My Aunt just sent me the cutest song lyrics to a song called "Down on the Farm" by a couple called Lewis and Lewis and I just laughed (it’s on You Tube). That made me feel a little guilty. It also kind of made me miss the South a little. Those of you who have never lived there will just have to take my word for it. There is nothing quite like walking down the streets of a tiny Arkansas town with all of your biases in place laughing at the (fill in the ethnic or person who is different) along with everybody else knowing that you fit right in. It made me ponder what I have been learning about diversification and if it was worth blogging about.

I have spent the last few years going and getting myself diversified and I think I have just started to learn a few things. I know I ain’t supposed to run around saying the words n*****r and q***r. I don’t suppose I wouldv’e anyway, it just ain’t polite and I have always know your color or sexual preference was not the be all and end all of who you are. And to be honest, it ain’t much fun when they punch you in the nose for it. I never really cared what color they were or who they slept with anyway. And, I really haven’t found many that do. We did not care if they were black, white, red, or yellow and tattooed. We did not care if it was guy on guy, girl on girl or whatever else they could think up. What we were really laughing at was not what they were or who they had done but at thier differences from us which made them seem unusual in our eyes. And we were using the laughter to make ourselves feel better about who we were because at least we were not like them. After all, they were different.

Now; I suppose one of the things I should say that I learned at this point was how we should embrace that difference, celebrate that difference, and then tell others how great it is to accept diversity. Sorry, not what I took away from it. I started to evaluated the diversity/acceptance movement and it made me wonder, did we really accept their difference? Or is it something we turned to our own purpose again? After all, instead of laughing at them for it to make ourselves feel better about our insecurities we just use a more polite way of making ourselves feel better about ourselves. Nobody is out saying accept them for what they are, ignore their differences and treat them the same as you would any other person . Politely, if you are polite and like a jerk, if you are a jerk. That would seem to me to be equality. I suppose, it would be easier to understand if the political correctness applied to all. But, I haven’t heard many say "Hey a*****le, quit acting like a jerk when it is just some white guy walking down the street with long hair and some idiot yells "Hey hippy, get a job."

Then, just when I was wondering if what I was picking up from my evaluation was right a professed liberal friend wearing a celebrate diversity T-shirt asked me if I knew someone who could use a little side work then insisted when I suggested my hubby stated "You can’t let your husband apply because he has long hair and these good ol' boys don’t accept that kind of thing and we must work within their paradigm." Nothing about changing their mind and absolutely zip about acceptance. Blew the whole diversification thing she had been preaching right out of the water.

So, what I ended up learning from it was that what they are really saying is "I am better than you because look, I can even accept the people who are not as good as I am because they are different." What is the difference between them and us hicks who were down south in the 80′s laughing at the gay kid? I believe what they are really saying is accept me for what I am because I am a good person for accepting them. And what we were saying was accept me for what I am because we are both not like him. Both ways are usually; although, not always a means of making us feel better about who and what we are and a way to gain

Reagan and the Taliban

Reagan was directly responsible for arming and training Taliban fighters, including Osama Bin Laden:
Proclamation 5034—Afghanistan Day, 1983

By the President of the United States of America, 21 March 1983

The tragedy of Afghanistan continues as the valiant and courageous Afghan freedom fighters [The Taliban] persevere in standing up against the brutal power of the Soviet invasion and occupation. The Afghan people are struggling to reclaim their freedom, which was taken from them when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December of 1979.

In this three-year period the Soviet Union has been unable to subjugate Afghanistan. The Soviet forces are pitted against an extraordinary people who, in their determination to preserve the character of their ancient land, have organized an effective and still spreading country-wide resistance. The resistance of the Afghan freedom fighters is an example to all the world of the invincibility of the ideals we in this country hold most dear, the ideals of freedom and independence.

We must also recognize that the sacrifices required to maintain this resistance are very high. Millions have gone into exile as refugees. We will probably never know the numbers of people killed and maimed, poisoned and gased, of the homes that have been destroyed, and of the lives that have been shattered and stricken with grief.

It is, therefore, incumbent upon us as Americans to reflect on the events in Afghanistan, to think about the agony which these brave people bear, and to maintain our condemnation of the continuing Soviet occupation. Our observance again this year of Afghanistan Day on March 21, the Afghan New Year, will recall for all the world America's unflagging sympathy for a determined people, its support for their refugees and commitment to achieving a political settlement for Afghanistan which will free that country from tyranny's yoke.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 65, has designated March 21, 1983 as "Afghanistan Day" and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that day.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate March 21, 1983 as Afghanistan Day.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh.
Ronald Reagan

Ok....can someone explain to me what happened between then and now to make them mad enough to declare a holy war on us..and yes this is a serious question. I was young. If we were determined to help them..why are they so dang mad at us???? By the way, if they were fighting for their freedom..and the reports are correct that the Taliban is so subjegative (sp) of their countrymen what the hell did they learn from their subjegation? While you are at it could you give me some tips on what could help fix it???? This crap is getting insane....and now North Korea and Castro are both at it again..man it never ends..if everyone is fighting for religion and good why can't they all just love their fellow man and learn to get along..I would come a lot closer to believing the rhetoric then....

Tamra's Newest Poetry is Available!!! Two Poems in Anthology!!

Celebrating eastern Oregon, LEO’s 226-page A Sense of Place anthology is a collection of juried poems, essays and short stories by several dozen residents across the 15 counties served by LEO, as well as a few other previously-published poets who pay tribute to the region.

The A Sense of Place anthology portrays the many concepts of place – whether as a place of mental well-being or as an experience or memory of a special place in the region – and reflects how the theme resonates in one’s experiences and thought.

The 226-page collection includes works by persons of all ages.

The anthology has been endorsed by Oregon poet laureate Lawson Inada, who stated, “These voices rise and resound, rejoicing in the splendor of the land. Thank you, Eastern Oregon!”


The anthology costs $12.95 each for one to three copies, with an additional $3.50 postage & handling. Four or more copies cost $9.95 each + $2.75 total for postage and handling.

The books may now be purchased on line at the LEO website:http://www.librariesofeasternoregon.org/ or by sending a check to Libraries of Eastern Oregon, P.O. Box 11, Moro, Oregon 97037.

All on line and mail orders are shipped promptly. Books will also be available after Dec. 7 at several area public libraries.