Well, this is NOT an entry about weightloss, duromine or anything else to do with my journey to smaller sized clothes. This blog entry is about the disgust I feel for the actions of others in this world. It is about the anger that is generated in me by the intolerance that we can show to others that we deem as different. It about the thoughts and ideals that some people have that I personally find repugnant, ignorant and hurtful to others.
Recently we had Costco open in our suburb, the first one to open in Queensland. I joined some time ago in anticipation of the opening and the chance to make a killer saving on toilet paper alone. A family of 10 goes through a heck of a lot of that stuff in a week.
On Wednesday night I decided to take my first visit to the store and took my 13 year old son with me. Ryan is a great young man and I am proud to be his Dad. I am not saying he is an angel, he can be an absolute devil at home but I know that that is tempered by the fact that underneath his silliness lies a heart that would give its all to help others.
So, off we go to Costco and went spent a good hour wandering around to see what was what and picked up a few things on the way. All in all a good night of window shopping and little bit of buying. On the way out of the store you must show your docket and the door staff check you trolley contents. Ryan and I have stopped to let this happening, Ryan stood just to the left of me as we chatted to the door attendant and she checked our shopping out. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a guy bearing down on the doorway with his extra large Costco trolley. I had this feeling he just was not going to stop and he didn't. I pulled Ryan out of the road and as the guy went passed Ryan apologised to him for getting in the road. This bloke sailed on passed, gave Ryan a filthy look and muttered a delightfully racist comment to my son.
Now, what I have not mentioned so far is that Ryan is my Korean born son, and we adopted him when he was only 6 months old. Ryan is Australia, he has been raised here, he speaks "strayian" and is as ocker as they come. He is not a "chink" or a "gook" or a "slanty eyed little prick". He is my son and I love him and will defend him with all my heart, soul, might, mind and strength against those that would harm him.
I would say to the delightful piece of work on Wednesday night:
"Yes, my son looks different to you. His beautiful skin is darker than yours, but it is the same tone as my Mums, his Grandma Shirley. Yes his eyes may be a different shape to yours but they are as deep brown as my wife's, his beautiful mother. Yes, he looks nothing like his father but he is an avid Collingwood fan just like his Dad. He is a footballer, a golfer, an accomplished musician on 3 instruments. He is in ALL the honours classes they offer at his school and he is excelling in his studies. And, sir, the young man whom you chose to label an "ignorant, slanty eyed little prick" apologised to you without any word of encouragement or cajoling from his Dad because he knows what manners are and how to treat others. You may be at least 3 times older than my son, you may be large in stature, confrontational in demeanour BUT my son, at 13 years old, is 5 times the man you will ever become. You foul mouthed, back bred, red neck ass."
Why is such overt racism and intolerance still so prevalent in the country that I live? Who in their right frame of mind thinks it is okay to say such a thing to a boy who had only just turned 13?
My uncle,a decorated WWII veteran who fought the Japanese and was seriously wounded loved Ryan and played with him often, when all the rest of the family expected him to want nothing to do with an Asian child. TG loved Ryan from the moment we brought him home and Ryan loved him as well.
I love my son, he is part of me in a way that is so much more than physical.
Ryan, I will always be your protector and your confidant so that you can speak you mind in an environment of safety and love.
To the racist and bigots of the world I say - grow up.
Recently we had Costco open in our suburb, the first one to open in Queensland. I joined some time ago in anticipation of the opening and the chance to make a killer saving on toilet paper alone. A family of 10 goes through a heck of a lot of that stuff in a week.
On Wednesday night I decided to take my first visit to the store and took my 13 year old son with me. Ryan is a great young man and I am proud to be his Dad. I am not saying he is an angel, he can be an absolute devil at home but I know that that is tempered by the fact that underneath his silliness lies a heart that would give its all to help others.
So, off we go to Costco and went spent a good hour wandering around to see what was what and picked up a few things on the way. All in all a good night of window shopping and little bit of buying. On the way out of the store you must show your docket and the door staff check you trolley contents. Ryan and I have stopped to let this happening, Ryan stood just to the left of me as we chatted to the door attendant and she checked our shopping out. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a guy bearing down on the doorway with his extra large Costco trolley. I had this feeling he just was not going to stop and he didn't. I pulled Ryan out of the road and as the guy went passed Ryan apologised to him for getting in the road. This bloke sailed on passed, gave Ryan a filthy look and muttered a delightfully racist comment to my son.
Now, what I have not mentioned so far is that Ryan is my Korean born son, and we adopted him when he was only 6 months old. Ryan is Australia, he has been raised here, he speaks "strayian" and is as ocker as they come. He is not a "chink" or a "gook" or a "slanty eyed little prick". He is my son and I love him and will defend him with all my heart, soul, might, mind and strength against those that would harm him.
I would say to the delightful piece of work on Wednesday night:
"Yes, my son looks different to you. His beautiful skin is darker than yours, but it is the same tone as my Mums, his Grandma Shirley. Yes his eyes may be a different shape to yours but they are as deep brown as my wife's, his beautiful mother. Yes, he looks nothing like his father but he is an avid Collingwood fan just like his Dad. He is a footballer, a golfer, an accomplished musician on 3 instruments. He is in ALL the honours classes they offer at his school and he is excelling in his studies. And, sir, the young man whom you chose to label an "ignorant, slanty eyed little prick" apologised to you without any word of encouragement or cajoling from his Dad because he knows what manners are and how to treat others. You may be at least 3 times older than my son, you may be large in stature, confrontational in demeanour BUT my son, at 13 years old, is 5 times the man you will ever become. You foul mouthed, back bred, red neck ass."
Why is such overt racism and intolerance still so prevalent in the country that I live? Who in their right frame of mind thinks it is okay to say such a thing to a boy who had only just turned 13?
My uncle,a decorated WWII veteran who fought the Japanese and was seriously wounded loved Ryan and played with him often, when all the rest of the family expected him to want nothing to do with an Asian child. TG loved Ryan from the moment we brought him home and Ryan loved him as well.
I love my son, he is part of me in a way that is so much more than physical.
Ryan, I will always be your protector and your confidant so that you can speak you mind in an environment of safety and love.
To the racist and bigots of the world I say - grow up.
