The Racist

The Racist

Born blind as 

        far

 

               as eye can see

You're all different.

            Just.

                       Like.

 Me.

Author's Note

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

funny how we see little kids playing together...all of them, not a care in the world and not a prejudiced bone in their bodies...then they grow up and learn it---from those who came before...we seem to have come so far since the 60's in some ways and yet not far at all...still the same old thought process...and your poem speaks to that concept...we are all different, especially those who have phobias against the others who are. I see the "born blind" more as born blind of the differences and then the eye sight and heart sight improves...in a bad way...and then we see the differences and focus too much on them...in a negative way...

j.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for your insightful reading of this one jacob ..spot on! i can relate to your inferences about the 60's ..i thought the same thing ..i must say that Holder and Obama did all they could to separate a divide i never saw .. i place a lot of it on their shoulders and other Dems trying to whip up the "base" ... so sad .. so false .. we will always have pockets of hate and fear that translate into a race/religion issue .. i believe that true love and prayer is keeping it small ;}
E.

[Benita-Staebell M - Kin..]

Very beautiful piece my friend
It's taught not learned and from
Ones showing the wrong values
but if They learn love at home
and the parent
Shows no rasicim and help them
Understand why others act
as they do they won't be racist
I don't care for rude people of all
color and race and lot of times
They don't know love or Jesus
and know the devil's hate and racism
and they were taught to hate so
I pray for them and my boy
isn't hateful that's all racism is
I don't see color I just see a person
I look at their hearts not the color
Or race.

Blessings my friend
I was blown away by
your comment on my
New poem thank you. :)

[Einstein Noodle]

good morning Benita! such a treat to read your review .. deep hate that teaches children such a thing no doubt about it .. thank you for sharing your heartfelt response to this poem ...i do join you in prayers for true peace that starts at home ..love ya! ;)
E.

[Ken Simm.]

Its funny how the apparently simplest set of words can hold the most extraordinary truth. Its also true that we learn our prejudices. We also learn how to be human and how we are all the same with experience. Only apparently some don't. This is a remarkable truth. Especially now when I find myself saying why do some look at brother/sisters and place prejudices of their own learned from others?It could be argued withing myself that I am being prejudiced by saying I do not loath much but I loath prejudice in all its forms. And I learned that from my friends not from my family.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes sir! love your take on this .. there is a distinct difference between a behavior and the person .. i don't think you are prejudiced sir :) you have an angelic aura .. thank you very much for reading and for you comments .. love and peace my friend!
E.

[Tomás Ó C..]

You should send that in to Trump. So true!

[Einstein Noodle]

now now my friend ..lets not be a sore looser ;) give peace a chance! :0/
i am so happy to see you around Big "T" .. it has been a while ... thank you so much for the visit and review .. lots of people are feeling fear about our President Elect but having been an active voter for almost 50 yrs. i have found it best to get mehind whoever is elected ..pray for them ... our leaders newly voted in need (usually) a year or two to show everyone what they have in mind and if it is the same thing they talked about while campaigning .. i am hopeful by his actions saving jobs (Carrier) and money (Boeing) without having taken the Oath yet .. but we shall see eh!? Merry Christmas Tomas O'
E.

[Tomás Ó Cárthaigh]

Merry Christmas!!!

[Einstein Noodle]

oops .. i mean behind .. or maybe me behind ;) Merry Christmas to you too sir!

[Lorry]

Blindness is both the cause and solution of racism in my humble opinion. How one person of any race can hate an entire race for their skin tone is as crazy as hating people who eat spaghetti, or who have red hair. The beauty and knowledge they exclude themselves from is their own punishment. We are all born the same and that is where we see the answer to the problem. A black child, playing with a white child, would never feel the need to use the description I just did, they are truly colour blind. It is those around them that teach them about life and living, good and bad, making problems were none existed.
Would a dying racist refuse life saving treatment from someone of a race they hated? Most probably. Showing that their hatred is only truly skin deep, no matter how deep they think it runs.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for such thorough commentary Nemo! (cute penguin by the way ;) yes indeed ..both cause and solution ...love that! education also goes a long way ..tho i am afraid some will never accept it :( in America, i think, there are far less racists .. but even one will stink up the whole barrel :((( thanks for taking time Nemo and Merry Christmas to you :))))))))
E.

[Lorry]

Yeah, it's the haters that have the loudest voices, but it doesn't make 'em right.
Wishing you a very merry xmas my friend.

