One afternoon, as a 13-year-old paperboy, I was riding home on my bicycle, with the big metal basket over the front wheel for the newspapers, when a pick-up trust drove by. In the back, there were four black boys about my age, who had obviously been picking walnuts as the pick-up truck was loaded with them. They slowed down and began pelting me with the walnuts. While the walnuts didn't really hurt me, I was confused. It was my first exposure to racism.
When I got home, I asked my father about this. He explained that 10% of all blacks are bad people, and that I shouldn't judge the 90% by the actions of the 10%. That made sense . . . for a few minutes anyway, but it begged the next question, which was what percent of white people are bad? His simple reply was 10%. Suddenly, it was obvious that he thought 10% of all types of people were bad, but we should still enjoy the other 90%. I think there was wisdom in his comments.
Some of my readers are annoyed with me, because I don't criticize President Obama and the Democrats, nor the Republicans. I'm sorry for being non-partisan but think my father was more correct than even he realized. I think 10% of the Democrats are sleaze-balls and 10% of the Republicans are neanderthals. But, 90% of both parties are good, decent Americans. Too bad that 10% of Americans can make life so difficult for the rest of us.
When I got home, I asked my father about this. He explained that 10% of all blacks are bad people, and that I shouldn't judge the 90% by the actions of the 10%. That made sense . . . for a few minutes anyway, but it begged the next question, which was what percent of white people are bad? His simple reply was 10%. Suddenly, it was obvious that he thought 10% of all types of people were bad, but we should still enjoy the other 90%. I think there was wisdom in his comments.
Some of my readers are annoyed with me, because I don't criticize President Obama and the Democrats, nor the Republicans. I'm sorry for being non-partisan but think my father was more correct than even he realized. I think 10% of the Democrats are sleaze-balls and 10% of the Republicans are neanderthals. But, 90% of both parties are good, decent Americans. Too bad that 10% of Americans can make life so difficult for the rest of us.
