Feeling better...

Still processing.

Dan Christie took time today during class to present what has come to be referred to as “the heart” so that we as a class know where it is he’s coming from when he makes comments which could be taken as being racially insensitive. Where I am right now, similar to some of my friends, is in a position in which I believe his statements are less insensitive, just more…ignorant to their potential insensitivity. He needs to be more responsible in his wording. That is an issue with context, which he, I believe, addressed today. He showed us pictures of his family, adopted children of African descent. Some of my classmates believe the problem is well on its way to being fixed while others feel it was a “see how culturally sensitive I am? I have Black kids,” gesture, similar to anyone who’s ever said “some of my best friends are Black!”

How I feel, I don’t know. It’ll take a while for me. A few others are in the same place: we’re thinking and waiting.

I do know that my experiences in the Amazon, which mercifully had nothing to do with life on this ship, have made me feel different as a person. For such a watery statement, I assure you, reader, that it’s not because I personally lack the words to describe the metamorphosis which took place in certain parts of me, but because every part of [and the entire experience as a whole] is ineffable.

Yep, that’s right. I went there. It’s not my ability; it’s your language.

Hah… your language.

I’ve become silly, so I’m going to end this here.