The thing about Dr. Laura is....

The other day I just got out of work and I was waiting for the 57A Bus from Kenmore Station heading home to Allston. It was pretty late, and I was tired, but not so tired that I couldn't help to overhear a conversation of the two women standing next to me. The older woman, well not that old, no more than 35, with short hair and clearly a little tipsy. The younger girl, who was just maybe not quite 20 was listening to every word. When the bus finally came, the driver, a youngish, black man got off and went into the bus station to take a break, the older woman told to the younger woman that "Those black people, they never seem to work hard. They always need a break, they need to rest." As inaccurate as this is, I almost thought it was really funny. I mean, we're the ones that picked cotton for years and then the bus driver took a 5 minute break and all of a sudden, we're lazy?

Of course, Dr. Laura is my new favorite thing. Apparently,Sarah Palin endorsed her and you know how I love Sarah Palin. So, Dr. Laura came under fire after saying the N word 11 times. A Black female caller called into her show and said that her White husband's friends always said insensitive things like, "How do you black people feel about this?" or "Why you black people do that?" Dr. Laura cut off the caller, saying she was overeacting, and then goes on to say the N word claiming it was okay because black comedians say it. The next thing I know, Dr. Laura decides to retire from radio, claiming she is losing her first amendment rights.

But here's the thing. It's not about first amendment rights. Just because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD say it. I'm not going on a radio saying gay slurs because I can. Is Dr. Laura racist? I don't know about that, but here's the thing. I grew up in an area where I constantly got the "How do Black people feel about ..." Because I have to speak for 12% of the population. Dr. Laura was insensitive by saying "You shouldn't marry someone outside of your race if you can't take comments." People should be able to marry whomever they want. They shouldn't have to be the spokespeople for millions of people. And they should learn from others. Not try and break them down. Take that Dr. Laura....

30 things you don't know about me :)

1. My favorite color is yellow
2. If I could buy a house in any country it would be spain or italy
3. Alicia Keys and the Beatles are two of my favorite songs
4. I am deathly afraid of snakes
5. I am a certified reverend
6. I published two books before I was 19
7. My favorite movie is Crash
8. I lived in the same house since I was 5 weeks old
9. I was adopted at that same time
10. I love writing poetry, and my favorite is 13 ways to look at a blackbird Wallace Stevents
11. I played rugby for 2.5 years
12. I never mastered downhill skiing, but I can outski you cross country style
13. I have five names (Laila Sarah Dylan Sholtz-Ames)
14. I speak English, Spanish and a little french, but I want to speak at least 5 languages
15. I collect coins and postcards from every place I travel to
16. I spent 13 summers volunteering at Acadia National Park (in Maine)
17. I have been vegetarian for 18 years
18. I love pasta, and therefore love Italian, Thai and Chinese food
19. Law and Order SVU is my favorite show
20.I love reading the dictionary
21. I love jewelry and also buy at least a necklace, bracelet or earrings when I travel
22. I am obsessed with facebook
23. Boston sports are in best ever
24. My friends mean the world to me and I'll do anything for them
25. I don't seem it, but I am actually very intriverted and vulnurable.
26. I hate laundry and would gladly hire someone to do it for me
27. I have never had a cup of coffee in my life, but I love tea
28. My favorite type of alcohol is Malibu Rum and also Pina Colada
29. My parents have 9 cats, and I love every single one of them
30. I was never raised a particular religion, but if I had to choose, I would pick Buddhism