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Living in Peace

Folks, if you’re brave enough to leave a rude comment, please be brave enough to leave your real email address.

For the life of me, I cannot understand someone who wants to put folks down, question everything they do, and leave rude comments on blogs. Life is too short.  You only make yourself look small and angry.  I feel sorry for you . . always looking for something to pick apart.  Yes, you got a blog post out of it but that doesn’t bother me.  I love to type and it’s free!  🙂

There are so many happy things going on around me, so many happy and fun folks . . why would anyone who is determined to be a grumpy, wet blanket type person even want to come to my blog . . other than to criticize me and the things I do, the things I believe are important and the way I live my life?

For those who did not see the latest comment from this “fan” before it was deleted, here’s what was written:

What race was the bull rider and school teacher?  interesting you only noted the race of the Hispanic couple.

My question to you, liveinpeace with the wrong email address, is:

If there had been an Italian couple there and I had approached them about teaching me to cook authentic Italian food, would that have required me to list the nationalities/races of all the other couples of there?

I’m pretty sick of political correctness and folks who are just looking for something that someone else does wrong.

Your comment particularly aggravates me because I’m not the least bit racist and I don’t need you or anyone suggesting that maybe I am.  For goodness sake . . I was wanting permission to go to their home and visit with them.  I gave them eggs!   Honestly . . what sense would my blog post have made if I were describing the folks there and just mentioned that I talked to a couple about teaching me to make authentic Mexican food.

I hope everyone can find a way to live in peace . . including “liveinpeace”.  By the way, I wonder if he/she wants to know how many beavers my son trapped this year!  🙂

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Really! Some people. Keep up the good work Judy, I love to read your stories.

    For those who seem to look for something wrong” if you can’t say something nice dont say anything at all”. Internet or not, just keep you thoughts to yourself.

    Thank, I feel better. :). Deb Brown

  2. What is wrong with people? Just because race is mentioned doesn’t mean the writer is a racist. Races exist – deal with it! The fact that she’s Hispanic is what delighted you so. I would be tickled to learn Mexican cooking from an elderly Hispanic woman, but not so much from the 18 year old white boy who works at Taco Bell.

    • For years I asked every Hispanic person I saw in our little town if they would teach me to make hot tamales. If I lived in an Italian community, I’d be asking them to teach me to make Italian dishes. I think it’s ridiculous that this reader drew from my post that I was singling out the Hispanic family. I spent more time with them while at the gathering than I did with anyone else. The man was teaching me about different peppers and how they roast them. Vince spent his time talking with an elderly guy about raising goats. We found those we wanted to spend time with and did and . . oh, it’s just so wrong for that reader to even halfway suggest that I was being racist. I’m so tired of people looking for something wrong, when it isn’t there.

      • As my husband says “you can’t fix stupid….even with duct tape”. Just keep being yourself, that’s what we love about you and your blog!
        P.S. Thanks for all you share!

  3. I liked the blog post, it showed that you are getting to know your neighbors and what a wonderfully varied bunch they are! Getting to know people is hard to do when you live in the country and you can’t see your neighbor’s houses, never mind see the people. Ignore the comments like this one – its a reflection on how petty minded and bigotted they are, not how you are.

  4. Kind of reminds me of the small minded man who criticized the news anchor on her weight… this is bullying no wonder kids do it when adults can’t seem to stop doing it.

  5. I loved your story of the “block party” and could visualize everyone you mentioned. I never once thought anything about you being racist!!! What’s wrong with being descriptive? Hispanic isn’t a dirty word. People read their own prejudices into other people’s words and see a reflection of themselves. I saw love and humor and that person saw hate–it all comes from what is inside us.

  6. Yes, Judy, people are being WAAAAY too politically correct these days. Too bad your happy post had to have a nasty comment. Some people are just that way. It’s great that you can look beyond it, and just enjoy what you did, and who you did it with! It’s always wonderful to hear! 🙂

  7. Anyone who regularly reads your blog took your comments to be genuine interest in those around you. Being from Australia I would not have appreciated the broad cultural group and the great opportunity it presented if you had not described it appropriately. Thank you. You inspire me every day. Do not let others change you. We like just you as you as you are, friendly and caring like the rest of us.

