The Oshkosh Independent!

Oshkosh has a new online newspaper that I believe is relevant, dynamic, and so important for Oshkosh's autonomy. If you were a fan of the Oshkosh Scene (which is now the Fox Valley Scene), then you'll be a fan of the Oshkosh Independent.

Many of the same writers we found in the Oshkosh Scene are present in OI.  Just like the Oshkosh Scene, you can find "Diversity Matters" in the OI.

This month, I strayed away from my typical article concept of writing about Oshkosh being careful to not entertain too much of my own opinion. That would not describe my first article for this publication.

Check out ..... "Ferguson: Your Questions, My Answers" and let me know what you think.

Think Before You Speak!

This article spoke to me .... to my very essence of being a mother.

I cannot tell you
    how many times my parentage of our four children were questioned, or
       how many times I've been asked if my husband is the father of all four of my children, or
          how beautiful bi-racial children are and how they wished they had one (as if they are puppies or cats).

Why? Why do people seem to think that because my family may look different from theirs that they have the right and privilege to ask me some very private questions.

Think about it .... if you would not ask your friends, who happen to be in mono-racial or mono-ethnic families, these questions why would you ask me?

Here are a few sayings that we could do without.

8 Things Moms of Bi-Racial Children Don't Want to Hear

What would you do?

Ever wonder what you would do when put in a certain situation?

One of best shows I've seen for watching how others (and possibly myself) would respond in certain social settings is, What Would You Do?

The premise is that typically the "victim" and one or more people within the scenario are actors in a serious social issue. The people around these actors are you or me. The more of these videos that I watch, the more I realize that my ONE VOICE can change a life. Usually, it is just one person who steps out of his or her comfort zone that changes the social landscape of the "victim".

The video below is one such example.  Watch and then ask yourself .... What Would I Do?

Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Mildred Loving!

Thank you, Richard and Mildred Loving!




A few years ago, I was able to catch the movie, The Loving Story, on HBO. If you have never heard of it, the synopsis is that Richard (White male) and Mildred (Black/Native American female) Loving fell in love and married. The problem was that the law of the land, in 1951, considered Inter-racial marriages illegal. The Lovings held on to their hope of living in a land that was free of any type of laws that kept a man and woman, regardless of culture, race, or ethnicity, from marrying.

Finally, in 1961, Loving v. Virginia finally made its way to the Supreme Court. This movie shows some of the actual sound tracks from the hearings related to this case. If you have never heard the Bible used in a way to support racism and hate, I suggest you watch and listen to The Loving Story. It is unbelievable, and indefensible, how the justices used the Word of God to deny two people the ability to be together.

For me, it cemented my view that the Bible should never be used to dictate law in an open and free society. The Bible is my ruler, but it may not be my neighbor's ruler. The Bible tells me how to live, but it is not meant to be used by one ruler of a country or a court. For me, the sound tracks of this movie proved to me how hateful one person can make a book based on love.

Find a copy, watch it, and let me know what you thought.

It's warm!

This is what we do when it gets warm... Wait in line for the car wash.