Racism..Alive & Well

I needed a safe place to process so many thoughts today. Our social worker for the adoption was here Saturday and after we finished the "official" part we just talked. She wanted, as a biracial women herself, to make sure we were not naive to some of the struggles we will face as a multi-racial family. She didn't want to scare us but arm us so that we were not surprised. I know there will be some struggles but I have not even given this thought as it doesn't matter to us.

Since the earthquake in Haiti, I have heard first hand that racism is alive and well. We were at the pool the other day and men in the locker room were talking about how you can "train monkey's better than a Haitian." I have seen posts today online that literally make me sick. People who think that Haitians should "pay America back by serving in the middle east so that they die and not Americans". People who say that "adopting a child past the age of 5 from Haiti should not be allowed as they are already diseased". As these people are making comments, they are ranking races and in their eyes, Haitians fall below African Americans.

As I read these words I am reminded of the world we live in. How can we rank people based on the color of their skin? How can we compare people to animals simply because of where they live? How can we not be willing to take in children who need a new start? I am so very sad that people, God's creation, can be devalued because of skin color.

I guess I am naive. I thought that in 2010 we were a little further along in the fight against racism. After reading comments like I read today, I am not proud to be an American...I know that is anti-American to say but if being an American means that I am associated with racism, hatred, liberalism, entitlement, and all the other "stuff" going on in America today then I do not desire to associate myself with that label.

It's days like today that I am so glad that Earth is not my home. As the days grow eviler, it is clear that I am an alien and stranger in this land. Now I just wish there were more aliens & strangers!