Cindy Stowell

Every once in a while we get to witness a truly remarkable person. I read this story a few days ago about the passing of Cindy Stowell shortly after she finished appearing on and winning 6 times on Jeopardy! I watched all six episodes that she won and the seventh episode where she comes short of winning. Alex Trebek spoke about her after the seventh episode. The quote is in the attached story. She was incredibly intelligent on many different subjects. She was also amazingly calm during the entire seven episodes. composed and gentle I couldn't believe this woman was dominating Final Jeopardy for 6 episodes like a bad ass boss! Her resolve was compelling and I was instantly enthralled by her. She lived in Austin Texas and at only a year older than I am she was a Science content developer. She never once mentions it on the show and never shows any kind of sadness or emotions. I hope to someday be as strong as Cindy Stowell.
Look at that smile:)



https://www.yahoo.com/tv/alex-trebek-pays-heartbreaking-tribute-143800110.html

Richard Spencer and Alternative Right

Some of what Richard Spencer of Alternative Right says is accurate. I also agree with a couple pieces of it. But, I cannot support his extreme views on color. Personally, I believe it should have more to do with culture than color. Richard Spencer refers to himself as European. Well, just like he says to people of other colors go home. In another part he refers to himself as American. Which is it? America was built by immigrants. The American culture exists because so many immigrants came here to escape the problems with their own countries. To enjoy freedoms not allowed in other countries. Unless you're a native American you're talking about taking over a country your ancestors were allowed to come here to be free. Now, you want to declare that you believe that simply because someone is white they are better than anyone of any other color? I believe in the American Culture and was part of a military that fought for our country to defend it. I am a middle class American who pays 30 percent of my pay to taxes. My kids attend school in Orange County, CA which have amazing schools but also contains the "Orange Curtain". There is a large group of people that are racist. When they see a black person they make jokes or assume negatives about that person. As a half white half brown person I guess I don't see myself the way others see me. I walk into a meeting at an airport where I'm being looked at as the expert in my industry and some people don't like it. That represents immigrants taking over the country to them. So in a way I can't fault someone like Richard Spencer for hating because of that naive feeling. The problem is that I represent exactly what he should be embracing. Instead, he spits out some idealistic rhetoric about how whites conquered this country and thus have the right to define what it's about. This is the exact reason why people say Richard Spencer is merely a 5 minute of fame type of individual we see constantly. Look, bring it Spencer. If you think you and your low IQ white supremacists will overtake a country full of a race that supports Land of the free and home of the brave I dare you to try. I'm a peaceful man that just wants to love and create more love. I truly do believe love is the answer. While I still struggle to feel love all day every day I still believe it's the answer. Things like Pride are the anti-love.

Spencer creates division among a race. He talks about the white race but if he spent just a few minutes learning about the facts he'd realize there is only 1 race. That's the human race. Color is not a race. Color is a pigment created by where your ancestors lived their lives. When people first migrated from Africa many went to Europe. Well, many parts of Europe have little sun and therefore many of it's residents have pale colored skin that evolved with it's environment. While people that stayed in Africa where it's mostly sunny remained dark to adapt to the climate in that country. When you visit a country you can simply look at it's climate and then at the people and instantly understand why they are the color they are. That's it! That's as deep as color goes. Instead of color Richard Spencer should look at culture. He's correct that many people maybe should look to a location that shares their culture. But to think that color automatically makes someone superior to another color? That is absolutely lunacy and to me shows how naive and uncultured someone is. Let's say a person if from a small town with no black people. Well, now they have no interaction so anything they hear becomes fact to them. But if you actually take the time to learn about people in different places you'll learn there are wonderful people in every color. Stay with me please. I know I run on and on but I have a point. Let's say you have a neighborhood in California for example. A white family and black family live next door to each other for 3 generations. Don't you think that those families will be similar after 3 generations? There may be some distinctions that remain in their families through culture. But, after attending the same schools and society they'll probably share many similarities. That's why I say that people like Richard Spencer are a problem for society not a solution. I've researched him and looked at his background. He's educated and speaks articulately. But he's completely loony when it comes to his goals.

