I’ll never forget the lady from my hometown that lost her daughter to her own prejudice. She lived in a little town in a rural area of Austria. Here is how the story began:
‘Many years ago the miniseries ‘Roots’ was also released in Austria in the late 70’s, and translated into German. This woman loved the show and especially was fond of one of the main characters, ‘Kunta Kinte’, played by LeVar Burton. She told her daughter how wonderful he was, and how good looking, and shared her fascination regularly.
A few years later, after her daughter Anna had left to live in the United States, and settled comfortably, she told her mother that she had met LeVar at a function, and shared that he was very nice and cordial.
Time went on and Anna met a man and they fell in love. He was African American and Anna told her mother, that she and the young man were going to be married. Her mother was outraged. She said that it was wrong to marry someone from a different race. Anna reminded her of her infatuation with Kunta Kinte, but the mother didn’t want to hear of it. She said that as long as she was with this man she didn’t want to speak to her again. Anna, hurt, but a forgiving spirit, said ‘If she’d know better, she’d do better’ and went on to marry her love. Her mother didn’t talk to her for over fifteen years!
Many years later, Anna is still married and in love with her husband. The mother missed out on so much. She has no communication with her grandchildren, and even though she started to write letters and calls once in a while, Anna does not have the desire to visit her.’
What a loss of life and love!
See, prejudice does not only breed in multi-racial countries like the United States. There are pockets of unspeakable discrimination everywhere. Ignorance and fear are the culprits.
I can only speak for myself and therefore share my personal experiences with an honest heart. When I would visit my home town, I was called “the American”, not necessarily a flattering thing in the days. I happened to be proud of my new country, so it didn’t hurt. I had found what I was looking for, but it took courage.
You have to be all-inclusive. You cannot love someone because of his, or her, race or status, and not the other because they are born into a different culture.
I am not sure ‘why’ we are born into a certain family. But since there is a reason for everything in this life, I know there must be a reason for your birth-circumstance. I felt, since I was a small child, that I was displaced. I didn’t fit in. My parents appeared so different. My goals, wants, expectations of life varied so greatly from theirs. There must have been a reason. I am still working on finding out the connection to this conundrum.
I am a child of the Universe, part of life’s expression, I know that. However, the reasons behind certain circumstances I’m still trying to clarify.
Excerpt from “Forever…and 365 Days” by ULRIKE
Book available at Amazon
‘Many years ago the miniseries ‘Roots’ was also released in Austria in the late 70’s, and translated into German. This woman loved the show and especially was fond of one of the main characters, ‘Kunta Kinte’, played by LeVar Burton. She told her daughter how wonderful he was, and how good looking, and shared her fascination regularly.
A few years later, after her daughter Anna had left to live in the United States, and settled comfortably, she told her mother that she had met LeVar at a function, and shared that he was very nice and cordial.
Time went on and Anna met a man and they fell in love. He was African American and Anna told her mother, that she and the young man were going to be married. Her mother was outraged. She said that it was wrong to marry someone from a different race. Anna reminded her of her infatuation with Kunta Kinte, but the mother didn’t want to hear of it. She said that as long as she was with this man she didn’t want to speak to her again. Anna, hurt, but a forgiving spirit, said ‘If she’d know better, she’d do better’ and went on to marry her love. Her mother didn’t talk to her for over fifteen years!
Many years later, Anna is still married and in love with her husband. The mother missed out on so much. She has no communication with her grandchildren, and even though she started to write letters and calls once in a while, Anna does not have the desire to visit her.’
What a loss of life and love!
See, prejudice does not only breed in multi-racial countries like the United States. There are pockets of unspeakable discrimination everywhere. Ignorance and fear are the culprits.
I can only speak for myself and therefore share my personal experiences with an honest heart. When I would visit my home town, I was called “the American”, not necessarily a flattering thing in the days. I happened to be proud of my new country, so it didn’t hurt. I had found what I was looking for, but it took courage.
You have to be all-inclusive. You cannot love someone because of his, or her, race or status, and not the other because they are born into a different culture.
I am not sure ‘why’ we are born into a certain family. But since there is a reason for everything in this life, I know there must be a reason for your birth-circumstance. I felt, since I was a small child, that I was displaced. I didn’t fit in. My parents appeared so different. My goals, wants, expectations of life varied so greatly from theirs. There must have been a reason. I am still working on finding out the connection to this conundrum.
I am a child of the Universe, part of life’s expression, I know that. However, the reasons behind certain circumstances I’m still trying to clarify.
Excerpt from “Forever…and 365 Days” by ULRIKE
Book available at Amazon
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