tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34042541710131005992024-03-13T10:22:30.836-07:00~ The Many Shades of Love ~My Life in an Interracial Marriage and Family ~ It's been 25 years of fun; learning, growing, laughing & crying with each other. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it!Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-30405746197337923912017-06-12T13:23:00.000-07:002017-06-12T13:55:06.171-07:00KPBS Interview ~ 50th Anniversary of Loving vs. Virginia!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today marks 50 years since the Supreme Court case, Loving vs. Virginia. 50 years ago it was illegal for my husband and I to be married. The Loving's changed that for all of us!! I have written about them many times (<a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html" target="_blank">The Loving Story</a>) and will be forever grateful that they fought for their love...and ultimately, for ours.<br />
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On this special day, my husband and I had the honor of being interviewed by KPBS radio about interracial marriage and what the Loving's mean to us. Listen here:<br />
<a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2017/jun/12/first-person-we-are-us-because-lovings/" target="_blank">KPBS Interview</a><br />
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Happy 50th anniversary to all of us!!! Thank you Loving's!Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-71232896359200850482016-11-04T09:31:00.001-07:002016-11-04T16:41:47.028-07:00The Loving's, Glamour Magazine, Interracial Marriage and LOVE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Us, living in LOVE!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Today is a special day for interracial marriage...the movie, <i>Loving</i>, opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles! </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Richard and Mildred Loving had to fight for their interracial marriage and fight they did, all the way to the Supreme Court...and they WON! </span></span><br />
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">Loving vs. Virginia</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;">~ "There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">(Movie's Facebook page: </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lovingthefilm/?fref=ts" style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">https://www.facebook.com/lovingthefilm/?fref=ts</a>)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I have been writing about the Loving's for many years (see story here: </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html">http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html</a>)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> and they will forever hold a special place in my heart. Because of their courage, strength and most importantly, LOVE -- my husband and I, and so many others, have the right to marry and live our lives just like everyone else. The thing is, we ARE like everyone else. There is no difference between our love and any other love. We might look different on the outside, but as we all know, love comes from the heart...where everyone is the same. Love is love!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A personal piece to the story is: my husband and I are honored to be part of the Glamour Magazine </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">story about; The Loving's, interracial marriage, and the </span><i style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Loving</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> movie. The Loving's made </span><i style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">us </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">possible and for that, we are forever grateful! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We chose love and love won...again! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#VoteLoving</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#LoveWins</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#Interracial Marriage</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">#Glamour Magazine</span>Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-54972774812751243632016-07-07T10:11:00.001-07:002016-07-07T19:18:56.606-07:00<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3bc72" data-offset-key="5vmed-0-0" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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I've been doing a lot of thinking the last two days about the senseless killings of two more black men by officers of the law. I have respect for a lot of police officers; one of my oldest and dearest friend's is a police officer, our wedding was officiated by a pastor (and friend) who is also SDPD, and so on.<br />
<span data-offset-key="5vmed-0-0" style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-color: white;">But, as a white woman married to a black man, I have also seen the "perceived power" behind the badge against the person I love. My husband could EASILY be one of the "statistics." I have seen an angry cop, losing his cool, with a gun pointed at my husband's head. Jamie</span></span><span data-offset-key="5vmed-2-0" style="background-color: white;"> was a black man shopping and yet he was treated like a dog, handcuffed, and taken to the ground on his belly with a gun to his head...mistaken identity!!! I saw that officer's face turn red, while yelling at my husband to get on the ground, with his finger on the trigger of the gun pointing at Jamie. All that cop saw was a black man assumed to be a criminal. Period. It didn't matter that he was innocent, nothing mattered, except for what HE perceived to be "truth." He was the law and in his mind he could do anything.</span><br />
The anger and frustration our country is going through is something I get to my soul because I have witnessed it time and time again directed at my spouse; shopping while black, driving while black, living in a nice neighborhood while black...you get the picture. Incident after incident of police questioning an innocent black man for NO reason other than being black in America.<br />
This doesn't happen to white men, they get treated differently; even when they kill 9 people in a church, or 12 people in a movie theater...they don't die! Whether it's an innocent black man or a black man with a record; the white officers who automatically go "there," need to be off the streets and need to re-think why they became officers of law.<br />
If the citizens on the streets aren't looked at and treated equally in THEIR mind, then the citizens on the streets CAN'T and NEVER will be protected by THEM. EVER.<br />
<span class="_5u8n" data-offset-key="6gacu-0-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.14902); border-bottom-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.298039); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px;"><span data-offset-key="6gacu-0-0"><span data-text="true">#Blacklivesmatter</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="6gacu-1-0" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="_5u8n" data-offset-key="6gacu-2-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.14902); border-bottom-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.298039); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px;"><span data-offset-key="6gacu-2-0"><span data-text="true">#AltonSterling</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="6gacu-3-0" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="_5u8n" data-offset-key="6gacu-4-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.14902); border-bottom-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.298039); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px;"><span data-offset-key="6gacu-4-0"><span data-text="true">#PhilandoCastile</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="6gacu-5-0" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="_5u8n" data-offset-key="6gacu-6-0" spellcheck="false" style="background-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.14902); border-bottom-color: rgba(88, 144, 255, 0.298039); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px;"><span data-offset-key="6gacu-6-0"><span data-text="true">#enough</span></span></span></div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-13799116471369584812015-05-26T10:13:00.000-07:002015-05-26T10:35:07.258-07:00Interviewed by a Student in Minnesota...=)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year I was interviewed by a student from Australia about interracial marriage. This year I was contacted by a student in Minnesota. She is <span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">a high school senior, writing a trend paper on the increase of interracial marriages in the U.S. I'm so honored to be a part of her senior paper. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Following is the interview:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jordan: </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From your personal experience, do you think interracial
marriage is a representation of race relations in the U.S.? If so, are these
relationships positive or negative? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is a very good question. I’ve never
been asked that specific question before. From my personal experience, I would
have to say, no. We have such a long way to go when it comes to race relations
and I think interracial marriage is more representative of opening minds in all
areas. If people accept each other when it comes to race, religion, education,
socio-economic status, sexual orientation, etc.; then ignorance, racism, hate,
and homophobia will become a thing of the past. It really encompasses being
open about everything. My marriage is an example of that. Yes, we are a black
and white couple, but really, we are just a couple like everyone else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn’t matter what the mix is, it just
matters that love and happiness are involved. I don’t see anything negative
about two people in love. The more love we have in the world, the more positive
things will be, for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Jordan: </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>According
to the Pew Research Center, interracial marriages have a higher divorce rate
compared to same-race marriages. What are your opinions of this, and why do you
think this is the case?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m sad to hear this is the case, but do
understand. There are so many other factors that go into interracial marriages
besides just the day to day, year to year “issues” that same race couples go
through. In interracial marriages there are: cultural differences,
non-acceptance by family, friends, and society; religious differences, etc. If
a couple does not have the foundation and strength to get through the tough
times, let alone deal with the issues that I listed previously, this can make for an
extremely difficult road. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, even though my husband and I have dealt with
every obstacle imaginable, we were determined to not only make it through, but to
come out stronger on the <i>other side</i>.
