Racism is Alive and Well, unfortunately.

As a 50 year old female, painfully aware of the racial tensions in America, I never thought I would see in my lifetime an African American President.  Never in a million years.  The deep south has always held onto it's stubborn racist beliefs with a vengeance.  I grew up seeing the KKK roam my town and saw cross burnings on the local news more times than I care to count.

While I'm still located in the buckle of the bible belt south, that's one of the reasons I migrated north of where I used to live.  Racism makes my skin crawl and it boggles my mind that African Americans are STILL fighting for equality.  Never mind other groups fighting for those same rights (GLBT, women, etc.)

It pains me to say that moving north is not the answer.  Why? There are just as many racists living in the northeast as there are in the southwest.  The Donald Trumps of the world know that much.  I am amazed and angered that Trump continues to harass President Obama regarding his birth certificate.  Is it really the fact that he believes he is from another country other than the United States?  Of course not.  It is a carefully masked jab that a black man (or woman) does not deserve to be the President of the United States.  Consider it a "Well Bless Your Heart" dig from the north.  That phrase is usually uttered among southerners when they disapprove of a particular stance and don't want to state so emphatically.

The lack of respect and continued questions regarding President Obama's birth certificate make my blood boil.  He is our president and deserves the respect.  For God's sake, as stupid as George W. Bush is, I still maintain that point.  And, he got that respect while in office.

As far as I'm concerned, Donald Trump should shut up or be willing to wear the banner he is disguising by questioning our President's birth country.  Then again, all that comes to mind is, "Bless Your Heart," Donald Trump.

urban dictionary: 

1.	Bless your heart
	1. This is a term used by the people of the southern United States particularly near the Gulf of Mexico to express to someone that they are an idiot without saying such harsh words.

More Musings Later-

Will Madonna Ever Grow Up?

People tell me that Madonna is talented.  That she spawned a number of female acts created in her image (Christina Aguillera, Britney Spears, etc.) but I beg to differ. 

True, she has left an indelible mark on pop music but it wasn't by crafting her singing or dancing skills.  Madonna is a master at "pushing buttons".  Yes, I said it.  I think she has about as much musical talent as a singer or dancer as I do.  Meaning NONE.  

I DO think that this aging pop sensation has made a career of pushing the envelope until it nearly falls off the table.  Think about it; she has taken on the Catholic church in one of her videos, had videographers tape her lying on her mother's grave (for a private moment???).  Hey, those are her issues and if she wants to make a statement that is controversial regarding religion or her mother, be my guest.  This is America, after all.

However, while she was in Israel, I think she crossed the line.  As a video backdrop to her "musical" performance, she slams a right wing politician by showing a photo with a swastika on her forehead.  Don't get me wrong; I am a liberal Democrat and always will be.  But, aligning a right wing politician with the Nazi movement is downright dangerous.  

I am opposed to every idea a Conservative politician offers.  So let me make this clear, aligning a conservative with a Nazi is implying that the conservative is ready to follow a maniacal leader at any cost and if that includes savagely murdering and torturing innocent people in order to do it, so be it.  A young 20 something pop star not knowing her history could possibly be forgiven for such a reckless statement, but Madonna is over 50 years old.  Old enough to know better.

World War II wasn't that long ago.  Are we destined to repeat those events again?  Hopefully not, but that will depend on whether people like Madonna will ever grow up.  

More Musings Later-