Hi TCF,
Looking at your post again, I have a couple of comments. You say of me, "He was raised in a time when racism was normal and he is still a racist."
Yes, when I grew up in Sheffield and the Shoals area, segregation was the norm. However, even then I did not understand it nor believe in it. Growing up in my home, we were NEVER taught prejudice against anyone.
And, my grandfather raised three boys on his farm -- my dad, my uncle by marriage, and a black boy named Carlos. My dad turned out to be a less than desirable man; the man who became my uncle was not much better -- neither ever showing any real respect for my grandfather, who was a Christian believer. On the other hand, the black boy, Carlos, grew into a fine man. And, on Sundays, after church, he would put his family in the wagon and come visit my grandfather to pay his respects. The other two only showed up when they needed something. So, of the three, who did I respect -- only Carlos, the black man.
Growing up in Sheffield in the 1940s-50s, I saw segregation all around me: segregated drinking fountains, segregated schools, segregated bathrooms, segregated movies, waiting rooms, i.e., everything was segregated -- black and white. I saw it then, I did not think it was right; but, at that time, I thought the whole world was that way.
June 1955, I graduated from Sheffield High School and with three friends, went into the Air Force. In Basic Training there were sixty of us in a Training Flight -- mixed black and white from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida.
October 1955, I was stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver -- where I saw for the first time that the whole world was NOT segregated. And, I celebrated to see this. I went through six months of radar/electronics Tech School with the same group of guys. All through school, I had one competitor for the top spot in my class -- a black kid from Chicago named Albert. Albert was the studious type who stayed in and studied; while I was out dancing every night -- so, in the end, he topped me and was number one in our class.
In Denver, I met and married a beautiful Hispanic lady. I say Hispanic because in Denver, most called themselves Spanish; which got me in trouble later when I was coming home from Korea and riding a train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I sat with two Hispanic ladies and in the conversation (because in Denver it was proper to say Spanish) I asked if they were Spanish. They both rather indignantly told me, "No, we are Mexican!" I felt like saying, "I wish you guys could make up your mind."
In Colorado they say Spanish -- and in California, if I call them Spanish, they are insulted and want to be called Mexican. Actually, today, in all the states, there are so many Hispanics from all all over, Mexico and all of South America -- that, it is safer ground just to say Hispanic. That way, I can't get in trouble. But, back to my point -- in Denver I married a beautiful Spanish/Mexican/Hispanic lady -- and we have three beautiful Hispanic daughters.
Right after I was married in Denver, I immediately got orders to go to Korea. I had a thirty day leave before shipping out. My mom came from Alabama to visit before I left. My wife and I had a neighbor, a black lady named Sarah. When she heard that my mom was coming from Alabama, she told me, "Child, I ain't coming to your house when she is there." I told her, "Sarah, my mom is not like that." When my mom arrived, within five minutes Sarah was there. And, within another five minutes they were drinking coffee and talking like life-long friends. I laughed, for if I closed my eyes -- I could not tell which one was talking. They both had Southern accents. My mom was not prejudiced and she never taught me to be prejudiced -- praise the Lord!
And, on September 2, 2010, I will celebrate 33 glorious years of marriage to a beautiful Filipina. We have two good looking Filipino children, a lovely Filipina daughter-in-law -- and five of the most beautiful Filipino grandchildren you have ever seen.
In 1956-57, I was stationed at Osan Air Base in Korea. There, my best friend was Bob White, a black kid from Chicago. Bob was a fantastic guitarist, formed a Jazz Trio, and they played on our base radio station. Many evenings I spent in the back room of the Enlisted Men's Service Club listening to this Jazz Trio jam. What a wonderful time -- three black musicians -- and one tall, skinny white boy from Alabama. Those are times I cherish.
When it was time for Bob and me to rotate back to the U.S.; we were both assigned to Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas. Just before we left Korea, Bob came to me and told me, "Bill, you do know that when we get back to the states; we cannot run around together anymore." I was shocked, I was hurt, and I was surprised that it took a black kid from Chicago to realize that he and I could not be seen as friends back in America, in 1957, when segregation was still rampant. A white boy from Alabama never thought about it -- it took a black kid from Chicago to see the reality of what we would find back in our home country in 1957.
After we got out of the Air Force, I lost track of Bob -- and, just about eight years ago, my wife and I were watching television and saw an infomercial for Chicago Jazz. In the infomercial, they had short bites from Ray Charles, Etta James, and other singers; and then, a group headed, not by a singer -- but, by a guitar player. It was Bob White. For several years, I had no idea how to find Bob. But, about five years ago, I sent an e-mail to MoTown, just fishing, and within half an hour received an e-mail back from Billy Wilson. He told me, "Robert White is a good friend and was one of the original founders of MoTown's in house band, the Funk Brothers. But, he died in 1994."
I was so happy that my good friend, Bob White, had realized his music dream and that he was an integral part of MoTown history.
By the way, two other very good friend that Dory and I enjoyed were Eddy and Barbara Singleton -- both black. Barbara was a singer for MoTown and had been married to Berry Gordy, founder of MoTown. And, she and Eddy were both part of the MoTown organization. Barbara died of cancer in South Africa about five years ago and Eddy died last year. But, we were proud to say that they were our friends.
And, if you are familiar with the Carlos Santana Band, you may remember that my good friend, Leon Patillo, was his lead singer, keyboard player, and song writing collaborator from 1973 - 1982. Then, Leon, who had become a Christian -- went on his own, singing mostly Christian music, had his own program on TBN called "Leon and Friends" for a number of years -- and is now a Christian pastor in Corona, California. Oh, and did I mention, Leon is black.
So, TCF, I am not sure why you are calling me racist. Yes, I am against illegal immigration -- regardless of the color of their skin. But, I fail to see how this makes me racist. It makes me an American who is concerned about our American sovereignty; it makes me an American who is concerned that the laws of our nation be enforced. But, in no way does this make me a racist.
Oh, and by the way -- I totally dislike and disagree with Obama. But, it has only to do with what he does; not the color of his skin.
And, TCF, you say of me, "Yes, i know he resorts to calling people names but why stoop down to that level."
Please show me where I have called anyone a name. I have challenged some people's spiritual fruit. I have questioned if some people are Christian believers -- based solely upon their spiritual fruit. But, please show me where I have done ANY name calling.
Not sure how they do it in your church; but, in my church telling others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not denigrating them; it is sharing Good News with them. And, telling folks that we all need to be Christ Followers if we want to spend eternity with Jesus Christ -- is not name calling; it is God sharing.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
