[ Thankful Thursday ]

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! The week is almost over, and I'm already looking at next week saying, "Where do I find the time to do everything?" My sister, Sara, emailed me yesterday with an interesting question. She has an assignment for her Teaching English as a Second Language class and needed my help. They were told to email 5 friends and get their responses to this statement: "Everyone is a little bit racist." Here's my response:

"I do believe that everyone is a little bit racist. The definition of racist not just secluded to hatred or intolerance, it is: a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement. We have a stagmatism in our society that hispanics are usually illegal and don't speak English; that blacks are angry, high school drop-outs, and belong to gangs; that whites are intolerant and think they are superior to everyone else, and so on. Anyone seen "Freedom Writers?" That is a perfect example. It's not just the whites being racist towards the blacks and hispanics. It's EVERYONE!

Here in Las Vegas, there is a small town on the outskirts called Parhump. Last year, that city passed a law stating that English was the official language and had to be spoken. Spanish would not be recognized. In our schools, English is expected to be spoken and only when children reach high school are they given the opportunity to learn a second language.

But the problem doesn't just extend to color or physical features. I believe racism has extended it's "normal" boundaries to include religion, political beliefs, sex, or anything that would distinguish you. The Crusades, the Holocaust, the Extradition Order against the Mormons, 9/11, and even our own current political system. It is sad when we are talking about parties, black presidents, women vice-presidents, and the votes that will follow them because of their "features," not their qualifications.

It's a terrible, perpetuating cycle that has not gotten better over time. It drives violence in our cities, segregation in communities, and intolerance on every level of society."

It's not terribly eloquent, but I did the best that I could with the time given me. I'm interested to know what you think about that - do you think that everyone is a little bit racist?

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Now on to what I am thankful for this week:


I am so grateful for the scriptures. Over the last three months, I have made it a goal to study my scriptures EVERY night. I have been 99% successful, only missing a few days. I don't care how late it is, I am making time to do it. You'd think I would be far into the Book of Mormon, having studied this much, but I am only just getting to the end of 2 Nephi. Sometimes I get through a whole chapter in one night, but mostly I only get a few verses in. But the inspiration and guidance I am receiving fills up the margins of my scriptures! Maybe I should paste in a page between each bound page? The peace and happiness I am feeling each day is amazing. I am a better wife, a better mother, and a better person because of this simple habit.