White Woman Talking! Helping Bridge the Great Divide!

What Divides Us Is What Makes Us the Same!

Over the past 30 years I have worked really hard to steer clear of controversial conversations. In fact, I didn't make a single political comment during the last election or comment on others frustrating, inept, sometimes correct and boisterous political rants either. I've passed the dinner rolls at the Thanksgiving table without engaging in the religious rhetoric, although we all agreed to say the Lords Grace before eating. My point is, I can't be the only human being on earth to realize when you sit on your hands and tape your mouth shut, that even though you didn't join the discussion that sitting on the sidelines does give you a birds eye view of how horribly damaging it has become for us to dig our heels in so hard to try to convince others of our points over accepting each other for the beautiful diversity and melting pot America has always been. When did we lose sight of this?

Simply put, if you were born black, chinese, Brazilian, French, German, Italian, Portugese, Greek, Mexican, Puerto Rican....the list goes on and it should include Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, poor or rich, or even purple, we all have a different perspectives and a different agenda. Yes, some of what we all desire in this race of life is similiar, probably. A good home, security, health, wealth (maybe), and a bucket list of treasure troves, but why don't we have our priorities truly straight. When our great grandparents were forging the hardest living of times in the last 100 years and making the way through the daily grind they were able to keep some staples constant. Like the morale barometers they lived by. Like eating dinner as a family. Not wasting things. Like upbringing their children with rules and discipline. They lived through evolution of economical growth and dispair, through wars and segregation and they evolved as humans to bring us to here and NOW we are here....and what are we doing?

Tomorrow I am speaking at conference for Women in Mortgage technology. NEXT and it's an all woman panel. As I prepare I wonder what I will be asked in the Q & A if there will be questions. Will it be what I am contributing to the women movement and will I feel like beyond my breaking of glass ceilings in my industry I really helped the movement. Is now my time to help that movement? In a couple months I will be speaking at another Convention Connect 2018 for NAMMBA-National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America. I was asked because as a woman I am a minority. I think about how I was raised by my factory working parents to love all people, to be color blind and more over what a gift that is.

But, how are we going to close the divide? The divide created by our generation on so many fronts. Politically and through all our diversities. I know we are losing ground here. I know what we are trying to do, but there has to be an offensive move we can make to get ourself where we need to be to stop tearing each other down.

What are we doing? What are you going to do? This year, what are YOU going to do to help bridge the divide. Ask yourself what you can do.

I wrote a book on Womans safety this year with Jessica Peterson and dozens of high caliber professional women who have never before spoke out. Some did so anonymously and others bravely gave their names, in a combined effort to share stories and tips on safety. This is one of my forward contributions to the womens movement. An offensive move, to help us move forward with answers and something additional that helps us help ourselves.

What are YOU going to do? Would you skip the political debate? Not post the political rant? Would you attend a diversity event to understand others better? Would you make a point to embrace people of other cultures and religions. Would you be willing to not engage in an argument or force your own point of view for the sake of peace and harmony? What will you do this year to help us as a human society bridge our divide? I ask you, what can you do to help us all?

I plan on doing everything I can, like the Scholarship foundation I started over 2 decades ago for my gay friend Charles who died of Aids. As a white heterosexual, a gay awareness Trust in the form of Art Shows to raise monies for scholarships for under privileged youths. This meant doing art shows I knew nothing about as my friend as an artist and being surrounded by gay people who helped me appreciate how like me, they are just human beings trying to find their place. I am going to attend diversity conferences and share my nuggets of knowlege. I am going to mentor females and help them find their way in the business world, the best they can and I'm going to teach my son the same thing my parents taught me, that humans are human. Period.

#mytruth