It takes commitment, communication, partnership, work, and of course…love.
Because we had more obstacles to deal with as an interracial couple, the daily
life obstacles are that much easier to handle. It becomes a “win/win” eventually,
and is so worth it in the end. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jordan: </b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In your
blog, The Many Shades of Love, you were interviewed by an Australian student
that asked you about your daughter. Overall, how do you think having parents of
two races has affected her, or, how is her upbringing different from a child
born of a same-race couple? <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We raised our daughter to embrace both sides completely,
from being close to all of her relatives, to learning and living both cultures.
When someone asks, “What are you?” She responds with, “I’m human.” I can’t
think of a better answer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She grew up in
a diverse area and has always had friends of all races. She hasn’t had many
negative experiences but the few she had were heartbreaking for us as parents.
She received a piece of hate mail because of her mixed race and she has been
called the “n” word. Because of how strong she is, instead of being hurt or
horrified, she was sad for the person spewing the hate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white; color: #141823;">From the time she was a baby until now, we have
dealt with all sorts of things when it comes to the race issue with her and me.
She and her dad never got questioned, but I always did. People would say to
her, “Oh, your mom is white?!,” when I picked her up at school. Or, people
assumed I was the babysitter, or that she was adopted, and my response was, “I was
in labor with her for over 20 hours, I’m soooo her mom!” It’s a fascinating
thing to have to <i>prove</i> you are
someone’s mother. When our daughter was entering kindergarten I had to choose one
race on the form for her. I chose both black and white because she IS both. I
got a call from the district and was told the form only allowed one. I told
them if I chose only one then I was denying one of us. They apologized profusely and
told me they had no choice because that is how the form was set up. I ended up
choosing black and told them they needed to change their process. Fortunately,
all these years later, we can choose multiple options on the forms when it
comes to race. Progress. </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interesting enough, if you asked our daughter
if she had any issues, she would tell you that having mixed race hair was
difficult. It is very hard to manage and she always felt like she didn’t fit in
when it came to that aspect. She wore extensions, straightened her hair, etc.,
no matter how often we told her hair was beautiful. Now, at 20 years old, she
is all natural and embraces it fully. Something that seems small and <i>superficial </i>was difficult for her as a
teen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #141823;">Jordan: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #141823;">Are there any aspects of interracial marriage that you
think would be beneficial to include in this paper, such as personal
experiences, anecdotes, or obscure attributes of this topic that are not
well-known by the general public? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Opening our hearts and minds to other cultures -- not only their traditions -- but to who they are as people, can create
possibilities beyond what we ever imagined. When we look past the differences
in skin color and concentrate on the similarities inside, that’s when we see;
our skin might not be alike, but our hearts are exactly the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would leave everyone with the following
thought:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cross those social lines. You might be
pleasantly surprised at what you find on the <i>other side</i>. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crossing social lines opens minds!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jordan,</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>There is nothing that makes me happier than helping students and opening minds. Thank you for writing your paper on such an important topic. Until we all accept each other and look beyond our differences, we will continue to be divided. You are now a small part of creating change. </i></span><i style="color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wish you happiness and dreams come true during your next "steps!" </i></span><br />
<i style="color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All my best to you,</span></i><br />
<i style="color: #141823; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy </span></i>Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-32739335502279980542014-08-18T09:08:00.000-07:002014-09-01T13:29:40.544-07:00Interviewed by a Student in Australia... :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ysi_sE7YP7Q/U_IdCHQGMxI/AAAAAAAACrw/Tkia947IZvI/s1600/us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ysi_sE7YP7Q/U_IdCHQGMxI/AAAAAAAACrw/Tkia947IZvI/s1600/us.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qT4_f68qmU0/U_IdURD6P1I/AAAAAAAACr4/BULT9v9tuE8/s1600/fam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qT4_f68qmU0/U_IdURD6P1I/AAAAAAAACr4/BULT9v9tuE8/s1600/fam.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I recently had a very unique interview....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Eugenia Massaquoi, a 12th year student from Nazareth Catholic College in Adelaide South Australia contacted me and asked if she could interview me for her English project regarding the topic of, <i>"What are some of the reasons why people are attracted to different races?"</i> What a special interview it was...</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="background: white; font-family: "Rockwell Extra Bold","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Interview:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eugenia: </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><i> </i>Are you attracted to a certain race? If yes, is it
physical attraction or is it related more to elements of their culture? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">After being with my husband (who
is black) for 22 years, I am physically attracted to black men now. I think
that is the natural progression of human nature. We gravitate toward what we
have wonderful experiences with. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> </i>Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> When did your attraction to other races start for
you?<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I have always been very open to
being with anyone. The race of the person never mattered, the heart did. I
first dated outside my race in my mid twenties. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Eugenia: </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What are some of the biggest challenges you had to
face being in an interracial relationship?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-Family rejection<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-Friends non-acceptance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-Societal racism<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-Stereotypes of the “black man
with the white woman.” i.e.: my husband was called a “sell out.” I was told I
took “another brother from the hood.” I was called a “fad” or a “phase” he was
going through. It went on and on.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Eugenia: </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> What do you believe are the advantages and disadvantages
of being in an interracial relationship?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-The advantages are you are with
the person you love...your heart and your soul. You get to experience a new
culture filled with so much richness. You learn new things about an entirely
different group of people. It becomes about co-existing with everyone and not
excluding anyone. The heart and mind automatically open to everything in life. It’s
quite amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">-The disadvantages are dealing
with racism on different levels: from family, to friends, to society. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Eugenia:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> How did
you meet?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was 1992 and I was
driving up the 805 freeway in San Diego, CA. I was with my "little
sister" from the Big Sis/Little Sis program. As we were driving,
multiple black sports cars, (all with black men in them), were in the lane
next to us. My little sis started to wave at one of the men in one of the cars.
I told her to stop waving because they were too old for her (she was 15 at the
time).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;">My little sis said, "No, I know one of
them, he used to coach my basketball team when I was little." That<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>coach<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>so happened to be my future husband! I
wasn't sure if I believed her or if she was just flirting, so on we went up the
freeway.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>A few weeks went by and
my little sis was out and about, and who did she run into....my future hubby!
He asked her, "Who was that woman you were in the car with the other
day?" She told him it was her big sis, and then he proceeded to give her
his phone number to give to me. So the next time her and I were together, she
gave me the phone number and told me it was from the guy we saw on the freeway.
Well, I promptly threw it in the trash and said, "I don't call people that
I see on the freeway who are complete strangers!" She said, "But I
know him!" I didn't care, he was a stranger to me.</span> <span style="background: white;">A couple more months went by and my little sis and I were
driving around again and low and behold but who was standing in a friend's
front yard talking.....again! Odds?!? My little sis said, "That is the guy
who gave you the phone number." I said, "Oh my gosh, you have got to
be kidding me!? I better pull over and say hi or he is going to think I am
totally rude." We pulled over, he came over to the car and said hi,
and then promptly asked why I didn't call him. I told him, "I don't call
people I see on the freeway. Let's do this the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>right
way...you call me...here's my number." We talked for FOUR hours on
our first call! However, we still didn't go out for another two months. We got
to know each other over the phone, day, after day, after day.</span> <span style="background: white;">Finally, we had our first date. You would think the
rest was history, but noooooo, that would have been too easy. We dated from
that day on, but there was a slight snag in our future. I had already made the
decision before he and I met, to move back to Oregon to be closer to my family.
