Racism Is Not Tolerated In Our Home
Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2009
by David Pekrul
Racism is an ugly word. When we hear it we often think of 'white' against 'black', but it goes far beyond that. It seems that people of all colours sometimes look on another of a different colour , as someone who is not as important, not as smart, not as privileged, not as good. This is perverted thinking, unacceptable behaviour, and very, very wrong.
Racism is not tolerated in our home. My kids grew up accepting everyone for who they were as individuals, not because of their social status, money-in-the-bank, or colour of their skin. Because of this, I am proud to say that my very white family (German and English background) is now becoming speckled with colour. I have a nephew who is part African-American and part Mexican. My daughter-in-law is half Canadian Native (First Nations). My niece is full-blooded Canadian Native and of course, her children are half Canadian Native. I guess this open attitude must have started with me and my wife. (I'm Canadian and she's American. lol)
I remember coming home from work one day, when my kids were young, and as I came in the door, I heard the squeals and laughter of many children coming from the playroom in the basement. I went downstairs, looked around the room and came back upstairs chuckling and grinning with pride. I told my wife, "Our kids are colour-blind". "What!?" she questioned. "Colour-blind", I told her. "There are about twenty kids playing in the basement. They are Chinese, Filipino, and Native. Ours are the only white kids."
We had two very good friends, one, about my age, from Guyana, the other one, my children's age was Chinese, born in Canada. Both their names were Philip. One day my son was telling me something about what Philip had done. I asked him, "Which Philip?" In my own adult view of things I expected him to say, "Black Philip" or "Chinese Philip". His response?, "Big Philip". Again I chuckled to myself with pride. My kids were truly colour-blind, and I loved it.
To end this article, I would like to share a poem with you.This poem is about racism and may make you angry when you read it, but I hope it is a healthy anger, one which makes you angry about racism.
Vengeance Is Mine
He rode into town in the back of a truck,
A man on a mission, who, hoping with luck,
Would find the young zealots who murdered his Dad,
And vowed he'd take vengeance with all that he had.
Was late in the evening, and chores had been done,
He'd gone to the bedroom to tuck in his son,
His father was sitting there, out on the porch,
When Klansmen came 'round with a cross and a torch.
Without any feelings, they shot the man dead,
They lit up the cross and then watched as he bled,
A small band of cowards, they started to run,
When out of the door came the shots of a gun.
He rode into town in the back of a truck,
To look for those Klansmen, who, running amuck,
Had caused so much heartache and caused so much pain,
The ones who found pleasure when someone was slain.
He found them encamped on the side of a hill,
The look on their faces, it gave him a chill,
The sight of pure evil is all he could see,
There, hid in the bushes behind a large tree.
He cried to the wind and to God up above,
Who spoke to the mountain and gave it a shove,
As boulders rained down like a God-given sign,
He heard a loud voice, saying "VENGEANCE IS MINE!"
Now all is so quiet, and all is so still,
No more will those Klansmen be able to kill,
The only voice now is the sound of the wind,
Like tormented souls of the ones who had sinned.
If this article is used in any publication, please send a copy of the publication to David Pekrul at
E-Mail:dpekrul@gmail.com
Bravo. Racism is a sign of stunted intellectual maturity, as far as I can tell. I actually work for a vehemently racist man who says all kinds of horribly perverted things, it wrenches my gut something terrible; not just at work, but even at home. He even openly admits he wants to be a Klansman. I did not know this about him when I first went to work for him. You might say his ugliness crept up gradually, and with each new revelation about his true personality I swallowed my dignity and kept on. Why not just quit, you might rightfully ask? I have no intention of making a lifetime career out of this job, but for right now I need the money or I'll be homeless within a week. It's a tough life, but God either put me in this situation because I deserve it, or He put me here to do something about it. Anybody can write back telling me, "you should do this," or, "you should do that." Easy for you to say.
However, with hate so ingrained in a person as the one I work for, there is almost surely some organic brain damage at work, and I just don't know any more. There's more than just racism, this guy just likes war with whoever, all imaginary enemies.
The ugliness that comes out of this man's mouth is truly legendary. All behind his victim's backs, of course, not to their face. To their face he takes their money--just like I take his. I'm a coward, I know. I often think bravery is a luxury trust-fund babies can afford. What I think now is that most of us are lucky enough to have found situations with more or less normal human beings, the racism component a rather mild fluctuation up or down, either way, but I fell in with a very bad crowd, but 100% unintentionally, because getting and keeping a job was foremost on my mind at the time, and it was just the luck of the draw.Thanks for your comments. I think you are brave to stay in a situation like that. I do understand that we all need to make a living and sometimes that means working where we would rather not be. I pray that God will give you strength and that somehow another better situation will come your way.God bless.
Not only did we raise our children to be 'colour blind', they are blind to designer labels and all the pretense that comes with them as well. My son has been dating a beautiful Filipino, girl for several years. We were in disbelief when she told us of several racist experiences she has encountered. It's too bad more children aren't being raised in a home such as yours David. You've written a wonderful article that needs to be read! Thank you!Thank you so much for your comments, Brianna. This message needs to get out; and thanks for joining my fan club."...they are blind to designer labels and all the pretense that comes with them as well." Good for you and your husband, Brianna! This is good parenting, in my opinion. I've often said, in jest to my family/friends, that I wasn't meant to have kids because they'd be outcasts. They would not dress in the latest designer fashions or own the newest tech gadgets etc. I wish more parents model what you are doing.Thanks Avis. I appreciate your comment!
David, this needed to be written and needs to be read. We can always hope. I was also raised in a colorblind home. The Grand Dragon of the KKK's sons and my brothers had sleepovers in each others homes. It takes an evil heart to teach children hatred, to be racists. The poem is incendiary but in a healthy way. An excellent job on the story and poem, David. I was about to say I love your attitude but it's not a matter of attitude, this is a heart matter. I love what matters to your heart about human flesh/beings.Thank you so much for your words of encouragement Avis. This is a topic of which I have strong feelings. We would miss so much if we had bad attitudes about those of other races and cultures. Why, today I had a really great conversation with a man who moved to Canada from Vietnam just after the war. It was a wonderful conversation and I saw the people of Vietnam with new eyes.Thanks again for reading and commenting.David
hi david,this was a great article, and a wonderful poem.i made sure my kids were colorblind, and fat blind, and glasses blind, etc., and since i've had 3 teenagers friends coming here for years, i see it worked, thankfully.no tolerance for ignorance.thanks for sharing,my best,sueThanks Sue,I appreciate your comments. It's nice to hear that there are many families out there who will not tolerate racism; I know it makes for raising healthy and wholesome kids.
David,I applaud your work and skill. Excellent job!!!!!!!!!!! It resounds the values of a civilized and humane society that all of us embrace. It's telling the world that racism is an abyss of ignorance wrapped around self-rigtheousness. It lends itself to one killing others based on a flawed view of reality.Thank you for your candid and transparency. We can all learn from your example. I appreciate your poem, too.Sincerely,L. JonesThank you so much Lawrence.I'm so happy for the positive comments I have been receiving on this one. I wasn't sure what to expect when I submitted it.I appreciate your comments.
Great job here, David.Thanks Ken.
