Friday, September 21, 2007

Fred the Cat is Back with Questions


I was gonna take a blog break, but I just had to speak up this week.

Okay, full disclosure, I am black and I am white. Having said that, I have a question. Are you people going forward or backward?

I heard a black athlete say this week that it was okay for a black man to call a black woman a “bitch”, but it was wrong for a white man to call a black woman the same thing. He also said it was okay for a black man to call another black man the “N” word, but it wasn’t okay for a white man to use that same term.

Then I heard that Jessie Jackson asked Obama if he was acting too white. Remember when someone asked if Obama was black enough?

Finally there is the travesty that is going on in Jena, La. Black kids in jail for fighting with white kids. Nooses hanging from trees? Marches in the streets once again over racial discrimination?

I thought you people, black and white, were making progress and learning to live, work and have fun together. Judging by what you guys are doing, it would seem amazing that I can live contently with my black self and my white self. You see, on the inside I’m one cat, neither black nor white.

Have a nice weekend and be sweet to yourself and one another

Sincerely,
Fred the Cat (the cat who loves you guys)

42 Comments:

Blogger fallenmonk said...

One does have to wonder why we can't seem to get past the color of our skin. Have a nice weekend Fred.

September 21, 2007 3:21 AM  
Blogger Coffee Messiah said...

Remember when people thought about time machines and going into the future?

Thanks to this administration, we are all going backwards in regards to labeling people and segregating them.

Quite sad, and as with the so called war, the out cry over all this should be overwhelmingly loud, everyday! ; (

September 21, 2007 3:25 AM  
Blogger FreakyNick said...

That was something that surprised me when I moved to the south; how much racism is still going on today.

September 21, 2007 4:02 AM  
Blogger Distributorcap said...

we love you too Fred ----

Fred did you ever see the Star Trek episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefied" where Frank Gorshin played a character from a planet that had beings that were both black and white like you Fred. He was black on his right side and his mortal enemy was black on the left side

They both hated each other because of their difference --- but the other characters like Kirk couldnt see a difference.

So like this country today -- there is a lot of hate and anger for reasons that no one can see, other than the people who hate for no reason

Have a good weekend Fred
your friend the nerd
Distributorcap and his black and white cat, George

September 21, 2007 4:38 AM  
Blogger SB Gypsy said...

Fred, you are wise beyond your years.

September 21, 2007 5:27 AM  
Blogger Gledwood said...

I can't STAND that type of hypocritical double standard... always seeming to put the white man (especially MAN) in the wrong.

Ukk!

September 21, 2007 6:07 AM  
Blogger Gledwood said...

What on earth IS the Webb amendment btw?

... ho-humm... I hope you're OK

have a pleasant weekend!

It's nearly upon us... sunset here is in not much longer than four hours' time ... hurrah!!-+

September 21, 2007 6:09 AM  
Blogger Mary Ellen said...

It's a sad world, Fred. If only the world were run by cats instead of goddamned humans, there would be no racism!

Cat's rule.

September 21, 2007 6:21 AM  
Blogger Undeniable Liberal said...

Well Fred, racism is strong amid humans sorry to say. And Jesse Jackson must have flipped his lid. Have a great weekend.
Peace

September 21, 2007 6:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Welcome back, Fred. How's that chip on your shoulder? (heh-heh-heh).

Well said, as always.

September 21, 2007 6:51 AM  
Blogger Forty Paws said...

Lord Sheik of Rumps, you are quite the articulate, profound sage, aren't you?

We're so glad your mom found our blog, because now our Maw has found PoP's blog and enjoys it immensely!

Luf, Us

September 21, 2007 7:40 AM  
Blogger Granny said...

This is Spunky, the grey and white cat, saying hello from California.

I'd write more but it's naptime. It's always naptime.

(Hi POP).

September 21, 2007 8:07 AM  
Blogger robin andrea said...

Fred, I don't know what's going on in the world anymore. I once thought we were well on our way to peace and harmony. Those days are long gone. This has been a very bad week for humanity. You're lucky you're a cat.

September 21, 2007 8:13 AM  
Blogger Anne said...

it's been another upsetting week in the news, dear fred. i wish i were a feline-i'd curl up in a ball and sleep through a lot.
it's distressing, what's happening in jena...like a really bad recurring nightmare. many of my generation thought we had left segregation behind us. nope.
racism is alive and well.and not just in the south. i notice it in people here in my "liberal" area often. i was a minority in my school years, as were my older kids. it's quite helpful to know what that feels like.
have a nice weekend, fred and family.

September 21, 2007 8:46 AM  
Blogger Sherry Pasquarello said...

you are right on fred.( i haven't said that in years!) have a good weekend.

September 21, 2007 8:56 AM  
Blogger Taradharma said...

yeah, I heard the 'bitch' comment too and I was floored. We humans have a loooooonnnnnngggggg way to go, honey. If we could only catch up with your enlightened state of mind, Fred, we would be much happier.

The Rev. Jackson has been making idiotic statements for a loooooonnnnnggggg time. Pay him no mind.

September 21, 2007 9:22 AM  
Blogger Fran said...

Oh Fred- your wisdom moves me. I wish you were more active in politics... but as a wise one, why would you even bother at this point?

Enjoy your weekend. Mr. BooBoo, a nice brown tabby I know plans on relaxing and practicing peace. I think you may do the same.

FranIam

September 21, 2007 9:58 AM  
Blogger Fran said...

Oh Fred- your wisdom moves me. I wish you were more active in politics... but as a wise one, why would you even bother at this point?

Enjoy your weekend. Mr. BooBoo, a nice brown tabby I know plans on relaxing and practicing peace. I think you may do the same.

FranIam

September 21, 2007 9:58 AM  
Blogger In_Flight said...