Soooo, we literally fell in love, and it was time for me to leave. I debated whether
or not to go, but he told me to go because I would regret it if I didn't. He
said, "If we are meant to be it will work out. You want to be with your
family, so that is where you need to be." I left. We wrote and called
constantly. Distance, not so fun....four months later he moved up to Oregon!
Then three months later we moved back to San Diego! Nuts huh!? I am a California
girl, I couldn't take the rainy weather. THEN the rest was history! We got
engaged, got married in '93, had our daughter in '94, and here we are today. So
when anyone asks the question......how did we meet? The answer is.....on the
805 freeway.....fate took care of the rest!</span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What do you feel is the public's reaction to your relationship
when it first started compared to today?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Hmmm...that is a very good
question because so much has changed, yet so much still remains the same. We
were featured in the national newspaper <i>USA Today</i> in an article about
interracial marriage statistics, and our family photo was also part of the article.
The comment section in the online version was filled with hateful comments
about our family. It shocked me. Those are the times when I see how far we
still have to come. Yet, I also embrace the very fact that we are legally able
to be married and walk down the street hand in hand without being thrown in
jail, as was the case not many decades ago. So, to answer the question: we have
come leaps and bounds when it comes to equality regarding the laws on the books,
but we have a very long way to go when it comes to people treating people
equally. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What was your family's first reaction? How do they
feel now?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">My
family was totally accepting when it came to race but had issues with the
socio-economic differences and educational differences. My husband’s family did
not accept me for years because of the racial differences. On both sides, they
were all still hanging on to “societal norms.” My husband and I crossed all the
“social lines” and it was hard for people to accept. It was easy for us because
it was based on love not on pre-conceived rules set up by society. Now, today,
everyone loves everyone and we are one, big happy family unit. They all
realized what we knew from day one...it’s about love.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Eugenia:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Do you have children? If so, how is their
experience growing up as interracial children? </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We have one daughter. We have
always taught her to embrace both sides of who she is. She is very secure
regarding her racial identity. When someone asks, “What are you,” her answer is,
“I’m human.” She grew up in a diverse area and has always had friends of all
races. She hasn’t had many negative experiences but the few she had were
heartbreaking for us as parents. She received a piece of hate mail because of
her mixed race and she has been called the “n” word. Because of how strong she
is, instead of being hurt or horrified, she was sad for the person spewing the
hate. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What were your initial thoughts or concerns of each
other prior to dating?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We
didn’t really have any concerns about anything prior to dating. We just let
things happen naturally and fell in love. It wasn’t about our race, it was just
about us.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Do you believe your life would be different in any
way if your spouse was of the same race?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> If yes, how so? If not,
why? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Yes,
it would be quite different. When a couple is of the same race there are things
that will never be an issue for them. They don’t have to worry about society’s
reaction, family reactions, issues regarding their children, parts of the
country they can and can’t live in due to racism, walking into a restaurant and
being approached as if separate parties, I could go on. </span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Eugenia: <span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What advice would you give to individuals starting
to date out of their race?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">To
anyone starting out in an interracial relationship: Follow your heart and block
out all the “noise.” The world is not color blind and reality is what it is
when it comes to interracial relationships. Stay true to who you are as a
couple. If you allow the opinions of others to rule your relationship you won’t
make it past the first couple of dates. Build a foundation based on love and
don’t let “outside cracks” break your foundation. It’s not going to be easy,
but it’s so worth it to have a long lasting relationship with the one you truly
love. Always remember; it’s about the heart, not the color of the skin. </span></b><b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What have
you learned being in an interracial relationship?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I have learned that I am
stronger than I ever realized. I have learned that crossing “society’s lines”
can be a wonderful thing! I have learned to compromise. I have learned to stay
true to who I am no matter what the opinions of others are. I have learned that
love trumps hate...every, single, time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> What are
your thoughts on people who don’t agree with interracial relationship or who
has a negative opinion towards interracial relationship?</span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I feel sad for someone who isn’t willing to date outside their race.
They are missing out on an entire population of amazing human beings that could
be their partner for life. The color of someone’s skin has nothing to do with what
an amazing heart they might have. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-AU"> Eugenia:<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Do you feel
religion and or customs can play a part in interracial relationships being
difficult? Can you give expamples?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Amy:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.75in;">
<b><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">They definitely play a part.
It‘s up to us whether or not that becomes difficult. It’s about choosing to
compromise and embrace aspects of both races; from religion, to food, to dress,
to music, to everything. It’s icing on the cake and a great addition to one’s
life if they can be open to adding new things from other cultures and
religions. We should never stop learning and growing. Being in an interracial
relationship brings a whole new level of understanding and being open minded to
all. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><i>Thank you for reaching out to me Eugenia! Hopefully we both opened some more hearts and minds together...through your English project! Wishing you happiness and success. Here's to your bright future!</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><i>All my best,</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><i>Amy</i></span></div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-20910469229584703182014-06-12T03:00:00.000-07:002016-11-04T16:40:30.966-07:00The Right to Live in Love......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBRCfb_wons/Tfaqedt0YuI/AAAAAAAACKw/e5N7lzgC0VQ/s1600/lovings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dBRCfb_wons/Tfaqedt0YuI/AAAAAAAACKw/e5N7lzgC0VQ/s1600/lovings.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOk_nJRNK98/TfaqikNRLRI/AAAAAAAACK0/qHiE-JHedMA/s1600/us_recital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EOk_nJRNK98/TfaqikNRLRI/AAAAAAAACK0/qHiE-JHedMA/s1600/us_recital.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are days when I simply forget how far we have come because I'm just living, and then there are days when I realize how far we still have to go. However, there is one day that will always be special to me...<i>Loving Day</i>. I'm sure there are many of you out there that don't even realize what <i>Loving Day</i> is or what it represents, but to me it represents my heart, my marriage, my love. So what is it? It's the anniversary of the June 12th, 1967 Supreme Court decision.... </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Loving vs. Virginia</i> ~ "There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause." </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple....(how PERFECT is their last name by the way...REALLY, that is their last name!).....were forced to leave their home state of Virginia after they married, because back in the late 60's their union was still illegal in 16 states. Yes, illegal! They had two options....go to jail, or leave Virginia. They packed up and moved to WA, D.C. and the rest, as they say, is history. They didn't just move, they fought (all the way to the Supreme Court), they won, they LOVED! Bravery, courage, determination, and true love won out. How cool is that!?! Because of this amazing couple my husband and I are free to live and free to love. I can't imagine having to fight for the right to marry the man I love. I would though...no doubt...no question in my mind. I would fight like a lion! It still boggles my mind to even think that it was illegal for two people to marry solely because of the color of their skin. This was during my lifetime no less. How insane were "we" back then!? This is why it is so important to always stand up for what is right. If we stay quiet and do nothing, then nothing happens. If we speak up, and teach tolerance, then everything can happen! Sometimes laws might be changed and sometimes minds might be changed.....either way, we move forward, and that my friends, is a good thing! So to Richard and Mildred Loving, a brave couple who stood up for the their love and their rights, here's to you, from all of "us"....thank you Loving's for giving us the RIGHT to live in LOVE! </div>
