Where I'm from

My name is Cathy, a common, simple name, not short for anything. My skin is light. My people come from Western Europe, Great Britain. I am flesh and blood born of my "white" parents. I have the mind of an intelligent human being, the compassion of a Jew of Middle Eastern descent we call Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the heart of a God-fearing woman. As humanity struggles with equality of races, those like me must not let our culture, our legacy be forgotten for we are worthy, too. What is equality?

While those who are different than me speak with bitterness and hatred against my people, my culture, they want us to generously give our support to their cause. Where is equality there? And why do they hold against me what generations before me--those over whom I have no influence--did? In the countries of our roots, was there discrimination? What was equality there? What did my people suffer there?

While a Moroccan man received a doctorate degree and teaches at an American university, he is vocal in speaking of his hatred of America, of patriotism, to his students, belittling a woman of maturity who dares to say, "I love my country where you have the right to speak your thoughts without fear the Thought Police will take you away, never to be seen or heard from again." If he hates America so much, why is he here?

While women of color have been labeled "mules of society," why am I made to feel ashamed when I, a white woman, say I understand the plight of women of color because women of poverty have fought the war of poverty, the social cliques that condescend to them? Why am I made to feel ashamed, as if I can't understand what it means to be deemed unworthy. Where is equality there?

What is equality? Merriam-Webster advises:

* of the same measure, quantity, value, quality, number, degree or status as another.
* impartial; free from extremes.
* able to cope with a situation or task.

The heart of a child does not know racism, is color blind. And a mother informs her children that "hate" is an emotion too ugly to understand. She will never tolerate a child of hers hating another human being. Disagree, she said. Forgive. Do not hold grudges, she said. If flesh is removed, can you tell what color was the surface? When a man gives his life for his compatriots, does color have any significance?

Two women argued over a child.
"This is MY child," said one.
"No! It is MY child," said the other.
They went to King Solomon to have him resolve the matter.
"Cut the child in two and give half to each woman," he ordered.
"No!" screamed the true mother who would rather give up her child than have the child killed.
And this was how King Solomon knew which was the true mother.

Oh, compassionate heart. Why need you fear? We are one nation under God. Even in the global neighborhood, we are one nation under God...one Supreme Being over all God's children. Peace be with you.

(c) 2009 Cathy Thomas Brownfield
All rights reserved -- Contact author for permission to use.