“Smoking cigars as an art form"

[ggiese]

Empathy? My grandmother came to this country in 1919 and couldn't read and write her own language. She taught herself to read and write English, dealt with prejudices you can't even imagine, became a wealthy woman, long before women's liberation, buried a son who died for his country and got herself invited to a president's inauguration . What's your excuse? Quit your fuggin' whining put down the paint brush, learn to read and write English and get a real job. That's the American Way. Then, we might have some empathy.

Doc.

Doc.

Daisy,

Like Doc - my grandmother, too, came off a boat at age 16 with the little she could carry and no grasp of the English language. She, too, taught herself the language and through her entire life insisted on speaking nothing by English, In her mind - this was where she lived and this was the spoken language.

Never - EVER - during her life did she complain that she was not afforded any opportunity, or that the "American's" did not understand her. She never felt sorry for herself, or her situation. She offered herself as she was - and did not let anyone's criticisms or prejudices color her view of America or American's. She very much realized that this was not where she came from, but where she was at. In other words - she knew that she wanted come to America, be an American and lived her life as an American. Never did she believe she should change America to be what she wanted it to be.

She worked hard her entire life, to the point she'd built a comfortable life for herself and her family. When she passed, she was not rich but well off - self sufficient. And - while she had no need to work any more - she still scrubbed the floors at an old folks home nearly to the last day on this earth because she thought it needed to be done and she was helping others.

This woman - my grandmother - taught me that it was not the circumstances you were in that defined who you were - it was who you were that defined your circumstances. When I would slack off at school - her comment to me was, "Perfect! The world needs ditch diggers!" She taught me through that - if you choose to be a ditch digger - there is a need, but you do have the opportunity to choose to be something better AND it takes hard work and determination - no one will ever hand you anything, and anything that is offered for free truly has a price.

Daisy - In the United States, you alone are responsible for what you say and what you do. By coming to the U.S. you've now been given a voice to say what you think with little repercussion. That's a hard concept to get your head around, if you come from a society that is intolerant of free speech. And - the repercussions of what you say in this thread and what you say publicly does not unite, it polarizes.

Wake up and smell the coffee, Daisy - this is not all about you.

God bless you too, Daisy - you definitely need it to rid yourself of your demons.