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For more information about this special day and this amazing couple visit:</div>
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<a href="http://www.lovingday.org/">http://www.lovingday.org/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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For more information on their struggle:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.lovingday.org/the-loving-story">http://www.lovingday.org/the-loving-story</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
(Originally posted in 2010)</div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-88506146615717791932014-04-29T18:45:00.002-07:002014-04-29T18:49:50.772-07:00No Room For Hate...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4qy2uDBYm-I/U2BU5x3M81I/AAAAAAAACrQ/5k_Iu453Pi8/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4qy2uDBYm-I/U2BU5x3M81I/AAAAAAAACrQ/5k_Iu453Pi8/s1600/images.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
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HATE LOSES...THANK YOU NBA!!</div>
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<br />
Banned for life.... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/nba-donald-sterling-banned-life/story?id=23513899">http://abcnews.go.com/US/nba-donald-sterling-banned-life/story?id=23513899</a></div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-90214259697324053652014-02-05T09:56:00.000-08:002014-02-05T10:46:42.958-08:00An Interracial Family, a Cheerios Ad and Racism....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Original Ad: 2013</div>
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Superbowl Ad: 2014</div>
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<i>I wrote this post last June when the original commercial first aired. I'm sharing it again due to the racism surrounding the 2nd version and its airing during the Superbowl....</i><br />
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It is rare to see interracial families featured in commercials or even t.v. shows for that matter, so I'm thrilled to see an interracial family in the ad above. However, I am so disheartened to learn of the hateful comments surrounding this very ad.<br />
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When I saw the <b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/cheerios-commercial-racist-backlash_n_3363507.html" target="_blank">story</a></b> on various media outlets about the Cheerios commercial featuring an interracial family and the racist backlash because of it, sadly, I wasn't surprised. My family dealt with the exact same issue when we were featured in <a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/11/usa-today-comments.html" target="_blank"><b>USA Today</b></a> just 1 and 2 short years ago.<br />
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Article 1: <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/marriage/story/2011-11-07/Interracial-marriage-More-accepted-still-growing/51115322/1?loc=interstitialskip">http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/marriage/story/2011-11-07/Interracial-marriage-More-accepted-still-growing/51115322/1?loc=interstitialskip</a><br />
Article 2: <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/marriage/story/2012-02-16/US-rate-of-interracial-marriage-hits-record-high/53109980/1">http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/wellness/marriage/story/2012-02-16/US-rate-of-interracial-marriage-hits-record-high/53109980/1</a><br />
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I was so excited to have our family represent IR marriage in USA Today and then I remember being disgusted, shocked and hurt by the hateful words spewed in the comment section. I later spoke to a friend of mine at USA Today and she told me to stop reading them or they would drive me crazy. They ended up having to remove some of the comments because they were so racist. I had to pull myself away and realize when it comes to racism, change doesn't happen overnight, even though I wish with all my heart it would. I do have faith that one day it will be a non-issue. Clearly, as we see with the negativity regarding the Cheerios ad, we are not there yet.<br />
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This year will be our 20th wedding anniversary and 21 years together. As I have shared many times on this blog, we have dealt with all forms of racism during our years as a couple and family. I used to get angry, cry or get upset, but now I just feel sadness for anyone who carries hate in any form. Whether someone is racist, homophobic, or against another religion...hate is exhausting. I can't express enough how important it is for anyone who holds hate in their heart to let it go. In the end, the only person hate affects is the hateful person. Hate is stress and stress kills. Living a life filled with love and happiness cures more than hate, it leads to a longer life.<br />
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The thing is...nobody is born a bigot. Racism is taught. When we start accepting each other, we will stop hurting each other. I have an idea...let's start today, while eating a bowl of Cheerios! =)Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-72597896388180265732014-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:002014-01-20T08:12:38.678-08:00Honoring MLK... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today we honor him....<br />
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January 15th, is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s actual birthday. Every year on his birthday I watch pieces of his <i>I Have a Dream </i>speech. Each time I see it I am thrilled at how far we have come, yet, at the same time, amazed at how far we still have to go.<br />
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In his speech he said, <i>"I have a dream ... that little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as brothers and sisters, I have a dream today!" </i></div>
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Those words touch me in so many ways. As a white woman married to a black man in the present day, it takes me back to the fact that Jamie and I were <i>illegal </i>(in many states) when he gave his now famous speech. Because of MLK, the <a href="http://www.themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html" target="_blank">Lovings</a>, Rosa Parks, and so many more -- I am able to live freely and happily with my beautiful family. We are not only <i>holding hands</i>, we are married! His dream and more!<br />
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How does one even begin to thank people who have paved the way? The answer to that question is ... keep <i>paving</i> until it's no longer necessary. It's time for ALL of us to not only <i>continue</i> the change, but to <i>be</i> the change! For good. Forever. <i>That</i> is how we honor MLK and <i>all</i> the others who sacrificed so much for so many. Not just today but every day.<br />
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"Happy birthday" ... to the man, the father, the pioneer, the peacemaker.<br />
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Thank you. For everything.Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-87752155640443639882013-12-03T07:58:00.000-08:002013-12-03T08:07:59.499-08:00Giving is a Way of Living...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Young, old, <span style="font-family: inherit;">black, white, brown or yellow...we are ALL in this TOGETHER! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This holiday season, pick 1, 2, or all of the things on the list below...THEN, going forward, n</span>o matter what time of year it is, make giving a way of living. =)<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Let's make a difference....</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">~Donate Food</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">~Volunteer time at a food bank or shelter</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">~Donate blankets, scarves, gloves, jackets, hats to the homeless</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">~Shop local</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Visit a senior<br />~"Adopt" a family</span><br />
~Grocery shop for someone<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Donate money to charity</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Take a senior to lunch<br />~Help someone decorate their house who isn't able</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Buy from friends: Crafts, products, books, art, etc.<br />~Donate toys</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Take someone to see the holiday lights<br />~Spend time with family and friends<br />~Read to children; at a library, a shelter or a school</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Shovel snow for a neighbor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Volunteer to clean the beach</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Recycle trees, boxes, paper, etc.<br />~When the season is over...pause, reflect, rewind and repeat. =)<br /><br />Happy Holidays, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Amy Wise ♥</span></div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-35100288314803020982013-11-15T18:02:00.000-08:002013-11-15T18:02:48.727-08:002013 USA Best Book Awards!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;">I'm thrilled and honored to have my inspirational quote book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Believe </span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">in Yourself ~ Inspire Others ~
Spread Joy</span></a>, </i>chosen as an <i>Award-Winning Finalist </i>in the<i>
Self Help: Motivational</i> category of the <i>2013 USA Best
Book Awards</i></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 12.25pt;"> </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;">by <i>USA
Book News</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every word in my book came straight from my heart and helped me get
through a very difficult time. To know those</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">very words are now helping others is an incredible blessing and
