Comments on: Tell the World I Said, “Hello.” http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/ home of squishy muffin bunnies and rainbow-flavored kittens Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:12:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: PattyP http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13908 PattyP Tue, 08 May 2007 21:39:43 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13908 Shelley, that's one of the most interesting, best-written pieces I've read in a long time. Very nicely done --- you make your point very well. As someone born and raised in the South, I have to agree with James and with you that there are plenty of very nice/good people in the South; in fact, I also agree with James, that the people in the South seem to be more honest about their prejudices than might be true in some other parts of the country. I also grew up with whites and blacks and never thought twice about the color of someone's skin --- quite an accomplishment considering my elementary school wasn't integrated until I was in 2nd grade. My mom recently informed me that the whole process would have gone MUCH more smoothly if there hadn't been a group of northerners who came down to "supervise" things and caused more ill will than they prevented. We were ready; we didn't need to be prodded like cattle about it. It just emphasized the stereotypes. I credit my parents with raising me to truly not let race enter into my assumptions about people. I have plenty of other things I tend to prejudge people by, unfortunately, but race isn't one of them. Anyway, again, that was really a very, very nice piece. Thanks for writing it and sharing James (and your talent) with the world. Shelley, that’s one of the most interesting, best-written pieces I’ve read in a long time. Very nicely done — you make your point very well.

As someone born and raised in the South, I have to agree with James and with you that there are plenty of very nice/good people in the South; in fact, I also agree with James, that the people in the South seem to be more honest about their prejudices than might be true in some other parts of the country.

I also grew up with whites and blacks and never thought twice about the color of someone’s skin — quite an accomplishment considering my elementary school wasn’t integrated until I was in 2nd grade. My mom recently informed me that the whole process would have gone MUCH more smoothly if there hadn’t been a group of northerners who came down to “supervise” things and caused more ill will than they prevented. We were ready; we didn’t need to be prodded like cattle about it. It just emphasized the stereotypes.

I credit my parents with raising me to truly not let race enter into my assumptions about people. I have plenty of other things I tend to prejudge people by, unfortunately, but race isn’t one of them.

Anyway, again, that was really a very, very nice piece. Thanks for writing it and sharing James (and your talent) with the world.

]]> By: Leroy'sSharon http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13878 Leroy'sSharon Tue, 08 May 2007 13:06:58 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13878 Thank you Shelley. You have blessed me so much with this story. Thank you Shelley.

You have blessed me so much with this story.

]]> By: blueberry http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13874 blueberry Tue, 08 May 2007 11:23:24 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13874 Loved your story, Shelley. Who would have thought your seemingly routine encounter would be so profound? You do have a way with words, I felt like I was sitting at your kitchen table with a cup of...joe! Here's to everyone having their own James moment! Loved your story, Shelley. Who would have thought your seemingly routine encounter would be so profound? You do have a way with words, I felt like I was sitting at your kitchen table with a cup of…joe!

Here’s to everyone having their own James moment!

]]> By: Hickstyeria http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13862 Hickstyeria Tue, 08 May 2007 04:52:57 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13862 A wonderful story Shelley and your description of James fairly leapt off the page - so real I feel I know him. We all have a talent for something, whatever our personal physique. The key is understanding what we have and making use of it. James has great self-knowledge and wisdom which is what makes him so comfortable in his own skin. He sees singing in that choir as an achievement and knows that the work he does is just that - a job, a means to an end, a way to make a living. It doesn't matter to him what anyone else sees or thinks they see because he has the secret in the palm of his hand - self esteem. Shelley has a wonderful way with words and a talent for communication. I only know her through this blog and even then I only know a small part of who she is. I know only that when I see her photos here she has a wonderful smile and lovely red hair - I've always liked red hair yet I don't possess that colour myself - and that smile, plus her writing, tells me all I need to know. This is someone with conviction, with values, with passion. Size really doesn't matter! E.M. Forster once said 'Only Connect' and Shelley does that - with her family, her friends, her blog readers and with James, the opera-loving Maytag man. it takes a special talent to do that. Her beauty lies in who she is, not what she looks like and one day someone special will know that too. Thank you for the music James - I hear you and my heart hears you too. A wonderful story Shelley and your description of James fairly leapt off the page – so real I feel I know him.

We all have a talent for something, whatever our personal physique. The key is understanding what we have and making use of it. James has great self-knowledge and wisdom which is what makes him so comfortable in his own skin. He sees singing in that choir as an achievement and knows that the work he does is just that – a job, a means to an end, a way to make a living. It doesn’t matter to him what anyone else sees or thinks they see because he has the secret in the palm of his hand – self esteem.

Shelley has a wonderful way with words and a talent for communication. I only know her through this blog and even then I only know a small part of who she is. I know only that when I see her photos here she has a wonderful smile and lovely red hair – I’ve always liked red hair yet I don’t possess that colour myself – and that smile, plus her writing, tells me all I need to know. This is someone with conviction, with values, with passion. Size really doesn’t matter!