  8. You are going to find these idyots everywhere! (translation…replace the y with an i, LOL). Some people are very sensitive about thier race. Some are just filled with hate.

  10. I enjoyed your post. Who would you ask to teach you about cooking Mexican food, an Irishman? Hope you learn lots from this nice lady. If you do share the reciepes with us!!
    Forget this comment and enjoy the rest of your day.

  11. Ditto to Sheila, enjoy your day. That person needs forgiveness Although I can’t understand why post it….Maybe it was my BIL, sounds like something he would point out. Oh that was bad of me….

  12. After i posted that last comment, I realized I forgot to say that hispanic, is not a RACE it is an ethnicity. that person is really not well educated either.

  13. That person is a bully, pure and simple. I wouldn’t waste my energy to even reply. Life is too short.

  15. I am actually jealous that you might get lessons, wish I had a hispanic couple in my neighborhood.

    Did you read about the reporter yesterday for a CBS channel, that got an email becasue she was on air and over weight. It’s gone viral! She rocks. She even appreared on the Today show today.

    People have to realize posting on the internet if you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all, means a whole new level!

    You rock Judy!

  16. I think “political correctness” is ridiculous and artificial. God made each of us unique individuals and created a wide variety of cultures. Political correctness says we’re not supposed to notice?! Then why did God, in His infinite wisdom, create the world that way? Aren’t we supposed to notice and be enlightened by our differences and learn from each other? On the one hand we’ve got the government promoting diversity in businesses and schools, and on the other hand we’re being told it isn’t politically correct to notice our diversity! We’re all supposed to be ambiguous and annoymous, I guess. How absurd. We don’t need people preaching “political correctness”; all we need is to make the Golden Rule our motive and mission!

  17. See another Sheila has sent a comment to you, agree with what she says….
    Do not let this horrible person, who sent the nasty comments get to you, I for one enjoy all your posts and please keep them coming

  18. Well Marky must have read my mind. “Political correctness” has become permission to say whatever nasty thing was in your tiny brain and should have never passed through your lips. I can’t stand the nastiness that goes on – particularly when you choose to read a blog and then criticize it. Get a life! Keep ’em coming Judy – we don’t have to put up with that crappola in Texas!

  19. ugh, some people have no brains! It would have made no sense as a post if you hadn’t mentioned their ethnicity!

  20. I didn’t think Hispanic was a race. I guess if that is the case I am a different race too, because I am Italian!

    glen: at least my heavily racist in laws thought so!

  21. I was at a party a couple weeks back, and since I am also a genealogist, I was getting asked quite a few questions, from quite a few people. There were some black people there, and yes, I say black…and they were convinced that doing black genealogy was hard, and the hostess of the party said…”NO WAY!! You are talking to one person in this community who has helped and done lots of black genealogy, and has even been in the paper for doing it”…that being ME!! I then started asking them questions, and telling them the historical records available for “their people”. I then told them that I say “their people” because I AM NOT PC. I would say to someone from Ireland, “their people”, or someone from Sweden, “their people”, because that is exactly what they are!!! One of the black ladies then said something about her being African American, and I asked her why she said that, BECAUSE , in the previous 15 minutes of conversation, she said her brother participated in a Genealogical DNA project that traces your family, and yes, those are very popular right now, and it was discovered through the DNA, that her ancestry was EUROPEAN and from an island (sorry I can’t recall it), and she may not be descended from slaves after all…so, I asked her why she said she was African American. I got blank stares. I am Irish, British, German, and Scottish, but more importantly, I am AMERICAN…. I don’t qualify my Americanism by saying I am European American. There ARE Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians. Get a grip people…. And Judy, if you post this, and you get crappy posts, just send them to me…. I will take care of them. PC is out of control.

