I love your story. It just shows that these issues are adult issues. Children don’t have them. They can play happily together and not even think about it.

I think it’s amazing that you and your siblings didn’t grow up prejudiced in any way. You didn’t take on your parent’s perspective.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference =-.

That’s really interesting. I still find it amazing that people can have those kinds of attitudes in this day and age. This just shows how wonderful you are to not just give in and go with the flow. It’s never easy to be in a minority.

Maybe in time, your healthy mindset will rub off and these people will see the error of their ways. You’re a fantastic role model for your children.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.

I mention all this because the area is sometimes referred to as the “Northern “South”. There are more bigoted and predjudiced people per capita than other more populated areas. The perception of most residents is that anyone different should not be tolerated, and anyone with dark skin of any tone should leave. Few people here would believe, let alone understand the concepts and ideas in “Think and Grow Rich”. Sometimes it is a struggle to maintain a healthy mindset amidst all the negativity. But, I am stubborn, and determined. I just work at it a little harder sometimes.

I grew up in a very unusual situation, born in a western country went to school in a western country with european parent who insisted on holding on to the ‘old country’ values and not allowed to mix with certain ‘coloured’ children nor attend religious instruction at school or go to any other church (even though religion was not spoken at home). Our parents tried to turn us into ‘the foreigners’ of our school and community but it didn’t work.

I thought this absurd as I played with friends who were Indian, Samoan, Fijian, Maori, Cook Island, Romanian, Greek etc and they were no different from me. We knew some had darker skin but that was the only difference to us.

Amazingly, my siblings and I have no prejudices whatsoever and love all races.

In my travels, especially to third world countries I learned one very important thing. We all have the same wants and needs. Even people in poverty want to drink Coca Cola, drive a sports car, own a lovely house, go to the movies, have a DVD etc.

We must start with our own selves first and see if there is something we need to change.

Blessings
Elly
.-= Elly´s last blog .. =-.

Just a quick one.

As I was reading your post, I immediately thought of myself and my impatience with a lot of other drivers on the Melbourne roads. I keep thinking that half of Melbourne’s peak hour traffic congestion would be alleviated if people actually drove to the appropriate speed limits, instead of being overly cautious and driving slower.

As I’m driving, I also feel that others don’t seem to have any real clue of what is going on around them. The fact that they are in a 60 zone, doing 40 on a sunny day, with a good 500m or more between them and the car in front, and behind them, an ever increasing trail of cars. That is, until someone either gets really impatient and passes illegally, or the road goes from one lane to two and most can pass the car in question.

Just a thought.

Cheers,

Pete