Fred, you're adorable. Racism is everywhere. The south is still ass backwards, with the exception of Florida, that their still catching up with the rest of the world. I think their just entering the 70's.

September 21, 2007 10:17 AM  
Blogger SouthLoopScot said...

Black, White, Yellow, Red, Green...
If you're an asshole, then you're an asshole...
That's the way I see it.
it is amazing that in this day and age that we have people saying and doing things like you mentioned.
Will there ever be hope?

September 21, 2007 10:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Fred. I want to hug you.

My friend lived in the south for 10 years and came back out west with prejudice. It broke my heart. We moved semi-rural and even out here in our progressive place on the map, there is still racism in the little school...

You know, I for one believe in evolution and the fact that we all started out in Africa...so why do we try to act like we are so different from one another? Sad, sad stuff.

September 21, 2007 11:52 AM  
Blogger mommanator said...

GREAT QUESTIONS- NOW IF WE ALLLL HAD AN ANSWER!

September 21, 2007 12:58 PM  
Blogger dguzman said...

Fred, cats like you are just too good for this world of ours. There are just too many ignorant a-holes out there, be it in the south or the north.

September 21, 2007 12:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If only our current elected officials were as wise as you, Fred.

September 21, 2007 2:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm glad this stuff is happening. I think America needs to see the kind of bullshit minorities deal with on a daily.

Racism never went anywhere. It's not getting worse. It's simply making the news again.

Racism is everywhere, not just the South.

Many "Liberals" are racist with their "colorblind world" nonsense.

Wake the Fuck Up America!

Goddamned, what do they have to do?

September 21, 2007 3:25 PM  
Blogger Fixer said...

I thought you people, black and white, were making progress and learning to live, work and have fun together.

Most of us, pal.

September 21, 2007 3:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The wisdom of cats.

September 21, 2007 6:28 PM  
Blogger Jennifer said...

Dear Fred the Cat,

I may be going sideways.

I believe using the word "bitch" to identify another human being is only acceptable when the addresser is a white woman and the addressee is her white husband, but it must always be done with a kind, loving appreciative heart, and in the third person. One mustn't say, "Give my your paycheck and a bouquet of roses, bitch!" However, saying "My bitch brought me his paycheck and a bouquet of roses today!" is perfectly good form.

I heart you,
ZBT

September 22, 2007 5:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

People are people. Too often, biases cause friction. Too often, the parents and grandparents feed those biases. Unfortunately, there are the bad along with the good. I have no answers. I do appreciate your post. Thanks, Fred the cat. You are a wise and cute cat.

September 22, 2007 5:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

People are people. Too often, biases cause friction. Too often, the parents and grandparents feed those biases. Unfortunately, there are the bad along with the good. I have no answers. I do appreciate your post. Thanks, Fred the cat. You are a wise and cute cat.

September 22, 2007 5:23 AM  
Blogger sumo said...

Fred, we need you as Commander and Cat!

September 22, 2007 12:41 PM  
Blogger Blueberry said...

The sooner we can get past the "it's OK for one color to say such and such to this color but not to that color" the better. If color is an issue, there's racism involved.

September 22, 2007 6:37 PM  
Blogger Mauigirl said...

Distributorcap beat me to it - I was going to bring up that Star Trek episode too! It's too bad that 40 years later the lessons of that episode have yet to be learned.

September 22, 2007 6:57 PM  
Blogger Oceanshaman said...

I don't really have an answer to your question, as I tend towards a rosy and fleshy pink . . .

September 22, 2007 7:17 PM  
Blogger Doctorboogaloo said...

Ignorant, cretinous, and primarily hairless humans (if you exclude Austin Powers)stand in awe of Fred the Cat's reasoned discourse.

Terrific post.

September 22, 2007 9:04 PM  
Blogger WeezieLou said...

fred, so glad to see you big.

gotta say, though, that as a lesbian, there are words and phrases we lesbians use amongst ourselves that wouldn't be acceptable from the outside. each minority group, i suspect, has similar "double" standards. also, as the "owner" of two black & white cats, i have to respect their own (hisssssss!) language. and they don't like when i hiss back at them!

September 23, 2007 7:14 AM  
Blogger WeezieLou said...

that's "so glad to see you BACK".

September 23, 2007 7:16 AM  
Blogger Ziem said...

Lyrics of one of my sons songs, "..your personality is all that I see.." When I heard it, I was proud and ashamed at the same time. Proud of my son, ashamed that we still live in a "seperated by color, religion, nationality, sexual orientation..." country.

Do they really think this makes their God proud?

September 23, 2007 8:39 AM  
Blogger Ziem said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

September 23, 2007 8:39 AM  
Blogger Blank said...

Ignorance is quite colorful, Fred. That is, you can find it in just about any color among the human race, unfortunately.

Glad to see you back, you gorgeous, smart little guy.

September 23, 2007 8:43 AM  
Blogger Pursey Tuttweiler said...

Fred,
It is strange. In Jena, white people were appalled at the charges and the the punishment. I do not know how many, but I know some were. Now, the city is full, just full of protesters. I am amazed that we cannot get that many war protesters in a liberal city of my size. We have not come far enough. Someone suggested that the (a writer suggested, I am not sure who) that the government and the prosecutor did this in conjunction to distract from Iraq, etc. Hoping violence would break out further dividing this nation. Fred, the way things are going, it could be true.

September 23, 2007 1:02 PM  
Blogger Zelda Parker said...

I am appalled that people say "shut up" to each other, let alone B and N. Will we ever learn?
After reading some of your comment I may have to reconsider some comments recently made on an HBO program. Fear tatics, racism, animal abuse, where does it all end?

September 24, 2007 5:46 PM  

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