The week in words (Or: Can a few represent the many? #column)

'In the past few years 200 muslims committed terrorist attacks, worldwide!'

-'Yes, and every single day 25,000 people die of starvation. What's your point?'

'That every muslim actually is a terrorist because those 200 muslims represent all muslims!'

-'But 300 muslims prayed for the souls of the people killed by Omar Mateen in front of that nightclub were he emptied his rifle.'

'That may be, but 300 muslims do not represent all muslims!'

On a lighter note: Hillary Clinton is unable to recover 32,000 of her private emails, said to contain 'private' information. Republicans however, did much, much better: the Bush-Cheney administration lost 22 million emails. But, of course - that's totally different. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/09/you-want-real-email-scandal-take-look-back-bush-cheney-white-house

Senses (A #ShortStory) #AmWriting

On his way to the bar his eyes met hers.

If she were a ray of light shining casually across the book case, she would have rested at Murakami.

Her vague smile must have had a magnetic attraction because suddenly he found himself standing next to her.

Before long their hips moved in the same rhythm and their bliss dripped from their faces in the form of sweat.

For minutes they were alone for hours and only when the Cuban musicians played their last chord they slowly came to their senses.

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Want to read more of my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Racists are people too!

People say I should be careful with my words: 'Don't angry racists! Especially when they're related or friends!' Yes, I do have racist family members and racist friends. And that's okay. Every single person is entitled (or should be) to his/her or it opinion. So yes, of course racists are entitled to their own opinion. Or to the opinion of a populist, in most cases.

Racists are people too! Just like Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Nickelback fans, gay bikers on acid, politicians, redheads, et cetera. See: we are all one race. The human race. So when I notice any wrongdoing I feel obliged to step in. Not because it could happen to me but because it could happen to you. When someone places a racist remark, I counter. When someone blames an entire people of whatever is allegedly wrong, I counter. When someone blames a religion for the mistakes of a handful of politicians and businesspeople, I speak out. And tell them they're stupid.

Because that's what I think a person is, who thinks a religion can be an entity. When the police comes to take my neighbours because they are Jews, homosexuals, Muslims or Nickelback fans, I don't think I will close the curtains and pretend I didn't see so one day I could say 'Ich habe es nicht gewusst.' In stead I will do everything in my power (ie write, argue, discuss, go to court) to prevent the day my neighbours will be put on involuntary transport to some 're-education camp' from coming.

I try to live by my motto: 'Someone has to do something about it. And you can be someone.' Even if that means I would have to live the rest of my life next to Nickelback fans.