You got it. Mind you I agree with you, ya know. All of what I told you in my first response was based upon situations that I have personally experienced. I feel that even though I can traverse the boundaries easily (I lived in the US for about 7 years) many others of my color are not in a position to do the same. Not until I actually looked at the differences in my behavior versus theirs did I see what was really going on. To tell the truth I was channeling "Bryant Gumbell". In more simpler terms, over there I was accepted more than my peers as long as I perfected and enacted Causasian mannerisms. Like they say, "when in Rome..."

I don't agree with the principle that I have to "be" a certain way to gain acceptance. I find it insulting when I am more widely accepted when I act or speak a certain way that is not natural to who I am. Wouldn't you?

Ahh I gotcha.. I totally agree.. I would never change the way I act or think to fit into any molds.. This is probably why I have select friends because i'm very picky about who i'll call friends... I like people who's personality matches mine, I have a wild sense of humour. I do however see people like what you described all the time and I cant hate them, but I just think is that how they really are on the inside or is it just a mask to be liked? I'm told im very charismatic but on the other hand i'm also very antisocial so I guess that keeps me in line. The only thing I will do is try to speak clearly so people will understand me because the accent gets in the way sometimes and I hate having to repeat myself.

I’m in the process of letting my hair grow into its natural state. Mind you, I comb it every morning and it is getting “high” enough to actually lock it, but you would not believe the amount of people that mention that I should get a haircut. What? Is my Afro bothering them? Am I, as an island person, supposed to adhere to someone else’s cultural representations of docility? I am going to lock my hair –AGAIN. And this time I am going to record the sometimes narrow-minded reactions of my people, in full detail. I believe the truth needs to be told.

I know that if I goto a client with long hair and unshaven, which is in its natural state as you say, I would never get the job, I imagine in a Bank Enviroment, Hotel, etc, It is the same. I worked in a hotel in England and we had to be properly groomed, they are the employer, not us, nothing to do with race.

But yes, alot of people see dread locks as 'dirty' as alot of people that have them, AKA rastas, etc, never wash their hair. I have some friends that have locks though and wash their hair, probably more than me! :-)

Personaly I prefer short hair, so I keep mine in a crew cut all the time, its too hot for long hair, and brushing it every day can be annoying when you are in a hurry!

Other thing is, no matter what the person looks like, they should be judged on their intelligence and not what they wear, or look like. Unfortunatelt too many other people dont see it this way, I wouldnt wear a suit if my life depended on it, and people take it the wrong way most of the time, but i still know more in my industry than the person who turns up wearing a suit.

Is this the reason why my own interracial dating experience ended in just that, a quick experience? My own experience ended in a few dates and wonderful interracial sexual experiences.

it seems that simply put, the original poster gemmenyah, has had personal problems and issues with his interracial relationships and gives the idiotic excuse that this is why God did not want the races to mix in the first place.

good grief.

it seems that simply put, the original poster gemmenyah, has had personal problems and issues with his interracial relationships and gives the idiotic excuse that this is why God did not want the races to mix in the first place.

good grief.

I never knew that was in the bible, but then its been a while for me reading the bible. It does help if a couple has the same background, cultures etc, makes it easier to get along, but then once they love each other thats all that really matters.

once they love each other thats all that really matters.

thank you! God is love. love breaks and crosses all barriers.

http://img34.photobucket.com/albums/v103/godsign/tracytattoocrop.jpg

my wife & I.

http://img34.photobucket.com/albums/v103/godsign/tracytattoocrop.jpg

my wife & I.

Nice picture! I am not a big fan of tatoos but they look good on you and your wife.

thank you! God is love. love breaks and crosses all barriers.

God's love often does! His followers, on the other hand, often create more barriers than they break.

God's love often does! His followers, on the other hand, often create more barriers than they break.

yes, sad but true.

which god though, there are so many!

