It is about time we started acting like responsible adults!

There is more than meets the eye as to what true success is and as painful as it is it can’t continued to be ignored. It is up the humanity to decide what they don’t want and start focusing on what they do want. Humanity needs to learn how to deal with diversity and contrasts in our lives in constructive way…….NO MORE WAR!

You are correct in saying that once we realize that something is offensive that it needs to be changed. I believe global warming is just tip of the iceberg. There are a vast number of issues underneath the iceberg that has created the dis-ease of our environment. It is important to address those issues because the evolution of our society is going to fall on the hands of the upcoming generation of this world.

I use this site as a motivational tool for my Junior High class and also encouraged other colleagues to do the same – many are not white, they are from the NY area, and this has been a source of a lot of discussion. We’ve gone from the excitement of Roz’s day-to-day progress to discussions of this blog and the responses. Their consensus is it was unintentional although in itself still offensive. They struggle with the responses that seem to paint a picture of concerned comments as if they were attacks against Roz as a racist. I suppose there’s something to be gained from these discussions, but the problem is more time was spent on something other than the achievements, goals, awareness of what good one can do in this world. However, does this mean there’s no time to correct what we now understand will be offensive to some or should we require someone to read through pages of e-mails to get to the apology?

APOLOGY: I am profoundly embarrassed. I have been unavoidably offline for the last week, so had no idea of the row brewing over something I wrote in my last blog. I was not at all familiar with the US connotations of “Aunt Jemima”, and am horrified that some people interpreted this as a racial slur. Nothing could have been further from my intentions. During my all-too-brief time in Tarawa I developed the greatest respect and love for the people there. Apologies for any offence caused.

Thank you, Roz. You are a true champ deserving of a ticker tape parade for what you have done.

Think about it………

Maybe it’s as simple as saying Tawara instead of Tarawa. Roz knows that distinction even at sea with an 11th hour course change — she never mispronounced Tarawa! Did she chastise Leo Laporte for not getting it right? Never! Sorry, but she let her civility and good nature show.

Each one of us is “ugly” somewhere at some time in some circumstance. So, please don’t be too harsh … what do they say about casting the first stone? … judge not?

This “discussion” is neither civil nor respectful. Can we please turn it around? Unless, of course, there are other motivations, in which case, please just leave and talk to the wind!

“After all, the context was to rodents EATING her provisions and how happy she was (AND thankful to the people of the island) that her boat was being protected from that! Keep in mind that the locals KNOW she is a Brit … and that she would NOT ascribe to their beliefs about rats being relatives! Duh” – Naomi

I believe that if we haven’t got something nice to say about someone’s beliefs we don’t talk about it for we are all solely responsible for our own beliefs and actions.

Maggie, I have been using Bag Balm (which is very greasy) and a prescription for eczema to fix my cracking and flaking fingers. The prescription seems to be helping — although the eczema has not been cured — but what I really need is a an effective lotion to keep the skin moist … I would love to try your lotion potion, and would gladly pay handsomely. My email address is at the bottom of the page that links from my name above.

re my above post … meant to write “subscribe” to their beliefs, not “ascribe.”

Hi Nancy: If you asked a boatload of New Yorkers, you’d be hard pressed to find even a few who think that “Aunt Jemima” is the female version of an Uncle Tom (that is simply ridiculous — or I’m living under a rock). Someone on Wikipedia may think so but not here. She’s a marketing tool used on a pancake box in the 50′s and 60′s that many a Baby Boomer associated with yummy comfort food.

I think what’s being overlooked in our discussions back and forth here can be put into one word: CONTEXT. I chided the poster because I think he ignored the context. The context being RELATIVES and FOOD. What I think happened was that Roz, rather innocently, thought of “aunt” … and then followed w/ a quick name association that undoubtedly popped into her head related to food — i.e., Aunt Jemima! I think it was the furthest thing from her mind that since Aunt Jemima was dark-skinned, that somehow using that name would be more relevant to the people of Tarawa! To imply that is to not have gotten the heart of Roz as it’s been expressed consistently and eloquently in her blogs here for months of entries. After all, the context was to rodents EATING her provisions and how happy she was (AND thankful to the people of the island) that her boat was being protected from that! Keep in mind that the locals KNOW she is a Brit … and that she would NOT ascribe to their beliefs about rats being relatives! Duh. Clearly they would know that her comment was not about black people or to knock their religious beliefs! These people are not living under a rock somewhere — to imply they’d be so easily insulted is to imply they are uneducated and they simply are not. They are aware others hold beliefs different form their own, for heaven’s sake!

