A Comparitive View on the Varied Hue of Southern vs Northern Racism


          When an average guy (someone with a Y chromosome) possessing a vanilla tapioca mayo on wonder bread lack-of-cultural-heritage, decides to open his mouth and express an opinion about something he read about, or learned from others, or maybe witnessed—but which he could never have experienced (and will never live-thru)—because he was never a woman, or obese, or transsexual, or suffered from depression, nor was he ever homeless, or Black, or Native American, or in constant fear of being a victim of state violence (etcetra) . . . I want to tell that fucker to keep his opinion to himself.  And when that fucker is me, I tend to follow my own advice.  Not always.

          Statistics about racial populations and political tendencies are (in this white guy's mind) insufficient to explain why I'd never-again live in Alabama or Georgia or Kentucky or Indiana, nor why I am (relative-to-my-own-past) content living in Vermont.
 
          In the US South, the entire society which comprises The System (controlled by white people) is waaay beyond casually racist.  If you, dear reader, happen to be Mr or Mrs Mayo Wonderbread who lives in the South and thinks ‘beyond casually racist’ is not an accurate description of you?  Re-read my statement before you take umbrage.  The system is.  Not all people are.   (You might-could-just be casually racist and not waaay beyond).
 
          Racism is so routine-normal in the South that white strangers assume everyone who looks like they do, thinks like they do, and they'll freely talk about their KKK opinions.  The reason Trump was (and still is) so popular with white conservatives (from every state) is not because he accomplished things they wanted the President to accomplish, or that he fooled them (I met some intelligent people in the six years I lived in the US South), the reason is:  he's as extremely, hatefully, intentionally racist as they are.

           Vermont is more Caucasian than Oregon, but the few racists in Vermont who I've talked to are careful in their probing conversations.  They know they're a small minority of the population here and they don't like getting scolded or ridiculed for letting an errant word slip out of their mouth. 

           The week we moved here, I met a neighbor from the next building.  He'd seen our license tags and said, “Where in Oregon are you from?”  I told him and he replied, “I heard Portland was a really liberal city, but I guess that's something that can be beat outta somebody.”  “Sounds like a threat,” I said.  He got all apologetic-giggly and denied it with, “just jokin, not my intention, sorry sorry.”

           In Georgia that guy never would have backed down.  He would have known 90 strangers out of a 100 (including most cops) would back him up in an argument, or a fight, or maybe even in a late-nite follow-up lynching.  In Georgia, that probing conversation would have quickly switched to fighting-words.  And I would have been the one backing down when he took out a weapon.

           Here in Vermont, the hate-filled Republicans might risk getting recorded on your security camera sneaking into your yard to take your Black Lives Matter sign, or your We Stand With: sign, or your rainbow pride flag but they don't call attention to themselves.  Everyone here knows that 60% of the state is progressive (Bernie lovers) and 25% are a strange type of Northern Libertarian (love their weed, hate VT's high taxes, rarely leave New England). 

           The best way to describe Vermont is to say that the entire society which comprises The System doesn't tolerate people who are unwelcoming of people with differences. 
 
 
 
similar opinions:
 
 
 

Philosophical Belief Quiz

 
     This Philosophical Belief Quiz, designed by a Philosopher and a Psychologist, is intended to help you evaluate your thoughts related to a few different philosophical areas, identify any alignment with other people who've taken this quiz (both philosophers and participants) and (possibly) assist in identifying any correlation-causation between your thoughts and some of your individual psychological traits or beliefs.



more quizzes:
 

Cactus - new EP available from El Diablitos

          Lyrics written/performed by Pamela Flores (my wonderful wife); music written, produced, and guitars performed by Tony Guerrero.  All profits from this EP to be donated to the Portland Children's Hospital.
 
 
 
 
more El Diablitos:
 

      Cops Against Humanity (Portland Protest Edition)

 





just wondering to myself:
 
would I be a participant if
 
I still lived in Portland OR
 
still worked enforcing laws
 
if CS was in the wind and I

herd the crowd in the street
 
yes I would hope to be part
 
of the ‘change from within’

vicariously wondering that
 
as I watch (and judge) you
 
do Cops Against Humanity

because of you I no longer

will say: I’m a retired cop
 
while sitting in the comfort
 
just wondering to myself:






 

eight image excerpts by Portland artist Austin Granger at austingranger.com


more:

⩴ The Reason to Make Goals ⩴ We Become What We Think About ⩴

 
 
 Earl Nightingale, 1956
 "The progressive realization of a worthy ideal"
 
 
 
 
more good advice:
 
 

Tire Rule of Thumb (for travelling to Vermont)

 

  
all-weather after
Mother's Day always snow-tires
before Halloween
 
 
more Vermontisms:
 
 
 

CIA Page 25

 
          The "there-must-be-a-conspiracy-because-Fox-Mulder-would-think-so" surrounding the "missing" page 25, from the declassified 70s-80s era CIA Analysis of the Gateway Project (astral projection/remote viewing) was resolved.  The complete report, including page 25, was in the files of the Monroe Institute and now you can read it on VICE



CIA Page 25

 

 

 


 

 

deeper deconstructions:

detritus and cat

rule of threes

Magnifico's Safer-Brand Tomato

 

  Composite artwork comprised of portions of:
three images by Balisee; one image by Paul Kelly;
and one image from the Gateway Project Report.

