green

My mother used to use that phrase "a credit to his race" and she was not a racist. She did, however, come from a different era when the races were seen, perhaps, as much more separate than we are accustomed to seeing people today. Because she was white she took her own race for granted and did not think much about who was or wasn't a credit to the white race, though she did, as a Scotswoman, become quite pleased when a fellow Scot did well. A credit to the Scots, I guess.... I think that it is obvious that Carlene is not a racist but it is true that she had used an old fashioned and ultimately racist phrase earlier on in this discussion. This is likely because she didn't pay attention to what is implicit in that phrase. NGAdams' post, which I have quoted above, does a fine job of explaining everything that is wrong in saying "a credit to his race," a saying that I also find condescending, by the way. And by the way, Carlene, you look smashing in your photos.

I have been missing him and worrying about him, too. This is the only time when our cyber-anonymity gets to be a bit of a problem. We can put out an APB in order to find out if he is okay.

Your photo saga, Cloe, is beginning to remind me of a certain kind of sexual experience. You know the kind, it is when you are waiting for the big pay-off and it never seems to come....:help: LOL :heh:

All of this is good pre-Christmas news. Good for you and the rest of the Yodas.

A pleasant thing to do when food has fallen to the floor is to encourage any available small child to clean it up. They have better eyes than we have and they are so much closer to the floor in the first place. I've also noticed that if you ask them nicely, they are very happy to be of assistance. It is true that they may eat this food so do take care not to accidentally step on it! You don't want to ruin what might otherwise be a delightful snack.

I have never heard of ginch or gitch but both words are cute! I'm going to start calling my understuff ginch.

Your sister does sound toxic. Glad to hear you mum did not have a heart attack.

Yep, I like reading them, too. And novels, detective fiction, biographies, travel/adventure, and natural science made easy for blondies like myself. I am also interested in the social sciences, social anthropology.... I read a lot, every night before going to sleep.

Oof, the usual lol response! I should tell you that when I go out I am very picky about what I wear and about what I eat! I don't want to eat anything that will destroy my dress-up outfit! This means that that the party goer must dress carefully and that she must refrain from drinking those drinks that will stain. And she must remember to hunch over her dinner in exactly the same way that her cat hunches over his food bowl. It ain't elegant but it works! Remember, if it's good enough for your pussy, it's good enough for you!

I only considered it a sport when Cheney was trying to bag his buddy. :confused: That was too weird! :faint:

It sounds as though they may be cooler with this than either you or your husband. Perhaps all the adult emotion present in the house is upsetting them?

What do you kids think of all of this?

Bitter, this is very funny stuff! I was very amused and I added a suggestion.

Only drink clear coloured drinks. When you spill 'em on yourself they won't stain. That's what I always do at parties.

I also find this shocking. Consider that when civilians are exposed to a terrible event professional counsellors are sent to the scene to help them deal with it, it would only make sense that war combattants receive the same treatment. These men and women should be debriefed and, well, carefully worked with after going through the horrors of ground combat. I am now curious as to what if any help Canadian soldiers receive. As you may or may not know, we are in active service in southern Afghanistan, fighting along side with your troops and those of Britain, I believe. This is where all the fighting is. The Spanish, Italian and German troops are stationed in the peaceful north. Our Prime Minister has asked NATO for assistance from other countries and has been denied. This is bad news for us all.

I've never, ever had a good relationship with my body. When I was thin I thought I was fat. I've never been able to pick out a pair of pants, eyeball them, and figure out that they will probably fit. As a result I like to wear big baggy clothes. They mask the body and they are comfortable.

Yes, the young men that we are seeing up here in Canada are vets who have been in Iraq and who don't want to go back. They are home on leave. It is at this point that they decide to pack up everything and cross the border. I don't how many there are of these vets. Between 100 and 200 max, I would guess.

It is kinda funny but I am looking forward to your Christmas more than I am looking forward to mine. I am anxious to hear about your parents' reactions to your weight loss.

We were going to sneak off to Mexico during this period after spending Christmas Eve with my husband's parents and Christmas Day with a friend of ours. I don't like this time of year, never have. Christmas has always given me the creeps. Anyhow, it now seems that my husband's two young nieces will be coming over here from France for the holiday. They adore him and he adores them. (They also like me which is cool.) This means that we won't be skipping out of town since Christmas is, afterall, all about the young. I might even enjoy it this year, sez Grinchy Green.

Hahaha! This sounds like lotsa fun especially for families who have everything.:clap2:

You are right, BJean, this situation is heart wrenching. These deserters who are making their way up to Canada are America-loving patriots and soldiers who found themselves broken by their experiences of this war in Iraq. The decision to uproot themselves and their wives and kids and to move to a foreign country did not come easily to them. These are, you must understand, young men with long roots in America. In brief, these kids are less cynical and more patriotic than most of the draft dodgers who came to Canada during the time of the Vietnam war. And now they are here and it looks as though our government will soon be handing them back to your government. This is a very, very sad business. These young people are seeking asylum and my country will not provide it. You might be interested to know that while they are here they are being supported by a number of groups: our government, various church and peace groups, and by former draft dodgers who chose to remain here after amnesty was given by your government.

In the West freedom of speech is guaranteed to us all. How then can the expression of an opinion be viewed as unpatriotic? This is illogical thinking.

I have read and have been very moved by the accounts posted by BJean, Bitter, and Carlene concerning their experiences of the war in Vietnam. I was, as you can see by my age, up and running during those years but as a Canadian my experience of this war was more academic. My country did welcome draft dodgers and deserters from the armed forces during that time. We now have a new crop of young Americans who are up here in Canada. They come with their wives and young children. These individuals are deserters and their tales of service in Iraq are compelling in their horror. They generally decide to desert while home on leave. Unfortunately for them our immigration laws have changed and are much more formal and much more stringent. It looks like they will be returned to the United States after they have exhausted the appeals process up here. They are, you see, attempting to use the only immigration loop hole open to them: they are applying to stay here under refugee status. This is the only way that they can avoid returning to their country of origin and being trapped in a two-year beaurocratic process before being allowed to live in Canada. I am one of the many Canadians who feel badly for these young men.

Bring on the photos!

You look fabulous, girl. :clap2: There is a big difference. You should be feeling very proud of yourself right now. Your parents are going to be amazed when they see you at Christmas. :faint: Congratulations!!!