tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post8678417662452729157..comments2023-11-03T06:24:22.342-07:00Comments on Cog: Day 5, Bigots, Conch Fritters, and Key Lime PieScothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12350801865113852319noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post-90975591780966830662007-07-30T13:58:00.000-07:002007-07-30T13:58:00.000-07:00I can’t much disagree with you, Anonymous. I do t...I can’t much disagree with you, Anonymous. I do though have a slightly different perspective.<BR/><BR/>“Although children are resilient I think that taking the brunt of such hate should be shouldered by adults.”<BR/><BR/>This is what <I>should</I> happen. My problem is that this is not what is possible. It will come. The children of mixed-race parents were (and are) visited by the prejudice against their parents; the kids of Jews were not spared. In some places, even the children of Mormons are treated with bigotry for their parents, and yet they still keep on with their life, as they should. I’ve no reason to think our kids would be treated any different, and such people are apt to eventually hurt them in some way right along with the rest. As every parent sadly knows, it’s plainly impossible to shoulder the brunt every time, no matter how much you’d want to. But there is a balance to be calculated here, between the short and long run. The harsh words are avoided, for now, but, if every time we, or any parent experiencing such, encountered resistance we backed down, we would certainly teach our kids something that will harm them in the long run. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, the trouble I worry about most, by far, is not an organized protest which we could first measure, and by which we could walk in a crowd at a distance, and explain to our children on the spot. The really dangerous chaos is the hostility that may hit us out of the blue. For this reason I must say I do hope we meet it first in a manner we would have if the cruise stayed on course, prepared, and before they meet it by surprise and without us there. <BR/><BR/>But, again, that’s not to say I’m upset we changed course. I do see your point and was relieved to save that lesson for another day. It simply is something to prepare for, for that other day.<BR/><BR/>And as for the impact on the protester’s, who cares? :-) It’s not been my experience that such folks are impactable. The impact on the people of Bermuda who’ve been unfairly painted as hostile in the media is a bit unfair though; they’ve got kids to feed too.Scothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12350801865113852319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post-3803335583073081382007-07-30T12:03:00.000-07:002007-07-30T12:03:00.000-07:00I'm not a parent and don't have the sole responsib...I'm not a parent and don't have the sole responsibility for teaching children life's lessons. That being said, I'm an uncle that is in love with his nieces and nephews and hopes to have children someday and I just have to give my somewhat humble opinion.<BR/><BR/>Although children are resilient I think that taking the brunt of such hate should be shouldered by adults. Being a sensitive child, that would have devastated me and really made learning a valuable lesson impossible. Not all children are that sensitive, but is it really worth the damage to those that are? Children need to learn that not everyone is going to like them and some will even hate them, but it seems unfair to put them in harms way just to prove that we won't be bullied. My parents shielded me more than some of my siblings, and eventhough I'm in my 30's and my skin is quite thick they still treat me with much tenderness. There can still be teaching opportunities for children that can handle the chaos by explaining the situation to them and the reasons why that stop was avoided, this not only makes them aware of the hate that they would have encountered but shows them that we must also protect those around us. As far as the way it impacts the protestors, let the adult cruises dock there and fight the battles for now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post-80484728965586302022007-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:002007-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:00“What can I say, people are stupid. *sigh* ”I’ve g...“<I>What can I say, people are stupid. *sigh* </I>”<BR/><BR/>I’ve got a long spiel ready, but I wonder if there really is much more to tell them than just that. <BR/><BR/>Though, from my Utah family heritage, we’d say they’re “ignorant”, or “ignernt” :-).<BR/><BR/>And thank you again for the supportive words Elbow. You’re too kind. And no worries; we can take such hostile folks in stride. Though, it is kind of shocking to learn your vacation plans can become the stuff of protest. I mean, I just wanted to visit a fort, or buy some shorts or an onion or whatever it is that goes on for tourists in Bermuda.Scothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12350801865113852319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post-78139573394573323462007-07-28T19:07:00.000-07:002007-07-28T19:07:00.000-07:00My heart aches at the thought of people being so f...My heart aches at the thought of people being so full of doubt and fear. You're family is so beautiful and so precious that I can't believe anyone wouldn't jump at the chance to honor you, your partner and your children.<BR/>I love you guys. I'm so blessed to know you and to have you as an example of how I want my life to look like.elbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07742457647216774548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33131983.post-86889245399775739402007-07-28T18:55:00.000-07:002007-07-28T18:55:00.000-07:00How flustering! I know I go through much the same...How flustering! I know I go through much the same ideas and questions that you did, Scot, when faced with such hostile people.<BR/><BR/>What can I say, people are stupid. *sigh*Kengo Biddleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083962910965544925noreply@blogger.com