Thursday, June 19, 2008

Deep thoughts about cancer and racism

The other day a nice lady about shat herself when she saw me walking with our cute baby (strapped in what's been called a Swedish Chest Saddle) and as we started chatting, she asked me if I "had a degree." When I said I was in law school, she--kid you not--shrieked and said "NO WAY! No way! GOOD for YOU! With a BABY?? Wow wow wow wow WOW!" and just stared. I laughed awkwardly and said something like "Hey, thanks, you're making me feel like a rockstar," and she said "You ARE a rockstar! LAW school??" And for a brief moment, I felt like I'd cured cancer. Then I remembered that all I'd done was get knocked up while enrolled in something that involves paying knowledgeable professionals to publicly berate and humiliate me and wasn't sure why I was being so congratulated. Sometimes, people act so surprised that I'm in law school, it makes me wonder if they think I'm quadriplegic and/or mentally challenged or some other supreme challenge that would make me a good motivational speaker. It also makes me wonder if they've ever opened a phone book and seen how many douches have made it through law school. In other news, Sunday hub and I caught part of the rebroadcast of the June 8th celebration of the 30th anniversary of extending the priesthood to all worthy males and it rocked our socks off. You can watch it here. It was surprised at how nice it was to see black men and a black woman preaching from the pulpit of the tabernacle and was really moved by a black stake president from NJ, I think, who spoke about how his patriarchal blessing said he'd preach the gospel to "his people" so he assumed he'd go to an inner city. Instead, he went to Latin America and realized Latinos were and are "his people" and that we're all each other's people. I've been thinking about that all week. Watch it now. Don't say "don't tell me what to do." Just watch it already. In an uncharacteristic act of bravery, I actually attended an RS activity (and didn't hate it! Progress! Turns out book clubs are a little more up my alley than recipe swaps) during which we discussed To Kill A Mockingbird and how prevalent racism is, even/especially in our vanilla community. And how it's bigger than race, it's just fear of people who are different than we are, in looks or economic circumstances or just life, and how in 4 Nephi, the people were happiest and most peaceful when distinctions disappeared and they had all things in common and there were no manner of -ites. So I have realized that my fear of stroller moms is discrimination and just because we're different (though not all that different anymore, now that I'm a crockpotter and serious crafter) doesn't mean we can't be friends. So if you're a crafty stroller mom, will you be my friend? Actually, just in general, will you be my friend? The end.

8 comments:

Kiersten White said...

I don't do crafts, but I have a DOUBLE stroller. Does that count?

Andrea said...

Okay I'm now officially hooked on your blog. I hope it becomes famous like the Pioneer Women's. I must say that I tried to look through your eyes and see as a Democrat, but I couldn't do it. Its not that I don't want social reform, I just don't know if our voters are at large informed enough to elect leaders who can set up stuff like that. Anyway I loved the article from the Chrony and insight. Pres. Layton once mentioned it to me in an interview at Zone Training. No Joke.

Mar said...

Aren't we friends already? Why are you asking? Just kidding. I, too, fear the stroller pushing crowd but here I am 2 or so weeks away from joining them and quite frankly, it's sort of thrilling. I like to cook but the crafty thing just doesn't tickle my fancy that much.

KT said...

Only if you throw compliments my way. I like to be told how cool I am at EVERYTHING.

WonderKitty said...

I like the crafty-ness, but not so much the Scrapbooking type crafty. Can we still be friends? I like making new friends!

gurrbonzo said...

Kiersten: Your double stroller will allow our friendship to blossom.

Andrea: Welcome! WTF.

Mar: Have your kid already so we can go on walks and such.

KT: Thanks for the comment! You're good at that!

Wonderkitty: Hello, friend.

megandjon said...

this is a little late, but i'm just catching up on your blog and i had to comment on the racism thing. because of all the sitting around and nursing, and because my baby boy doesn't often let me have a free hand for reading, and because i don't have cable, i find myself watching lots of news and it is driving me CRAZY the way the media has been covering this election. i HATE how every other day they have these polls about how this candidate does amongst "blacks" or "women" or "evangelicals" or whatever. I think dividing people into these groups is so stupid and just proves how little we've improved since To Kill a Mockingbird days.

rant over. thank you for always making me think, Gurr!

AlliSMiles said...

you're so funny. i really like this post because i had such a long conversation over this race issue with one of my white friends the other day--a really frustrating conversation.

anyway, what class are you taking this summer? i'd love to know how i can graduate from that hellhole early. :) jk, i like law school, just not the whole public humiliation to only receive average grades part.

also, i have a quote for you to add to your wall "Men do not have enough blood to supply both their brains and their loins at the same time." --Prof Dominguez on rape

feel free to reply at ashiozawamiles@gmail.com or shiozawa@byulaw.net, or add me as a facebook friend. i'll be your friend.