Offending anyone was the furthest thing from her mind, imo, and if the easily offended person who insinuated this racist thing into the thread to begin with really had gotten the heart of Roz via all these blogs, he would know that and THAT is my main point here: Roz’s comment was never intended as that person suggested it was intended. And INTENT is all. HE — not Roz — imo, is the one to be chided for insinuating that her intent was arrogant or racist in the first place! And THAT is why I chided him. HE is the person who ascribed to Roz sinister motives where none existed. Indeed, why are we not all offended by THAT? I make no apology for what I wrote. Agree with me or not, I care little.

The whole reason I bothered to write this lengthy comment is because I don’t want to see Roz censor her free and honest and refreshing spirit because some like to find fault where none exists. In doing so she is unjustly put on the defensive. It bothers me, and it should bother all of us. Just leave my name out of any future posts that want to continue to ascribe to Roz racist or arrogant motives she doesn’t have, okay. I’ve had enough of it.

Roz: Hope all is well with you and your Team — and that good things have been accomplished there w/ the people who have welcomed you so heartily and whom you, in turn, have thankfully embraced!

Naomi in NY

Jeesh! Lay off and get a life.

I went to ponte vedra beach today and saw another empty white bucket.
On my way out filled it with plastic sandals of all sizes, kids and adult. It was full, i have to leave some behind.

On a personal note; as a Brit in the US I have occasionally bridled at remarks that I found offensive but which were not understood as such by the speakers.

The term “Aunt Jemima” is sometimes used colloquially as a female version of the derogatory label “Uncle Tom”. In this context, the slang term “Aunt Jemima” falls within the “Mammy archetype”, and refers to a friendly black woman who is perceived as obsequiously servile or acting in, or protective of, the interests of whites.[2] The 1950s television show Beulah came under fire for depicting a “mammy”-like black maid and cook who was somewhat reminiscent of Aunt Jemima. Today, the terms “Beulah” and “Aunt Jemima” are regarded as more or less interchangeable as terms of disparagement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aunt_Jemima

This is a great thing you are doing, an important thing, and it is appreciated.

Just put your ear to the ground the next time you are in a quiet place.
You’ll be able to hear the planet say “Thank You”.

Thank you, Roz.

Similarly, there is no excuse for attacking Roz, or anyone else, for saying something that she could not possibly know was an insult to local peoples. A polite explanation would be more appropriate than an attack based on the apparent assumption that she intended a deliberate insult.

Due to the communication problems, as has been made clear several times, Roz almost certainly cannot read these Comments, so is not able to respond yet.

Nothing is gained when it is gained at the expense of others.

Kiribati – Potentially screening at a Sports Stadium with seating for 5,000 people in what must be the most ambitious screening anywhere

Hope you can find a way to participate …

Oh, P.S. I found a reusable cold drink bottle with a flip-up straw for anyone else who likes their smoothies/iced coffees in the summertime without a disposable cup: http://www.nathansports.com/our_products/hydration_nutrition/bottles_bladders.html

Just out of curiosity, which offset organization(s) do you use, and how did you determine that the money is actually spent on effective carbon negative projects. Since this industry is in its infancy, many people would probably appreciate a bit of an education in this. Personally, I do not fly much at all lately, and have yet to research this. Just this evening, the link to this TimesOnline article was tweeted by Franny Armstrong.

Thank you for that moment, and I hope you had a well-earned rest following your boat-unloading day!

the age of stupid
world premier on tarawa
icing on the cake

and just for good measure, Hip-hip-hurray to you, Roz. Hope you’re still getting those massages. Your muscles must still be saying “thank-you, thank-you, thank-you”!

And thar sounds swell, a new celebration once you get a decent Internet connection. I think all of us R ozlings will stand by!!

ALEJO, MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

(Richard and UncaDoug, thanks for your comments — loved your tt shorthand, Unca.)

Now on to the important subject at hand: ROZ’s enormous accomplishment! I’m really enjoying your last few posts, Roz, and thanks for letting us “in” on all the little behind-the-scenes things that are necessary in preparation for the next leg of your journey. What a gift that the Brocade has been tucked away in such a generous fashion via Captain Superintendent Boro Lucic. (Thanks Mr. Lucic). I’m also enjoying reading your old posts starting from the very beginning of your Pacific row … jotting down the names of any audio books that catch my interest. Who knew you’d be an ace ocean rower AND book reviewer all in one?!

Aloha nui loa, Roz.

Roz, Rita or Nicole, please let me know if there is anything I can do from this end to help in any way! I am here if you need me. And if you decide to visit Dr. Bruce Bowden, please pop over the border to Vancouver – I would love the chance to host you in our beautiful city again! Love to all of you!