Take That! That’s right - I mean you! Be you Black, White, Red, Yellow, man, woman or all of the above; or none of the above… or what ever components conspire to make you, you. I don’t care! You see these words were cut on the bias - they’re meant to slice across the grain. So take that. Enough is a enough. Get over it; get over yourself. Put that best foot forward because I’m really getting tired of tripping over your past, and my past - and the past that does not know me, but wants to marry me to it’s crimes. So put it away, or chain it up in your back yard; but what ever you do keep that rabid dog away from me. I have no interest in barring your burdens and mine; and certainly not any of those other burdens that litter the files of time.

I understand your pain, I really do. There’s been some bloodletting in my bloodlines as well. There are scars in places I’d be embarrassed to tell my grandmother about, and she was there when they were made. There is ugly in my heritage so intense that mirrors would melt upon it’s reflection. By the same token there are moments of pride so profound that a flag should be raised in their honor. But mostly they are just points along a life; events that define who I am and how I got here. What they don’t do is determine were I go from here. And neither do yours.

I refuse to cop to your broken dreams and unfulfilled promises. I am not the reason you did not gravitate to some higher point on the social ladder. I cut no rungs, I tied no anchors to your ankles. I am not a member of some society based alliance who’s goal it is to assault your freedom and hold you down. That is not what I am about. Truth be known I am just not that concerned with your life. Honestly, I just don’t have the time, let alone the strength to take on a task that laborious. I’m too busy tap dancing through my own mine fields. Please understand this is not about lessening your pain or making light of your ordeal.

It’s an ugly world we live in, and it tends to scar us all one way or another. It is however about pointing your anger somewhere else - in particular, not at me. I refuse to be your reason anymore. So take that! Then take it to heart, because that is how it was meant. Words spoken in my own defense; not as an attack on you.

You see I am tired! I simply no longer have a taste for the fight. I so desperately want to want to move beyond this issue. I’ve spent most of my life in the trenches battling for what I felt was right. And that wasn’t always easy considering the nature of the people I grew up around. I come from good people; but they were blue collared, softly educated and economically bitter. Their opinions were etched into their psyche over generations; their prejudices tattooed on their heritage. I’ve fought to be different and tried to be fair. I’ve fashioned my life around the principle that all things need to be measured equally. I believe I have lived by that rule, and will continue to. What I can no longer do is maintain my position in the foxhole. I’m taking down the banner and putting away the shield. I will still extend my hand to help, but I will no longer raise it overhead in fits of rage. So take that; then take a deep breath. You see I’m moving forward; quietly! I’d be honored if you’d join me, but I’m going with or without you! So take that!