Hello,

I have no idea if I�m ever even going to post this or not, right now as I 
type this I�m typing it as a private therapy. I might post this if everyone 
continues to act like they currently are.

Cherry tiger or White Wolf or whoever said something that has upset 
everyone. Fine, that person is now aware of it. Personally I believe he 
was making a joke in reference to a prevalent attitude in Japan. 
The problem really isn�t so much that he said it, as that it is indeed how 
many of the Japanese feel (Not all just many). Unfortunately this also 
means the culture we love isn�t perfect and neither are we. Here in the 
area I live in I don�t know how many times I�ve heard someone make a 
racist joke and then turn around and see me and say with a weak smile, 
�I�m not really racist...really I�m not, I just heard that joke and repeated 
it.�
I have found over the years that if I make a big deal out of it, it just makes 
it worse. If the person really did mean it, nothing I am going to say will fix 
it and if anything the fact that it is coming from someone of my heritage 
will make it worse causing a full scale fight. Not worth it. If the person 
didn�t mean it it just serves to embarrass both of us further. 

I have found at least in my case that it is usually my friends that take the 
most offense when someone says something off color. (Pun not intended 
but that�s fine too). It�s like they are afraid that if they don�t say 
something in my defense they themselves will appear racist. I assure 
both them and whoever reads this that I don�t really care if they harbor 
secret racism. 

. I used to stand up and argue with anything that sounded racist but as I 
have gotten older I have learned to read behind the words, was it a joke 
to prove a point? (As I believe it was) did they truly mean it? Are they 
scared of what they don�t understand? Are they paying attention to 
what they said and phrased something wrong? (My mother in law does 
this a LOT) 

Someone on the list, someone I happen to be fond of pointed out that no 
one jumped up to react to the comment. I saw the original comment and 
sighed. And thought well this should spark a fight or two and you know 
I was right. 

I have noticed recently that on this list some people just seem to like to 
take offense. They seem to want to fight. I don�t. I just want to read 
stories and learn more about writing. If I wanted to fight I could easily do 
that by going to the in laws for an hour. They are racist, In case you 
haven�t figured it out they are white and I�m, while light skinned am 
definitely not white. My father in law once made a comment saying it will 
be a while before we find out if the grandchildren will spoil or not (turn 
dark).

I live my life, I fight when I choose, I am a human. I need no one to 
defend me. I may very well be banned but that is fine I have been 
considering leaving, not because of racist comments (which I do believe 
he was making to make a POINT)but because this list isn�t friendly. 
Everyone wants to argue and that is a sad thing. I may only know racism 
from my vantage point but racism can hurt anyone who is different, on 
the other hand sticks and stones are what you need to duck not the 
words the words only sting if you let them. I won�t let them hurt me. It 
hurt in 8th grade to be called a (let�s just say the N word for those that are 
uncomfortable with it) It don�t hurt anymore because I know I�m not a 
bad person because of who or what I am. Racism exists and that�s too 
bad, but it does exist and not just for whites or Japanese. I know plenty 
of Blacks that hate others that are different then they. Life sucks then 
you Die it is time to move on.

It isn�t worth fighting a fight that wasn�t meant to be picked. Careless 
words can only start a fight if someone points to them and adds more 
careless words. I will add no more words.

Thank you,
Kirasmommy
Kirarose