I have to admit, this forum has got me thinking about religion more than i ever have in my entire life. I grew up as a Cristian, and honestly remained so until I returned to the Bahamas. I dont know why this country has turned me off christianity, if it really has, I dont think so, but maybe its due to the extreme attitudes of so many Christians here, that, well, if you dont go to church, you are labled a non christian, among other things. You can believe all you want, do unto others as you'd have them do into you, but unless you goto a so called church in the Bahamas, you are labeled as a non christian. Really doesnt matter so much, I dont pay much attention to people that say things like that. Yes Im a sinner, but what Christian is not.? And does it really matter whether I am a christian or not.

I praise those that can sit through a sermon, its no easy task. I spent many many years of this, I guess I just got bored of it after a while, preaching to me things I already know, or have experienced.

Another thing, I survived 2 major car accidents here, both within a couple months (head through the windscreen in the first, second one car split in 2), so I know there is something there, and I have been allowed to stay in this life, for some reason, just havent figured that out yet. Only time will tell.

I know though, If I had alot of money, Id spend it where it should go, on the poor, kids begging in the streets, getting water from pumps, Id spend it where it needs to be spent. Im sure many others would do the same thing, most of them are either just as poor or do not have enough money to do so (and when i say poor, i only mean money wise, not less spiritual or anything else), its up to us to do so if we ever feel the money wealth that others are enjoying today. Why spend $50K on a new Home Theatre when you can help someone else and/or their family, with that same money. Iif you can afford $50K on a home theatre, you can afford to still spend money on helping others.

Whoops, dont let my potential $50K cleints read this!!!

which god though, there are so many!

there is only one God, Jehovah.

1st Commandement: Thou shalt have no other Gods but me.

...I have to admit, this forum has got me thinking about religion more than i ever have in my entire life.

This is a good thing! When you stop thinking you become a dangerous fundamentalist! He does not have to think. All he has to do is react to other people thoughts and actions. Or, if one stop thinking one can become a Spiritual Desert where nothing happens and one finds oneself just going through the motions.

...I grew up as a Cristian, and honestly remained so until I returned to the Bahamas. I dont know why this country has turned me off christianity, if it really has, I dont think so, but maybe its due to the extreme attitudes of so many Christians here, that, well, if you dont go to church, you are labled a non christian, among other things. You can believe all you want, do unto others as you'd have them do into you, but unless you goto a so called church in the Bahamas, you are labeled as a non christian. Really doesnt matter so much, I dont pay much attention to people that say things like that. Yes Im a sinner, but what Christian is not.? And does it really matter whether I am a christian or not.

Does a Christian have to go to Church? Most denominations would say "yes." Some even go as far as to say that missing Church is a sin. Some say a Christian without a church is no Christian at all.

I look at it this way. A Church has many roles to play but it's most important role is to teach its followers how to understand the faith so that the person can stand on his own two spiritual feet. Once that is done the person does not need the Church anymore! He has graduated from a school of Spiritual learning, which is what a Church should be. He may still go to Church but he does so because he wants to. He does not go out of duty or obligation.

Just going to Church does not make one a real Christian. What makes one a Christian is being a Christian! (Living the life.) I would venture to say that there are many, many real Christians to which the Church is a secondary thing. The most important thing is being!

You asked if it mattered if you were a Christian or not. Not to me! But the thing is, you are. I am assuming you were Baptized. When you were Baptized you entered into the Christian family therefore you are a Christian. What you do with that knowledge is up to you.

...I praise those that can sit through a sermon, its no easy task. I spent many many years of this, I guess I just got bored of it after a while, preaching to me things I already know, or have experienced.

The trouble with most sermons is that they are First Century philosophy aimed at the Twenty-first Century man. No wonder we get bored!

...Another thing, I survived 2 major car accidents here, both within a couple months (head through the windscreen in the first, second one car split in 2), so I know there is something there, and I have been allowed to stay in this life, for some reason, just havent figured that out yet. Only time will tell.

Glad you survived your accidents. But was there a purpose in you being spared? That is a question a lot of people ask when they have escaped death. When I was a kid I almost died. In later years I asked a Taoist Monk if I was spared for a purpose. His reply was, "...does that mean that when you were born, you were born with no purpose? Was it only the nearness of death that give purpose to your life? Escaping death only reminds us how short life is and quickly it can be snatching away. You were not spared for a purpose, you were born with a purpose - find it! Time is short!"

