Mission Accomplished.

Zane

He used the word Negro.

At one time negroids, as I understand the scientists’ term would be denoting race, were called negros, blacks, then African-Americans and other such popular group labels.

Likewise we’ve Indians, Native Americans, First Citizens and even aboriginals being bandied about when it comes to, well, not sure what to call them these days… The folks on the reservations who own the casino’s?

I find this to be complete and utter codswallop, of course. Labeling me as white, norwegian-american, or a cracker doesn’t change a thing, and indeed is only useful as identifying me as a member of a group I never chose to associate with, a group I was born into by serendipity and happenstance.

I am not a group. I am a man.

Seems we’d do well to remember that the individual is responsible, not the group. We vote as individuals, we commit crimes as individuals, we garner awards and move ourselves up the social and economic ladder as individuals.

So with all that said as a preface, the real question is am I my brother’s keeper? Am I responsible for rectifying these statistical disparities, and as viewpoints change and kids who’ve never seen a record player come to power will they even comprehend the Jim Crow era of our past, let alone feel any shame of it or complicit in allowing it?

I can tell you the future of the gay marriage fight — it’s been lost for those who insist upon a ban. Folks older than me think it should be outlawed, folks younger than I don’t give a darn, and there’s more of the younger than of the older around.

The same was true in the civil rights era, a more numerous youth did not feel obligated to defend tradition and voted for expansion of the social order.

Our society has changed from single bread-winner to dual-income, it has changed from Jim Crow to equality for all, it has changed from shunning and social ostracism for unwed mothers to support for same. It has changed from deadbeat fathers being marched in front of a judge to take responsibility, it has gone from the family unit as the measure to the community (whatever that means) as the measure.

It will change some more, I’m sure. In the mean-time, perhaps the Republic will survive.

– Max

But, these being military dead and the military being a team effort, I do accept the fact that the markers will be uniform with only a small personal touch. That was in the contract as well.

– Max

To be very honest, I do *not* have all of the answers. There is one class, I did not list and yet it is most important, yet it is the most difficult. Be honest with yourself. Well, welcome to the rest of us mere mortals.