My own mother may have grown up with similar memories, because my grandfather could be bigoted (even in front of his grandchildren) in that horrible unapologetic way. But, like you, my mother was not taken in in the least—to the contrary, she and my father instilled in all of us the knowledge that people were their thoughts, actions, accomplishments, and aspirations, not their skin color, not their religion, and not any other stereotype. We loved our grandfather and our grandmother, our own Archie and Edith Bunker, but we certainly never enabled his prejudices.
I know this is a hard story to share. Your compassion for the avian & human world goes far beyond the harsh reality of your childhood. You are a shining example of love and the world is a much better place because you are in it.
He was actually deeply loved by my grandparents, who were very kind human beings. I believe my grandpa was racist--the kind of thoughtless racism it's easy to become when you live in an all-white neighborhood and aren't exposed to people of other races in your day-to-day life except in prescribed roles. He wasn't cruel and would never have spoken to anyone the way my dad did, but then, he never once told my dad to stop talking the way he did. My dad was the first of four, and rather spoiled and needing to be the center of attention and to feel superior to people.
Oh Laura, I am so very sorry.
My own mother may have grown up with similar memories, because my grandfather could be bigoted (even in front of his grandchildren) in that horrible unapologetic way. But, like you, my mother was not taken in in the least—to the contrary, she and my father instilled in all of us the knowledge that people were their thoughts, actions, accomplishments, and aspirations, not their skin color, not their religion, and not any other stereotype. We loved our grandfather and our grandmother, our own Archie and Edith Bunker, but we certainly never enabled his prejudices.
I know this is a hard story to share. Your compassion for the avian & human world goes far beyond the harsh reality of your childhood. You are a shining example of love and the world is a much better place because you are in it.
As always, Laura, thank you for the extraordinary power of your writing.
Thank you so much for your story. It touched my heart. I wonder how your father as a young boy was loved.
He was actually deeply loved by my grandparents, who were very kind human beings. I believe my grandpa was racist--the kind of thoughtless racism it's easy to become when you live in an all-white neighborhood and aren't exposed to people of other races in your day-to-day life except in prescribed roles. He wasn't cruel and would never have spoken to anyone the way my dad did, but then, he never once told my dad to stop talking the way he did. My dad was the first of four, and rather spoiled and needing to be the center of attention and to feel superior to people.