E.M. Forster once said ‘Only Connect’ and Shelley does that – with her family, her friends, her blog readers and with James, the opera-loving Maytag man. it takes a special talent to do that. Her beauty lies in who she is, not what she looks like and one day someone special will know that too.

Thank you for the music James – I hear you and my heart hears you too.

]]> By: eastonwest http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13856 eastonwest Tue, 08 May 2007 03:01:15 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13856 Wow Shelley! I rarely get the opportunity to browse around the boards anymore and post very little. I'm glad I checked this one today, your story is so meaningful and thought provoking. Thanks for delivering it in a way that we can all relate, to a certain extent. I'm in O.C. California where there are so many stereotypes, almost everyone can honestly fit into one of them in some way (you all know what they are)! Thanks again for the great story which could easily be submitted to a newspaper for publication. Wow Shelley! I rarely get the opportunity to browse around the boards anymore and post very little. I’m glad I checked this one today, your story is so meaningful and thought provoking. Thanks for delivering it in a way that we can all relate, to a certain extent. I’m in O.C. California where there are so many stereotypes, almost everyone can honestly fit into one of them in some way (you all know what they are)! Thanks again for the great story which could easily be submitted to a newspaper for publication.

]]> By: brc http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13855 brc Tue, 08 May 2007 02:46:36 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13855 Thanks for sharing Shelley. What an inspiring story... it made me cry. Wish there were more people around like James... and like you. Thanks for sharing Shelley. What an inspiring story… it made me cry. Wish there were more people around like James… and like you.

]]> By: Dinah http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13852 Dinah Tue, 08 May 2007 01:58:16 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13852 Loved your story, Shel. Sterotypes have haunted me all my life. Born and raised in Texas, I'm in Oregon (You're not from around here, are you?). A Catholic (You worship statues, don't you?). Have dyed hair (One of THOSE women). Married the 4th time.(Hmmmm) My lifelong best friend is Hispanic (Don't you know any WHITE girls?). I'm overweight (I prefer fluffy) and now pushing 70. Guess what? I've now known as "colorful"!!! People want to meet me and socialize with me! Mercy! Loved your story, Shel.
Sterotypes have haunted me all my life.
Born and raised in Texas, I’m in Oregon (You’re not from around here, are you?).
A Catholic (You worship statues, don’t you?).
Have dyed hair (One of THOSE women).
Married the 4th time.(Hmmmm)
My lifelong best friend is Hispanic (Don’t you know any WHITE girls?).
I’m overweight (I prefer fluffy)
and now pushing 70.
Guess what?
I’ve now known as “colorful”!!! People want to meet me and socialize with me! Mercy!

]]> By: Meg the elder http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13845 Meg the elder Tue, 08 May 2007 00:46:28 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13845 I think people grab at stereotype because it creates the illusion of safety. It let's them "think" they know who they are dealing with, without having to work at really knowing. It's lazy. Really knowing, really listening -- takes work and time and heart -- it's tiring sometimes -- exhilarating other times -- and always the only way to truly be alive. Stereotyping is one more way of deferring truly living. It's cheap like "Cliff Notes". Stereotyping makes us deaf to the music and blind to the beauty and the dangers. Stereotypes are some of the real Dangers. Thanks Shelley -- I can almost hear James sing. I think people grab at stereotype because it creates the illusion of safety. It let’s them “think” they know who they are dealing with, without having to work at really knowing. It’s lazy.
Really knowing, really listening — takes work and time and heart — it’s tiring sometimes — exhilarating other times — and always the only way to truly be alive. Stereotyping is one more way of deferring truly living. It’s cheap like “Cliff Notes”.

Stereotyping makes us deaf to the music and blind to the beauty and the dangers. Stereotypes are some of the real Dangers.
Thanks Shelley — I can almost hear James sing.

]]> By: Soultrain http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13844 Soultrain Mon, 07 May 2007 23:53:19 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13844 Stereotypes?? Here I sit, a Texan in Utah. The only reason I have time to type this little comment is because my husband has 7 other wives doing his laundry, tending his 27 kids and cooking his dinner. Great essay, Shelley. Thank you for making me cry; I needed one. Stereotypes?? Here I sit, a Texan in Utah. The only reason I have time to type this little comment is because my husband has 7 other wives doing his laundry, tending his 27 kids and cooking his dinner.

Great essay, Shelley. Thank you for making me cry; I needed one.

]]> By: double d http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13839 double d Mon, 07 May 2007 22:12:11 +0000 http://monkbot.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/tell-the-world-i-said-hello/#comment-13839 Why, shucks, lil' ole Texie, dahlin'....you can drive yer Eldorado with the horns ovah to Lower Alabama and we'll sit on the verandah and have some Mint Julips. That oughtta perk you right up. If not, then we can jump into the cement pond and cool off before the men-folk get off of work. Why, shucks, lil’ ole Texie, dahlin’….you can drive yer Eldorado with the horns ovah to Lower Alabama and we’ll sit on the verandah and have some Mint Julips. That oughtta perk you right up. If not, then we can jump into the cement pond and cool off before the men-folk get off of work.

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