Spencer wants to have all colors simply go back to their original countries. Unless it's white European. White Europeans he says should be allowed to live with their own color here in the United States. How in any kind of reality does that make any sense? I respect his opinion and he's allowed to have any opinion he wants. That's the difference between me and others. I believe people should be allowed to feel how they want. Instead, our society believes in political correctness. That means that you can feel however you want as long as you don't tell anyone about it. Unless how you feel is acceptable to political correctness. Then, you're good to go. But what if you just don't believe that a man should identify as a woman? Well, these days you better not say that at work or in any public environment unless you want fury unleashed on you be all the politically correct police. I believe that people should be allowed to not agree. Doesn't mean that it's right just that they have the freedom to feel however they want. I cannot identify with someone who was born a woman but identifies with being a man but I can definitely empathize with them. While it might not make sense to me I can only imagine the persecution and hate a person must endure for identifying that way. But why should anyone else care what that individual does? Why should I have the right to care what happens in that person's personal life? If everyone had the same opinion then where would free thinking and creativity go? Instead, I should be able to listen to Richard Spencer's opinion on white supremacy and then intelligently respond with my disagreements. If I am not educated enough to speak on it then I should let someone else who is respond. Too many times we also have opinions when we either do not know the facts or where we don't know enough to have an opinion. In color I believe I have some education in the matter. As an only child between my mother and father I have a white half brother and a half black sister. I am half brown. I only say brown because I do not know my father and his name is not on my birth certificate. I think he's Mexican but I don't know that. My mother is originally of Scottish descent and is a white girl that was born in Texas and grew up in California.

I have also lived with many colors throughout my life. I was born in Pomona and lived there between 5th grade and 7th grade. I lived in Hacienda heights from birth to second grade. I lived in San Bernardino from 2nd grade to 4th grade. Whittier for a summer before 5th grade and then Phelan from 7th grade to high school graduation. During that time I had to run home from both Crips and Bloods in Pomona, Cholos in Whittier, while also trying to stand up for myself against them and racist white people. At no time though after experiencing all this did I ever consider disliking any color because of a few bad people. I remember a black girl that I liked in 5th grade named Anissa Hill. Her mother and father both had good careers. They had more money than my family did. Yet, my uncle who was basically my dad told me that he better never see me walking next to a "nigger" again. It changed my life forever. Until then I don't think I had ever really seen racism. I remember how sweet and innocent Anissa Hill was. To automatically assume she is no good because of her color hurt my mind. I believe I have a lot of experience with hate, racism, poverty, and segregation to give a solid opinion of it's affects. I can only imagine how my sister Michelle feels about it. As a half black half white girl she endured much worse than I ever did. After my dad saying the N word I actually turned to my sister and wondered what she felt about what she just heard. But I knew better than to ask her where he could hear. But I can tell you that I had to fight many people that disrespected my sister with race hating words. At no time did it cause me to assume all white people were racist and filled with hate. But as an American I know I have biases and hate towards people that I assume are the same as someone I encountered negatively. It's ok to have the feelings but without us being able to talk it out how are we supposed to learn?

I agree with Richard Spencer about the one sided nature of racism. If black and brown can have pride why not white? Why should you not be able to be proud of your color without being racist. While I believe pride is one of the problems with many things I also believe in freedom of expression. Be proud if that's important to you. But don't hate. I have no pride in my color. I try not to have any pride at all. I try to embrace humility and love. My color does not define me although it might have some things to do with my personality. For example: I was raised mostly by white people. We ate American type food but dang it if I don't instinctively want to mix everything and put it in a burrito. I love tacos! Should I be ashamed of that? No, but I have black friends that will never be seen with a watermelon, grape kool aid, or fried chicken just to avoid the stereotype. I don't really care. I'll put a lawnmower in my truck and munch on some tamales like a Boss! If people want to judge me go for it. I'd prefer they actually said it to my face. But instead our society believes in smiling in your face and talking negatively behind your back. Anyways, I just wanted to vent about how I believe people like Richard Spencer are misguided but in some ways I can understand why they are.