GREENWEED's Mailbox

 
GREENWEED's Mailbox - 20 Apr (04/20 Cannabis Day)


 
 
   
Mailbox artwork - ALL
Santa Claus' Mailbox - 25 Dec (Christmas)
AULDLANGSYNE's Mailbox - 1 Jan (New Year's Day)
Sommerzeit's Mailbox - 2nd Sunday in Mar (Daylight Savings Time / 'Summertime' in Germany)
Γ”STARA's Mailbox - 19-22 Mar (Vernal Equinox / first day of Spring - northern hemisphere)
Avril Poisson's Mailbox - 1 Apr (April Fools Day / April Fish in France)
St. George's Mailbox - 23 Apr (Feast of St George)
May IV's Mailbox - 4 May (Star Wars Day)
Serling's Mailbox - 11 May (Twilight Zone Day)
Orangemen's Mailbox - 12 Jul (Orangemen's Day / 'The Glorious Twelfth')

Patience Fortitude and Resignation

          This is about multiple metaphors, containing metaphorical words, images, and a fictional story so rife with metaphor that it deserves a meta-metaphoric Consumer Warning: Meta-Fives Ahead.

         . . . “Simon says, ‘Mother may I’.

          What an odd statement to make, Pat.  I want to be bemused, but Im too concerned at your encroachment on carelessness.  Think your words before speaking them!  Spoken words can never be taken back.  Language is too important a tool to play with.

          It was clearly not a question.  Not sure why you feel the need to berate her, Tudy.  And cutting at me with your eyes does nothing but further encourage me to point out that you know she hates that nickname.  Call her Patience, or Patty, or even Tense.  When you use that androgynous term youre intending harm.  Calling her femininity into question.  Besides, she was only playing with you.  Yes, with language, too—but mostly just with you.

          The goddess of spring who was of three minds, of a single universal nature, everywhere at this moment in the northern hemisphere and in flux outside every window (as well as remembered to have cyclically existed before windows and even before human consciousness) was especially enjoying this—this conversation with herself.
 
          Γ”stara was potential.  She was chaos.  She was the entirety of the environment.  She loved the certainty.  The inevitability.  The birth.  The growth.  She loved every moment of her existence.  And even looked forward to her solstice-respite.  But she cherished her one supreme power the most—which the triple-goddess always tried to use very, very, sparingly:  the power to call anything into question.  Because when Γ”stara called something into question, the ripple effect was world-wide.  Monumental.
 
          Youre already in concession-mode, Rez.  Accepting that she wasn’t actually flippant (or careless) because it was just play-talk and not a real query.  Im not entertained.  By either of you.  She is too cavalier and you are too laissez-faire.

          Constantly the guard-dog, Fortitudenever a smile that makes it all the way to the eyes, forever the guile that takes shit everyday to the flies.
 
          Wow, you must have kept that chestnut in cold-storage for centuries!  I certainly didnt miss it.  But.  I also cant say I understand what you mean by it.  Never did.

          Patience understands it.  Completely.  I suspect.
 
          A corollary of negatives.  The guile that takes shit to the flies’ would be a desire to deceive strong enough to overpower the aversion to handle fecal matter.  A ‘smile that makes it to the eyes is a sign of sincerity.  Rezs-sayin youre just doin what ya always do.  Pretendin concern, practicin deception, makin yourself feel good by tearin us down.
 
          Ouch-ahh.  You will always be unable to fool yourself, Forty.  And you are me and we are all together.
 
          I am the eggman.
 
          I am the walrus.
 
          You both think yourselves sooo funny.  Weary and nearly senile to the left of me, naΓ―vely inexperienced to the right, here I am: stuck in the middle with you.
 
          TouchΓ©.
 
          mmpff
 
          It is the appropriate point in this era for another shake-up or even another mass die-off, I think.  Suggestions or criticisms are welcome.  Not questions.
 
          Last year we began a significant Homo Sapien culling and it is still blooming.  I would like to wait and see where that domino falls before we start another.  Unless we are open to re-visiting the nefarious...
 
           No.  We are not interested in re-visiting your pet peeve.  But a double whammy IS in order.  While humans, full of hubris, struggle to protect their weakest and most ignorant, I want to remind them of our power.
 
          Im good with whatever.  But.  Unless I get-ta frame th next question . . . I veto.  AND.  Before you get all indignant, understand this: Im prepared to 1816 us.  Fair warning!  Dont call me out on this.  Dont cajole.  Don't even passively criticize.  If you do, Ill cancel us and see you guys on the southern hemisphere's next equinox.  Statement.  Of.  Fact. 
 
          Two hundred and five years ago, in 1816, Γ”stara called her own existence into question.  Consequently, she never arrived in the northern hemisphere in March of that year and, subsequently, she was not present to abdicate her throne in June.  Summer never arrived.  Winter retained its presence for over a year.
        
in some way related:
     
     

              FRAMING





          the acrid smell of that Chuck E Cheese sign

          comes rushing back when I melt vinyl Hampton Inn wallpaper

          to remind my mind of lost time with her

          (like granite pedestals and grey skies) however, that's not what

          this empty pain forces into focus

          no — it's that wobbly fan trying to run

          after she finally got it balanced on the police shields 

           

           


          seven image excerpts by Portland artist Austin Granger at austingranger.com


          more: