Pink Floyd was famous for music, and stage shows. The individuals are fairly anonymous. Mr. Waters told about his story. His grandfather died in World War I, and his father perished in World War II. The plans of world leaders, for never ending war, do not impress Mr. Waters.
Pictures today are from “The Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library”.
Chamblee54 
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