Wow, thank you for the kind words. Yeah, I actually meant to say this in the post but forgot. I remember feeling proud of him for his later accomplishments, which is kind of funny, but it's true.
Very thoughtful and spot on, Charles. In my home the N word was frowned upon, yet the word colored was okay. My 2 best friends in kindergarten were Black - one of whom moved in with us a short time. Let's pray that what Rob Reiner stood for pervades over the hate and racial strife we continue to have in our world.
Thanks! My grandma used the word "colored." I never really heard her talk disparagingly of anyone, so maybe back then it was considered acceptable. My mom switched to that, too.
All in the family was a lot like my family, it was more overt, but my dad was Archie Bunker. I don’t know why I never followed the racism that my dad believed, but I had friends of all races and beliefs by the time I got to H S. I was in the band, and we bonded over music and uniforms. During my time in HS, the band was the elite group. We had 108 members in the marching band. We did everything together. We went to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts, we had “summer band”, and after practice we would go to the local Deli and get hoagies and vanilla Cokes. We were all close friends, but we were all colors and all beliefs. It was fantastic!
Sounds a lot like my situation. I never understood it even in elementary school. To me, then, it was kid logic: Why would you dislike people because of their skin color? Kids can break things down sometimes into the simplest pieces of logic.
My parents also didn't try hard to "convert" me. I know that happens. Some parents brainwash. I think that should be considered child abuse. They hurled a lot of slurs, mostly. My mom would tell me her "reasons" if I challenged her, but mostly I just got mad at her slurs. She didn't try to push it hard on me. My dad didn't try at all. I think he felt it was just the way things are as a WW2 vet, where they had slurry names for every human grouping. Overall, he was a pretty good guy.
May their memory be a blessing.
Yes, for sure. Thanks, Ellen.
Perfect column, Charles. My feelings, too.
Thanks, Dan. Glad you liked it.
Charles. This is the loveliest tribute I have read in a very long time. Thank you for this poignant piece.
Rob Reiner was instrumental in creating so much change, from his activism, his writing, his acting, directing and producing some of the classics. 🇨🇦❤️
Wow, thank you for the kind words. Yeah, I actually meant to say this in the post but forgot. I remember feeling proud of him for his later accomplishments, which is kind of funny, but it's true.
👍
I love this. Same dynamic in my family. And I imagine many more.
Thanks. Yes, it was amazing how many families with that were willing to look at themselves in the mirror like that.
Very thoughtful and spot on, Charles. In my home the N word was frowned upon, yet the word colored was okay. My 2 best friends in kindergarten were Black - one of whom moved in with us a short time. Let's pray that what Rob Reiner stood for pervades over the hate and racial strife we continue to have in our world.
Thanks! My grandma used the word "colored." I never really heard her talk disparagingly of anyone, so maybe back then it was considered acceptable. My mom switched to that, too.
I always liked to imitate Edith with her, “Oh Archie” voice!
Lol, I remember that, too. :-)
All in the family was a lot like my family, it was more overt, but my dad was Archie Bunker. I don’t know why I never followed the racism that my dad believed, but I had friends of all races and beliefs by the time I got to H S. I was in the band, and we bonded over music and uniforms. During my time in HS, the band was the elite group. We had 108 members in the marching band. We did everything together. We went to Philadelphia Orchestra concerts, we had “summer band”, and after practice we would go to the local Deli and get hoagies and vanilla Cokes. We were all close friends, but we were all colors and all beliefs. It was fantastic!
Sounds a lot like my situation. I never understood it even in elementary school. To me, then, it was kid logic: Why would you dislike people because of their skin color? Kids can break things down sometimes into the simplest pieces of logic.
My parents also didn't try hard to "convert" me. I know that happens. Some parents brainwash. I think that should be considered child abuse. They hurled a lot of slurs, mostly. My mom would tell me her "reasons" if I challenged her, but mostly I just got mad at her slurs. She didn't try to push it hard on me. My dad didn't try at all. I think he felt it was just the way things are as a WW2 vet, where they had slurry names for every human grouping. Overall, he was a pretty good guy.