  22. All I can say is it takes all kinds and what was the thing on facebook-when you are on the internet you can be anything you want-why do so many people chose stupid!! PC is getting out of hand. We all have ethnic backgrounds, why can’t we appreciate them and let it go at that.
    Love reading your posts.

  23. I always wonder how people find the time to be so negative. I’m too busy enjoying my life to feel the need to ruin other people’s!

  25. Judy, my husband works in news media, mostly working with the news websites, and people who leave nasty comments like that are what we refer to as “trolls” – both because they are usually grumpy, mean spirits, but also that they are “trolling” for reactions. It is obnoxious enough when it is on a news story, where the subject of the story is not usually the one receiving the comments – but to do so on a personal blog is just plain rude. You paint a wonderful verbal picture of the world around you and welcome us all to join you virtually – don’t ever start second guessing those words because of the mean trolls!!!

  26. Hey Judy. . . gee, based on that comment that you got I guess there are several food based TV stations that I watch that would be considered racist as well — there’s “Aarti Party” which is hosted by an Indian woman — and her concept is to make Indian food “accessible” to non-Indians. Then there is “Simply Ming” in which Ming Tsai (an Asian) talks and cooks oriental dishes (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, etc.)

    Gee, I’m Italian/German/Native American. . . . but I cook more Polish dishes than anything else (when I cook, that is — DH is the main cook in our household). . . I guess if you asked me to teach you to cook something you’d have to call me the “United Nations” in order to be “correct”!!! LOL

    Really, there are just too many people that have nothing better to do with their time.

    Stop blogging & get those knitting needles going — majority rules, dontcha know!! LOL

  27. Honest to God, what the heck is wrong with people? They get 10 seconds of post time with their cranky attitudes and it gets yanked by the blog owner. I hope that made their day. Good for you, Judy! It was such a nice post and I’m so happy you had a great time. I’m not sure why anyone would want to rain on your parade. It takes all kinds, I guess.

    Have a great rest of the day! Disregard the weirdos. 🙂

  28. Judy,
    You described a wonderful evening with great new neighbors! How sad that a reader would find something to gripe about in your description of the BEST of community and friendship.
    99.9% of your readers flock to your very positive blog for inspiration and sharing. Let that 0.1% take their sniping elsewhere!
    Joanna

  29. The writer is ignorant and it is a shame that person does not reveal their identity. That alone shows they know they are aware of the errors of their judgement.

  30. It must be in the air, someone on another blog got a criticism from probably a jealous person. You now live in Texas so you have a lot of Hispanics I would imagine (don’t want to assume, not PC), and your remark isn’t out of place. You had to specify her background since you want to learn to cook her methods. Was she offended, I would think she was probably pleased.

  31. We have all been there. One person told me I was bad for showing a paper pieced cardinal (as my banner at the time) that wasn’t mine. I even got knocked off Blogger because of it. Come to find out, she saw my cardinal on Printerest with someone elses name on it, and thought I stole it from there. It actually was the reverse! (I got a formal appology from Blogger – which I printed out!)
    Don’t give any credit to this troublemaker. Like I always told the kids when they were teased at school… consider the source. (Do you care what they think? No! Then don’t let it worry you.) Just go on your merry way, and don’t let her drag you down.
    Double Hugs!!!

  32. I saw that comment yesterday and thought to myself that was totally out of line. I had enjoyed reading about meeting your neighbors and how friendly us Texans are. My neighbors have all been wonderful people. We recently helped care for an elderly widow neighbor for about 3 years until she went to a nursing home (no family.) My husband even took her to get her hair done besides the myriad of other ways we could help her! She was a dear woman and would give us the shirt off her back if we needed it. (And I loved knowing she had any ingredient I might need for cooking and was out of.) She taught me to make pie crust. I was even slightly jealous about the mention of the Hispanic woman and her teaching you to cook some of their specialities. I would love to experience that. Your area of TX where our farm is near, (like most I would guess) is very neighborly and willing to help.