EXACTLY why I wrote the book!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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supported my "paper baby." I hope it continues to help and inspire many more people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;">As most of you know, my mission, my passion; is to help people
find their joy, follow their heart and live their dreams!!! </span><i style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;">My</i><span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;"> dreams come true over and over each time I hear my book has touched someone else! It is a beautiful feeling and one I treasure every, single, time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12.25pt;"> </span><span style="line-height: 12.25pt; text-align: center;">View book here:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22">http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22</a></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wishing everyone JOY and DREAMS COME TRUE!</span></div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-51363132561067168952013-10-21T09:42:00.002-07:002013-10-21T09:51:17.967-07:00Freedom for All Radio Interview...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lFkXkui0L0Y/UmVXVA4lbVI/AAAAAAAACiA/SSZ6CXWUq1w/s320/QuoteBookCover+(2)+(1).jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last week I was the guest on <i>Freedom for All Radio</i> with hosts Jim and Jennifer Ellis. I talked about the "justice" system, family, interracial marriage, following dreams, finding joy, the journey to my book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=zg_bsnr_4744_22" target="_blank"><i>Believe in Yourself ~ Inspire Others ~ Spread Joy</i></a>, my new non-profit; <i>R.I.S.E. to Empower Inc.</i> and more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you missed the show you can listen here:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/freedomforall/2013/10/18/guest-amy-wise"><span style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.blogtalkradio.com/freedomforall/2013/10/18/guest-amy-wise</span></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for taking the time to stop by and thank you for listening!</span></span></div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-45150423461787057882013-09-22T10:55:00.000-07:002014-04-22T11:25:04.415-07:00To My Biological Mom...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A note to my bio mom, whom I've never met. I'm not sure why, but for the first time in 48 years, I felt compelled...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I don't have a longing but I am curious. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I've always wondered if we act alike. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I look in the mirror and imagine seeing you. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I relate to my heritage because it's my blood. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I love my own daughter to my soul. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I have a wonderful life and am truly grateful. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I don't miss you but I think of you. Do you feel the same?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~I know in my heart if we met, we would<i> be the same!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One final question...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you ever wish you knew my name?</span>Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-89763349098667481732013-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:002014-04-08T09:56:33.131-07:00The Luckiest Girl in the World......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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She came home, all wrapped in pink, to a house that was filled with love.</div>
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Her childhood had many faces and many places, and friends from all around.</div>
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She kept old friends and made new friends, and was always ready for more.</div>
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There were times when change wasn't so easy for her, and she gave you lots of grief.</div>
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You never stopped loving her, you never stopped believing in her </div>
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and even when you wanted to, you never gave up on her.</div>
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She finally grew out of it, and became more mature, and thankfully lessons were learned.</div>
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She went off to college, and traveled the world, because you gave her wings to fly.</div>
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She loved and she lost, you stood by her side, while she picked up the pieces of her life.</div>
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She became her own woman, she loved again, this time it was for keeps.</div>
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There were smiles all around as she started a family, a new little girl of her own. </div>
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Her family grew up, right before her eyes, and then she continued to grow. </div>
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She went on, to follow her dreams of making it on her own.</div>
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Then her dream was destroyed, and once again, you were there to help her through the storm.</div>
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The storm is still raging, but she is not, for a new dream has now been born.</div>
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She is stronger than ever, no matter the hurdles, because she knows she's never alone.</div>
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Who was that baby wrapped in a blanket so many years ago? </div>
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That baby was me, and all I can say is I'm the luckiest girl in the world.</div>
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I write these words deep down from my soul, to my beautiful parents, who gave me so much. </div>
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You made me feel special because I was chosen, and you told me I came from your heart.</div>
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I thank you for loving me, I thank you for choosing me, I thank you from my core.</div>
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I will love you forever, and always be thankful, that I was the one you chose. </div>
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~Amy<br />
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(Originally written and posted in 2010)</div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-30413245787119781502013-08-21T08:48:00.000-07:002013-08-21T08:48:46.338-07:0020 Years of Marriage! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our Wedding Day ~ August 21,1993</div>
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I do! And then some!</div>
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I now pronounce you....</div>
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I had to make our cake topper </div>
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because interracial toppers didn't exist 20 years ago</div>
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Filled with joy!</div>
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Awwww ~ Daddy and daughter so long ago!</div>
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Jamie and I NEVER imagined 21 years ago, on that <b><a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-heck-did-you-two-meet-i-mean-she.html" target="_blank">fateful day on the freeway</a>, </b>that today, we would be celebrating 20 years of marriage! The odds were not only stacked against us, they were piled high! However, through it ALL, we grew more in love, created a beautiful life and raised a loving family. </div>
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Even though in our eyes we are <i>just a couple</i>, to society we are an <i>interracial couple</i>. We deal with so much more than couples that are of the same race. Sometimes it's mind boggling. We could have easily walked away all those years ago and decided that it wasn't worth the extra struggle to move forward in a relationship, but instead, we did the exact opposite and became stronger in spite of the obstacles. Each <i>brick</i> that was <i>thrown </i>at us made our foundation even stronger and our love even deeper. It's a choice to make it work and a choice we are blessed to have made. </div>
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We not only have the obvious race difference but we are from VERY different worlds. I was raised in upper/middle class, <i>white bread</i> suburbia and Jamie was raised in the <i>hood</i>. Night and day lives, that came together because of 2 hearts and one love. We embraced each other's worlds and we raised our beautiful daughter to appreciate both and feel comfortable in both. Today we live in the middle of the 2 and it works perfectly. Who knew that Jamie would be attending book signings and going to see things like the <i>artsy fartsy </i>mosaic stairs in San Fran and I would be attending <i>ghetto fabulous </i>lowrider shows and car shows! It makes me laugh just thinking about it! Partnership and compromise at its finest! </div>
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Through laughter, tears, love, loss, happiness, sadness, anger, relief, ups and downs...I am grateful for every moment of every single day during these last 20 years of marriage. </div>
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Happy anniversary to my best friend and my soul-mate. Thank you for our CRAZY, AMAZING, LIFE! I Love you Jamie Wise! Here's to 20 more!<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Our Fam ~ August 2013</span></div>
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Us 2013</div>
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2012</div>
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2013</div>
