Proud to be an American

RACISM IN AMERICA


I was born in Philadelphia, Pa. on August 6, 1944 to white, Jewish parents. We lived in the suburbs of Philadelphia (Upper Darby) in a mostly white, German-Irish neighborhood. There were four Jewish families on our street of about 100 row homes.
The schools I attended had an ethnic makeup similar to the street on which we lived.

There were only a few Black kids in our schools at that time. They (the black kids) were the only ethnic group whose numbers were smaller than those of us who were Jews. I can’t remember any racism among the Jews or the Black families. There were racists among us, but there was never any real ‘trouble’ as a result of it.

I can remember not being allowed to join the local swim and tennis club because there was a sign there which read…”No Jews allowed”. I remember being stalked by the Nazi sympathizers and frequently being attacked by them on my way to and from school. I remember not being invited to parties because I was Jewish.

In high school, there was a requirement that all juniors and seniors had to sell some magazines (or candy or some other shit) to benefit a scholarship fund. I looked into the charter of this fund and found that Jews, Blacks, and Italians were excluded from eligibility due to their respective ethnic backgrounds. Having discovered this, I refused to participate and was threatened with suspension. I took the suspension and wrote an article about the prejudice and sent it to the local paper.

When I got older, I can remember being passed over for jobs, or promotions due to being a Jew. I remember offering to share my office with the only Black man hired by the company. We were referred to as ‘salt and pepper’. We became great friends. There was no bigotry between us; no prejudice…the only difference was the color of our skin.

My point…….I have been the subject of prejudice; I have been refused entry to a club or location due to being Jewish; I have been attacked simply because I am a Jew; I have been denied my rightful positions or promotions simply because I am a Jew. My ancestors were imprisoned and murdered simply because they were Jews. What I and others like me had to do was to “GET OVER IT”. I am no longer refused entry somewhere because I am a Jew; I didn’t like getting passed over so I started my own business; While I haven’t forgotten about the Holocaust and the insults, attacks, and pain I suffered as a child, I don’t carry anything on my shoulder as a result of those experiences.

I am aware that racism exists in our country and always has, and unfortunately, probably always will. When racism is supported on a ‘wholesale’ level, it is more of a problem than when it is supported only by the ignorant few. Today, I am noticing that the
black-white race problems are being perpetuated and enhanced mainly by the black population. If we are to rid ourselves of racism, we must rid ourselves of every organized
group that promotes such racism. We must ALL GET OVER IT!

Some groups that should be abolished:
American Nazi’s
Klu Klux Klan
NAACP
United Negro College Fund
Black Entertainment TV
Al-Quida
PLO

We also have to begin recognizing true success (not simply monetary success) in this country and reward those who strive to participate in the “American dream” through hard, honest work. We have to stop rewarding criminals by giving them their 15 minutes of fame; allowing them to profit as a result of their crimes (book deals, movies, etc.), we have to rid ourselves of politicians who take bribes or make self-serving and personally rewarding deals at the expense of our citizens. We must insist on honesty and integrity from our ‘free press’ including TV news corporations; we should prosecute anyone and everyone who commits acts of fraud against society, including politicians who participate in and promote ‘schemes’ that they know will damage our economy and our citizens. In other words, we have to re-kindle the values that once made this country a great place to live.

The cost of ignoring what is currently happening in this country; both socially and politically will be the end of America as we knew it. Allowing the government to permit more poor and un-educated aliens into this country who make little or no contribution to our society is just another method of ‘diluting’ the American population. When it has been sufficiently diluted, it will be much easier for those who would take over our country to control the population. History has proven that it is much easier to control a poor, un-educated population than it is to try to control an educated, affluent society.

We have to be wary of bailouts as well as the methods used by the greedy to run the largest corporations in America. The ‘loans’ can turn into ‘investments’ very quickly, and all of a sudden these corporations are ‘owned’ by the government.
NATIONALISATION OF INDUSTRY.

It is my opinion that any executive who knowingly acts in a less than a fiscally responsible manner (including purchasing or leasing airplanes, yachts, etc.) should be held accountable. They should have to repay funds acquired through abuses and should be prosecuted for actions that are based upon fraud. However, if an executive has done an outstanding job, and paying a bonus or perks (no matter what the value) does not hurt the stock holders or the company, they should be so rewarded. That is called “CAPTIALISM”.

Years ago, I would listen to the news. It was John Chancellor, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley or Walter Cronkite. You could believe what they were reporting because they simply (and articulately) reported what happened. When they wanted to offer an opinion, it was called “commentary”, and you knew that what was being said was the opinion of the commentator. Today, everything seems to be covert commentary, shrouded in a cloak of ‘reporting the news’. Our first amendment protects the rights of people and groups such as the Nazi’s, Rev. Wright, KKK, but it seems not to be very effective when it comes to the citizens getting the straight news. Networks, Newspapers, and journals
can now be identified by their respective party affiliations.

When things changed for me personally and I could join the swim club, was offered the job which I had been denied (for being a Jew), I simply joined the swim club and turned down the job offer, and I did so quietly, respectfully, and without sarcasm, repercussion, or indignity towards those who had previously denied me my rights. In other words, if you are Black, be happy that you are no longer repressed and have the opportunity to better yourself and contribute to society. If you are Hispanic or Asian or whatever, do the same, and do it with dignity and without repercussion or sarcasm. Deny the pulpit to those educated “Thugs” who would perpetuate the very atmosphere that caused the divide in the first place. If you want “America” to recognize you as a contributing part of the society; be a contributing part of it, and of America itself. Learn and speak our language rather than making us learn yours. Get a job rather than going on welfare. Grow or purchase food rather than applying for food stamps. Don’t have more children than you can support so that you can increase your ‘take’ from our system via welfare. Buy health insurance (like the rest of us) so that those of us who play by the rules no longer have to support you and your family and enable your lack of respect, ambition, and integrity. Become a citizen if you want to live here and raise your children here, pay taxes, obey the law and work for that which you claim motivated you to come here in the first place…..or get the hell out!

THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO ME VIA EMAIL:

Subject: From a Cuban, READ VERY SLOWLY... This is really insightful!

'C H A N G E'

From Richmond Times-Dispatch, Monday, July 7, 2008 ~

Dear Editor, 'Times-Dispatch' ,
Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I celebrate my independence day, and on July 4 I celebrate America's. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.
On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba, and a few months later, I was in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.
I've thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive. When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said, 'Praise the Lord.'
And when the young leader said, 'I will be for change and I'll bring you change'; everyone yelled, 'Viva Fidel!'
But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner's guns went silent, the people's guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him. By the time the change was finally implemented, Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over, more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I'm back to the beginning of my story.
Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America?

'C H A N G E'

Would we?

Manuel Alvarez, Jr.

He (Fidel, the Cuban Messiah of the 50’s) made promises to help the poor, re-distribute wealth and make a better country.
He lied!