READER CONTRIBUTION

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I mentioned yesterday that Byter John P had sent me an item which I would post today. It appears below. Thanks, John.

You may not agree with all of the content but there will probably be parts that do strike a chord . . .

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John's email to me:

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White Bread

- Author unknown

I was helping out at a neighbourhood bread shop on Friday and happened to be selling “white” bread. A customer told me I was racist for calling it “white” bread.

My response was: ‘We have rye bread, pumpernickel bread, wholemeal bread, multi-grain bread, raisin bread, lots of different sorts of bread. People want to know what they are buying, so we have to label the loaves. I don’t know what else to call “white” bread – what would you suggest?’

She just walked away.

Things are getting out of hand when you can’t say “white” bread. 

I used to think I was pretty much just a regular person, but I was born white, into a two-parent household which now, whether I like it or not, makes me privileged, a racist and responsible for slavery.

I am a fiscal and moral conservative, which by today's standards makes me a fascist because I plan, budget and support myself.

I went to grammar school and have always held a job. But I now find out that I am not here because I earned it, but because I was “advantaged”.

I am heterosexual which, according to gay folks, now makes me a homophobe.

I am not a Muslim, which now labels me as an infidel.

I am older than 70, making me a useless dinosaur who doesn't understand Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat.

I think, and I reason, and I doubt much of what the ‘mainstream’ media tells me, which makes me a right-wing conspiracy nut.

I am proud of my heritage and our inclusive culture, making me a xenophobe.

I believe in hard work, fair play and fair reward according to each individual's merits, which today makes me an anti-socialist.

I believe our system guarantees freedom of effort – not freedom of outcome or subsidies, which must make me a borderline sociopath.

I believe in the defence and protection of my nation for and by all citizens, now making me a militant.

I am proud of our flag, what it stands for and the many who died to let it fly, and I stand during our National Anthem – so I must be a radical.

Please help me come to terms with the new me because I'm just not sure who or what I am anymore!

Funny – this has all taken place during the past decade!

If all this nonsense wasn't enough to deal with, now I don't even know which toilet to use ... and these days I have to go so much more frequently!

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