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20 years later! More in love than ever!!</div>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-9923533721844635742013-07-13T20:41:00.002-07:002013-07-15T09:36:17.186-07:00We Are So Very Sorry Trayvon...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At this moment I don't know what to think. I am speechless. I am heartbroken. I am shocked. I am a white woman, married to a black man, and sadly, he isn't shocked at all by the not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman case. That breaks my heart as well. Injustice is something my husband has become used to as a black man in America. When will this change? Why are we still looking at young black men in hoodies as criminals and young white men in hoodies as keeping warm? Why?<br />
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We ALL know if George Zimmerman had run into a young white man in a hoodie on that infamous Florida night, he might have glanced at him, but he would have nodded and moved on. We all know this. We do.<br />
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George Zimmerman was told by the 911 operator to wait for the police. He didn't. Trayvon Martin was carrying a bag of Skittles. George Zimmerman was carrying a gun. George Zimmerman took the law into his own hands and Trayvon Martin never had the law on his side. We can say he did. We can say a jury saw more evidence than we did. But what we can't say is, <i>justice was done</i>. It wasn't.<br />
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The loopholes in the law that allowed George Zimmerman, as an armed security guard, to decide not to wait for police officers and to take the life of an innocent young man, didn't allow justice to be done, the laws allowed a young man to die for no reason. The insane laws in Florida allowed another man to get away with murder. Period.<br />
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I'm ashamed of our system. I'm ashamed of our courts. I'm ashamed that attorney's are standing up and celebrating a <i>win. </i>A young man with an entire future ahead of him, who committed no crime, is dead! A win?!?<i> </i>Shameful.<br />
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Until the fear based on stereotypes and racism is erased, we will never be able to move forward. Until change is made, until Trayvon can rest in peace, until his parents can go to sleep at night knowing the right thing was done...we can't stop speaking for Trayvon. We won't. I know I speak for many when I say...we are so very sorry Trayvon.<br />
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Justice was not done. Injustice was.Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-8152042390882788592013-04-03T21:22:00.000-07:002013-05-27T16:49:32.723-07:00Marriage is LOVE...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am a BIG believer in equal rights for all. I haven't written anything about the gay marriage debate on my blog because this blog is all about interracial marriage. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I have to write about gay marriage, because this blog is about LOVE!<br />
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So here's the thing...in light of the fact that the heterosexual divorce rate is 50%+ -- maybe, instead of working so hard to stop gay marriages, <i>we </i>should work a little harder on <i>our</i> marriages so <i>we</i> stay married. Yes?<br />
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I respect everyone's right to believe what they believe. However, I don't respect those beliefs when they turn from believing to hating. Gay people don't go around bullying or bashing heterosexuals because they are straight, yet there are straight people who justify bullying gays because they don't believe in their lifestyle. I'd say <i>we</i> have work to do in <i>our houses</i> before we start judging <i>other houses.</i><i> </i><br />
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Then there is religion and gay marriage. For the love of God, please don't bring God into this. God loves everyone and I can guarantee <i>he </i>doesn't approve of judging or hating. That is not Christian behavior, that is bad behavior.<i> </i><br />
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If someone doesn't believe in gay marriage, cool. Don't be in one. If someone doesn't believe in interracial marriage. Cool. Don't be in that either. Just don't take away someone else's right to love because of differing beliefs. Wish them well, walk away, and move on.<br />
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Not long ago an AMAZING couple went all the way to the Supreme Court to fight for their marriage. They paved the way for interracial marriage to become legal. <a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2011/06/right-to-live-in-love.html" target="_blank">The Loving's</a> (yes, that is really their last name) never gave up and because of them my husband and I are allowed to live in love today. To see the gay marriage debate at the Supreme Court truly gives me chills. I get it. To my core. Another fight for love.<br />
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Let's stop making this sooooo difficult! In the end it's about being able to love whom our heart falls in love with.<br />
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Marriage is LOVE. ALL marriage. And yes, it IS that simple!Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-35022800964102393082013-03-21T18:54:00.001-07:002013-03-21T19:13:05.412-07:00No Words Needed...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.adl.org/" target="_blank">Anti-Defamation League -- 100 years!</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ADLNational?feature=watch" target="_blank">Take just one minute to watch this, then -- imagine</a>.</div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-5075954883349589182013-02-14T08:29:00.000-08:002013-02-14T20:52:15.353-08:00Valentine's Day "is" Every Day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Valentine's Day is such an interesting <i>holiday</i>. So much goes into this <i>day of love</i>. My husband and I look at it a little differently. You see, we feel that Valentine's Day should be every day. I'm not talking about chocolates, roses, cards and fancy dinners. I'm talking about love, respect, laughter, support - LIFE! </div>
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Valentine's Day to us is one more day to; say I love you, smile at each other, share our day with each other, respect each other, support each other, laugh together, chill together, and just <i>be</i> together. </div>
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When love truly comes from the heart there is no <i>proving it</i> - you just <i>know it</i>. For the love to last, it HAS to be about the everyday! </div>
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Mind you, there is nothing wrong with doing something special on Valentine's Day. In fact, it's fun! Do what makes <i>you</i> happy as a couple, not what you <i>think</i> you should do because it's Valentine's Day. We will be celebrating by picking up dinner from one of our favorite restaurants and having our "carpet picnic" by the fire. No crowds, just us. =) </div>
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So today I say, "Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life, my best friend, my heart. I love you - today and EVERY DAY!"</div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-21490078763445076852012-11-19T10:51:00.000-08:002012-11-19T10:51:12.435-08:00Comedy in a Casserole....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Flashback to Thanksgiving, 1993....Jamie and I had been husband and wife for just a few months and we were going to our first <i>married Thanksgiving</i> at his sister's house. His sister asked me to bring a dish to share with everyone and I was so excited to be contributing to the Thanksgiving meal. I was a little nervous because it was our first holiday as a married couple with his family. I decided to bring the staple dish that I had grown up with....green bean casserole with french onions on top. You all know it, you all love it, you've all had it...right? <br />
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We got to his sister's house and I proudly walked in with my green bean casserole. I set it on the table, took off the foil, and waited for everyone to dig in. After we said a prayer everyone started to dish up all their food from the table...everything but my casserole that is. So I thought, hmm, why is nobody eating my green bean casserole? This is a favorite at my house, what's up? I was starting to get a little hurt as they walked right by <i>my beans</i>. Whatever...I proudly filled my plate and ate those beans up! However, I was literally the only one! Apparently black people don't like green bean casserole. Who knew!?! Clearly, I didn't.<br />
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The <i>hilarious</i> thing is, after that holiday meal, I was given the task of bringing the rolls and soda going forward. Yes, you heard me...rolls and soda....pretty impossible to <i>screw up</i> right? My green bean casserole has been the <i>holiday funny</i> ever since. At first it really did hurt my feelings, but now I can actually look back and laugh. Good thing I have a sense of humor! This was one more thing to adjust to in a mixed race marriage, getting used to each other's traditions, big and small. As time went on I <em>graduated </em>to making complete meals for Jamie's family...um, minus the green bean casserole!<br />
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The hilarity continued this year when my sister-in-law Niki called to let me know that the green bean casserole commercials had started and she couldn't wait to make it. I laughed! It truly is the running joke even after all these years. By the way, a little aside, Niki is white. The silliness ensued while later talking to my mom on the phone. She said, while giggling, "Be sure to tell Jamie that Aunt Sal is cooking green bean casserole." Then minutes after that phone call, Jamie's longtime friend Calvin, otherwise known as "Tee," called to wish us an early happy Thanksgiving. Jamie and Tee were comparing menus and Tee listed green bean casserole as one of the dishes he and his wife were making for dinner. Jamie quickly said, "Oh hell no," and just started laughing! He then proceeded to share the casserole story with Tee. Another little <em>funny,</em> Tee just so happens to be black and his wife is white. Do you see a pattern here? I have yet to talk to an all black family that serves the <em>infamous casserole</em>.<br />