[Neal S]

Wonderfully simple but brutally to the point. I like blind as far as the eye can see. So very true! I really dig this piece!

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Neal! and nice to meet you! i am glad you gravitate to that line (lines) ... it kind of hung a couple of people up when reading .. i am gratified very much for your insightful read and for taking time to review to let me know what you think ..i will stop by your place soon ..thank you once again
E.

[Neal S]

My pleasure

[MOON]

To be judged by the colour of your skin painful. Small minded and destructive, powerful write.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Moon ..and so nice to meet you... i will stop by your pages soon ..glad you found something positive in this write ..thank you for taking time
E.

[TL Boehm]

If only we stayed blind. I find this poem hopeful. If that makes any sense. Succinct yet speaks volumes. We're all different yet the same

[Einstein Noodle]

yes!! if we only could .. :( i really appreciate your sensitive reading TL .. and thank you for taking time at my place ;) love and peace ... its all we need eh!?
E.

[DaughterNature]

I have to agree with KWP - while I like the direction you're going with this, the word "born" sticks with me as not quite right, because people are born without any thoughts about "us" versus "them" or prejudice. Racism is something that's taught, then learned, and then clung to when evidences are presented that should cause it to be sloughed away. So in the end, after enough time and experiences have passed, it becomes a choice.

That being said, I love the brevity and quip-iness of this piece!

[Einstein Noodle]

i understand what you are saying and it is all true no doubt; however we are pretty blind when born...seeing shadows at close range ... and i see our birth as having a clean slate (which is what you and KW are also saying)_ but it is like being blind .. as you say it is the writing and painting that goes on afterward that makes us who we are ..perhaps the brevity hinders this one .. i think it is pretty bare bones ;} thanks for visiting ...love your review .. with two heavy hitters seeing the same weakness ..perhaps i will re-write this in expanded version :))
E.

[mattavelli]

Hello, Einstein! :)
we're all different, but we're all people. My mother is a pale, blue-eyed swede. My father is a brown, curly-haired Cuban. My wife is Chinese. What race is my son?

Racism is like a hug from mommy. if somebody hurts your feelings, blame their race. If somebody robs your house, choose a race to blame it on. Didn't get a job you wanted... maybe its a race thing...
Let mommy hug the pain away.
And, its not just race. In the United States, we have protected classes, which are viewed as susceptible to discrimination.
I live in south Florida. All these old people and islanders cant drive... No, I don't speak Spanish... or creole... or portugese... or republican...

[Einstein Noodle]

well hello to you too :) what an interesting review my new found friend ... your take is so unique ..racism as a hug from me mum!!! wow! ... i think i understand this reflection ...please correct me if i am way off ..playing the race card is convenient ... and allows all sorts of responsibilities to be cherished ... am i right so far? and about the "old" people ..oh better take care ..for i am one of them :} but ... i will also have you know i am a damn good driver ... with a tip speed of 5 mph who could ever get hurt .. as long as the sight remains good enough .. and the reflexes, and mental acuity ... and ... oh hell! never mind ... perhaps my keys should be turned in :{ i will repay your visit .. thank you so much for taking time :))
E.
ps. love that little doll effigy thing on your shoulder

[mattavelli]

Hello again, Einstein! :)
I think, somewhere near the root of a racist thought, there must be a feeling of inadequacy as an individual, a desire to be graded on a curve, as a group. There must be a childish comfort there.
When you wrote, "and allows all sorts of responsibilities to be cherished", all I can imagine is a very nasty personality that finds joy in another's pain. I doubt such a person would limit their fun to only picking on races. So, racism is comfort and joy found in colors. It's like drawing with crayons.
- the area where I live is very popular for retirees. We love our "old" people so much that we let them renew their drivers licenses online; no minimum standard here. You can imagine... Haha
- I had the doll made at a tourist area in shanghai, and sent it to my mother one year when I wouldn't be home for Christmas. Thanks :)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha a doll from shanghai! how cool is that!? :) yes ..racism comes from a place of inadequacy, refused knowledge and truth and a nurtured hate ..no doubt about it ..most books tell us that bullies many times start with animals ... :( run in packs .. and can get violent :( i think they a very few in America these days ... "playing the race card" much more prevalent ... but hey ..i'm Scotch-Irish and quite spotted ... we see what we see eh!? i'm so jealous sir ..such an exotic place to visit!