My son is half-Arabic and all-American

[Clark2008]

And he is 6 years old today.

In his memory he has: 9/11, his Mom out of work twice with the house almost threatened to be out from under him once, defeat at the polls (MAYBE) and two wars.

Luckily, he has a cool Mom, and a coupla cool dogs to help him through - but, geesch, he's only six and can tell me that nearly 3,000 people died in horrible events when he was first becoming aware of the world and that another 100,000 of his brothers and sisters of origin have perished.

What kind of a life is it for the very young?

Happy Birthday, Ramzey. May you and/or your generation somehow find the answer.

[NMDemDist2]

1. Happy Birthday Ramzey and I'll work hard to made the rest of your

life better than the mess you got born into

:hug:

[southlandshari]

2. Happy Birthday Ramzey from your other half!

My daughter, who will also be six in a couple of weeks, is also half-Arabic and all-American!

And both she and I can relate more than most to your post.

:hug:

[Clark2008]

7. Shari - are you also in the South?

Because, so am I!

How great to find a kindred spirit! Even, if you're not in the South!

And - well, we really need to meet! I can't stand my ex, but I miss his culture (his family took my side in the divorce - long story). My son needs to know his heritage, other than my side, and I try, but I'm NOT Arabic, so I can only introduce.

PM me!

[southlandshari]

14. Done.

Check your PM.

I'm logging off soon, but will be in touch!

[NMMNG]

3. Happy birthday Ramzey!

May he know an adulthood free from the craziness that has been perpetrated upon us and his brothers and sisters of origin by the neocon nazis.

[ConsAreLiars]

4. Understanding injustice is hard, but it is the foundation for compassion

and strength of character. Look forward to watching another fighter for peace and justice grow into manhood. And the dogs will help, since they teach us poor humans that even different species are part of "us" and should not be treated as "the other."

[Clark2008]

8. We lost a dog due to an illness not too long ago...

It was a hard, but, yet, easy decision for me to make. He was suffering - I said we had to do it. I went in and held him until his death (in fact, I had to close the eyes after the vet checked them for dialation - I wanted to. I carried his 75-pound weight, for a long time - and I'm only 130 pounds, myself.
Ramzey had A LOT of questions about death and life and Jesus (we're Christian) and I simply told him what I could and what I couldn't, I said that I didn't know. I didn't lie.
Then, my Gran'ma, his Great-Gran, died three days later. His first question was, "Is Blue waiting on Great-Gran?" :)
So, all this pain - him Mommy sad and upset for days - so... I got him a doggie. A new puppy. We adopted her from the shelter. She actually picked us out, if you know what I mean.
He feeds her and my 13-year-old cocker - that's his "chore."
He kisses her and pets her and runs with her.
I worried that he would think that it's a "thing" that could be "replaced."
Nope.
He was showing her Blue's grave in the back yard. And tonight he told me that he's glad that I got him another doggie to give his love to.
That's the point, isn't it?

P.S. That's a pretty pit in you sig. I've never met a mean pitbull, btw. It's all in how they're raised, just like kids. :)

[demnan]

5. I wish your son a very happy birthday

It breaks your heart when you think of the kind of world children are born into, but that's not new. JFK was assassinated when I was four, and I still remember the positive power of that man and his Presidency, his ultimate goodness and hope for our country.

I also remember the chaos of the sixties which went within my family at the same time. One brother off to Viet Nam, another off to rebel in San Francisco. Racial strife in school. MLK, Jr., Malcom and RFK assassinated.

You can't shield an intelligent child from the horrors of society, you can only provide the love and support you are obviously doing.

[sparky_in_ma]

6. Happy Birthday Ramzey

:party: :bounce: :woohoo:

[sweetheart]

9. My daughter is half-Taiwan/Chinese and all-American

And she is 16 years old.

In her memory, there never was a cold war or any excuse for this absurd
level of military expenditure.

She is "defended" ! by massive arsenal of WMD's threatening to mass
murder millions of civilians all over the planet, on the word of a
single asshole.

May her generation finally sort out this ugly stockpile of nukes that
my generation refuses to put beyond use.

[Clark2008]

11. Yeah!!

Maybe she will! I hope she does! I pray she does!

:)

[IChing]

10. I raised my children to be

Citizens of the world,
they have both
US and Danish Citizenship.

Obliviously I am not a nationalist.
I am American by birth(many generations)

Nationalism

Imagine by John Lennon.

[Clark2008]

12. I'm trying to do this, also.

It's hard with all the nationalism in the South.

[IChing]

13. Son born in Texas

daughter born in Denmark

It does not matter
It is your teaching and wisdom
that they will follow

If you are strong and kind enough.

[Clark2008]

15. I think I'm doing it!

I really do.

He's in K... on a Second-grade reading level.

Math is First grade (my fault - I think reading is more important) and he still won first in hola-hoop (hee hee - I love that), second in tug of war and third in gator crawl (whatever that is!) in field day today!

Well-rounded, I hope!

[Skidmore]

16. My son is a big boy now...

24 this year and working at his first professional job. My children are half Iranian. I worry about my son more because he cannot hide his family name. His older sister is married and uses her husband's name. It is a shame to feel this way because Iran has such long history. But in this world I worry about him. Everytime he talks about travelling for his work, I worry about him. We went through many hard times after his father and I were divorced. I'm so proud of him. He's a smart, loving, and good son--honest and hardworking.

[lostnfound]

17. Happy Birthday, Ramzey.

Life is really very hard, but that's why God made you so strong.
Life is really very complicated, but that's why God made you so smart.
Life can be hurtful to many people, but that's why God made you so loving.
Grow up, bring your own special strength, smarts, and love to your world. Make it a better place.