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The green bean casserole jokes have become another fun tradition that we all share as we continue to embrace the differences between our two very opposite families. Each year we literally have <i>comedy in a casserole</i>! It's the perfect analogy for <em>us.</em> Happy Thanksgiving! Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-65661020874580297472012-10-28T11:06:00.001-07:002012-10-28T11:22:33.665-07:00The World's Hero....<div align="center" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I have a very important guest post from my friends at </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the <a href="http://overmyshoulderfoundation.org/" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Over My Shoulder Foundation</a><i>... </i></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">What if we lived in a world where our education was a mentor-centric venture and all the nations in the world held m</span>entorology<span style="line-height: 20px;"> as the highest value for both men AND women equally? Would you want to live in that kind of world? Education is precious so we need to fight for it just like Malala Yousafzai did, and is doing, in Pakistan. That is the foundational belief guiding this story by one of our favorite guest writers, Sarah Gross. Sarah has written for us before as she pursued her undergraduate degree at UC Davis. She has delighted us all with in-depth inquiries into mentoring issues. For example: </span>Lady Gaga and the anti-bullying crusades of 2012<span style="line-height: 20px;">, </span>how Lenny Kravitz addresses race issues<span style="line-height: 20px;"> and </span>Bob Marley’s mentoring legacy<span style="line-height: 20px;">. Now in pursuit of a combined teaching credential/ Master’s of Education program, Sarah is teaching at a middle school & high school while taking classes. Somehow she still finds time to write for Over My Shoulder Foundation. We sure are grateful!</span></span></i></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Dawn Carroll, Over My Shoulder Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Being a Teacher...</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, I woke up early and drove to the middle school where I am an English teacher to 7<sup style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: 0.8em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</sup> graders. As I greet them every day, I see different personalities, ethnicities, and genders. Each student comes into the classroom with their own unique story, their own values, and their own personal background. These students are individuals who enrich the classroom environment. It is an adventure to teach them all, and <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I learn from my students as much as they learn from me</em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I think about my life at this point, I see myself maintaining a daily routine where my identity as “teacher” is synonymous with providing quality education to all who enter the classroom. This lifestyle—teaching all adolescents within a classroom, no matter their gender or background—is somewhat taken for granted in the United States. Teachers are common threads in the tapestry of American society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not take my profession for granted, but it is an easy thing to do when I have lived in a country where access to education is a guarantee. There was no question that I would go to school and receive at least a high school education. There is similarly no question of an education for my 7<sup style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; bottom: 0.8em; height: 0px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">th</sup> grade students. They are already taking field trips to Universities, and the curriculum is designed to lead these students on the path to college. With these guarantees in place, where students are set up for future success, it is easy to forget that not all countries share the view that its citizens should have access to education. Yet, one incident is enough to remind us of how precious education really is; of how important teachers are; and of how important individual students are in their role as shapers of the future.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then Realizing that My Educational Worldview was Incomplete…</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That one incident came just a week ago. A young girl—teen activist Malala Yousafzai—was shot in Pakistan by the Taliban for campaigning for girls’ education. Despite living under a highly patriarchal regime, where education to females is viewed as a threat, Malala has fought for the education of girls like herself. She has maintained a blog and has starred in a documentary to bring awareness to the issue. Her efforts even won her the National Youth Peace Prize.</span></div>
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<a href="http://overmyshoulderfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/malala.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-646" height="240" src="http://overmyshoulderfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/malala.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px none; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Malala Yousafzai" width="360" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malala Yousafzai – a Women’s Education Activist</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Recognizing Malala’s Heroism</strong>…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While campaigning, she received threats from the Taliban, who wished to silence her radical ideas. A powerful soul like Malala’s, however, cannot be silenced. Though living under the shadow of these threats, Malala did not allow this darkness to blunt the shining light of justice she carried through the Swat Valley. Her resilience casts her in the role of a martyr, sacrificing herself for neighbors. The outpouring of emotion and the unifying effect brought on by the shooting, however, lifts Malala into a position even more powerful than that of a martyr. The news reports of the incident, widely circulated and showing communities joined together in prayer, are evidence that Malala is no ordinary victim to Taliban threats. Rather, her actions and what she stands for bring certain gravity to the situation that has resonated across the nations. Malala is not just a martyr: she is symbol of hope and peace for a broken community. Most importantly for young girls, she is someone to look up to. She is a role model. She is a mentor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Honoring Malala with Our Ongoing Commitment to Mentorology</strong>…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malala’s courageous efforts reveal the level of injustice she has lived with. When comparing her life to the life of a girl growing up in the United States, I cannot help but notice the painful disparity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can take this incident of darkness as a sign of hopelessness. We can feel despair for Malala and the girls in her country, and grateful that we live in a better place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I choose to do neither. I choose to honor Malala, to honor her courage and resilience, and to mark this incident as the dawning of a new era of hope for girls across the globe who deserve an education. <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Malala is truly a mentor for all of us</strong>.</em> As a teacher, I am reaffirmed in my belief that I can make a positive difference in the lives of my students, because they all—boy and girl—are receiving the same education. I can advocate for the students here in the United States, and spread the word about the importance of education. On a subtler level, I can work to be a role model to my students, just as some of my grade-school teachers are still role models to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though what happened to Malala is a tragedy, it is something we, as country, can learn from. A <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Newsweek </em>author opines, “Who will speak for [Malala] now?” In answer to this, I say that “we” as a collective nation can speak for her. We can embrace this young girl, this mentor, and take up her cause for girls’ education. We should all have the right to an education, and the right to be heard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us, then, listen to Malala and share her words, those spoken and unspoken. Let us celebrate her as the shining light of justice in a dark world, and let us learn from her as she mentors us all. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Sarah Gross</span></b></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When we turn a blind eye, everyone hurts. </i></span></b></strong><br />
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When we open our eyes, everyone heals. </i></span></b></strong><br />
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>There are no strangers, we're all in this together!</i></span></b></strong></div>
