TOO WHITE, TOO OLD, TOO PRIVILEGED

 I am not the first writer to be rejected for one reason or another. Being turned down is part of the job. An article of mine was rejected because it was loosely associated with the period of Nazi domination of Europe--Boring? Old subject matter? The same online journal (devoted to Jewish women) nixed another article because they are looking for writers from a broader spectrum of the population. 

Evidently, I am from a narrow demographic--white and older. In response, I said to myself: OK, sure, I get the message. No more stories related to the tragedies of 80-85 years ago. And, you want young, Jewish women of color. I unfriended them on Facebook. 

I am not making light of the contributions and impact of younger people, especially minorities within a primarily white group (Jews). But why shut out an older cisgender white woman? And the rejection is from white women themselves who will be older in twenty years. 

Be careful who you rebuff, ladies, for your actions may come back to haunt you! Dismissing on the basis of skin color and age is discrimination. Older people should be respected. Actually, when I am out and about, it is usually Asians who are kind and thoughtful to me. This is no coincidence, as respect for age is a significant part of their culture.

The first article that was rejected celebrated the joyful acceptance of a young man as the new rabbi of a congregation of "older" people. A story related to my experience educating young people about the dangers of discrimination was considered inappropriate or uninteresting I cannot think of a more relevant topic given what is happening in the United States and other first world nations. Lastly, a story about two Jewish women linked by a common name who advocated for women, one in the 19th century and one in the 1920's, was turned down.

There is no time limitation for the study of history. When/what would we eliminate? The Five Books of Moses were written more than 2,000 years ago, so the Bible/Torah is no longer relevant. Shakespeare--another bigoted white man. Greek and Roman civilization--nah too European. The American Civil War is over--slavery was abolished; that's done. Though there are some who support suppressing the past, what a tragedy if that came to pass.

I was born, in the dark shadows of the Holocaust, from the union of two refugees of Nazi Germany.  Surrounded by survivors who spoke German, these refugees were my early role models. I was told Germany was the incarnation of evil; the cold war scared me with bomb drills; and then my family accepted reparations from the German government. Israel evolved as a nation throughout my childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. Civil rights, anti-war protests, increased awareness of the LGBT+ population, including gay marriage, colored my life. Of course, I write about these topics. This is what I know, not outmoded subjects in the least. 

Who is "in" and "out" are part of the vagaries of writing and publishing. I know. I am not shocked. But the wider issue is reverse discrimination in which the Supreme Court was recently involved. Discrimination and the subsequent use of quotas in college acceptance, in employment, and in our culture is a serious matter. 

Of course, those who have not been given advantages from their families of origin and society should be judged differently than those who have had an easy ride. However, skin color does not always equal disadvantage or advantage or worthy vs. unworthy. In my case, being white and old is a disadvantage. I am not cool, relevant, or in style which translates to unworthy to express myself to a wider audience. As a friend said recently, we pay the dues, vote, give generously to charity, and volunteer after years of paid employment.

If society does not listen to all voices, certain perspectives will be lost and a bunch of angry women (and men) may cause a ruckus. And do not give me that "Karen" designation, just another entitled white woman. There are some issues I understand better than others based on my life experience. I am not entitled to more than I deserve. I do not get to go to the head of the line or make a person of color leave empty handed.  But I deserve to be respected and heard.

©Karen Levi 2023

ALL AMERICAN BOY

 Last night, I attended the fireworks display for Rockville, Maryland, a town in Montgomery County which is adjacent to northwest Washington D.C. Most residents identify with the District, as it is called, either for work or cultural activities. National news becomes local news. Washington D.C. was built as a capital city, both for the institutions of our government--including the capitol-- and the civil service workers. The city has rich history of African Americans, their contributions and abhorrent neglect. The city has been divided into White, Black, diplomats, and civil service workers. Time has changed the demographics somewhat; but the separation of White, Black, Hispanic, rich and poor remains. 

The suburbs reflect these neighborhood distributions with change coming quickly and drastically. In 2023, the population of Rockville reflects diversity with a capital "D". With the blink of an eye, a predominatedly white neighborhood becomes filled with people from everywhere. Last night was no exception.

 Rockville was a sleepy, borderline south/north town in the 1950's, still segregated like the rest of the country. According to various sources from 2021, White people consist of 47% of the population, with Asians and Hispanics coming up second and third and then Blacks. I hate these labels which are misleading at best. White is what people call themselves but includes Biracial, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic individuals. Native Americans make up a small part of the population, but most Hispanics have indigenous blood no matter their skin color. Asians consist of people descended from Chinese to South Asian to Philipino. Whatever the statistics, anyone who observes our population sees a beautiful rainbow of pale, rosey, tan, light brown, dark brown, and nearly black skin tones. Spanish, Hindi, Tigrinya, Amharic, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, and more can be heard, yet the children squeal and shout in English.

Last night, these humans smiled, laughed, and patiently waited for dark to come. Some very old aunties in traditional dress did not seem happy to be in the boisterous crowd. Heaven knows the trauma they may have experienced in their lives. Older White and Black Americans seemed at ease, accustomed to the tumult of the 4th of July. The kids ran the gamut from bouncy, impatient, whiney, to quiet. They kicked a soccer ball on a hilly patch with a huge drain. The boys deftly avoided falling and bumping into others. Two year olds played on the grass with melted chocolatey faces and sticky fingers. Babies had their diapers changed, as families snacked or picknicked.  

I watched a family who originated from either Eithopia or Eriteria. Each child was treated to cotton candy and watched the scene around them. Cotton candy, commotion, and waiting for dark--dressed in red, white, and blue--a true, rapid immersion into American childhood and culture. 

My sister and I were those children in the late 1950's through the 1960's. Bundled up in coats on foggy San Francisco summer nights, we too watched fireworks. Or our father lit sparklers in the backyard after eating picnic food with a European touch. For we were the children of Holocaust survivors. Our parents, too, were hell-bent on making us Americans. And that is what we became, no doubt about that. As it is said, as American as apple pie. The European identity remained just below the surface. Just as the African families probably tell their children about their history, food, and customs. 

It is no coincidence that 4th of July celebrations are filled with people of diverse backgrounds and nationalities. These are the Americans who appreciate our country. I never cared about the holiday until I adopted two children from Latin America and realized how difficult it is to become a citizen. The recent threats to our Democracy have further strengthened my resolve to celebrate our ideals. I fly the American flag on Independence Day, as my father did. I do not want the conservatives to co-opt our flag. 

One hispanic boy walking to the fireworks display area wore a red shirt with the words, "All American Boy." That said it all. Yes, with deep brown skin, black hair, and shining eyes--you are all American. Just as all American as my sister and I were half a century ago. And as American as the kids who hail from families that "go back to the Mayflower," as it is said.

1776 in 2023

I fly a modestly sized American flag on July 4th. Increasingly aware of being an American citizen, since adopting foreign born children, watching the plight of refugees, and contemplating that I am the first born American in my family. My mother was not a citizen when I was born. (She had a green card or other documentation, since she worked.) My balcony is decorated with red, white, and blue which I enjoy. I do not adorn for Christmas. I am Jewish.

1776 was a musical I never considered attending. However, this is not 1969 or 1976--the year of the Bicentennial when I moved to the Washington D.C. area--but 2023. Tyrant wannabees and misguided followers threaten our democracy daily. Not only ignorant people but supposedly wise judges fall prey to politics. WTF or as the triumverate of Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson might say, "folks, read the document we sweated over." And, yes, they owned slaves. But that is not the point of my piece.

All of the roles in the revised, redone 1776 are portrayed by women. Women of all colors, shapes, sizes, and ages. Though, they could have included a baby boomer or two. Not a fan of revisions, this production moved me to tears. The first Americans in my clan arrived on these shores in the mid 20th century. I do not identify with colonial fathers and mothers. 

Of course, no women attended the Continental Congress of June to July of 1776. The talented women in the revised production adeptly portrayed the quirky, temperamental attributes of the "founding fathers." The directors selected women who were caricatures of the original men, i.e. Thomas Jefferson--red hair; Benjamin Franklin--strongly built. The actresses sang, spoke, and danced their way through the two act musical. As musicals are these days, the scenery was sparse and technology was utilized effectively.

Women did not have rights in 1776. At the present time, women of all races work in professions that only white men were permitted to practice not so long ago. Women speaking the lines of politicians and statesmen demonstrated what a democratic government can accomplish. For it is our laws that have allowed all women increased rights and all humans to exist freely in varying shapes, colors, and abilities. The production acknowledges how far we have come, and how far we must go.

I understood the arguments and compromises of 1776 differently than I would have in 1976. The country was divided by the Vietnam War; but, Americans agreed on the basics--honesty, integrity, respect, and the sanctity of our democratic institutions. I did not agree with the corruption, misogyny, racism, and militarism of the sixties and seventies, but elected officials did not incite or condone gullible individuals to literally tear down a democracy. Freedoms were added not subtracted. News was news; truth was truth. If the president uttered words, these statements were not negated two days later. (And to the naysayers on the right--there has never been a time without corruption, lies, and unfair application of the law.) But the scoundrels were caught and punished swiftly. 

©Karen Levi 2023