Reply #102: Az, I realize you don't mean to be patronizing

[Karenina]

Do please understand that I have 50 years experience in learning ways to encourage members of the dominant society to open up, make an exception or WHATEVER it took for me to survive in their midst. The center of my socialization and education in such matters is the great good fortune of having been born into a family that "resembles the United Nations. We have EVERYBODY!" as one of my old aunts is delighted to point out. Please examine your stance that I am somehow responsible for others' bigotry or inability to confront their own biases. Then do look at double standard you've presented. Do you see it? I continue to confront my biases, as I was taught since childhood to do regularly and rigorously, and also continue to tiptoe through the tulips as the situation warrants. For me it isn't theoretical. It's everyday life.