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>~ Amy Wise</i></span></b></strong></div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-85764142687285542322012-10-03T08:10:00.000-07:002012-10-03T08:33:14.554-07:00Creating Change....Together!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Women Behind the Wall</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Last month I spoke at a fundraiser in Los Angeles for the <a href="http://acwip.net/" target="_blank"><i>Action Committee for Women in Prison</i></a>. The event was a life changer for me. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">My passion is to help others find their joy even when it seems there is none to be found. G</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">oing forward I will be working with a whole new group of women...women who are behind <i>the bars</i> or just getting free of <i>the bars</i>. It's all about helping others help themselves. THEN, they can help someone else do the same! We have to create change, together! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">After the fundraiser I was asked to be a guest on <b><i>Women Behind the Wall </i>by </b><i><b>4 Justice Now Radio</b>,</i> hosted by </span><i>Gloria Goodwin-Killian</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> and </span><i>MaryEllen Digiacomo.</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> On their show we talked about my 5 year battle with the "justice" system, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">making it through hard times, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">racism, my interracial marriage, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">starting over, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">creating new dreams, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">second chances, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">finding joy and so much more! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Listen in by clicking on the link below to hear all the topics and to see how you can help. Thank you! </span></div>
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<a forcediv="true" forceinline="true" href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/4justicenow/2012/10/02/women-behind-the-wall" original_target="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/4justicenow/2012/10/02/women-behind-the-wall&h=gaqgkguqv&s=1" rel=" " saprocessedanchor="true" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" verdict_1d7d3h7="OK">Women Behind the Wall by 4 Justice Now Radio</a></div>
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"Yesterday's choices are today's lessons and tomorrow's growth" </div>
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~Amy Wise</div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-50466176621118698012012-09-28T16:52:00.000-07:002012-09-29T08:58:36.819-07:00Life, in a Nutshell, on the Radio...<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Sprinkles-Chris-Mott/dp/1463769830/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348681766&sr=1-1&keywords=Find+your+sprinkles" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OR9eGu-osrg/UGM-XoVbABI/AAAAAAAACY4/2Qw91j_C2og/s200/564045_4740701404265_1045549093_n.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Yourself-Inspire-Others-note/dp/1468175165/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348681488&sr=1-1&keywords=believe+in+yourself+inspire+others+spread+joy" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bjdDGiHwdj8/UGI_fAp3bZI/AAAAAAAACYY/R_NnxvLPGEE/s200/QuoteBookCover+(2)+(1).jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Recently, I was the guest on <b><i>"Find Your Sprinkles Radio." </i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">If you missed the radio show live, you can still listen in online. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">We talked about choices, interracial marriage, racism, strength, love, believing in ourselves, starting over, following dreams, creating new dreams, giving to others and so much more! Click on the link below to hear everything! </span><i>Craig Lazarchik</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> and </span><i>Chris Mott</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> are the hosts of this inspirational show. We had a great time!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/find-your-sprinkles-radio/2012/09/27/the-world-black-and-white-or-50-shades-of-grey#.UGIYWzC5Glo.facebook" target="_blank">Find Your Sprinkles Radio</a>
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Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-71981696801251524842012-08-21T07:46:00.000-07:002012-08-21T12:41:04.794-07:00Happy 19th Anniversary!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Then....August 21st, 1993</div>
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Who knew on a fateful day 20 years ago while driving up the 805 freeway in San Diego, my life would change forever?! That was the day I <i>met</i> my husband and our future was set in motion. The story still amazes me. <a href="http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-heck-did-you-two-meet-i-mean-she.html">http://themanyshadesoflove.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-heck-did-you-two-meet-i-mean-she.html</a></div>
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Flash forward to today...August 21st, 2012...our 19th wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe that so much time has gone by. We have been through trials, tribulations and triumphs! Neither one of us would have ever imagined that we would be where we are today. We are friends, shoulders, lovers, parents, partners, soul-mates and so much more. There are days when we laugh, there are days when we cry and there are days when we drive each other <i>crazy</i>, but there is never, ever a day that goes by that we don't love each other completely. We don't take each other for granted and we realize how lucky and blessed we are to be together. </div>
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Time has changed circumstances, but time has not changed us. We are more in love today than the day we got married. There is a deepness to that love that only time, heartache, life, happiness and challenges can bring. It's the getting through and making it out of the dark times that has truly allowed us to embrace the bright times with joy. </div>
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I love my husband not just with all my heart, but deep to my soul. We <i>fit</i> so perfectly while also being totally different. It's a wonderful combination that works for us. We are two best friends from opposite worlds that continue to meet in the middle to build our beautiful life.<br />
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So today, on our 19th anniversary, I want to say thank you for the most amazing, life altering, fabulous, 19 years! Fate brought us together, love made us grow, strength and respect made us last.<br />
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I love you <i>always and forever</i> Jamie J.<br />
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1993</div>
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2012</div>
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Happy, happy anniversary! </div>
Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3404254171013100599.post-19335522527606900242012-08-07T17:10:00.000-07:002014-04-17T16:30:35.067-07:00Out of the Box Christian<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Peaceful Space</span></div>
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Religion, it’s a recurring theme in my life. Just the other day I was in Starbucks, anxiously awaiting my Caramel Frappaccino (my other religion), when a very attractive black man in a suit came up to me and said, “Do you practice?” I wasn't sure what he was referring to, and at first I thought he was asking if I was a practicing attorney because this particular Starbucks is on the bottom floor of a law firm. He clearly saw the puzzled look on my face and pointed to my bracelet, and said, “Is that just an accessory or do you practice?” Ohhhh! I finally got it. My bracelet had Buddhas all over it and he wanted to know if I was a practicing Buddhist. I thought about it for a second and wondered if I should give this complete stranger my true beliefs on religion, or the quick and easy answer, which would have been, “I’m a Christian.” The easy answer, however, just does not cover the full story of how I feel about religion. I’m a Christian, but there is so much more to it than that. I decided to be open and give him the <i>more</i>. I said, “No I’m not a Buddhist, but I’m a very <i>out of the box Christian</i>, open to all religions. I practice bits and pieces of many religions, including practicing some Buddhism, because in the end don’t we all want the same thing from whatever religion it is that we practice?” He literally looked at me, smiled, took my hand in both of his hands, and said, “Thank you, that’s exactly how I feel and I’m so very happy to meet you!” In that moment, two strangers understood that if we all open our minds and hearts to each other, the world would be a much more peaceful place. It was a pretty cool moment.<br />
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A few days after that, my sister and I were talking and she told me how she loved the fact that my friends were from so many different backgrounds, ages and religions. She is so right! My friends are a <i>we are the world gumbo</i>. I have friends that are Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Atheist, <i>Goddess</i>, <i>Universe</i>, and I’m sure I’m missing something else, but you get the idea. I love them all. I respect them all. I’m thankful they are all in my life. Period.<br />
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As a child I was raised as a Lutheran -- I even taught Sunday school -- but as I got older I held on to some beliefs and let go of others, while opening my mind to so many more. Being in an interracial marriage automatically frees your mind. How could it not? We are living a life that is not the norm, but it’s a life filled with love, so why would a religion that is not <i>my norm</i> be any different?<br />
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Religion to me is now all about faith, peace, love, kindness, caring and giving. I pray to Jesus. I meditate to Buddha. I talk to God. I look to the Universe. It’s all good as far as I’m concerned! So when someone asks me what my religion is, I have to ask, “Do you really want to know?” If the answer is yes….well then….”I’m an <i>out of the box Christian</i> and so much more!<br />
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(Originally posted April, 2011)Amy Wisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01301679404844635237noreply@blogger.com14