  33. That person was definitely looking for something to complain
    about. I wonder if you had said there was a woman there with a red dress on and I asked her if she would show me how to make a dress like that would they have found something wrong with that? I took you comment as a descripition not a politically correct/incorrect statement. Some folks need to get a life and let others live theirs. Being rude is not PC it’s just rude!

  34. You go, Judy!! I’m so sick of the “political correctness” plague that has infested our country. So sick, in fact, that I refuse to play the game. People have become over sensitive to everything it seems…..to the point one is afraid to open their mouth to speak at all for fear of “offending” someone. Frankly, I’m offended that they are offended……”get over it” I say!!!

  35. as someone who used to moniter comments on a chat board, we were always told to remove the comment as quickly as possible and then decide what to do about it. the reason was three-fold:
    1. it kept the responding comments about the nasty post to a minimum.
    2. people who make nasty comments thrive on the response they get. They view the response about what they say as people paying attention to them. Even if it’s negative attention, it’s still attention paid to them, and that’s what they crave above all else–to be in the spotlight.
    3. removing the comment removes the opportunity for them to get that attention, enjoyment, and satisfaction from what they posted .

    as you say, Judy, it’s your place and you have the right to remove anything at any time, in order to keep this a friendly place that we all like to come to.

  36. I just Love it when you speak your mind. I’d like to tell them a thing or two about who you really are. I may have never met you in person but I know you after following your blog and being in groups with you before that. Your one of the nicest, helpful, giving people I know. Yesterday I got the news I have the big B cancer..so I’ll have more time to visit your blog each day and maybe while I recover I can finally try some of those yummy recipes you post. And thanks for the books you recommend…love the last one..I read the whole series and enjoyed it..really made me think. and thanks for the quilt alongs and free patterns that I’ve enjoyed doing with you and for your sock pattern recommendations that make me pick up the needles and make them. Most of all Thanks for being YOU.

    • Sue G: You just remember that there are alot of people that are praying for you and tell that Devil to go to the ditch!!! Prayers for strength and healing coming your way!!

  37. You just keep posting. You bring a smile and teach us all the time…you are NOT racist! That is the ugly commenter!

  39. People can just be so rude and for no reason. I have a friend who is Korean and taught me some wonderful dishes. I sure wouldn’t have learned that from a German or West African tho I would love to have a go at those cultures. This world is too small now to be so racist.

  41. Judy, you remain my hero……ok, heroine……I read NO RACISM in your post! I never have. I am an American of Mexican decent. My mama and daddy were born and raised in Texas so I have always thought we were TEX/MEX!! All my life I have been told I am an American first and foremost. I know the difference between a racist remark and one that is not. I’ve been exposed to both. I married a man with folks that are from the south….and very racist. My life in this family has never been easy BUT….I love that I can see and know the difference to throw aside the negative and grab on to the positive.
    I like what GenQuilter said. Very wise lady.
    I like simple. I love all people. I love the song by John Lennon, IMAGINE……….I feel sorry for the poster of that mean post……I can’t imagine living with that kind of ugliness inside me……..
    Thank you Judy for all you bring to the table……everything….

  42. Geeze, Judy…you probably shouldn’t have mentioned those beavers. Now the PETA people will come down on you. And you can bet they won’t read enough of your blog to see how you dote on your dog, and your chickens and the cows on the other side of the fence. I don’t think squashing grasshoppers counts.

    I find that the older I get the more I just want to live and let live. Even the people who really annoyed me a few years ago don’t have as much of an annoying quality any more. Have they worked at improving or have I just mellowed?? It really doesn’t matter.

  43. Keep on doing what you’re doing! You’re an inspiration to us all. If it weren’t for you, I surely wouldn’t have as many quilts finished as I do. I stumbled upon your blog post on UFOs a few years back. I don’t have a blog, but I made my own list and kept going back to your blog for the ‘number of the month’. I started finishing quilts, and now I’m addicted to your blog! You also got me cooking more because of your food posts–it seems when I see a picture of whatever you’ve made, I suddenly ‘need’ to make it! Who knows, I may even learn to knit someday so I can make pretty socks like you. My next adventures are learning to make feathers and buying a pretty dutch oven like yours (oh, can I call it that, or will I offend someone????). Thanks for everything you do!!!!!

