It is about time we started acting like responsible adults!

There is more than meets the eye as to what true success is and as painful as it is it can’t continued to be ignored. It is up the humanity to decide what they don’t want and start focusing on what they do want. Humanity needs to learn how to deal with diversity and contrasts in our lives in constructive way…….NO MORE WAR!

You are correct in saying that once we realize that something is offensive that it needs to be changed. I believe global warming is just tip of the iceberg. There are a vast number of issues underneath the iceberg that has created the dis-ease of our environment. It is important to address those issues because the evolution of our society is going to fall on the hands of the upcoming generation of this world.

I use this site as a motivational tool for my Junior High class and also encouraged other colleagues to do the same – many are not white, they are from the NY area, and this has been a source of a lot of discussion. We’ve gone from the excitement of Roz’s day-to-day progress to discussions of this blog and the responses. Their consensus is it was unintentional although in itself still offensive. They struggle with the responses that seem to paint a picture of concerned comments as if they were attacks against Roz as a racist. I suppose there’s something to be gained from these discussions, but the problem is more time was spent on something other than the achievements, goals, awareness of what good one can do in this world. However, does this mean there’s no time to correct what we now understand will be offensive to some or should we require someone to read through pages of e-mails to get to the apology?

APOLOGY: I am profoundly embarrassed. I have been unavoidably offline for the last week, so had no idea of the row brewing over something I wrote in my last blog. I was not at all familiar with the US connotations of “Aunt Jemima”, and am horrified that some people interpreted this as a racial slur. Nothing could have been further from my intentions. During my all-too-brief time in Tarawa I developed the greatest respect and love for the people there. Apologies for any offence caused.

Thank you, Roz. You are a true champ deserving of a ticker tape parade for what you have done.

Think about it………

Maybe it’s as simple as saying Tawara instead of Tarawa. Roz knows that distinction even at sea with an 11th hour course change — she never mispronounced Tarawa! Did she chastise Leo Laporte for not getting it right? Never! Sorry, but she let her civility and good nature show.

Each one of us is “ugly” somewhere at some time in some circumstance. So, please don’t be too harsh … what do they say about casting the first stone? … judge not?

This “discussion” is neither civil nor respectful. Can we please turn it around? Unless, of course, there are other motivations, in which case, please just leave and talk to the wind!

“After all, the context was to rodents EATING her provisions and how happy she was (AND thankful to the people of the island) that her boat was being protected from that! Keep in mind that the locals KNOW she is a Brit … and that she would NOT ascribe to their beliefs about rats being relatives! Duh” – Naomi

I believe that if we haven’t got something nice to say about someone’s beliefs we don’t talk about it for we are all solely responsible for our own beliefs and actions.

Maggie, I have been using Bag Balm (which is very greasy) and a prescription for eczema to fix my cracking and flaking fingers. The prescription seems to be helping — although the eczema has not been cured — but what I really need is a an effective lotion to keep the skin moist … I would love to try your lotion potion, and would gladly pay handsomely. My email address is at the bottom of the page that links from my name above.