...I know though, If I had alot of money, Id spend it where it should go, on the poor, kids begging in the streets, getting water from pumps, Id spend it where it needs to be spent. Im sure many others would do the same thing, most of them are either just as poor or do not have enough money to do so (and when i say poor, i only mean money wise, not less spiritual or anything else), its up to us to do so if we ever feel the money wealth that others are enjoying today. Why spend $50K on a new Home Theatre when you can help someone else and/or their family, with that same money. Iif you can afford $50K on a home theatre, you can afford to still spend money on helping others.
Whoops, dont let my potential $50K cleints read this!!!

Many rich people do help others. They have their 50K home theaters and they give more than that to the poor. But I am not impressed by that. What impresses me are the folks who make $150.00 a week and give to the poor, maybe only a few dollars. These are the folks who set aside a few hours a month to help the poor in whatever way they can.

Don't wait for the money Rory because first of all it might never happen! Second, I am reminded of a story that goes like this. "If I have half a loaf of bread, I will share it with you but if I have 100,000 loaves of bread you can buy as many as you like." It is those with little that give the most and from the heart.

God can do as much, or more, with half a loaf, given from the heart, as he can with a truck full given as a tax write off. So, give!

You don't have to go to church to be a christian. Christianity is a way of life not something you find in four walls with a minister standing in front of you. You have to learn to live according to God's word. Read the bible for yourself. Get a clearer understanding of what God expects from us. Going to church should be a joy. I have never been bored in my church, I have never fallen to sleep in my church. When I go to church it is to join with a group of people who believe the same thing, to be taught the word and to praise God's holy name. To have a one on one relationship with God is being a christian. Don't make life harder than it's suppose to be. If you give it will be given back to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. If you are doing better than your brother, give your brother what he needs from your heart.

Now as far as interracial marriages. Love has no color. We have been put here on this earth to love thee one another. Not blacks loving blacks and whites loving white. You have seen an interracial child before. They are some of the most beautiful people. If God did not mean for us to intermingle, these children would be born with all kinds of birth defects. Lighten up and love one another and trust in the Lord with all your heart and he will direct your paths. :heartbeat

I only want to add a few points:

We should not be judged on our intelligence - there will always be greater and lesser persons than ourselves.
We should not be judged on our character - good people often do bad things.
We should be judged by our actions! What we actually do. Performance counts!

In terms of race relations you will find that people are more alike than different, but we let the differences keep us apart. You will find that when a person becomes your FRIEND, questions of race disappear.

More important than race is culture. Culture is by definition learned behaviour practiced by groups. So if you have 50 people of different racial backgrounds, raised on a deserted island and taught common behaviour - dance, speech, worship, principles etc., you will have one culture.

Intellect is very important because you often learn things which contradict your culture. When you are operating conciously and intellectually, your intellect dominates. In times of crisis, culture normally takes over.

In my opinion, love is important, but more important is what your union contributes to each other, the society, and the world. It is not just about you! Race is not a critical factor.

I only want to add a few points:

We should not be judged on our intelligence - there will always be greater and lesser persons than ourselves.
We should not be judged on our character - good people often do bad things.
We should be judged by our actions! What we actually do. Performance counts!

In terms of race relations you will find that people are more alike than different, but we let the differences keep us apart. You will find that when a person becomes your FRIEND, questions of race disappear.

More important than race is culture. Culture is by definition learned behaviour practiced by groups. So if you have 50 people of different racial backgrounds, raised on a deserted island and taught common behaviour - dance, speech, worship, principles etc., you will have one culture.

Intellect is very important because you often learn things which contradict your culture. When you are operating conciously and intellectually, your intellect dominates. In times of crisis, culture normally takes over.

In my opinion, love is important, but more important is what your union contributes to each other, the society, and the world. It is not just about you! Race is not a critical factor.

I hope you all read this last paragraph. Understand that gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people love as well.