Way back in 3rd grade at Clayton Brownlee Elementary School, I heard some debate on TV about communism where one of the people said something to the effect that; "The people of Russia are farmers, shopkeepers, factory workers who have lives just like you and I. They have no argument with us, and we certainly should have no argument with them. It's the GOVERNMENTS that are arguing, not the people."

This was at a time when the B-57's from Bunker Hill Air Base were flying overhead almost daily, and my mom was terrified that if Kennedy won the presidency, there was sure to be an atomic war. I would have nightmares about the 'evil' Russians sending wave after wave of bombers across our skies, mostly because of what was being shown on TV and reported in the news (yes, the news was slanted and biased back in those 'innocent' days even more than it is now, in my opinion). Everything was serious, and there was no doubt how it would all end. The only question was; "When?"

When I tried to tell some of my class 'mates' about what I had heard this fellow say about the Russian people, I was rewarded with one of the worst beatings I can remember. That was when I learned that people would rather hate in ignorance than learn tolerance through knowledge.


Today, we as individuals have no argument with the everyday citizens of any Semitic country. Unless you buy into the racist propaganda that is being spread by all our governments and a few religious zealots.


For years, I lived in an Armenian neighborhood near Hollywood. These people are soft-spoken and polite - except for maybe some of their teenagers. I have no disagreement with them, and I particularly like their food. They are timid, yet proud, and they know (believe me they know) how they are viewed by the other ethic groups that comprise the 'American' public. Female modesty is viewed as fear, and polite respect is viewed as distain toward the rest of us. Strangely enough, in a city where the culture changes every few blocks, cultural intolerance by different ethnic groups is disturbingly common. And as a result, I'm fairly certain that we worry them as well.

 

Dank, my compliments on your post. I think your observations are both accurate and poignant and a very good illustration of another time of extreme fear fostered by our government.

 

ghjghjghj

 

and how many of you lost friends or family in the World Trade Centers on 9/11?Im guessing none!Well I did but thats all Im going to say so excuse me if I side with some of the Captains thoughts!