    • Verna, I kept reading Judy’s posts about knitting socks and her encouragement to just do it if you have always wanted to. You have to just start. So I ordered the basic pattern she recommended, looked up videos on You Tube instead of paying $60 for a class and taught myself. It was so fun!

  44. “Small and angry” is the perfect description of that set of people who hide behind the anonymity that is possible online and entertain themselves by stirring things up (or just plain being mean.)

  45. I’m sorry somebody was rude to you. So many people enjoy reading your blog, that it’s such a shame for others to do this to you. Being anonymous lets people be jerks. This person needs to focus on how to be a better person and not how to criticise others.

  46. Well said Judy!!! I just have to say that I love your blog. You have a way with words that I really enjoy reading, whether it’s about quilting, chickens, bugs, or snakes. You keep it real and that’s what makes your readers keep coming back. Glad you gave it right back at them that want to knock you down. Some people are just not happy and don’t think anyone else should be either.

  47. Sorry you have to be subjected to such ridiculousness!!!! That person must not be from the North East… (where I am originally from) – where everyone is really defined “where their people are from” – that hispanic guy, that italian guy, that haitian guy…. it is not a slam! you can identify me as an Italian anytime you want!!!!
    I hope they don’t darken your blog again!!!!

  48. Hi Judy – I don’t often comment but just wanted to send a virtual hug your way. You are one of the nicest bloggers I keep an eye on. Your sharing and generosity of spirit is wonderfully affirming in this crazy world. It sounds like you have a wonderful community and are settling in so well. All the best to you and your family.

    PS – I really like the comment ‘you can’t fix stupid – even with duct tape’. That’s a keeper.

  49. Once upon a time, Americans were the sort of people who could fight a war on two fronts against overwhelming odds and come out winners. These days, it seems that many are opting for small-mindedness and can’t think of anything more worthwhile than picking someone else apart, and looking for something to be offended by, or offensive about. Are we becoming a nation of blanc mange? I seriously wonder sometimes! Life is too short for that nonsense!

  50. Judy, you are loved, Vince is loved, your chickens are loved, Speck is loved, Chad, Nicole, and Adalina are loved. Even the un-invited critters you share with us are loved (maybe). When someone leaves a derogatory remark or comment and are so cowardly they do it anonomously it speaks VOLUMES about their integrity – and not in a flattering way. Sometimes, people are so miserable with their own life they have to attemt to make others miserable. Unfortunately, the world is full of these types. I am actually sad for them. I feel the best way to deal with these unhappy individuals is to not let them steal your joy for life – even for one second!!!
    Keep doing what you are doing and just be you – no way you can go wrong!!!!

  51. Isn’t it funny they were so concerned about the whole posting enough to take the time to write a comment on Judy’s blog but too much of a chicken to put up a correct email up? No offence Ms. Hattie! I mean really!! If you’re going to try to start a debate, hang around, we will all set you straight!!
    Judy, keep on keeping on! We all love your blog. I look forward to reading it everyday while in my recliner in pain. It helps my mind and my soul with a good laugh. I’m waiting on your best seller to come out any day now. (hugs) to you my friend.
    Donna

  52. Seriously? Mentioning the couple were Hispanic was relevant to your story. Mentioning the ethnicities of the others was not. Talk about making a mountain out of …well, nothing!

  53. I am tired of this nonsense. My, oh my, this gal is a strange bird. I am tired of political correctness, thought police, and anyone else out there telling or correcting my friends and me on such matters as how I speak and what they “think” I mean. Get over it!

  54. Some posters are just’ no account’ as my grandmother would say. People that are negative give me a good time by me being so sticky sweet condescending to their negative. (this will make the most negative guild member mad as a wet hen)
    I don’t care about being political correct. If someone is Hispanic, Italian, French, Oriental, Southern, sleazy, snobby, sweet, rich, poor or just plain nuts I’ll describe them that way.

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