Reply #156: You're right. Perspective (and perception) are everything...

[OneGrassRoot]

agreed with MHP for the most part in the Part 1 of her article regarding racism in this country, and I definitely didn't interpret her "friend" comment as insinuating Joan is a racist. Yet it did strike me as odd, even mean-spirited.

But you're absolutely right: I've never experienced what MHP has, nor experienced the "insult of false familiarity." So, it's simply something I can't relate to. We all have had unique experiences, though some groups have overlapping similar experiences, so it's very hard to make assumptions as to why people react the way they do to anything.

I already learned something very important in another similar thread, reinforcing my strong feeling that we need to have more open discussions -- with sincere listening -- about this issue, without people feeling so defensive.

:hi: