How do you change a culture?

I love going back through old blog post looking for things that were once heavy in the hearts of my wife and mine at one time or another. This post comes from my wife's old blog. There was once a writer that shared an article on the "Smart City Memphis" that really caught my wife's eye. She posted this over 2 years ago and I decided to repost it. I love the insight of this post. Even after all this time reading it-its worth looking over again. Not being from Memphis originally this article really spoke to me. Thanks for posting this hun. Good stuff. The link is below.
Take a deep breath and read!

http://smartcitymemphis.blogspot.com/2008/05/changing-reality-starts-with-race.html

"It takes time to reverse the momentum that has dragged Memphis in the wrong direction for years. That negative momentum has been fueled and driven by oppression of one culture by another. Although it's not nearly as measurable or tangible as in years past, its aftershocks will be felt for years.There are two cultures here that don't mix very well. One culture needs to seek forgiveness and provide tangible evidence of providing a way out for the culture it oppressed. This same culture says to the other, “Move beyond your past and seize the opportunities.” Sure, just tell the lion at the zoo to not let that barrier keep him from realizing his true capacity to roam. There are a lot of socio-economic barriers that have been raised as a result of the residual cultural infrastructure that exists here. You don’t see it if you visit Memphis, but you do if you move here.It's this rift between two cultures that is absolutely revolting to the outsiders coming to Memphis. And nowhere is it more obvious then when an outsider family goes to a public school and is suddenly transported back to the segregated pre-Civil Rights era. You can talk about all the great ways that people claim race relations have improved, but the public school system is the reality check. It tells the whole story to a family coming to move to Memphis. There is the change that people desire and preach and then there is their action to back it up. Let’s face it- it’s completely socially acceptable within the churched culture here to segregate your kids. How’s that for a selling point for our city?THIS IS NOT NORMAL!Memphis is plagued by hypocrisy - a putrid stench to the prospective working professional and to the Memphian that has smelled it their whole life and is aching to get out of it. This hypocrisy is the running joke with one of my Australian colleagues.A culture that preaches forgiveness and tolerance and yet continues to promote segregation by placing its children into private schools. How do our children learn racial tolerance and harmony if they don't grow up together? Most of the parents that I have met who do place their kids in Memphis City Schools are non-religious folks. What does that say about what people believe? Does God only live in private schools? Why is it that the “non-Christians” are more Christian in their convictions (or at least actions) than the “true Christians.”Yes we need more high tech jobs, low tech jobs and such. But for people to sink their roots down and commit to a community we need racial harmony and congruity. The church here needs to live out the principles and actions and align their beliefs with their actions.On the brighter side, times are changing. As more outsiders move in, the melting pot is starting to stir again especially in the Midtown areas but it's slow and even slower within the native culture. But it’s happening and I have met Memphians that are equally disturbed with this incongruity. But wait! MCS are terrible and not safe. Right? Not true. That's a smokescreen or code word for the MCS being mostly populated by blacks. There are some great MCS schools out there!!As you see racial reconciliation continue to unfold, this city will become a beautiful vibrant place - inside and out. It already is a beautiful little city but it's the culture, the tension and the manifestations of this rift that start to wear on those of us who are new to Memphis.Let’s start with a Forgiveness Garden perhaps on the grounds of Auction and Main.This is the area visible from the trolley route where slaves were traded and the property has been for sale for along time. H-m-m. Why not get churches to donate money to jointly buy, run and maintain the site? Why not host inter-racial worship services on Mud Island on Sunday nights?People will stay and not leave as the day-to-day gritty realities around us begin to fade. And they will fade as harmony is restored between the cultures belief system and it’s actions."

Things that have been going on lately

Gosh there have been alot of happenings going on since the last time I posted. I want to try and catch you up on some of them. First things first the little girl. Over the last few weeks Syd had to go into surgery to have a swollen lymph node checked out.

We were shocked to hear the news that it would have to be surgically removed. She was a champ during the whole process. After is was all said and done, she is back to normal and the doctors chalked it all up to an infection and nothing more. Praise the Lord for this!

We have now purchased our deep freezer and totally changed the way we are eating around the house. We are doing more cooking from scratch, purchasing wheat flour instead of white, and staying away from many processed foods. I have never eaten like this before and I think that it is so fun! The change has really not been as hard as I thought it would be. Using the Internet has been the key to recipes and a way to connect with other folks who have changed eating habits as well.

The fitness part of my life has really kicked back in. I think that this is the time of the season its nice to be outside. I am currently getting ready to run in a 5k the first weekend in May. I have not really trained for it at all so we will see how that goes!

Our little guy has turned two months old! I am still getting used to the fact that my little man is here. After having a girl for 7yrs now, it has been an adjustment and the changing table has been just the beginning. If you have ever been in our home and seen Syd's room you would know that there is a huge difference. She is the epitome of a girl.

Zachary's room is quite the opposite. I wonder if it will fit his personality as much as Syd room does her. We'll see!

"Fat Tire"

I have totally found a new beer to drink. A buddy of mine at work spoke this beer into my life about 3 weeks ago. For the next 2 weeks I tried to find this beer and finally ran into it at the shopping center at Kroger a few days ago. GREAT STUFF! If you are a beer drinker, you should try it out. It has a great taste for an American Beer.

Bama Football is back! You folks know how we love our Bama Football. Last weekend was A-Day in Tuscaloosa Al. This is the day were only in Alabama 92,000 people get together to watch Alabama scrimmage each other! I didn't get to see the game due to work, but you better believe I will be trying to catch the replay very soon. I can smell the season in the air. Can not wait!

Lastly we are getting ready to place the house back on the market.....again! This time we will be doing it with updates. We are redoing our floors, gardening, and several other items. I am so pumped about what the future holds in our moving plans. Updates will began May 15th any help will be welcomed!

Exciting times!

To Bow Tie or Not to Bow Tie? That is the question.

Spring time is here and to get into the spirit of it I am looking to change up my wardrobe a bit. In looking at doing so I have decided to break out the bow tie. I have not worn one of these things since I was in the 6th grade for a school picture and thinking back I was not too excited about it then. Being a little older, I am ready to step out and do something a little different than the same ole same ole. Check out the look and let me know what you think about my new swag!

Thoughts?