Re: Racism....WHO ME?????

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Dear Katee
If you had been reading my posts you would see that I have said
repeatedly that you are not a racist and that I believe people should
look beyond words and that we all use labels when we're upset. I was
pointing out to Pat that her posting messages about racist comments was
generating a lot of misdirected anger. I only cc'd ridecamp re: my reply
to your message because you got my name through ridecamp and I've gotten
in the habit of adding ridecamp to my replies when it comes from there
(sometimes I forget and I wish to heck now that I had forgotten to in
this case because of all the hoopla it's generated). If you remember, I
already apologized to you for "cc'ing" ridecamp, before any of the
negative posts even came back, when I noticed that you said to reply to
you (which I did not notice until I went to save your message). At that
time you thought it was no big deal and it wouldn't have been except for
some erroneous assumptions made.
I believe that something good comes out of everything, though, and what
I've gotten out of this is that words are just that, tools, and
sometimes we pick up a 1/2 inch wrench when we would have been better to
have picked up a 3/4 incher. If I had been the one to have written your
post to me, I would have probably used the term "bast...s" to describe
the guys who mistreated my horse and that would have made me "racist"
toward all those out of wedlock--- which is indeed ironic because,
actually I was born out of wedlock and was adopted at birth!
So I think the moral here is yes, we should all probably be more careful
of the terms we use---whatever the term---BUT ALSO that we must look
past the term to see if the person has a racial attitude or was just
trying to get an emotional point and grabbed the wrong tool.
I certainly never intended you to be hurt by any action of mine and hope
you can find it in your heart to forgive my cc oversight. 
Hope we can all put this behind us.
Sincerely
Bette Lamore
owens wrote:
> 
> Dear Bette;
> No, you didn't make that statement.  I wrote PRIVATELY to you inquiring
> about the mistreatment of a horse you had at the track that you said almost
> died, and YOU forwarded my post to ridecamp with your reply.  On this first
> day of the new year I find myself being trashed as a racist from ridecampers
> all over the globe.
> How about YOU taking some personal responsibility and apologize publically
> to ME for starting all this, instead of continuing to egg it on?
> BTW, in making reference to "wetbacks", I am referring specifically to
> illegal aliens who find work as unskilled laborers working with horses and
> sometimes treat these animals roughly.  Period.
> Katee
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>
> To: superpat <superpat@gateway.net>; ridecamp@endurance.net
> >As I point of interest, I NEVER made that statement in the first place
> >and your mistake of writing to me as if I had has led to others sending
> >me mail implying that I have a racist attitude and I don't and I doubt
> >that the sender of the original message who used the term "wetback" (and
> >if she has been reading this mail I'm certain she is sorry she did) is a
> >racist either. Perhaps if you had just sent a little message to her
> >privately saying that you doubt she is a racist but her use of that
> >term...yadda, yadda, yadda this hoopla would never have happened and
> >people would not mistakenly believe I have an attitude toward Mexicans,
> >etc. Let's all assume the best about people and not make them look small
> >in front of a forum (which is what I've seen a lot of unfortunately
> >these last several days). What is it that Bush said? We need to become a
> >kinder and gentler people?
> >Cheers- and please let this be an end to this.
> >Bette Lamore
> >
> >superpat wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear Bette,
> >> You make my point exactly. Especially because we care we need to be
> >> sensitive and aware of the things we may utter that are offensive and,
> yes,
> >> racist. I will not even bother to list (but I'll bet that if you stop to
> >> consider, you can) some of the phrases that have become a common part of
> our
> >> conversational dialog that have their genesis in ethnocentrism and
> racism.
> >> And one way to help is to call it when we see it and to fess up when we
> are
> >> made aware of our (though unaware) contributing to the continuation and
> >> condoning of such statements and attitudes. So, please see your being
> called
> >> on that statement as a truly positive sign that we are all approaching a
> >> time when this conversation will not be necessary. I, for one am
> heartened
> >> that we, of such diverse backgrounds, interests and experiences can care
> >> enough about each other to engage in civil and honest exploration of one
> sad
> >> dimension of our "national heritage".
> >> Pat Super
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>
> >> To: <RDShoe4U@aol.com>; <ridecamp@endurance.net>
> >> Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2000 9:58 AM
> >> Subject: RC: Re:Racing
> >>
> >> > Dear RD
> >> > Hey hold on cowboy! (or cow woman? no, I'm not slamming cow persons
> >> > either). I never used any term. I was the receiver of the message and I
> >> > don't believe the sender is a racist anymore than me-- just an
> >> > unfortunate choice of words in an emotionally charged matter-- people
> >> > had mistreated her horse. Before anyone starts calling anyone a racist
> I
> >> > think he or she should settle down and check on the facts. If you knew
> >> > me you'd laugh at your message to me. We happen to be Caucasian; one
> >> > daughter is dating a causasian/Black youth and the other is dating a
> >> > WASP/Mexican youth and our son is now up in Canada visiting his Tibetan
> >> > girlfriend and our secretary of many years was of Mexican descent and
> >> > several of our trainers have been from Mexico or their parents were. If
> >> > anything I am prejudiced towards Mexicans (or the politically correct
> >> > term Latin-Americans or whatever) because I've found their rapport with
> >> > my horses to USUALLY be far superior to most of the "gringo" trainers
> >> > I've had. Kind of like Blacks and dancing (ever try to dance like
> >> > Michael Jackson?) or like Belgiums and their chocolates, huh Leo? Let's
> >> > just stop all this nonsense now and wish everyone a happy new year. If
> >> > we care about our horses as much as we do, I doubt anyone on ridecamp
> is
> >> > a racist. I choose to believe that until proven wrong.
> >> > Bette Lamore
> >> >
> >> > RDShoe4U@aol.com wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > Just wondering if you use the N word to describe African-Americans
> also
> >> ? I
> >> > > work daily with Mexicans in the horse industry some of which are very
> >> good
> >> > > horseman.Myself I think it takes alot of courage to leave your home
> >> often
> >> > > thousands of miles away to make a living.I am not saying that all are
> >> good
> >> > > but they like your horses deserve to be treated as an individule not
> >> lump
> >> > > into a group and stereo typed.It surprises me as many convsations as
> we
> >> have
> >> > > had on here about "breed prejudice" that someone who have the gull to
> >> say
> >> > > something like that.Just my thoughts. RD
> >> >
> >> >
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> >>
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> >
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> >


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Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
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