I don't normally get involved in religious or moral debates, especially when it comes to matters of color. I can speak about this because I AM a minority-I'm 1/16th American Indian. Does my skin color reflect this? No. But, my blood line does and maybe that's an altogether different thing. Indians are not thought of quite as negatively as they were 50 or 60 years ago.

I grew up dirt poor in a small town. I was related to no one who lived there. Small towns are exactly the place for someone to grow up in terms of character building. We didn't own our home. My parents drove a jalopy. My mother didn't work. There were 5 kids in my immediate family. Yes, I know there were times when we were looked down upon. So?

I never took piano or dance lessons like some of the other kids did. I had a few nice clothes, but if I wanted anything beyond what my parents could afford I EARNED it. I could always look around and find someone less fortunate than myself and I never knew what it was to have everything handed to me, so I never missed it. We had enough to eat, a roof over our heads and heat in the winter time to keep us warm. I never knew to whine about it. I still don't.

My point is that my parents taught us values. We learned respect for other people-rich or poor and for those from other cultures. We learned that nothing good ever came without having to work for it. We never had a handout nor did we ever want or expect one.

There is no excuse for acting badly-no matter what your upbringing is or what your bloodline is. Period. We are all God's children. Nobody owes us a damned thing in the grand scheme of things.

"Grits is one of those country-boy words that is both singular and plural-like deer, elk and sheep. I think the singular is appropriate when there's a modifier that makes it clear one is talking about something specific. Like, 'Grits are good for you, but these here grits is tasty.'"~~Joe Wrabek