In Defense of My Hometown

The little Ohio town where I spent most of my first 40 years has been in the news a lot lately.  In light of recent events, a group of locals put together a "demonstration of solidarity".  Other locals, and some who aren't so local, decided to counter-protest.  Not sure how you counter-protest something that isn't a protest, but that's what they did.  They clearly don't understand the implied "too" in the BLM movement and a large number of them seemed to think rioting is the norm for BLM.  Oh, yeah, and the 2nd Amendment was somehow threatened by people carrying signs.

Now for some background: Bethel is 98% white, but it was founded by abolitionists.  The Grant Memorial building is one of our landmarks - yes, that Grant.  He's from that neck of the woods.   I'm not going to say there is no racism in Bethel, but I can recall only two overtly racist incidents and one of those may have been nothing but a rumor.  My family doctor was Filipino and a member of Daddy's church.  

The counterprotestors (not all of whom were locals) were convinced the BLM movement is about Black Supremacy, anti-police, and rioting.  That's what they rolled into town to stop from happening.  Then they physically attacked the peaceful demonstrators and ignored police instructions.  (Wait, what?)  That's what was all over the news.  The loud mouths and the violence.  Now the whole world seems to think Bethel, Ohio, is a hotbed of racism.  

It. Is. Not. 

Racism did not exist to me until my world grew beyond the borders of Bethel.  Not just because I'm white, but because in my world the color of people's skin was simply a difference, just like the color of their eyes of their hair.  I knew enough to think the n-word was impolite.  I do recall feeling the need to qualify thinking Billy Dee Williams was cute with "for a black guy" but honestly, that's the only way any of it touched my life until adulthood.  

My point, and I do have one, is that Bethel is a nice town populated by nice people.  Those counter-protestors were coming from a position of ignorance, not of hatred.  Most of them, anyway.  I don't live in Bethel any more, through no fault of Bethel's, but I will defend it.  

  

Private Lives of Public Figures... Again

When I was young, I was told that going to the movies meant I'm okay with the "Hollywood Lifestyle".  I wasn't quite driving age, but that logic seemed wrong and it still does.  Yes, celebrities are role models with huge areas of influence, but they are still human beings. 

Bill Cosby once scolded Eddie Murphy for profanity.  He waved around an honorary PhD as if he'd actually earned it.  I didn't like him then, for those things, and we've learned since that he was doing way worse things.  Yet I still enjoy quoting his old stand-up routines.   

Linda would have broken up The Beatles if Yoko hadn't.  Both  Paul and John wrapped their whole worlds around a woman, and Paul acted like John was in the wrong for doing it.  I don't like hypocrites.  But Paul is a fantastic musician.  His talent can't be denied.  

Johnny Depp stands accused but never convicted.  Michael Jackson stands accused but never convicted.  (Innocent until proven guilty but I digress.)  I am a fan both of the men, in their creative fields.  Depp can act circles around most of Hollywood and Jackson made amazing music. 

JK Rowling has said a lot of things, some I agree with and some I don't.  I don't think I'd enjoy having dinner with her.   I've also read the Harry Potter series repeatedly and will continue to do so.  

We've had a series of adulterers and racists in the White House.  Most of this nation's Founders were slave owners.  Yet we judge those men, at least the more historically distant ones, on the quality of the job done.  We should be judging the recent ones the same way.   

I consider the money I spend or the vote I cast to be payment for a job done well.  The amount of support I give for said job depends entirely upon how well.  The private life of payee is none of my business.  This applies equally to a celebrity and to a grocery store clerk.