6 AM

Its 6 AM.  I have been up for about 30 minutes with Lincoln.  My wife stayed up earlier  He has RSV and we have had a difficult week or so.  He is getting better.  I mention this not for pity, but b/c it leads to something that has been rattling around in my head on these mornings (many have been earlier than this one).  This one, actually, was good.  Last week, it was much worse and he is getting better.

I look at my son, and I see my son.  He is rather light skinned, blue eyes (I know), and sandy brown hair (that which he actually has).  My daughters also are light skinned, but not fair like white people.  The oldest has brown hair, brown eyes.  They younger girl has very dark hair.  Her skin tone may be a little darker than both other kids.  My skin tone is clearly darker.  My wife, for those that don't know, is white.

The questions is simple, what will people see when they see my children?  What do people see when they see me?  Am I black? Am I white?  Am I mixed (bi-racial if I am being politically correct)?  What am I?  how many people see me as a person.  I know my friends see me as a person, but in Court, or in the store, or when driving, what do people see?  What should they see?

I have been considering these ideas as the children get older primarily b/c the oldest is asking more questions. Her questions are innocent -- why is my skin darker.  what is brown papa (my dad) darker?  why is mom lighter.  Those answers are easy, but as we all know the questions will get harder as she, and all of the children grow up.

What am I?  What are they?  Of course, the best question is who are they?  who am I?  That question, while it might be right, is often the question that is not asked.  I did not intend to write about race regularly on this site, though, I think the conversation is too important to not discuss.  It is a matter that is near and dear to my heart.  Not because I am who I am, but because I firmly believe the only way to improve things even more is to discuss our beliefs, our prejudices, our stereotypes, and our ideals so that race is not in the background, but instead, it is in the forefront. It needs to be discussed so that my children don't have to worry about whether sees them as White, Black, or something else.  They need to grow up, and live, in a place where it simply doesn't matter.

Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood human being,

CAP

Labor Unrest

I was at the Blues game with a close friend on mine on Saturday.  We began talking about the NFL lockout, what it means, etc.  I, for some reason, find the entire thing extremely compelling.  I don't know the ins and outs of the situation, but the decertification and subsequent lawsuit intrigues me.  I don't know what the Federal Court will do as it relates to the Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed by the players.  Since they are not a union, their arguments that 32 separate business cannot impose consistent rules that limit player movement is interesting.  I have no idea if it has any real chance of prevailing, but you would think the owners would be concerned.

The owners can't take the chance the players win, can they?  If the players win, what would that mean for the League?  Clearly, they would only use it for levereage so the players can get a bigger piece of the pie.  Which leads to the reason our discussion Saturday was interesting to me.

My friend clearly sides with the players (at least in our argument).  I find this interesting b/c he works for a big company, though he worked in the public defenders office with me.  I do not know on which side I am on, if any.  It is a little sickening that the two sides can't come up with a reasonable resolution to the problem.  I understand the players feel like they should continue getting a large piece of the pie.  The owners, though, were only excercising their rights, rights contained int he Agreement, by opting out.  They believed the deal was not good enough.  The players take physical risk.  The Owners take financial risks by building stadiums.  I think, also, people forget they are the owners.

I don't think the employees at 7-11 get a portion of the revenue from the company.  Of course, as my friend said, the employees at 7-11 are not the reason you go to 7-11.  The NFL players are the ultimate reason people go to games.  I disagree with that, though, b/c I think people go for the teams (Steelers, Cowboys, etc).

Interesting times.  Will they really screw up a multi billion dollar business?  I can't believe they will, but nothing would surprise me.  Seems that the world is going the wrong direction so who knows.

As an aside, I am going to try to write more frequently on this blog.  I have enjoyed the small amount of writing that I have done and plan on writing more.  I still don't know if there will ultimately be a focus to this thing, other than whatever is on my mind, but that could change over time.

Be easy.

Your friendly neighborhood human being.,

Chris