An experience for anyone who has ever felt less than....

I think it's awesome and she is awesome... I've never seen that before.  Thanks for posting.  I think she gives a really important message.

When I was first enrolled in community college, it was in one of my classes (I've long since forgotten which class) that a fellow student gave a speech wherein she referenced "those people."

"Those people" on welfare who abuse the system. "Those people" who have kids they can't take care of. "Those people" who live off of food stamps instead of working, etcetera.

Well, I was a single mom of three kids and I WAS one of "those people."

I rose to my feet and walked to the front of the room. In a shaky voice and with knees to match, I informed her and everybody else that I WAS one of "those people."

I told them that I was one of "those people" because my husband walked out and left me with three children and nothing else. I was one of "those people" who was forced to quit my graveyard shift job because I had no transportation and no child care. I was forced to be one of "those people" who had to be on food stamps and accept government money because I had children to feed and no other options. I was one of "those people" because I was thrust into a situation I did not deserve and did not ask for - and I WAS somebody.

I told them all that I was a mother and a student. I was a volunteer in Scouting. I was a daughter and a friend and a neighbor. And YES, I was also one of "those people."

I think I taught them a little something that day.  

Elena ~

I am having problems watching this.  It is loading very slow, so I will try again later on.  Sounds remarkable!  I have always believed that people are people. Rich/poor/those with/those without.  The more we separate ourselves into groups, the less we see ourselves as a whole.  An entire species.  Love doesn't flow well with all those labels and road blocks we put up.

I'm not Jewish but my maternal great-grandparents came to America due to "The Great Potato Famine". It was only recently that I found out how they treated the Irish when they came here. No, they did not make them sit in back of the bus...they would not let them ON the bus at all. The only jobs they would give them were those that were dangerous. Mostly underground such as digging tunnels leading to MANY deaths. On the anyone who has ever felt less than...whoa! I will have to come back with more posts so I can stick to one subject at a time!

Most excellent message and presentation...iron that cuts presented with cream..or spuds...or gafiltafisch...or something that feeds the inner being. A much needed message that cuts to the core and makes people laugh and cry at their...anger? resentment?   I have long felt the world would be a much better place if people and cultures would focus on, meditate on, value what we have in common rather than our differences, then savor the differences as the spice in the common stew of humanity.  What's that about the Tower of Babel...or was it Babil...whatever we were babblin' about? You say tomato, I say tomato...:)  Uno, two, tre, vier...let's dance!  :) 

Okay ..... I was finally able to watch it.  I don't know how to express my feelings about this.  Her poem goes so far beyond race and racism.  Her poem reflects the expectations of others, and I know that I have tried to live up to the expectations of others my whole life.  How many times has someone said something like, "I would never have expected that from you", as if there was a formula for me.  As if there was a mold that I had been popped out of.  I have finally come to that point in my life where I just don't care what anyone thinks of me ~ what I do with my spare time ...... how I choose to dress ...... I have avoided labeling people as much as possible, because as I said in my last post, it blocks the flow of love in this world, and love is all there is.

My father is Jewish, and my mother was not.  This means, that I am not a Jew, and yet, when I tell people that my father is Jewish, I can sometimes see the pulling back of their kinder emotions.  "Oh," they say.  "So, what does that make you?", they ask.  "Human", is my standard answer.  Some get it.  Some do not.

That was a very powerful piece, Elena.  Thank you for showing it to me.  I love you.